In the Spotlight: April 24, 2015

Kudos to these faculty, staff and students

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  • Robert Neustadt, professor of Spanish and director of Latin American Studies, received the 2015 Edwin Lieuwin Prize for the Promotion of Excellence in the Teaching of Latin American Studies from the Rocky Mountain Council For Latin American Studies.
  • StudentEmployeeoftheYear2015
    In a surprise presentation, Alyssa Barrett, left, was presented with the 2015 Student Employee of the Year Award by the Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics director Paul Keim, manager Debbie Martin and Dean of Students Rick Brandel.

    Two students were selected as the winner and runner-up for NAU Student Employee of the Year, an honor awarded by the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid. Alyssa Barrett, a senior majoring in microbiology, was selected as Student Employee of the Year for her work at the Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics. Ashley Becker, a senior majoring in international relations and strategic communications, was selected as runner-up for her performance in purchasing. Student employee supervisors nominate outstanding student employees based on the student’s work habits, communication skills, professionalism, initiative and contribution to the NAU community. The winning students received their awards during surprise presentations presided by Dean of Students Rick Brandel, the selection committee and the student’s supervisors and coworkers.

  • More than 1,100 students, faculty and community members came together over the weekend to participate in the annual NAU Relay for Life. Participants walked, danced and competed to raise over $84,000 to support the AHope Cure NAU Relaymerican Cancer Society. The funds are used to provide education programs, advocate for cancer research, provide services to cancer patients currently battling this disease and allow researchers to progress toward the end of cancer. NAU’s Relay for Life is organized entirely by NAU students.
  • Harun Mehmedinovic, professor in the School of Communication, was recently featured in Time magazine for his project, Skyglow. Using still photography and time-lapses, Mehmedinovic, along with Los Angeles filmmaker Gavin Heffernan, are out to capture the last remaining ‘dark sky’ locations and archaeoastronomy sites in North America. The project will culminate in an image-heavy and educational book by the same name, highlighting the issue of light pollution. The project is also featured in Astronomy magazine.
  • John Miscevich, electrical engineering major, and Davis Bedient, physics major, were named champions of the Axe’d Student Chef Team Challenge after facing off against their opponents in the final round this week. Five teams of two were paired with an NAU Campus Dining chef to consult regarding recipe ideas, ingredients and exhibition. Miscevich and Bedient along with their chef mentor, Curtis Reed, advanced tCampus Dining Student Chef 2015 AxedChampso the championship after presenting their first dish, an avocado stuffed chicken breast with green chile sauce, to the panel of judges at The DuB on April 9. For the final round, Miscevich and Bedient prepared chicken tacos topped with a tomato and leek salsa and paired with a spicy aioli stuffed artichoke that wowed the panel of judges. As winners they received a $500 donation to the food relief charity of their choice, Flagstaff Family Food Center, dining dollars, culinary tools and more.
  • Chelsey Baca and Tessa Powell, undergraduate students in the Athletic Training Education program, were selected to represent NAU at the iLead Athletic Training Student Leadership Conference in Dallas. The students attended presentations with fellow athletic training students and were encouraged to engage throughout each presentation. Baca and Powell were thankful for the interactive experience. Both students left the conference with a better understanding of professional leadership and communication.
  • Thirty students from NAU’s Model United Nations club recently traveled to Los Angeles to participate in UCLAUCLA Spring 2015 team‘s Model United Nations conference. The group received the Outstanding Large Delegation award and the following students received individual awards: John Murphy, Connor Mullins, Scott Brownell, Claire Bergstresser, LaShae Brown, Victoria Ziegler, and Sage Knapp.