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UAF honors 2019 outstanding graduating students

April 24, 2019

Jeff Richardson
907-474-6284

Each spring, the Â鶹¹ÙÍø 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.