Snider, Dillon, Compton take top student awards

April 28, 2011

Marmian Grimes
907-474-7902

4/28/11

Dozens of students will be honored at the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ annual student awards breakfast Saturday, April 30 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.

Ashton Compton is the recipient of the 2011 Marion Frances Boswell Memorial Award. She graduates in May with a degree in political science. Her time at UAF has been marked by work as a student leader and campus/community volunteer. She is a UA Scholar and a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and Golden Key International Honor Society. She has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, the American Red Cross, Alternative Spring Break, and the Youth Service Opportunity Program. Compton just finished serving a two-year term as the student representative on the University of Alaska Board of Regents and has been lauded for her effectiveness in the position. She is also involved in politics. Compton volunteered for several state political campaigns and spent three sessions working for the Alaska State Legislature as an Assistant Sergeant at Arms. “The Marion Frances Boswell Award would be a crowning and appropriate final recognition of Ashton’s academic achievements and extraordinary service to UAF and the community,” said faculty member Jonathan Rosenberg. “She exemplifies the committed student who looks for ways to apply her education to the real world challenges and in the process raises the reputation of UAF, both locally and nationally.”

Each year a nontraditional student is presented with the Gary S. Tilly Memorial Award. The 2011 award goes to Amy K. Snider. A first generation college student, Amy graduated in December 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in political science. Her journey to UAF began in 2005 when she was working at the university as a night custodian, a job she had to quit after suffering a neck injury. Unsure of what to do next, Snider was inspired to enroll at the university by then Chancellor Steve Jones and Provost Paul Reichardt, whom she met while cleaning the offices on the third floor of Signers’ Hall. In 2006, at age 24, she was accepted as a general studies student. Despite setbacks, including a serious car accident and homelessness, Snider persevered through her academic journey. She eventually earned enough credits to apply to the political science program, where she flourished. She has been an active volunteer and leader for several campus clubs and activities and won numerous local and national scholarships and awards. “I meet many students who have a passion to change the world, save the environment, and/or promote social justice,” said faculty member Patricia Heiser. “Few of them, if any, are the dedicated, hard-working and truly outstanding performers that Amy is. There should be more Amy’s at UAF in the world!”

Jonathan Dillon is the recipient of the 2011 Joel Wiegert Award. He graduates in May 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in music education. When he finishes his student teaching this spring, he will have completed a total of 169 credits in four years, an average of 21 credits per semester. This is on top of holding several campus jobs, including two years as a resident assistant, as well as involvement in numerous campus clubs and service organizations. He has also been involved with activities off campus, most recently serving as assistant music director of the North Pole High School production of “Footloose.” Dillon served as president of the UAF Collegiate Music Educators National Conference chapter and received the National Professional Achievement Recognition award from the CMENC headquarters in Virginia. “Jonathan Dillon is a fine example of the very best students at UAF,” said faculty member Channon Price. “He has earned academic distinction while challenging himself above and beyond the curriculum. He has made those around him better, leading by selfless example.”

Following is a list of other award winners to be honored at the event:

Special awards
Mariya Pavlovskaya, Scholar Athlete
Kevin Petovello, Scholar Athlete
Latrice Laughlin, ASUAF Award for Outstanding Faculty
Ester Commack, ASUAF Award for Outstanding Staff
Ashton Compton, Marion Frances Boswell Memorial Award, Outstanding Graduating Senior Woman
Jonathan Dillon, Joel Wiegert Award, Outstanding Graduating Senior Man
Amy Snider, Gray S. Tilly Memorial Award, Outstanding Graduating Non-Traditional Senior

Department student award winners
Joel Forbes, Alaska Native Languages
Carly Varness, Anthropology
Rebecka Menzel Delcastillo, Art
Elizabeth Wallace, Communication
Cody Klingman, English
Travis Majdic, Foreign Languages
Ashley Paris, History
Hollie Seiler, Journalism
Christy Gentemann, Justice
Franz Felkl, Music
Lisbet Skogen Norris, Northern Studies
Jay Leonard, Philosophy
Ali Amhaz-Strickland, Political Science
Christopher DeCou, Psychology
Danielle LaFon, Social Work
Melissa Dawson, Sociology
Hadassah Nelson, Theatre
Danielle Hubbard, Women's Studies
Amy Barnes, Elementary Education
Uinniq Ahgeak, Fisheries
Jennifer Holland, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Nicklas Bywater, Computer Science
Alexander Morris, Electrical Engineering
David Jensen, Geological Engineering
Michael Nash, Mechanical Engineering
Michael Lehman, Mining Engineering
Stephanie Pilch, Petroleum Engineering
Amy Facklam, Accounting
Anne Vance, Business Administration
Nicole Heiter, Economics
Paul Miranda, Emergency Management
Cassie Wohlgemuth, Forest Sciences
Lorna Curran, Geography
Nicole Torre, High Latitude Agriculture
Teslyn Visscher, Resources Management
Sondra Shaginoff-Stuart, Alaska Native Studies
Melanie Noden, Bristol Bay Campus
Ariana Walker, Chukchi Campus
Renee Pike, Developmental Education
Ryan Abraham, Kuskokwim Campus
Darla Tocktoo , Northwest Campus
Kathryn Martin, Rural Development
Karin Stark, Allied Health Medical Assisting
Hannah Preuss, Applied Accounting
Farra Smith, Applied Business
David Snyderman, Aviation Airframe & Powerplant
Andrew Pagel, Construction Management/Drafting Technology
James Ian Pearce, Culinary Arts
Elisabeth Folger, Drafting Technology
Timothy Agee, Early Childhood Education
Alicia Alexander, Fire Science
Gail Denning, Human Service Technology
Jay Ranson, Instrumentation
Robert Schetky, Information Technology Specialist
Tracy Packee, Paralegal Studies
Joshua Fritts, Paramedic Program
Luke Morrall, Power Generation
Jenna Stevens, Process Technology
Vernon Owens, Safety, Health and Environmental Awareness
Mark Gilbertson, Biological Sciences
Talal Ahmed, Chemistry & Biochemistry
Sara Boaz, General Science
Riley Hall, Geology & Geophysics
Wenqian Wang, Mathematics
Kit Dawson, Physics
Lindsay VanSomeren, Wildlife Biology

NOTE TO EDITORS: Photos of Dillon, Snider and Compton, along with a complete list of student award winners, is posted online at www.uafnews.com. 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.

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