Mike Earnest, Statewide Student Services Manager, is one of four winners of the 2009 University of Alaska Staff Make Students Count Award. Other recepients were; Annie Route, director of Student Life and Leadership at the University of Alaska Anchorage; Gabrielle Russell, academic advisor with Native and Rural Services at the University of Alaska Fairbanks; and Kolene James, coordinator and academic advisor with Native and Rural Services at the University of Alaska Southeast.

University of Alaska President Mark Hamilton presented the awards during the June 4th Board of Regents meeting in Fairbanks. This year's award winners received a plaque, $1,000 and two airline vouchers.

The Make Students Count Awards were established in the spring of 1999 to recognize university staff who have provided outstanding service to students, anywhere in the UA system, including rural campuses and extended sites. Service to students may include service as part of the job or volunteer service, either directly to students or behind the scenes. Four awards are available, one for each major administrative unit (UAA, UAF, UAS, and Statewide). The award is funded by the UA Foundation.