UAF honors 2019 outstanding graduating students

April 24, 2019

Each spring, the University of Alaska Fairbanks recognizes students who have distinguished themselves throughout their academic careers. UAF honored many of its outstanding students on Saturday, April 20, at its annual student awards breakfast.

Among those honored were the winners of the Marion Frances Boswell Memorial Award, which recognizes an outstanding bachelor’s degree candidate; the Joel Wiegert Award, which recognizes an outstanding associate degree candidate; and the Gray S. Tilly Memorial Award, which recognizes an outstanding nontraditional graduating student.

Raymundo Lopez, of Porterville, California, received the 2019 Marion Frances Boswell Memorial Award. Lopez is graduating with a bachelor of science degree in petroleum engineering.

During his time at UAF, Lopez founded Alaska’s first Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers chapter, which is now recognized nationally, and co-founded Alaska’s first chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers. He worked closely with Vice Chancellor Keith Champagne to create a Student African American Brotherhood Brother to Brother chapter, with the goal of increasing graduation rates among men of color at UAF. With his role as a leader for the Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship, Lopez has helped care for the spiritual, mental and social growth of about 150 members.

Jessica Kot, of Corpus Christi, Texas, received the 2019 Joel Wiegert Award. Kot is earning her second degree from UAF, an associate of applied science in paralegal studies.

Kot completed her first degree while in Texas after returning from a deployment to Afghanistan in 2011. A self-described jack of all trades, she has a full-time job, is a soccer mom, volunteers in the Fairbanks community, and is a puppy parent for the Paws for Purple Hearts Association. She works a judicial assistant to Superior Court Judge Douglas Blankenship and manages the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Office at Fort Wainwright. She plans to remain involved at UAF, and will serve on the Paralegal Advisory Board at the Community and Technical College after graduation.

Michael Bilan, of Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada, received the 2019 Gray S. Tilly Award. Bilan is earning a bachelor of science degree in computer engineering.

Bilan fulfilled a childhood dream by working for seven years as a pilot in rural Canada but eventually decided to switch careers and pursue a degree in computer engineering. He originally studied under a student visa at Minnesota State University, Mankato, before pausing his schooling for a year to qualify for U.S. residency. Bilan moved to Alaska in 2015 with his wife Paige, who had accepted a position at UAF. He works full time in the UAF Office of Information Technology while also taking a full-time class load, and he spent a year as vice president of the local Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society.

Following are others honored at the annual student awards breakfast:

Scholar Athlete Awards

The Scholar Athlete Awards honor male and female student-athletes at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The recipients are selected based upon their excellence in academic achievement, athletic achievement, campus and community service, and character.

Alex Bergholtz, women’s cross-country running

Seiji Takagi, men's cross-country skiing

ASUAF Awards for Outstanding Faculty and Staff

The Associated Students of UAF Awards for Outstanding Faculty and Staff recipients are selected by students. The awards go to the faculty and staff members who have made the most significant contributions to students.

Faculty Member of the Year: Alex Hirsch, Honors Program director

Staff Member of the Year: Cathy Donaldson, academic program assistant, Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station Georgeson Botanical Garden

Sustainability Awards

The Sustainability Awards are presented by the Review of Infrastructure, Sustainability and Energy Board. The RISE Board works with the UAF Office of Sustainability.

Student: Klara Shepard, for efforts to increase sustainability at The Pub

Faculty: Maureen Biermann, adjunct sociology instructor, for work on the intersections of gender and climate change

Staff: Jenna Ginnaty, Rasmuson Library technician, for saving thousands of pounds of books from the landfill

Outstanding students by schools and colleges

College of Engineering and Mines

Rachel N. Bruesch, civil and environmental engineering

Tristan Van Cise, computer science

Sherjeel N. Cheema, electrical engineering

Charles J. Emerson III, computer engineering

Jaimy Anne Ayako Schwarber, geological engineering

David Hyun Park, mechanical engineering

Aaron Lyoshi Rouse, mining engineering

Benjamin Taishi Rouse, mining engineering

Sydney E. Deering, petroleum engineering

College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences

Keenan Chandler Berry Sanderson, fisheries and ocean sciences

College of Liberal Arts

Naomi R. Hutchens, art

Kendrick N. McCabe, anthropology

Joseph Elias Ransdell-Green, Arctic and Northern studies

Iosepa I. Verhagen, communication

David Russell Jones, English

Neil Wolfe, history

Katelyn Bushnell, foreign languages

Mackenzie M. Sylvester, digital journalism

Cassidy Jo Edwards, justice

Emily A. Dreher, linguistics

Evelina Savonin, music

Cassidy Mae Kelly, psychology

Kayla Haeg, political science

Emily Catherine Alvey, social work

Colby Freel, theatre and film

College of Natural Science and Mathematics

Taylor Jade Seitz, biological sciences

Alexandria J. Bergholtz, chemistry

Autumn Brittany Fournier, geography

Cody D. Keith, geoscience

Dakota Brady Dragomir, mathematics

Bryce Nathaniel Davis, statistics

Jason M.H. Beedle, physics

Shelby Lyn McCahon, wildlife biology and conservation

Chaya Elizabeth Pike, elementary education

Edward Paxson, secondary education

College of Rural and Community Development

Timotheen A. Charles, Alaska Native studies

Nicole Megan Austin, child development and family studies

Annisha Emerald Strom, developmental education and CRCD math

Rebecca Claire Wilmarth, rural development

Michelle Gilbert, associate of science

Florence Grant, tribal management

Community and Technical College

Dylan L. Cox, aviation maintenance

William K. Tuepker, professional piloting

Kayla J. Sonnenberg, associate of arts

Leann Michelle Unrein, applied accounting

Rodney Martin, applied business

Chris T. Boyle, automotive technology

Cheryl Isidra Ebarle, computer information technology specialist

Lindsey A. Schwaiger, drafting technology

Clifford D. Washburn Jr., culinary arts and hospitality

John Garrett Newton, diesel/heavy equipment

Justin Witt, construction management

Ligia Maria Vilchez, early childhood education

Oberon Ross Gallion, fire science

Lisa Ann Rice, human services

Stephanie Anne Lukens, paramedic academy

Jessica Marie Kot, paralegal studies

Hope Elizabeth Toland, instrumentation technology

Constance M. Tomlinson, process technology

Jordyn Blaike Garner, medical assisting

Karen Evette Gammage, certified nurse aide

Norman Fred Lowery, welding

Division of General Studies

Derek R. Bringhurst, interdisciplinary studies: justice and public policy

School of Management

Andraya Aleigh Albright, accounting

Cole J. Berner, business administration

Katelyn Bushnell, economics

Tyler James Loudermilk, homeland security and emergency management

Justice Isaiah Norris, military science and leadership (ROTC)

School of Natural Resources and Extension

Trevor Ross Schoening, natural resources management

NOTE TO EDITORS: Students who have earned academic honors but have requested that their directory information remain confidential may not appear on the public honors list.