Outstanding seniors earn high honors at Gold Axe Awards

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.

Jessalyn Carpino, Dennis Kan, Mary Zuniga and Andrew Sarracino, pictured right, were singled out among 45 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, six students were named as Distinguished Seniors by their college. Pictured at right are marketing, finance and management major Pascal K. Tang for The W.A. Franke College of Busines; mechanical engineering major Adam Yoder for the College of Engineering, Forestry and Natural Sciences; advertising major Chelsea Bednarz for the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences; elementary education major Damon McHenry for the College of Education; dental hygiene major Laurel George Hargis for the College of Health and Human Services; and Hayley Fenton, English, political science and history major for the College of Arts and Letters.

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 Gonzalez and Rene Munoz.

Nathan Alcorn Journalism Sara Jean Gilbert, Undergraduate Admissions and Orientation	Emily Appleton Psychology Andy Walters, Psychology	Bianca Borbeck Anthropology Michael Vasquez, Anthropology	Christine Brunson Social Work Jamie Patton, Multicultural Student Center
Chelsea Byers Political Science Jennifer Musial, Women’s and Gender Studies	Jessalyn Carpino Art Education Pamela Stephens, School of Art	Roberto Cruz Esparza Biology and Spanish Jamie Patton, Multicultural Student Center	Allyson Cwiekowski Biomedical Science Andre Luciano, Athletics
Briana Davis Speech-Language Sciences and Technology Shari Ross-Altarac, School of Communication	Holly Frost Political Science Diana Ulrey, Athletics	Christian Gonzalez Psychology Valeria Chase, Multicultural Student Center	Ciarra Greene Chemistry Jani Ingram, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Samantha Harbison Interdisciplinary Studies Ulysses Campos, Residence Life	Laurel George Hargis Dental Hygiene Tricia Moore, Dental Hygiene	Kristen Hughes Spanish and English Katie Sheridan, Honors	Chase Hunt Public Relations Art Farmer, Student Life
Maria Hunter Criminal Justice Rebecca Maniglia, Criminology and Criminal Justice	Megan Hunter Psychology Traci Harvey, Multicultural Student Center	Janet Imonode Public Health Deborah Harris, Student Life	Sara Johnston Women’s and Gender Studies and Sociology Karla Hackstaff, Women’s and Gender Studies
Faith Kagwa Political Science and Sociology Pete Yanka, Health and Learning Center	Joseph Kamper Biomedical Science Stan Lindstedt, Biological Sciences	Dennis Kan Nursing Wendy Wallace, Educational Support	Bryan Kimoto Philosophy Julie Piering, Philosophy
Quentin Lee Vocal Music Judith Cloud, School of Music	Eric MacLennan Physics and Astronomy David Trilling, Physics And Astronomy	Colleen McGillicuddy Elementary Education and Spanish Bob Neustadt, Modern Language	Damon McHenry Elementary Education James Manley, College of Education
Lisette Michaels Speech-Language Pathology William Culbertson, Health Sciences	Yemile Ojeda Marketing and Spanish Karen Schairer, Modern Language	Chloe Olson Business Marketing Rick Brandel, Student Life	Deanna Peterson Dental Hygiene Tricia Moore, Dental Hygiene
Lauren Price Advertising and Public Relations Daniel Foster, School of Communication	Rebecca Rimsza Biomedical Science Glenn Hansen, Honors	Kristina Rodriguez Biomedical Science Jamie Patton, Multicultural Student Center	Andrew Sarracino Management and Computer Information Systems Daisy Purdy, Ethnic Studies
Katie Shea International Affairs and Political Science Robyn Martin, Honors Program	Noel Soma Applied Indigenous Studies and Political Science Kathleen Frank, Native American Cultural Center	Samantha Steuby Anthropology Rebecca Scarnati, School of Music	Lauren Talkington International Relations and Business Economics Wendy Campione The W.A. Franke College of Business
Kaitlin Thompson Political Science Naomi Pinion, Politics and International Affairs	Erin Wendt Choral Music Education/Vocal Performance Edith Copley, School of Music	Hong Yu Computer Information Systems Pin Ng, The W.A. Franke College of Business	Roxanne Zaad Criminology and Criminal Justice Christine Arazan, Criminology and Criminal Justice
Mary Zuniga Biology Diane Stearns, Chemistry and Biochemistry