presidentJose Luis Cruz RiveraAt a ceremony on April 10, students were awarded the President’s Award, the Gold Axe Award, and the Distinguished Senior Award in recognition of their efforts and achievements in their careers at NAU.

Students were selected from among applicants selected by the Office of Leadership & Engagement. The program is co-sponsored by the Rector’s Office, NAU Alumni and ASNAU.

Cruz Rivera honored 50 Gold Axe winners, including five Presidential Award winners, the highest honor bestowed on undergraduates. In addition, nine students were honored as outstanding seniors at the university.

“It is both humbling and inspiring to be able to recognize students who have achieved so much and who have contributed and enriched our community in so many ways,” he said. , has shown incredible resilience and determination to get to this point in his academic and personal journey, and has done a great job by excelling in his studies and giving back in such a meaningful way. It’s a model.”

The President’s Award winners are:

• Tyler Besta political science student who represented student organizations on the Strategy Roadmap Committee and served on the Campus Dining Advisory Board, is an ASNAU Senator, and provides more dining options and more sustainable options for on-campus restaurants I worked to
• haley caseparticipated in the 1st generation STAR program, worked for NAZ Today, won the 2022 Jacks Big IDEA competition, conducted undergraduate research on mentorship resource research, and mentored other students while at NAU I am a strategic communications major.
• Sarah Chatter, a public health student who has served on the NAU Council of Indigenous Ambassadors and the Indigenous Commission, has conducted research with the Navajo Health Stomach Project for Native American Cancer Prevention, has done significant volunteer work with the Navajo Nation, and has worked with the Office of Indigenous Student Success. I worked. in four years.
• Alexa Franco, holds a dual degree in International Affairs and Spanish, founded Somos NAU, is a member of the Black and Latin Student Unions, has done internships in Coconico County, is a Peer Mentor for TRIO Student Support Services and Living United for He was a Change Fellow. in Arizona.
• annalize thomasA social work honors student who worked at NAU No More Deaths and NAU Global Brigades, doing independent research around the US-Mexico border, and doing internships and study abroad at Global Brigades in Honduras.

Distinguished Seniors are:skyler gilbert(University of Health and Social Welfare);Jessica Muniz(Nauyuma);Heather Hanks(NAU online and statewide);Kaitlyn Fix(College of Arts and Letters);Derek Lake(Faculty of Environmental Forestry and Natural Sciences);Aiden Gillam(University of Engineering, Information, and Applied Sciences);Eliana Panzarella(University of Education);David Brown(WA Franke College of Business); andYesenia Cruz Carrillo(College of Social and Behavioral Sciences).

The flag bearers for each university are:Heather Hanks(NAU online and statewide);skyler gilbert(University of Health and Social Welfare);Gabriel Acosta(University of Engineering, Information, and Applied Sciences);Ainsley Brubaker(University of Education);Kaitlyn Fix(Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences);Samuel Smith(WA Franke College of Business);Yazzy Summers(College of Arts and Letters); andVan Nhi Nguyen(College of Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences).

gold ax

prominent senior