Outstanding seniors earn top honors at NAU

Gold Axe winners, spring 2014

 

President's Prize winners
Kevin Wright, Chyna Gade, Monika Beauvais, Sammy Smart and Makenzie Mastrud received the President’s Prize during an April 15 ceremony.

Dozens of graduating seniors enjoyed a golden moment Tuesday night during a reception where they were recognized for their contributions to Northern Arizona University.

Forty-two students received the university’s coveted Gold Axe Award for their achievements. Five of the winners—Monika Beauvais, Chyna Gade, Makenzie Mastrud, Sammy Smart and Kevin Wright—also received the prestigious President’s Prize for their exemplary leadership, academic excellence and service to the NAU community.

Eight students pictured below also were named Distinguished Seniors by their college. The awards were announced at the Gold Axe and Distinguished Seniors awards banquet at the High Country Conference Center.

Sammy Smart
Sammy Smart
Elementary and Special Education
College of Education

Peter Manchen
Peter Manchen
Chemistry and Biochemistry
College of Engineering, Forestry and Natural Sciences

Lindsey Gibson Nursing College of Health and Human Services
Lindsey Gibson
Nursing
College of Health and Human Services

Kirsten Frey
Kirsten Frey
Anthropology and Psychology
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Arve Hammeren
Arve Hammeren
Finance and Accountancy
the W.A. Franke College of Business

Brittney Bradbury
Brittney Bradbury
University Studies
University College

Emma Boggs
Emma Boggs
Interdisciplinary Studies, Intelligence Studies
Extended Campuses

Jackson Morris
Jackson Morris
Secondary Education, Art and Philosophy
College of Art and Letters

The tradition of the Gold Axe Award dates back to 1933, a year after the student body adopted the axe as the symbol for Lumberjack athletics. It was then that NAU adopted the tradition of awarding small gold axe pins to outstanding members of the student body. To this day, the gold axe pin is considered the official emblem of the Associated Students of NAU and is presented each semester to recognize students’ outstanding achievements and distinguished service to the university and the greater community.

Students selected for a Gold Axe Award also are eligible for the President’s Prize, considered the highest student recognition from the university. After reviewing all the Gold Axe nominations, a universitywide committee makes its recommendations to President John Haeger, who then selects the President’s Prize winners.

Below are the winners of this semester’s Gold Axe awards, along with the NAU faculty or staff member the students named as having the most significant impact on them during their undergraduate career. View a photo album from the event online.

Roxane Abitong
Roxane Maye Abitong
Accountancy
Margaret Dunfee, the W.A. Franke College of Business

Angel Arzola Ortega
Angel Arzola Ortega
Biomedical Science
Robert Neustadt, Global Languages and Cultures

Monika Beauvais
Monika Beauvais
Vocal Performance
Susan Warner, School of Music

Michael Bishop
Michael Bishop
Physics
Chris Mann, Physics and Astronomy

Scott Brandon
Scott Brandon
Mechanical Engineering
Brent Nelson, Mechanical Engineering

Hilary Charles
Hilary Charles
Social Work
Angela Miller, Center for International Education

Susanna Dart
Susanna Dart
Biology, Modern Languages with German Emphasis; Honors Program
Marilya Veteto Reese, Global Languages and Cultures

Paxton DeBolt
Paxton DeBolt
Hotel and Restaurant Management
Miriam Cox, Housing and Residence Life

Andrea Derflinger
Andrea Derflinger
Psychology and Criminal Justice
Andy Johns, Athletics

Yana Downey
Yana Downey
Special and Elementary Education; German; Honors Program
Troy Campbell, Housing and Residence Life

Nikki DuPuy
Nikki DuPuy
Computer Information Systems
James Morgan, the W.A. Franke College of Business

Madeline Friend
Madeline Friend
Environmental Science; Honors Program
Angie Moline, School of Earth Science

Chyna Gade
Chyna Gade
Business Marketing
Matthew Haertzen, the W.A. Franke College of Business

Vivianna Gamez Molina
Vivianna Gamez Molina
Environmental Engineering
Pam Malone, Educational Support

Brielle Giesemann
Brielle Giesemann
Spanish, Sociology
James Reed, Sociology and Social Work

Alessandra Graf
Alessandra Graf
Mathematics; Honors Program
Jeff Rushall, Mathematics and Statistics

Jim Herrero
Jim Herrero
Exercise Science
Pauline Entin, College of Engineering, Forestry and Natural Sciences

Kyle Homewood Vocal Performance Jose Ricardo Pereira, School of Music
Kyle Homewood
Vocal Performance; Honors Program
Jose Ricardo Pereira, School of Music

Sharon Hopkins
Sharon Hopkins
Interdisciplinary Studies: Law Enforcement Management
Kurt Fenske, NAU-Yuma

Julia King
Julia King
Elementary Education with Early Childhood Certificate
Sharon Doctor, Native American Student Services

Taryn Laird
Taryn Laird
Mathematics; Honors Program
Alicia Stewart Voytek, Housing and Residence Life

Angelisa Lancaster Winemiller
Angelisa Lancaster-Winemiller
Applied Human Behavior
Kristin Taubman, Extended Campuses

Emma Lowther
Emma Lowther
Health Science: Public Health
Jay Sutliffe, Health Sciences

Devon Mahon Theater Darby Winterhalter-Lofstrand, Theater
Devon Mahon
Theater
Darby Winterhalter-Lofstrand, Theater

Olivia Marion
Olivia Marion
Women’s and Gender Studies; Honors Program
Ev Ramsay, Honors

Makenzie Mastrud
Makenzie Mastrud
Psychology
Rick Brandel, Student Life

Ethan Maurice
Ethan Maurice
Biomedical Science
John Houser, Psychology

Joshua Mayoral
Joshua Mayoral
Biomedical Science; Honors Program
Fernando Monroy, Biological Sciences

Brittany Moles
Brittany Moles
Hotel and Restaurant Management
Tracie Hansen, Office of Public Affairs

Hezekiah O'Neal
Hezekiah O’Neal
Exercise Science
Anika Olsen, Undergraduate Admissions and Orientation

Alexandra Ortiz
Alexandra Ortiz
Psychology
Brittany Johnson, Housing and Residence Life

Jay Pearson
Jay Pearson
Mechanical Engineering
Joey Ruiz, Educational Support

Laughlin Potvin
Laughlin Potvin
Dental Hygiene and Biomedical Science
Tracye Moore, Dental Hygiene

Kate Prentice
Kate Prentice
Mechanical Engineering
Brent Nelson, Mechanical Engineering

Sammy Smart
Sammy Smart
Elementary and Special Education
Art Farmer, Student Life

Stirling Smith
Stirling Smith
Biomedical Science
Jeffrey Meilander, Biological Sciences

Sofia Sweeney
Sofia Sweeney
Spanish Secondary Education
Karina Collentine, Global Languages and Cultures

Melissa Watts
Melissa Watts
Hotel and Restaurant Management
Frances Hill, School of Hotel Restaurant Management

Tara Marie Wong
Tara Marie Wong
Biomedical Science
Danielle Shipley, College of Engineering, Forestry and Natural Sciences

Shayla Woodhouse
Shayla Woodhouse
Environmental Engineering
Paul Jagodzinski, College of Engineering, Forestry and Natural Sciences

Kevin Wright
Kevin Wright
Communication Studies
Kevin Chase, Educational Support

Alyssa Yamamura
Alyssa Yamamura
Health Science: Diagnostic Medical Imaging
Debby McCormick, Health Sciences