Gold Axe Awards
Recognizing outstanding contributions to the NAU community
Each semester, Northern Arizona University recognizes seniors who have made outstanding contributions to the university and community. The award honors those who are committed to excelling in life outside of the classroom through leading student organizations, providing service to the community, involvement in their academic college, and more.
The seniors who are selected for their contributions will receive the prestigious Gold Axe Award. We acknowledge the incredible range of involvement and contributions from students to NAU and their community; however, only 1% of graduating seniors obtain this outstanding award. These awards will be presented at the Gold Axe Award Reception, co-sponsored by the Associated Students of NAU (ASNAU), the Office of Leadership and Engagement, and the Office of Alumni Engagement. In addition to the Gold Axe Award, the NAU President will honor the top applicants with the President’s Prize.
The Gold Axe Award application for Spring 2026 will open on Friday, January 2nd, 2026!
Application Deadline: Friday, February 13th, at 5:00 p.m. (AZ Time)
Congratulations to the Fall 2025 Gold Axe Award Winners and their Educators of Influence
| Last Name | First Name | Academic College | Educator of Influence |
| Baggerly | Ellington | The Steve Sanghi College of Engineering | Rob Bruner |
| Barraza | Paola | College of Arts & Letters | Jess Delmar |
| Botello | Fatima | The Steve Sanghi College of Engineering | Cami Iacona |
| Bziukiewicz | Julia | College of Social & Behavioral Sciences | Dr. Juan Ochoa |
| Carrillo | Jesse | College of Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences | Aaron Tabor |
| Evans | Amaia | College of Arts & Letters | Kathleen McGeever |
| Gerard | Alan | The W. A. Franke College of Business | Dr. Mark Molinaro |
| Gertsch | Melissa | College of Arts & Letters | Dr. Jacquelyn Schwandt |
| Herz | Zachary | College of Social & Behavioral Sciences | Dr. Marija Bekafigo |
| Higgins | Ella Skye | The W. A. Franke College of Business | T Paul Thomas |
| Lloyd | Zoe | College of Social & Behavioral Sciences | Dr. Joshua Merced |
| Martin | Hailey | College of Arts & Letters | Kathleen M. McGeever |
| Mauermann | Nick | College of Social & Behavioral Sciences | Dr. Oscar Mancinas |
| Morales | Lily | College of Education | Dr. Brian Stone |
| Rivera | Ayejah | College of Social & Behavioral Sciences | Dr. Jessie Finch |
| Rockey | Sierra | College of Arts & Letters | Dr. Stephen Meyer |
| Sloan | Destiny | College of Nursing | Garrett Mitchell |
| Snowden | Kristy | College of Social & Behavioral Sciences | Dr. Aleksey Kolpakov |
| Solano | Vinny | College of Arts & Letters | Dr. Kevin Tague |
| Valpey | Chantal | College of Education | Dr. Angel Branch Moore |
| Van Brunt | William | The W. A. Franke College of Business | Devon Randall |
| Vester | Olivia | The Steve Sanghi College of Engineering | Dr. Brian Rackham |
| Yazzie | Tracey | College of Nursing | Garrett Mitchell |
FLG Mountain Campus – Gold Axe Committee
| First Name | Last Name | Department |
| Emerald | Arnold | Indigenous Student Success |
| Mary | Barnett | Athletics |
| Angelica | Brady | First Generation Programs |
| Michelle | Gardner | Leadership & Engagement |
| Marissa | Griffin | Leadership & Engagement |
| Jana | Harper | Alumni Board |
| Destinee | King | Office of Inclusion |
| Erin | Konefal | Campus Recreation |
| Salvador | Lopez | Leadership & Engagement |
| Nancy | Navarro | Inclusive Excellence |
| Kirsten | Nolker | Admissions |
| Sun | Ohumukini | Peer Jacks |
| Mira | Petersen | Center for International Education |
| Brandon | Piestewa | Veteran and Military Affairs |
| Azah | Quach | Office of Inclusion |
| Gregg | Schneider | Academic Success Centers |
| Ramsay | Shannon | Ctr for Service & Volunteerism |
| Jake | Shaw | Campus Living |
| Jodi | Stooksbury | First Generation Programs |
Statewide & Online – Gold Axe Committee
| First Name | Last Name | Department |
| Patty | Diaz | Educational Partnerships |
| Bernadette | Gomez | Enrollment & Student Services |
| Marcelina | Hurtado | Enrollment & Student Services – Yuma |
| Salvador | Lopez | Leadership & Engagement |
| Sarah | Skillen | Peer Jacks Mentoring |
| Mike | Werner | Enrollment & Student Services – GCC |
Selection Process
Upon submitting a Gold Axe Award application and an active faculty/staff recommendation form, we compile both documents and confirm the applicant’s NAU status, credit hours, and institutional conduct record.
Next, the applications are divided amongst the selection committee, which is comprised of approximately 23 staff across the university. Due to the unique experiences of our STW/ONL students, we have identified staff who work at these campuses to evaluate these applications. They review the applications and recommendation forms fully. Each applicant is reviewed by 3 members of the committee, who score each applicant utilizing a rubric. The scores take into account the quantity and depth of experiences in the application. Scores are submitted, along with a top 5-10 ranking of who the committee member recommends to receive the award.
Finally, the selection committee meets to discuss all applicants and make final selections based on application, recommendation materials, and scores.
[Note: Given the committee members’ strong connection to students, we strive to minimize bias and conflict of interest.]
Applicants are eligible if they submit a graduation application through LOUIE and are expecting to complete their academic program of study for the semester they apply to the Gold Axe Award. While there is no GPA requirement for this award, it may be a factor in the committee’s final decision. If a student is away from campus in their final semester (e.g., internships, student teaching, etc.), they have the option of applying EITHER during their final semester or the previous term (final semester on campus), but not both. The application AND recommendation forms for Spring 2026 will open on Friday, January 2nd! Both forms will close on Friday, February 13th, at 5:00 p.m. (AZ Time). Late applications and recommendation forms WILL NOT be accepted or reviewed. If a candidate’s application is missing a recommendation form, the application WILL NOT be considered/evaluated. The selection committee will review all completed applications and recommendation forms, and all applicants will be notified of whether they are or are not chosen to receive the award by mid-March, 2026. All decisions are final! The Gold Axe celebrates seniors who have contributed significantly to life outside of the classroom. Your application reflects all of your accomplishments, contributions, and commitments. Please be detailed in representing your Lumberjack story. The Gold Axe application is available online and meant to be completed in a single session. You will need to have the following prepared before submitting your application: NOTE: AI usage is not permitted for the completion of the Gold Axe application. Any hints of AI usage will disqualify the student/application. Also, NAU Marketing will use any information included in a candidate’s application for advertisement and script creation purposes if selected for this award. In addition to your application, a Recommendation Form MUST be filled out by an active faculty/staff member of NAU. This is also due by Friday, February 13th, at 5:00 p.m. (AZ Time). It is the applicant’s responsibility to send/notify the active faculty/staff member of their choice about this form and inform them of the deadline. Please note that your recommender doesn’t need to be your appointed educator of influence. Late applications and recommendation forms WILL NOT be accepted or reviewed. If a candidate’s application is missing a recommendation form, the application WILL NOT be considered/evaluated. Once the application and recommendation form are submitted, no edits are allowed to be made by either the applicant or recommender.Eligibility Accordion Closed
Deadline Accordion Closed
Apply Accordion Closed
Please contact GoldAxe@nau.edu with any questions.