As hard-working graduates across the country find unique ways to commemorate their academic success during this health emergency, one city of Phoenix employee will receive her diploma on stage and give an award acceptance speech using an avatar robot.
Juili Kale is the 2020 graduate student recipient of the Barton Kyle Yount Award from ASU’s Thunderbird School of Global Management. The is the first time an online student has received this award for exceptional leadership since the online program was launched 15 years ago.
Several weeks ago, Kale received a congratulatory message from Thunderbird Dean Dr. Sanjeev Khagram with an invitation to accept the award and her master’s degree in global management during the school’s virtual convocation ceremony on Monday, May 11, using an avatar robot displaying her face.
“I knew I worked hard, but getting this award is an honor and I am in utter disbelief. It is slowly sinking in, as I am busy giving interviews to radio stations and news channels on the robotics and my award,” Kale said.
Kale joined the city’s Information Technology Services project management team a little over two years ago. She previously spent five and a half years in a project management role focused on technology initiatives and projects for aviation technology and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
“We are so proud of Juili for receiving this top award from Thunderbird. She is a true professional, and it is clear she applied the same exceptional work ethic to her education as she does to her career,” City of Phoenix Chief Information Officer Matthew Arvay said.
Here are links to Kale’s interviews with media outlets:
