UAF student awards breakfast April 28

April 27, 2012

Marmian Grimes

Dozens of students will be 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.”