UAF RURAL STUDENT COUNSELOR WINS BULLOCK AWARD

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 16, 2001

Fairbanks, Alaska – University of Alaska Fairbanks Rural Student Services advisor and counselor Sue McHenry is the recipient of the 2001 Edith R. Bullock Prize for Excellence given annually by the University of Alaska Foundation.

McHenry will receive $15,000, one of the largest cash prizes of its kind within the university system set aside to reward those in the university community who have achieved excellence in support of the institution statewide.

McHenry is well-known for her service to rural students at UAF. She received the UA President’s Make Students Count award in May of 1999, the Associated Students of UAF Outstanding Faculty/Staff Award in April of 1994 and the UAF Outstanding Advisor Award in 1993 and 1996.

"Sue epitomizes service to students," said Carla Kirts, dean of student services. "She considers the whole person, gets to know each student as an individual and then provides excellent, caring informed counseling."

"It’s a team award and includes the dedicated folks who work at RSS," said McHenry. "I manage to do what I do because I have such awesome partners and because I’m inspired by the students I see working hard every day to achieve their goals here."

McHenry has been with RSS for 29 of the 32 years of its existence. Many who work with her say she has made an impact on literally hundreds of Alaska Native people and rural Alaskans. One such Native student is current RSS Director JoJo Ducharme.

In her letter of support, Ducharme said it was McHenry who, in the fall of 1975, helped her feel at home as a 21-year old from Montana and the first from her family to attend, and then graduate from college.

"I have not forgotten the many wonderful things Sue has done for me or the words of encouragement she has given me," said Ducharme. "I am not the only one though, there have been generations of families that have come to rely on Sue McHenry and the support she offers students when they arrive on the UAF campus."

McHenry is the 1997 recipient of the Denali Award from the Alaska Federation of Natives for her efforts as a non-Native person whose work has been of great benefit to the Alaska Native community.

"Sue truly sets the standard when it comes to excellence as it applies to the university’s mission," said UAF Chancellor Marshall Lind. "It is a pleasure to give this award to such a deserving and committed individual who has become a vital ingredient to our service to students."

In 1970, McHenry graduated from UAF with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and in 1976 she received a master’s in education from UAF with a focus on college student personnel administration. She has taught student success courses geared toward college freshman and has been a Rural Alaska Honors Institute Instructor. Since 1990, she’s served as an advisor for the UAF Chapter of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society, which received chapter of the year award for the third time last November.

The Bullock Award is named after Edith R. Bullock, a former territorial legislator and UA Regent who died in 1994. It was established in 1990 by the UA Foundation. The UA Foundation is the not-for-profit arm of the university which managers the institution’s funds from private corporations.

-30-

Note to Editors: photos of Sue McHenry are available upon request.

CONTACT: Carla Browning, UAF Public Information Officer at (907) 474-7778 or e-mail: carla.browning@uaf.edu.

CJB/05/16/01/01-072