Breakfast buffet applauds exceptional students

Submitted by Lydia Anderson
Phone: (907) 474-7037
04/28/05

Nearly six dozen students will be honored at the University of Alaska Fairbanks during the annual student awards breakfast Saturday, April 30, 2005 at 9:30 a.m. in the Wood Center Carol Brown Ballroom. Each spring UAF honors students who have distinguished themselves during their academic careers.

Biological sciences major Dane Lenaker will receive the Joel Wiegert Award recognizing the outstanding graduating senior man. Lenaker has used his college experience to get involved in a wide range of campus activities while maintaining a high level of academic achievement. He worked as a resident assistant and served as a student ambassador, volunteering his time to share his passion for the university by providing campus tours to perspective students. Lenaker received many honors including the 2003 Carol Feist Memorial Scholarship for excellence in undergraduate biology, the 2002 Film Club Best Animation Award and the 2002-2003 Alaska Airlines Travel Scholarship. After graduation he plans to attend dental school in Arizona.

Psychology major Kiana Bormann is this year’s recipient of the Marion Frances Boswell Memorial Award to recognize the outstanding graduating senior woman. Bormann, who’s also receiving an associate degree in early childhood education, worked fulltime as a lead teacher at Open Arms Child Development Center while attending UAF. She also volunteered nearly 20 hours a week at Young Life, working with teenage girls in the Fairbanks community. Bormann, a West Valley High School graduate and UA Scholar is considering two years service overseas in the Peace Corps prior to continuing her graduate degree in special education at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

Education major Raymond Joseph will receive this year’s Gray Tilly Memorial Award for a graduating senior whose education has been interrupted by family responsibilities. Joseph began working toward his bachelor’s degree in the fall of 1998 but delayed his education to be with his ailing father in the village of Alakanuk. He returned to UAF to continue his education after his fathers’ death in 2000. His volunteer work with Rural Student Services earned him the honor of Outstanding Freshman in 1998-1999. He also received the Outstanding Student Award in 2001-2002 and 2004-2005, respectively. After graduation Joseph would like to return to the village of Alakanuk to teach.

Two UAF employees will also be recognized for student advocacy. The Associated Students of the University of Alaska Fairbanks will present the Outstanding Faculty Award posthumously to Doug Schamel, associate professor of wildlife biology, who died in March. Sabra Phillips, ASUAF executive officer is the recipient of this year’s Outstanding Staff Member Award.

Outstanding student athletes being recognized are Jared Sylvestre from the hockey team and Mallory Bergstrom from the volleyball team. Sylvestre earned Central Collegiate Hockey Association All-Academic honors, was UAF’s sixth-leading scorer and led the Nanooks in game-winning goals this season. Bergstrom was named first team All-Conference and All-Region after earning honorable mention All-American honors as a junior.

After the university achievement awards are presented, deans and directors will recognize students by colleges and professional schools.

In the School of Education, Candice Buzzard will be recognized for elementary education and Raymond Joseph for rural elementary education.

In the College of Engineering and Mines, Ben Townsend will be recognized for civil and environmental engineering, Michael Kudenov for electrical and computer engineering, Sarah Schlichting for geological engineering, Brian Herold for mechanical engineering, Carolyn Curley for mining engineering and Phillip Tsunemori for petroleum engineering.

In the School of Management, Bethe Davis will be recognized for accounting, LeToya Ward for business administration and Michelle Kelly for economics.

In the School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences, Emily Brown will be recognized for work in forest sciences, Dennis Hochstetler for geography and Kristin Fischer in resources management.

The School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences will recognize Sean-Bob Kelly in fisheries.

UAF’s College of Rural Alaska will recognize Sonya Schaeffer from the Chukchi Campus, Anastasia Nicolai from the Kuskokwim Campus, Marisa Kingeekuk from the Northwest Campus, Robert Bulger for rural development and Sara Speziale for developmental education.

From the Tanana Valley Campus, department recognition will go to Liling Zhu in applied accounting, Songzhen Lang in applied business, Ashley Jones in the allied health medical assistant program and Jill Phaneuf in culinary arts. Kiana Bormann will receive recognition in early childhood education, Daniel Weatherly in emergency services, Pamela Anderson for local human service technology, Duane Lincoln for statewide human service technology, Nicholas Heide for microcomputer support specialist and Lorena Sims in office management and technology.

The College of Natural Science and Mathematics will recognize Aaren Heuer in biological sciences, John Rowley in chemistry and biochemistry and Patrick Webb in computer science.

Other outstanding CNSM students include Anya Kircher in geology and geophysics, Shannon Hammond in mathematics, Timothy Stern in physics, Molissa Bifelt in statistics and Erin Carr in wildlife biology.

In the College of Liberal Arts, Laron Qen’gauq Thomas will be recognized in Alaska Native languages. CLA will also recognize Adam Wood in anthropology, Jordan Van Duine in art, Anna Krause in communication, Brandon Ilgen in English, Lioudmila Ivanova in foreign languages and Stephanie Taylor in journalism.

Also recognized by CLA are James Zarones in justice, Zebulon Pischnotte in linguistics, Crystal Yauch in military science, James McCaleb in music, Benjamin Warlick in philosophy, Benjamin Steiner in political science, Clarabelle Abad in psychology, Janelle Perry in sociology, Robert Brookes III in theatre and Sally Rafson in women’s studies.

Note to editors: The Nanook Honors Celebration, a separate awards program hosted by the UAF Leadership program to recognize students for their achievements and community service outside the classroom, will take place in the Wood Center multilevel lounge today at 4:30 p.m. UAF Chancellor Steve Jones and Dean of Students Tim Barnett will be on hand to congratulate several students including those graduating with leadership honors.

If a student or department is not listed in this release, it may be that the outstanding student for that department has a confidential hold on their academic record.