President Rita Cheng congratulates President’s Prize recipients during the April 25 ceremony. From left: Benjamin Gouveia, Rogelio Barroga Jr., Shelby Dalgai and Amy Edgerton
Monday night was a golden moment for dozens of graduating seniors as they received honors recognizing them for their contributions to Northern Arizona University.
Forty-three students received the university’s coveted Gold Axe Award for their achievements. Four of the winners—Rogelio Barroga Jr., Shelby Dalgai, Amy Edgerton and Benjamin Gouveia—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 in the High Country Conference Center.
Emily Lawhead Comparative Cultural Studies College of Arts and Letters
Francis DiFranco Elementary Education College of Education
Alexandra Huff Geology College of Engineering, Forestry and Natural Sciences
Raine Kolman Fitness and Wellness College of Health and Human Services
RobinLi Uber Journalism College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Sarah Nicholas Accountancy, Computer Information Systems The W.A. Franke College of Business
Andrew Schaad Liberal Arts Extended Campuses
Laura Armstrong University Studies University College
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 Rita Cheng, 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.
Rogelio Barroga Jr. Hotel and Restaurant Management President’s Prize Recipient Beth Bourget, Alumni Relations
Hannah Bashaw Political Science Deborah Harris, Student Life
Katelyn Bednar Criminology and Criminal Justice Sarah Uminski, Student Success Initiatives
Elizabeth Benitez Business Administration Elena Del Socorro Arroyo, NAU-Yuma
Vanessa Billegas Criminology and Criminal Justice Rebecca Maniglia, Criminology and Criminal Justice
Cloie Bright Visual Communication Honors Program John Gialanella, School of Communication
Alexandria Buchta Finance, Political Science Gretchen Gee, Politics and International Affairs
Olivia Cerna Social Work Julie Fritzler, Sociology and Social Work
Shannon Cochran Music Performance Edith Copley, School of Music
Ryan Cook Economics, Management, Finance Craig Van Slyke, The W.A. Franke College of Business
Misha Cothran Creative Media and Film Kevin Gemoets, Student Life
Ann Custin Special and Elementary Education April Peters, Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs
Shelby Dalgai Biomedical Science President’s Prize Hendrik De Heer, Physical Therapy and Athletic Training
Jordan Denesik Exercise Science Honors Program Kim Bruno, Athletics
Taran DePaola Psychological Sciences Chad Woodruff, Psychological Sciences
Frankie DiFranco Elementary Education Jean Ann Foley, College of Education: Teaching and Learning
Rachel Dineff Special and Elementary Education Sigmund Boloz, College of Education: Teaching and Learning
Austin Dulaney Special and Elementary Education Claudia Sturgis, College of Education: Educational Specialties
Amy Edgerton International Hospitality Management Honors Program President’s Prize Frances Hill, School of Hotel Restaurant Management
Noelle Francois Hotel and Restaurant Management Mark Molinaro, School of Hotel Restaurant Management
Richard Frische Strategic Communication Honors Program Emily Davalos, Honors Program
Kirsten Gaskell Special and Elementary Education Brian Stone, College of Education: Teaching and Learning
Benjamin Gouveia Mechanical Engineering President’s Prize Brian Mallory, Air Force ROTC
Courtney Haasch Strategic Communication Honors Program Matthew Tantau, CSA Administration
Rachel Harrow Forestry Carol Chambers, School of Forestry
Alexander Hayes Management, Marketing Margaret Dunfee, The W.A. Franke College of Business
Jennifer Hill Management Honors Program Beverly Amer, The W.A. Franke College of Business
Tyler Hill Chemistry, Secondary Education Chemistry Megan Proctor, Student Unions and Activities
Alexandra Huff Geology Lisa Skinner, School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Sustainability
Emily Lawhead Comparative Cultural Studies Honors Program Zsuzsanna Gulacsi, Comparative Cultural Studies
Evan Lim Criminology and Criminal Justice Phoebe Morgan, Criminology and Criminal Justice
Bradley Marsh Chemistry Honors Program Cindy Browder, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Connor Meehan Forestry Kristen Waring, School of Forestry
Michelle Montero Social Work Wendy Bruun, First-Generation Programs
Gabriella Nunnally Women’s and Gender Studies Frederick Gooding Jr., Ethnic Studies
Taylor Payne Nursing Troy Lee Campbell, Mountain View Hall
Hannah Petersen Strategic Communication Toni Minter, Calderón Learning Center
Courtney Sarracino Strategic Communication Peter Kosso, Emeritus
Kristy Silva Political Science Honors Program Anne Scott, English
Emily Thornton Exercise Science Benning Tieke, Global Languages and Cultures
RobinLi Uber Journalism Honors Program Martin Sommerness, School of Communication
Janae Vander Ploeg Elementary Education Sigmund Boloz, College of Education: Teaching and Learning
Joseph Zodiacal Political Science Stephen Nuno, Politics and International Affairs
