Outstanding Graduates Class of 2003

Submitted by Carla Browning
Phone: (907) 474-7778
05/08/03

Hochstetler Family Look to Each Other for Support

Dennis Hochstetler has always had a lot in common with his oldest daughter Poppy, but he never dreamed he’d earn a college degree alongside her. Dennis has overcome several obstacles to get his education, and his 20-year-old daughter Poppy was there nearly every step of the way. Dennis, a 53-year-old military veteran, is legally blind.

He went back to school after more than 30 years through the state’s vocational rehabilitation program. He was able to get many of his textbooks on tape through UAF’s Student Support Services program, but Poppy also read class materials out loud and guided him around campus. Dennis also appreciates the help he received from three of his other children, James, Wolf and Zachary, who also attend UAF.

But moral support in the Hochstetler family isn’t a one-way street. Dennis helps his children bridge the gap between what they read in textbooks and real-world experience in many of his favorite subjects like history and business.

Dennis is receiving an associate’s degree in applied business and plans to continue his education working towards a bachelor’s degree in geography. Poppy will receive her certificate in office management and technology and was the department’s student of the year. Poppy plans to continue in the OMT program and pursue a bachelor’s degree in journalism. All five Hochstetlers hope to graduate together in two years.

Contact: Dennis and Poppy Hochstetler at (907) 452-1068 or e-mail: fspah@uaf.edu.

Boswell Award-Winner Immersed in Science, Songwriting and Student Lobby

Looking at the accomplishments of biology major Britt Arnesen makes you wonder when she has time to sleep. Arnesen is this year’s recipient of the Marion Frances Boswell Memorial Award for outstanding senior woman. While at UAF, Arnesen immersed herself in several different disciplines, doing research in ecology, anthropology, molecular biology and archaeology. She made the Dean’s List for academic achievement every semester except her final semester, when she was named to the Chancellor’s List. She graduated in December at age 18 with academic and leadership honors and will participate in the spring commencement.

Arnesen doesn’t limit herself to the classroom. Last summer she studied the impacts of dust from the Dalton Highway on tundra vegetation and wrote a science column for the student newspaper the "Sun Star." She’s currently conducting research in UAF’s molecular microbial ecology lab and plans to continue this work as part of a graduate program in ecology.

Arnesen rounded out her academic experience by coordinating the 2002 student legislative campaign for the University of Alaska Coalition of Student Leaders, and organized the 2002 "UA Road Show" as well as the statewide full-funding grass roots campaign the same year. She also found time to volunteer for the Tanana Valley Fair and the Division of Elections.

Arnesen is an accomplished singer and songwriter and took third place in her age class in the Equinox Marathon last fall.

Contact: Britt Arnesen at (907) 374-0753 or e-mail: fsbka1@uaf.edu for more information.

Mr. Miller Goes to Washington

UAF student body president Derek Miller, a lifelong resident of Fairbanks and graduate of Lathrop High School, will head to Washington, D.C. to work for Alaska’s senior senator Ted Stevens after graduation. This time next week he’ll be in the nation’s capital getting acquainted with senior staffers. Miller, who will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, honed his political skills at UAF. He was elected twice to serve as the president of the Associated Students of the University of Alaska Fairbanks and served as student regent on the University of Alaska Board of Regents appointed by then Gov. Tony Knowles in 2002. During his tenure as a regent, he worked with administration to increase the pay scale of university student employees.

The UA Board of Regents recently honored him with a resolution of appreciation for his service. He is credited for his efforts to extend ASUAF programs from the main campus to UAF’s Tanana Valley Campus in downtown Fairbanks and was instrumental in conducting the first online election for the student government. Miller also worked to resurrect the ASUAF Trust Fund Board.

Derek was president of the UAF Moore Hall Council and a resident assistant, being named RA of the year in 2000-2001.

Contact: Derek Miller at (907) 452-6611 or (907) 474-7355.

Outstanding Senior Man has Prescription for Success

Scott Kemp is a biochemistry and molecular biology major who will receive the Joel Wiegert Award as outstanding senior man. While at UAF, Kemp represented the chemistry department in rural Alaska and served as both a forensics and applied veterinary medical instructor for the Alaska Summer Research Academy.

Kemp is the founder and president of the Pre-med Society, which fosters medical education and connects students at UAF with medical professionals in the Fairbanks community. Kemp also helped to establish and fund a medical research library at UAF for pre-med students.

Kemp is a member of Golden Key Honor Society and the National Dean’s List Honor Society. He has been active in community service as a member with the American Chemical Society Student Affiliates, a volunteer for the annual UAF Science Potpourri and a mentor for UAF Connect promoting academic success for in-coming freshmen. He also volunteered as a medical assistant with the local Fairbanks Rescue Mission and in the fall of 2002, Kemp founded Caring Hands, a non-profit organization that transports supplies to places in need of medical care and equipment. The group is currently supplying clinics in the Ukraine and hopes to expand the effort.

Kemp will graduate with leadership honors. After graduation, he plans to pursue a master’s degree in neurochemistry at UAF and apply to medical schools.

Contact: Scott Kemp at (907) 479-2901 or (907) 479-2800 ext. 109 or e-mail: swkalaska@hotmail.com.

Army ROTC Cadet Receives National Award

James Price received the Gen. George C. Marshall ROTC Award, given to the most outstanding Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) cadet at each university across the nation. Price joined senior U.S. government officials at a National Security Seminar in historic Lexington, Virginia this spring. Here, Price had the opportunity to interact with key leaders and discuss a variety of issues directly bearing on national security. Price assembled an impressive list of accomplishments while still in college. In addition to serving as the Cadet Battalion Commander for the Army ROTC unit, he received the Leadership Award at the National Leadership Camp last summer and has been on the Dean’s List.

Price is a member of the Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society and will receive his bachelor’s degree in history on Sunday, which he completed in two and a half years. He will also be commissioned as a 2nd Lt. Sunday, May 11, 2003 at 6 p.m. in the Davis Concert Hall. A reception will follow.

The ROTC was established at UAF in 1939. As a land-grant college, UAF was mandated to provide military training and ROTC was a required course until 1967.

Contact: James Price at (907) 456-8107 and e-mail: jmprgr1@yahoo.com.

Student Commencement Speaker Making His Own Way

When Jeremy Dunn Johnson sees something that needs to be done, he does it. While at UAF, he re-organized the University Democrats and on his invitation Alaska Lt. Gov. Fran Ulmer came to UAF to speak. He served as president for the Alaska Gay and Lesbian Association for three years.

Johnson has volunteered with UAF’s Alumni Association, the Interior AIDS Association, the Interior Alaska Center for Non-Violent Living and the Fairbanks Breast Cancer Detection Center. He also spent two weeks in Europe fundraising for an AIDS vaccine.

His speech to his fellow graduates on Sunday promises to be fun with a message of finding common ground in a diverse world.

Johnson was an intern with the Alaska Legislature in Juneau and hopes to get back to the state capital after graduation.

Contact: Jeremy Johnson at (907) 474-7037 or e-mail: fsjdj2@uaf.edu.