BEST AND BRIGHTEST UP EARLY FOR AWARDS BREAKFAST
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 23, 2002
Fairbanks, Alaska – More than 60 students will be honored as the best and brightest of the University of Alaska Fairbanks during the annual Student Awards Breakfast on Saturday, April 27 at 9:30 a.m. in the Carol Brown Ballroom. Each spring UAF honors students who have distinguished themselves during their academic careers.
Charles Armstrong is an English major who will receive the Joel Wiegert Award for outstanding senior man. Armstrong, a National Merit scholar, serves as an assistant apartment manager for UAF Residence Life. He is credited with creating an environment conducive to learning and for implementing a number of programs to build a sense of community and to improve the living environment for his residents.
Foreign languages major Heather Maas will receive the Marion Frances Boswell Memorial Award for outstanding senior woman. Maas made the dean’s list for academic achievement every semester she attended UAF and when she wasn’t in class she spent time on stage in 11 UAF plays, earning a Best Actress Award in 2001.
Bonnie Edmondson, majoring in both social work and Alaska Native studies, is the recipient of this year's Gray Tilly Memorial Award, given to the outstanding graduating non-traditional student. After high school, Edmondson joined the military and served as a security specialist in the U.S. Air Force for nearly five years. In college she found her passion in social work and Alaska Native culture. Bonnie plans to work in the community before attending graduate school for a master’s degree in social work.
Nathan Voegeli is this year’s recipient of the Provost’s Prize presented to a graduating senior who exemplifies qualities that characterize UAF. Voegeli, a transfer student from Wichita, Kan., will graduate in May with bachelor’s degrees in mathematics, physics and philosophy, with a minor in Russian language. While at UAF, he also earned certification in airframe maintenance through an on-the-job training program.
Two UAF employees will also be recognized at the event for continued student advocacy this year. An outstanding faculty award will be presented to wildlife biology professor Terry Chapin, and Shannon Uzzell, student employment coordinator from Career Services, will receive the outstanding staff member award.
After the university achievement awards are presented, deans and directors will recognize students by colleges and professional schools.
In the School of Education, Karen McManus will be recognized in elementary education and Terri Mach in rural education.
In the School of Mineral Engineering, Robin Nelson will be recognized for geological engineering, Joseph Filla for mining engineering and Jake Flora for petroleum engineering.
In the School of Management, Matt Emmons will be recognized for accounting and Supatcharee (Jane) Pitakkoshkorn for business administration.
In the School of Agriculture and Land Resources Management, Craig Bosveld will be recognized for his work in forest sciences; Yvette O’Connor for geography; Stephen Winslow for plant, animal and soil sciences; and Jennifer Arseneau for resource management.
The School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences will recognize April Behr in fisheries.
UAF’s College of Rural Alaska will recognize Sarita Shuster from the Chukchi Campus, Holly Earle-Schultze and Lana Davidson from the Interior-Aleutians Campus, Janet Bavilla from the Kuskokwim Campus, Jenny Bachelder from the Northwest Campus and Rex Snyder from rural development.
From the Tanana Valley Campus, department recognition will go to Betty Brooks in applied accounting, Sarah Arnold in applied business, Andrea Solis in applied health, Gus Langworthy in aviation maintenance technology and Sylvia Thurston in culinary arts. Ann Pearson will receive recognition in early childhood education, Tim Mahon in emergency services, Merridee Soltow and Liz Sunnyboy in human service technology and Jonathan Broline in ground vehicle maintenance. TVC will recognize Shawn Murphy from the microcomputer support specialist program, Lori Kunz in office management and technology and Joanne Sipes in paralegal studies.
The College of Science, Engineering and Mathematics will recognize Catherine Randall in biological sciences, Ryan Purcell in chemistry and biochemistry, Serena Markey in civil and environmental engineering and Ben Livengood in computer science.
Other outstanding CSEM students include Donald Bradshaw in electrical and computer engineering, Travis Williams in geology and geophysics, Scott Kircher in mathematics, Chester Vaughan IV in mechanical engineering, Keiko Ino in physics, Christopher Johns in statistics and Bryce Lake in wildlife biology.
In the College of Liberal Arts, Christopher Koonooka will be recognized in Alaska Native languages and Tonya Garnett in Alaska Native studies. The College of Liberal Arts will recognize Nikos Sawyer in anthropology, Christopher St. John in art, Aaron Grosul in communication, Deidre McMullin in English, Aaron Jacobson in foreign languages, Jennifer McDowell in history, Joseph Hardenbrook in honors and Heather Taggard in journalism.
Also recognized by the CLA are Alana Johnson in justice, Stephen Winslow in military science, Kurt Hunter in music, Heidi Kristenson in Northern studies, Nathan Voegeli in philosophy and humanities, Namhee Wilkinson in political science, C. Nikoosh Carlo in psychology, Bonnie Edmondson in social work, Julie Brown in sociology, Ben Scott Thompson in theatre and Ryjil Christianson in women’s studies.
The awards breakfast will begin at 9:30 a.m. and will be presided over by retiring Dean of Student Services Carla Kirts. Outstanding student athletes for the class will also be announced at the event. A separate awards program will take place in the Wood Center mall area April 25 at 4:30 p.m. to recognize students for their achievements and community service outside the classroom.
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CONTACT: Lydia Anderson, UAF Wood Center Director at (907) 474-7037 or Carla Browning, UAF Public Information Officer at (907) 474-7778.
CJB/4-23-02/02-063