Outstanding UAF seniors honored at awards ceremony

April 24, 2017

Jeff Richardson
907-474-6284

The University of Alaska Fairbanks honored dozens of students on Saturday, April 22, at its annual student awards breakfast. Each spring, UAF recognizes students who have distinguished themselves throughout their academic careers.

Among those honored were the winners of the Marion Frances Boswell Memorial Award (outstanding senior woman) the Joel Wiegert Award (outstanding senior man) and the Gray S. Tilly Memorial Award (outstanding non-traditional student).

Emelia Van Wyhe, of Kenny Lake, Alaska, received the 2017 Marion Frances Boswell Memorial Award. She is graduating with a bachelor of arts double major in political science and rural development, with a concentration in natural resource development.

During her four years of undergraduate study at UAF, Van Wyhe has served as a student ambassador, a new student orientation leader and a resident assistant. During her junior year, Van Wyhe worked as an intern for the Alaska Legislature in Juneau. She is a member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi and Golden Key International Honor Society, and has spent every semester on either the Dean’s List or Chancellor’s List.

After graduation, Van Wyhe plans to remain in Alaska to gain work experience in the Legislature. She eventually hopes to pursue a master’s degree in food policy and agricultural law.



Gabriel Cartagena, of Fairbanks, received the 2017 Joel Wiegert Award. He is graduating with a bachelor of arts degree in psychology.
Cartagena’s passion has been in balancing research, service and academics. His research interests have been in psycho-immunology, studying how people live with chronic illnesses such as HIV/AIDS. Through the support of UAF and the National Institutes of Health, he has been able to work with communities in Alaska and South Africa. He also enjoys serving the Fairbanks community as a mentor and volunteer.

After graduation, Cartagena plans to pursue a doctorate in clinical health psychology at the University of Florida, working in a psycho-oncology laboratory and studying cancer survivorship.



Katrina Nunemann, of Fairbanks, received the 2017 Gray S. Tilly Memorial Award. She is graduating with a bachelor of arts degree in child development and family studies.

Originally from Montrose, Colorado, Nunemann is completing a 30-year journey to complete a degree that supports working with young children and their families. After getting married and moving to Fairbanks in 1987, she delayed efforts to earn a degree while raising her two sons and running a business from home. Nunemann rejoined the workforce in 2002, returning to take occasional college courses while spending more than 15 years working in the field of education and family services with organizations such as Alaska Camp Fire USA, Resource Center for Parents and Children, and the Fairbanks Native Association Head Start 0-5 Program. She is grateful to family, friends, co-workers and university instructors for providing encouragement along the way to her longtime goal of graduating from college.

Scholar Athlete Awards

The Scholar Athlete Awards honor male and female student-athletes at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The recipients are selected based upon their excellence in academic achievement, athletic achievement, campus and community service, and character.
• Nichole Bathe, senior,  justice and social work, cross-country skiing
• Brandon Morley, senior, business administration, hockey player

ASUAF Award for Outstanding Faculty and Staff

The Associated Students of UAF Award for Outstanding Faculty and Staff is selected by students and awarded to the faculty and staff members who have made the most significant contributions to students.
• Anvil Williamson, ASUAF office manager and advisor
• Jeremy Speight, assistant professor of political science

Outstanding students by schools and colleges

College of Engineering and Mines
Elliott R. Anderson, civil and environmental engineering
Lonny D. Strunk, computer science
Justin W. Long, electrical engineering
Zachary D. Theurer, computer engineering
Nora Gyswyt, geological engineering
Michael Fehrenbach, mechanical engineering
Alan Lipka, mining engineering
Jackson Conrad Page, petroleum engineering

College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences
Alina Fairbanks, fisheries

College of Liberal Arts
Baxter W. Bond, Alaska Native language
Jessica K. Obermiller, anthropology
Devante Owens, art
Lindsey Heaney, communications
Antonio D. Hamilton, English
Rosemary Svenson, foreign language
Sarah Shaw, history
Spencer Tordoff, journalism
Patrick J. Nestor, justice
Joshua Pharris, linguistics
Scott Stephen Hansen, music
Christin Martin, philosophy and humanities
Jacob B. Gerrish, political science
Gabriel Cartagena, psychology
Shirlie Morin, social work
Adante' K. Jones, sociology
Amanda A. Casterline, theater and film
Jenelle Bess Jacobson, women's and gender studies

College of Natural Science and Mathematics
Olivia Rhines, chemistry
Adam Haberski, wildlife biology and conservation
Savanna Burke , biological sciences
William Crumpacker, geosciences
Reyce C. Bogardus, geography
Harrison T. Hartle, physics
Julia M. Olson, mathematics and statistics

College of Rural and Community Development
Francisca Charriez-Miranda, social and human development
Jolene Nanouk , Alaska Native studies
Emelia K.C. Van Wyhe, rural development
Raymond I. Otto, developmental education
Lucinda B. Conwell-Wieler, tribal management

Community and Technical College
Michael S. Bristol, aviation maintenance
Joseph A. Rife, professional piloting
Sabine R. Todd, associate of arts
Marcela Nichifor, applied accounting
Suki Merica, applied business
Jordan Hayward, automotive technology
David Smith, computer information technology specialist
Cory B. Crook, computer information technology specialist (distance)
Tammy Jo Keith, construction management
Cassandra Black, culinary arts and hospitality
Travis Clinton Sears, diesel/heavy equipment
Ryan Lind, drafting technology
Jennifer Taylor, early childhood education
Rebecca McPherson, fire science
Taniesha Rose Emry, human services
Mark Zastavskiy, paramedic academy
Joseph Brunsvold, paralegal studies
Thomas O'Donoghue, instrumentation technology
Luke Schruf, process technology
Danielle Francesca Wiley, safety, health and environmental awareness
Sonya Hale, medical assisting and allied health

School of Education
Daniel Nero, secondary education
Jamie E. Mayer, elementary education

School of Management
Gracelynn Jo Wiseman, business administration
Irina Brown, accounting
James Cameron Gilchrest, homeland security and emergency management
Jacob B. Gerrish, economics
Stephen Newman, military science and leadership

School of Natural Resources and Extension
Jennifer L. Sybert, natural resources management
Kelly Schmitz, agriculture and horticulture