UAF names outstanding graduating students for 2015
April 30, 2015
Marmian Grimes
907-474-7902
4/28/15
The University of Alaska Fairbanks recently honored dozens of students at its annual student awards breakfast. Each spring, UAF honors students who have distinguished themselves throughout their academic careers.
Among those honored were 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.
Kristen Whelchel McKay received the 2015 Marion Frances Boswell Memorial Award for an outstanding graduating senior woman. She will receive a bachelor’s degree in social work with minors in psychology and vocal music performance.
Volunteerism and leadership, both on and off campus, have marked McKay’s time at UAF. She is a UA Scholar and a member of the UAF Honors Program, as well as multiple general and discipline-specific honor societies. McKay has been on the chancellor’s list for four years and has volunteered with a wide variety of community groups, including the Resource Center for Parents and Children and Dance Theatre Fairbanks. She spent a semester abroad last spring, studying art therapy and psychology at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia. During her internship at the Resource Center for Parents and Children, she implemented a dance-focused playgroup called “Moving Matters” to provide safe activities for children during the winter.
After graduation, McKay plans to work full-time at RCPC. Eventually, she hopes to complete a master’s degree in social work, focused on creative therapy techniques, which use art, music and dance in a therapeutic setting.
Mats Eriksson received the 2015 Joel Wiegert Award, which is given to the outstanding graduating senior man. He will receive bachelor’s degrees in economics and in business administration with a finance focus.
Eriksson, a native of Sweden, was recruited as a member of UAF’s top-ranked rifle team. He served as team captain for the last three years and led the team to three top-three finishes at the NCAA Championships. In addition to his many achievements as a shooter, Eriksson has distinguished himself as a scholar, earning a spot on the chancellor’s or dean's lists for the past seven semesters. He received the NCAA Elite 89 award two consecutive years. The award honors student-athletes who are at the top of their sports nationally while achieving high academic marks. While not training or studying, Eriksson has participated in a variety of service activities with his teammates, including coaching local high school shooters, volunteering with Mush for Kids and building new homes for low-income families in Ensenada, Mexico, with the “Youth With a Mission” program.
After graduation, Eriksson will start an internship with an investment firm in Fort Worth, Texas. He plans to spend some time gaining experience in the field before attending graduate school to earn a master’s degree or doctorate in finance or economics.
Kimberley Strong received the 2015 Gray S. Tilly Memorial Award, which is given to an outstanding graduating nontraditional student. She will receive a bachelor’s degree in rural development.
Strong is the youngest of 12 children and her family didn’t expect that she would attend college. She left her home village of Klukwan to pursue education and work in California, where she lived for nine years, working full time and taking classes when she could. When her father became ill, she moved back to Alaska to care for him. He passed away that year, but Strong’s mother also needed a caregiver, so Strong put her education on hold. After returning to Alaska, Strong became involved in tribal government and volunteered for many community service projects. It was her volunteer work that made her realize that she needed to complete her education to better serve her community. She returned to school with the UAF College of Rural and Community Development, which allowed her to complete her degree while still helping her community.
Strong plans to volunteer in her home village after graduation, while continuing her education in rural development.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Photos of McKay, Eriksson and Strong, and a full list of student award winners, are available online at //news.uaf.edu/studentawards2015/. 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.
Specialty awards
Logan Hanneman, Scholar Athlete
Alyson McPhetres, Scholar Athlete
Joe Hawkins, ASUAF Award for Outstanding Faculty
Lydia Anderson, ASUAF Award for Outstanding Staff
Outstanding students by school and college
School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences
Genevieve Johnson, Fisheries
School of Education
Sindy Mendez-Espino, Elementary Education
Melissa Benson, Elementary Education (Distance)
College of Rural and Community Development
Cheri Alstrom, Alaska Native Studies
Jaad Danyele McElroy, Child Development and Family Studies
Pascha Mann, Developmental Education
John Henry , Rural Development
Hank Boggs, Science
Janet Bifelt, Tribal Management
College of Natural Science and Mathematics
Christopher Clement, Biological Sciences
Katherine Guillemette, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Ayshe Yeager, Geography
Amanda Mcpherson, Geoscience
Jody Gaines, Mathematics
Colin Latimer, Physics
Claressa Ullmayer, Statistics
Katie Moeller , Wildlife Biology and Conservation
College of Engineering and Mines
Jacob Rahlfs, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Garth Hulbert, Computer Engineering
Willliam Showalter, Computer Science
Shyla Keays, Electrical Engineering
Rebekah Tsigonis, Geological Engineering
Matthew Ranson, Mechanical Engineering
Mickey Wilson, Mining Engineering
Bradley Cruickshanks, Petroleum Engineering
College of Liberal Arts
Eric Tunuchuk, Alaska Native Languages
Ana Fochesatto, Anthropology
Mariah Henderson, Art
Michelle Klaben, Communication
Daniel C. Nero, English
Makenzie Demmert, Film
Ayshe Yeager, Foreign Languages
Megan McAfee, History
Aaron Berner, Journalism
Robert M. Purcell, Justice
Trevor Adams, Music
Mindona Grunin, Philosophy
Ana Fochesatto, Policial Science
Mariah Henderson, Psychology
Shannon M. Hickey, Social Work
Britta L. Hamre, Sociology
Katrina (Kuharich) Lee, Theatre
Amy Cross, Women's and Gender Studies
Community and Technical College
Ben McDaniel, Airframe and Powerplant
Laura Hockin, Applied Accounting
McKenzie Burgess, Applied Business
Eran Eads, Associate of Arts
James Green, Automotive Technology
Kurt Marth, Computer Information Technology Specialist
Kristina Johnson, Computer Information Technology Specialist (Distance)
Tim Beyer, Construction Management
Tyler Poe, Culinary Arts and Hospitality
Jenna L. Fuller, Dental Hygiene
Aaron Page, Diesel/Heavy Equipment
Tremain Roseman, Drafting Technology
Kelly Utkin, Early Childhood Education
Amber Jones, Fire Science
Nicholaus Kraska, Human Services
Cohl H. Fell, Instrumentation Technology
Kaylene McCutcheon, Medical Assisting
Shelly M. Roberts, Paralegal Studies
James Adams, Paramedic Academy
John R. Green, Paramedic Academy (Distance)
Joseph C. Rivera, Process Technology
Keith J. Henrys, Professional Piloting
Kenneth R. Russell, Safety, Health and Environmental Awareness
School of Natural Resources and Extension
Katherine Mihalczo, Natural Resources Management
School of Management
Mariah Ver Hoef, Accounting
Christina Tachick, Business Administration
McKenzie Mitchell, Economics
Rodolfo Carrera, Homeland Security and Emergency Management
Ryan P. Englert, Military Science and Leadership
MG/4-30-15/268-15