Stellar seniors recognized at awards ceremony

Spring 2013 Gold Axe slider

Gold Axe Spring 2013

 

Lumberjack pride was worth its weight in gold at a reception Tuesday night where dozens of graduating seniors were recognized for their contributions to Northern Arizona University.

Spring 2013 President's Prize winnersBret Clawson, Brianna Gomez, Nicole Malumphy and Blaise Caudill, pictured at right, were singled out among the 43 students receiving the coveted Gold Axe Award for their achievements. The four also received the prestigious President’s Prize for their exemplary leadership, academic excellence and service to the NAU community.

The awards were announced at the Gold Axe and Distinguished Seniors awards banquet at the High Country Conference Center.

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.

Also at the reception, seven students were named as Distinguished Seniors by their college.

Spring 2013 Distinguished SeniorsPictured at right are psychology major Morgan Grundy for the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences; elementary education major Hannah Heivilin for the College of Education; Chemistry and Art History major Renée Rideout for the College of Arts and Letters; health sciences major Rebecca Scranton for the College of Health and Human Services; and Deanie Wingfield for University College. Not pictured are accounting and marketing major Jose Diaz for The W.A. Franke College of Business and forestry major Katelynn Jenkins for the College of Engineering, Forestry and Natural Sciences.

Below are this year’s Gold Axe Award winners, along with the NAU faculty or staff member the students named as having the most significant impact on them during their undergraduate career.

Photos by Bianca GonzalezRene Munoz and Preston Trauscht.

Nolan Bade
Nolan Bade
Environmental Science
Mark Aasmundstad, Environmental Sciences

Sally Barnes
Sally Barnes
Spanish Secondary Education
Karina Collentine, Global Languages and Cultures

Matthew Blanford
Matthew Blanford
Forestry
Kristen Waring, School of Forestry

Jasmin Carrillo
Jasmin Carrillo
Interdisciplinary Studies: Speech Science and Technology, Spanish
Valeria Chase, Inclusion and Multicultural Services

Blaise Caudill
Blaise Caudill
International Affairs, French
Honors Program
Lori Poloni-Staudinger, Politics and International Affairs

Bret Clawson
Bret Clawson
Chemistry, Biomedical Sciences
Honors Program
Joseph Busch, Microbial Genetics and Genomics

Fiona Connell
Fiona Connell
Psychology
Andy Johns, Athletics

Douglas Covington
Douglas Covington
Criminology and Criminal Justice
Rebecca Maniglia, Criminology and Criminal Justice

Samantha Cross
Samantha Cross
Criminal Justice and Political Science
Rebecca Maniglia, Criminology and Criminal Justice

Tiffany Dayton
Tiffany Dayton
International Hospitality Management
Kathleen Krahn, Hotel and Restaurant Management

Amber Diogostine
Amber Diogostine
Criminology and Criminal Justice
Christine Arazan, Criminology and Criminal Justice

Dwyer_Madeline-sm
Madeline Dwyer
Management and Marketing
Anika Olsen, Undergraduate Admissions

Audrey Ford
Audrey Ford
Biology and Mechanical Engineering
Brent Nelson, Mechanical Engineering

Adam Fox
Adam Fox
Political Science, Criminology and Criminal Justice
Rick Brandel, Student Life

Ashley Garcia
Ashley Garcia
Communication Studies: Pre-Law and Criminology and Criminal Justice
Honors Program
Dan Foster, School of Communication

Brianna Gomez
Brianna Gomez
Exercise Science
Rich Payne, Residence Life

Tamika Gordon
Tamika Gordon
Social Work
Kevin Chase, Student Support Services

Teresa Hansen
Teresa Hansen
Parks and Recreation Management
Pam Foti, Geography, Planning and Recreation

Kali Harmon
Kali Harmon
Exercise Science
Troy Campbell, Residence Life

Hannah Heivillin
Hannah Heivilin
Elementary Education
Honors Program
Jim Manley, College of Education

Christopher Herbert
Chris Herbert
Public Relations
Brandon Doan, Air Force ROTC

Katelynn Jenkins
Katelynn Jenkins
Forestry
Honors Program
Don Normandin, Ecological Restoration Institute

Amanda Jochimsen
Amanda Jochimsen
Chemistry
Charles Terry, Residence Life

Hilary Keith
Hilary Keith
International Hospitality Management
Honors Program
Jonathan Hales, Hotel and Restaurant Management

Stephanie Klein
Stephanie Klein
Marketing
Deanna Theiss, University Advancement

Danika Knight
Danika Knight
Interdisciplinary Studies: Speech Science and Technology
Bill Culbertson, Health Sciences

Margaret Landis
Margaret Landis
Physics and Astronomy
Honors Program
Nadine Barlow, Physics and Astronomy

Ryan Lee
Ryan Lee
Political Science
Steve Shaff, Athletics

Nicole Malumphy
Nicole Malumphy
Environmental Land Use Planning
Amanda Loveless, Affirmative Action

April McCue
April McCue
Health Sciences: Public Health
Rachel Billowitz, Health Sciences

Ryan Monahan
Ryan Monahan
Physics, Astronomy
Honors Program
Robyn Martin, Honors Program

Mallory Moore
Mallory Moore
Biomedical Science
David Pierotti, Biological Sciences

Heidi Moyer
Heidi Moyer
Exercise Science
Honors Program
Tinna Traustadottir, Biological Sciences

Brittany Oletti
Brittany Oletti
Mathematics
Honors Program
Jeffrey Duncan, Army ROTC

Nina Porter
Nina Porter
Chemistry, Secondary Education
Jennifer Musial, Women’s and Gender Studies

Cruz Romero
Cruz Romero
Exercise Science
Anika Olsen, Undergraduate Admissions

Kathleen Short
Kathleen Short
Communication Studies
Dianna Van Sanford, Student Support Services

Sarah Smith
Sarah Smith
Public Relations
Kristine Koehler, Student Life

Khaxil Stewart
Khaxil Stewart
Psychology and Sociology
Pete Yanka, Student Life

Caitlin Thede
Caitlin Thede
Exercise Science
David Pierotti, Biological Sciences

Sidney West
Sidney West
Biomedical Science
Rick Brandel, Student Life

Rachel Young
Rachel Young
Psychology
Honors Program
Kerri Quinn, Honors Program

Robert Young
Robert Young
Sociology
Jamie Axelrod, Disability Resources