Montgomery, Robinson, Denning take top student awards

April 26, 2012

Marmian Grimes
907-474-7902
4/26/12

Dozens of students were honored at the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ annual student awards breakfast Saturday, April 28 at 9:30 a.m. in the Wood Center Carol Brown Ballroom. Each spring, UAF honors students who have distinguished themselves throughout their academic careers.

Among those honored will be the winners of the Marion Frances Boswell Memorial Award, the Gray S. Tilly Memorial Award and the Joel Wiegert Award. The awards recognize the accomplishments of three top graduating seniors each year.

Jordyn Montgomery is the recipient of the 2012 Marion Frances Boswell Memorial Award for outstanding graduating senior woman. She will be receiving a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in sports management. Montgomery transferred to UAF from Rockhurst University in fall 2009. She joined the volleyball team as a walk-on and earned a scholarship the following year, eventually becoming a starter and then co-captain of the team for her senior year. In addition to her stellar performance on the volleyball court and her ability to maintain a 4.0 grade-point-average, Montgomery and five other students started the Students Offering Leadership Development organization, a club that provides students the opportunity to gain leadership experience, networking and other personal development skills by working with the Northern Leadership Center.

“Never in my 21 years of teaching have I had a student that can come close to matching her level of commitment to the quality of work she submits,” said one faculty nominator. “She sets a new standard for me in the meaning of ‘excellence.’”

Matthew Robinson is the recipient of the 2012 Joel Wiegert Award, which is given to the outstanding graduating senior man. He will be receiving a bachelor’s degree in history with a minor in aviation technology. Robinson is a graduate of West Valley High School. He enrolled at UAF in January 2009 and completed his degree in only three years, while earning a 3.6 cumulative grade-point-average. He is an officer in the UAF chapter of Phi Alpha Theta and is a member of the American Fisheries Society, the Free and Accepted Masons, and the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. Earlier this year he was one of 55 delegates from across the state selected to participate in the 2012 Conference of Young Alaskans. Robinson recently completed his first solo flight at the age of 20.

“Without a doubt, Mr. Robinson takes his education seriously and works hard to make sure that he is properly prepared for individual classes,” wrote a faculty nominator. “He offers leadership in class and sets a great example of a disciplined work ethic. He always has his eyes on the larger goal of preparation for graduate school and a career in academics.”

Gail Denning is the recipient of the 2012 Gray S. Tilly Memorial Award, which is given to an outstanding graduating nontraditional student. In May she will be receiving a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies with an emphasis in rural health and a minor in rural development. Denning graduated from Monroe Catholic High School with honors and went on to study sports medicine at California State University-Sonoma, where she played three sports while also holding down two jobs. Parents of a teammate of hers who were both in the medical field inspired her to change her career goal, so she entered the nursing program at California State University-San Jose. After passing the nursing licensure exam she began work as a registered nurse in California, only to have her academics and career interrupted when she came back to Fairbanks to care for her ailing mother. In addition to pursuing her studies, Gail has been extremely active in the university and Fairbanks community.

“She is among the most dedicated and sincere students I’ve had in some time,” wrote a faculty nominator. “I have found her to be someone who has epitomized integrity in all her words and in her assignments.”

NOTE TO EDITORS: If a student or department is not listed, it may be that the outstanding student for that department has a confidential hold on his or her academic record.

SJM/4-26-12/232-12

Specialty awards

Theresia Schnurr, Scholar Athlete
Scott Greenham, Scholar Athlete
David Blurton, ASUAF Award for Outstanding Faculty
Patti Picha, ASUAF Award for Outstanding Staff
Jordyn Montgomery, Marion Frances Boswell Memorial Award, Outstanding Graduating Senior Woman
Matthew Robinson, Joel Wiegert Award, Outstanding Graduating Senior Man
Gail Denning, Gray S. Tilly Memorial Award, Outstanding Graduating Non-Traditional Senior

Awards in colleges and professional schools

Community and Technical College
Andrea Bloom, Applied Accounting, Fairbanks, Alaska
Kimberly Kelley, Applied Business, Fairbanks, Alaska
Sean Kelly, Aviation Maintenance
Alex Adlesperger, Construction Management, North Pole, Alaska
Christopher W. Redmond, Culinary Arts and Hospitality
Amie Kozak, Dental Assistant, Wasilla, Alaska
Paige Goneau, Drafting Technology, Tok, Alaska
Marcy Belisle McGraw, Early Childhood Education, Fairbanks, Alaska
Ilya Mocharnyy, Fire Science
Charles E. Esmailka Jr, Information Technology Specialist, Fairbanks, Alaska
Christie Hampton, Paralegal Studies, Fairbanks, Alaska
Nick Clark, Paramedic, Independence, Ore.
Kaitlyn Mead, Private Piloting

School of Natural Resources & Agricultural Sciences
Erik Soederstroem, Geography, As, Sweden
Kelsey Gobroski, High Latitude Agriculture
Ryan Jess, Humans & the Environment, Lewistown, Mont.

School of Management
Matthew Hurbi, Accounting, Fairbanks, Alaska
Jeffrey Bue, Business Administration, Fairbanks, Alaska
Heather Sacora, Economics, Fairbanks, Alaska
Forrest Kuiper, Emergency Management, North Pole, Alaska

School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences
Mark Evans, Fisheries, Fairbanks, Alaska

School of Education
Jenny L. Smith, Elementary Education, Homer, Alaska

College of Rural and Community Development
Naaqtuuq Debra Dommek, Alaska Native Studies, Kotzebue, Alaska
Elizabeth Darrah, Child Development and Family Studies, Seattle, Wash.
Amanda Tritt, Construction Trades Technology, Venetie, Alaska
Lee Atencio, Developmental Education,
Krista Donath, Educator: Para-Professional, Barrow
Leona Starr, Rural Development, Huslia, Alaska
Rowena Sam, Rural Nutrition Services, Northway
Randy Mayo, Tribal Management, Stevens Village

College of Natural Science & Mathematics
Sayde Ridling, Biological Sciences, Fairbanks, Alaska
Jordan Ross, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Fairbanks, Alaska
Samantha Davis, Geology & Geophysics, Fairbanks, Alaska
Kathleen Gerdes, Mathematics, Fairbanks, Alaska
Andrew Winkelman, Physics, Fairbanks, Alaska
Andrew Meng, Statistics, Papillion, Neb.
Catherine Rubin, Wildlife Biology, Albuquergue, N.M.

College of Engineering and Mines
Lyle J. Axelarris, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Melville, N.Y.
Justin Harvey, Computer Engineering, Fairbanks, Alaska
Gareth Chesley, Computer Science, Homer, Alaska
Joseph M. Stribrny, Electrical Engineering, Hudson, Ohio
Marina Critchett, Geological Engineering, Homer, Alaska
Shaun M. Milke, Mechanical Engineering , Fairbanks, Alaska
Taylor Duggar, Mining Engineering, Nenana, Alaska
Alexander Janorschke, Petroleum Engineering, Soldotna, Alaska

College of Liberal Arts
Azara Mohammadi, Anthropology, Chico, California
Yasunari Izaki, Art, Shimabara, Japan
Haley Hatch, Communication, Seward, Alaska
Maarit Hamilton, English,
Christopher Kern, Film, Troy, Montana
Stephen B. Thomas, Foreign Languages, Chattanooga, Tenn.
Matthew Robinson, History, Fairbanks, Alaska
Sarah Belmont, Journalism, North Pole, Alaska
Jacob Mannix, Justice, Talkeetna, Alaska
Trevor Matthew Adams, Music, North Pole, Alaska
Christopher Behnke, Northern Studies, Juneau, Alaska
Katya Wassillie, Political Science, Fairbanks, Alaska
Jordyn Montgomery, Psychology, Topeka, Kan.
Chelsea Fillingim, Social Work, Fairbanks, Alaska
Brian J. Woster, Sociology, Fairbanks, Alaska
Tiana Hanson, Theatre, Fairbanks, Alaska
Megan Lindbergh Carpenter, Women's Studies, Fairbanks, Alaska