In the Spotlight: May 7, 2008

Kudos to these faculty, staff and students

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  • Annette McGivney, journalism lecturer in the School of Communication, won a Maggie Award in the Best News Story category at the Western Publications Association awards ceremony last week. McGivney’s story, “Free Fall,” appeared in the May 2007 edition of Backpacker magazine and investigated the 2006 murder of Japanese tourist Tomomi Hanamure in Arizona’s Havasupai Canyon. The article tells the story of Hanamure’s killing, and explores a deeper crisis for the Havasupai tribal culture. The Maggies have been called “the Oscars of the magazine industry,” and reflect excellence in magazine and online publishing in the western United States. The association received nearly 2,000 entries representing more than 500 magazines.
  • Eileen Mahoney, director of the Gateway Student Success Center, was named Outstanding Academic Advising Administrator by the National Academic Advising Association. She will be recognized during an awards ceremony and reception at the association’s annual conference in Chicago in October.
  • Religious studies major Karlie Knudtsen was awarded a Hooper Undergraduate Research Award for her project, “Buddhism and Modern Tibetan Cultural Identity.” Knudtsen will be exploring the role that Tibetan Buddhism plays in forging a unifying cultural identity for Tibetans in exile. She will do textual research at NAU and conduct ethnographic research among the Tibetan exile community in India.
  • NAU student-athletes Carson Boddicker and Maria Hechanova have been selected to attend the 2008 NCAA National Student-Athlete Leadership Development Conference May 25-29 in Orlando, Fla., at the Walt Disney World Resort. Approximately 700 student-athletes from all divisions will attend.Hechanova is completing her junior year as a member of the swimming and diving team. Boddicker is completing his freshman season on the track and field team where he specializes in the middle-distance running events.The conference provides NCAA student-athletes with a forum to openly discuss issues that may affect them on their campuses and in their communities, while also providing them with the opportunity to enhance their leadership, communication, decision-making and problem-solving skills. The conference also promotes better communication among student-athletes, coaches, administrators, faculty and communities.