NAU graduating seniors earn distinguished awards

President's Prize Recipients Fall 2016 — President Rita Cheng congratulates President’s Prize recipients Bailey Anderson, left, and Bridger Rodoni during the November ceremony.

Last week, dozens of graduating seniors received honors recognizing them for their contributions to Northern Arizona University.

Twenty-one students received the university’s coveted Gold Axe Award for their achievements. Two of the winners—Bailey Anderson and Bridger Rodoni—also received the prestigious President’s Prize for their exemplary leadership, academic excellence and service to the NAU community.

Seven students also were named Distinguished Seniors by their college. The awards were announced at the Gold Axe and Distinguished Seniors awards banquet last week.

Chelsea Karnes Theatre, Health Sciences – Fitness Wellness College of Arts and Letters	Lilly Islas Early Childhood Education College of Education	Sarah Brewer Nursing College of Health and Human Services
Cheyanne Mumphrey Journalism College of Social and Behavioral Sciences	Natelie Blasius Management The W.A. Franke College of Business

Not Pictured: Emmett Tsosie, Environmental and Sustainability Studies major, was named the Fall 2016 Distinguished Senior for the College of Engineering, Forestry, and Natural Sciences and Nayeli Gonzalez, Social Work major, was named the Fall 2016 Distinguished Senior for Extended Campuses.

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 university-wide 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.

Bailey Anderson Elementary Education President’s Prize Recipient Dulce Soto, Inclusion and Multicultural Services	Katelyn Ayers Biomedical Science Angela Milkie, Student Learning Centers	Shelby Carlson Business Management Sarah Uminski, Undergraduate Retention	Yoko Chavez Exercise Science, Spanish Joseph Collentine, Global Languages and Cultures
Brittany Fat-Denatsosie Nursing Karen Plager, School of Nursing	Martha Garner Psychological Sciences, Women’s and Gender Studies Honors Program Meredith Heller, Women’s and Gender Studies	Cameron Gaskin Computer Science Frederick Gooding Jr., Ethnic Studies	Devyn Gray Strategic Communication, Public Relations Emphasis Kimberly Ott, Assistant to the President for Executive Communications and Media Relations
Chelsea Karnes Theatre, Health Sciences – Fitness Wellness Christina Gutierrez-Dennehy, Theatre	Andrea Luque Karam Music Elena SV Flys, Comparative Cultural Studies	Devon McPeek Exercise Science Jerome Souers, Athletics	Heather Mead Microbiology Bridget Barker, Biological Sciences
Cheyanne Mumphrey Journalism Martin Sommerness, School of Communication	Bridger Rodoni Biomedical Science President’s Prize Recipient Tinna Traustadottir, Biological Sciences	Isaac Romero, Jr. Criminology and Criminal Justice Adam Zickerman, Criminology and Criminal Justice	Alyssa Sisson Elementary Education Elizabeth Taylor, College of Education: Teaching and Learning
Cristian Tafoya Civil Engineering Edward Smaglik, Civil and Environmental Engineering	Gabriella Verdugo Strategic Communication Amy Dryden, School of Communication	Alana Weber Environmental Science, Modern Languages Honors Program Cori Cusker, Housing and Residence Life	Miriam Zveitel Biomedical Science Honors Program David Pierotti, Biological Sciences

Not Pictured: Nayeli Gonzalez, Social Work major, received the Gold Axe award and named William Pederson, NAU-Yuma, as her educator of influence.