My name is Daniel Lord and I grew up in Tucson, Arizona. Currently, I am pursuing my Nursing degree after initially building upon the strong foundation I established from receiving a degree in Biomedical Sciences from Northern Arizona University in 2021. I am on track to graduate Winter 2024. My immediate goal upon graduation is to pass the NCLEX exam and secure a position as either a pediatric or ICU nurse in Arizona. I am deeply committed to serving my community and believe that working in these specialized fields will allow me to make a significant impact on the lives of patients and their families. Receiving this scholarship will be instrumental as it will enable me to dedicate more time and resources to reaching my highest potential in my studies. I would be able to focus more intently on my education and clinical experiences, ensuring that I am well-prepared to provide the highest standard of care as a future nurse.

I am Christine and I live in Yuma, AZ. I am an Allied Health major, with a minor in Psychology.  I will graduate in the Spring of 2025. My goal is to continue my education and become a Physician Assistant and serve my community as a primary care provider. I have a deep love for Arizona and the diverse people that make up this great state and I am honored to serve my community in any way I am able. This funding is critical because I am continuing on to a graduate degree and school is unattainable for me without the aid of grants and scholarships. I am also a wife and a mom and this funding means I do not have to work unrealistic hours while trying to pay for my education. This opportunity is a true blessing and I appreciate it.

My name is Jessica Marshall and I am from Louisville, Colorado. I am double majoring in Biomedical Sciences and Chemistry with a Psychology minor and will be graduating from the Honors College at Northern Arizona University in the spring of 2024. Upon graduation, I plan to obtain an M.D./Ph.D in Neurology and aspire to practice medicine and conduct research on host-pathogen interactions in the central nervous system with the goal of developing preventative and treatment options for those affected by neurodegenerative diseases caused by pathogens. This scholarship is invaluable and will help provide me with the opportunity to reach my potential. This financial support allows me to pursue research and internship opportunities, develop my leadership abilities, give back to my community, and focus my energy on my studies.

My name is Jeshua Scott, and I am born and raised in Flagstaff Arizona. I am currently in my junior year of college studying for a bachelor’s in secondary education physics, with a minor in mechanical engineering. My love for both teaching and engineering has been heavily influenced by my father and grandfather who both worked and graduated from NAU. My late grandfather was a professor of electrical engineering and shared his technical thinking through board games and has challenged me throughout my early life to think critically and enjoy life to its fullest. My father taught at the Program for Intensive English and showed me the impact that teaching can truly have on people of all ages, cultures, and languages. I hope to teach at Coconino Highschool, the local high school that I graduated from, and after gaining a few years of experience, I want to travel the world teaching science at military base schools or schools for international children. For part of my childhood, I grew up overseas, so I would love to continue that experience as an educator. The generous scholarship money from the NAU Retirees Association has been an incredible blessing. As teaching does not pay very well, I have had quite a few concerns regarding furthering my education as a professional teacher. The awarded amount has allowed me to plan on continuing into a master’s program to better serve the students I will one day teach, and has taken a reasonable mental strain off of my shoulders. I will be forever grateful for the incredible generosity I have been shown.

I want to start by saying thank you and that I will be eternally grateful to NAURA for granting me this scholarship. It has lifted a huge weight off my shoulders for this upcoming school year. Thank you so much. Here is a bit about me:

Hello! My name is Guadalupe Reynoso Jimenez, I am a Senior currently studying criminology and criminal justice and minoring in law rights and justice. My passion for advocating for marginalized communities ignited in high school when I began to volunteer with different organizations in the Phoenix Metro area. During that time I realized the importance of education and the powerful impact it has specifically on first-generation students, first-generation Americans, and undocumented students. Being first-generation myself, I know of the obstacles present to us when seeking an education. I hope to use my degree from NAU to pursue a Masters’s Degree in public policy in hopes to work with the community and lawmakers to ensure that education is accessible to everyone, but especially to those who have been historically neglected. My time at NAU has been filled with growth and learning. I have found a new community that supports me and is helping me make my dreams come to fruition.

Once again thank you so much for this opportunity!

Warm regards,

Guadalupe Reynoso Jimenez

I want to give a big thank you to the individuals that made it possible to be able to receive this amazing scholarship. I am honored to have been chosen amongst the select few. This will help me pay for my entire semesters worth of fees allowing me to focus more on succeeding in my classes and less time working outside of school to make up for the tuition fees.

I am working towards my Bachelors of Science in Managerial Business Administration (BSBA). My parents graduated from NAU with a Bachelors degree in Account Management and Finance and a Bachelors in Mechanical engineering (1994 and 1996).

I was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. – Both of my parents are NAU alumni’s. -I am a member of Delta Sigma Pi. I have always wanted to attend NAU since I was little. I participated in Soccer,  Track, and Cross Country lettering varsity. Thank you again,

Ashley

Candi Running Bear is from the capital of the Navajo Reservation, Window Rock, AZ. However, she also grew up in Utah, Colorado, Hawaii, and Kentucky. She is a single mother of a 10-year-old, and they love to camp and do outdoor activities together such as visiting national monuments and parks. Candi has about 12 and a half years’ experience as an early childhood special educator, most of which have been on the Navajo Nation. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Brigham Young University, master’s degree in Special Education from the University of Arizona and is currently a 3^rd year doctoral student at NAU. Her research interests revolve around sharing Navajo views of early childhood special education and discovering culturally relevant interventions to services Navajo preschoolers with disabilities.

My name is Elizabeth Zyriek and I am in my senior year in the College of Engineering. Since I was little, I have had a knack for math and science. Thanks to these abilities, I decided on a major, Electrical Engineering, where I can use my talents every day. I have enjoyed my time at NAU and it has helped prepare me for the next step in my career path. After graduating from NAU, I plan on getting a master’s degree in either Electrical Engineering or Business Administration. I have been involved with NAU’s chapter of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) since my sophomore year. The club has helped me meet and connect with other young engineers in the profession and develop teamwork and engineering skills in soldering and computer programming. I have also been a member of the Disney Club since my freshmen year and will serve as President this upcoming year. The Disney Club has allowed me to meet more students at NAU who share similar passions but are outside my field of study.

I am honored to be a third generation Lumberjack, following in the footsteps of my grandfather, President Emeritus Eugene Hughes, and my mother, Lisa. Upon graduation, I will be the first grandchild of Eugene and Caroline Hughes to graduate from NAU. Other NAU alumni in my family besides my mom include my uncles, aunt, and grandmother. I have fond memories of attending many NAU homecoming parades, football games, and Holiday Dinners from childhood to the present!

Thank you to the NAU Retirees Association for this award as I enter my senior year during these extraordinary times.

I currently reside in Verde Valley with my husband and children. I graduated from community college back in 2008 and returned to college in 2018 part-time.  I’ve been working in the behavioral health field for over a decade. I’ve decided to return to school to become a counselor. I’m majoring in psychology with a minor in sociology. My husband and I have two younger children and work full time so extracurricular activities and hobbies are rare for us. We do make efforts to ensure we have quality family time and do activities the whole family enjoys.

Within my family it is like a tradition to graduate from NAU where it becomes a pathway for our futures. I am now a Senior at NAU with a major in Visual Communication with dual emphasis in graphic design and motion design, also a minor in studio art. I see myself as an exceptional student who tries my best in every way. But I chose my path based on what I enjoyed instead of what I thought others wanted from me.

My name is Jacy Dagenhart. I am majoring in Chemistry with a Pre-Health Professional emphasis and a minor in biology. I am majoring in Chemistry because it has always been a subject that I enjoy, and I love its applicability to real life. I have a Pre-Health Professional emphasis and minor in biology because I wanted my prerequisites for medical school to apply towards my college education in some way. Currently I am going into my junior year as an undergraduate. I am graduating a year early, so I actually have senior credits. I am planning to go to medical school right after I graduate from NAU in May of 2018. I aim to become a surgeon. As of now I have interests in orthopedic surgery, plastic and reconstructive surgery, and pediatric surgery. My brother was born with a bilateral cleft lip, which originally inspired me to become a surgeon because I have seen first hand the amazing things that surgical teams can accomplish.

I love all aspects of the outdoors and doing activities such as hiking, hunting, boating, and snowboarding. I also enjoy activities including running, dancing, yoga, and Crossfit. My hobbies include baking, cooking, and occasionally drawing. I like to find various things to help balance my overall well-being and possibly to find new enjoyable hobbies. I love traveling to different countries whenever I get the chance, in order to observe and experience different cultures. I also recently just started taking drumming lessons because I wanted to explore something new and artistic to overall challenge my creativity.

My name is Mikaela Weedman and I am in my senior year in the College of Engineering Forestry and Natural Sciences. I am pursuing a degree in biomedical science with a minor in chemistry. After completing my degree at NAU I am hoping to attend dental school. It is my dream to one day provide exceptional healthcare services and patient experience to the people of northern Arizona. My time at this university has been wonderful and has helped prepare me for the next step in my career path. I have been involved in the pre-dental club since I was a freshman, which has been an excellent opportunity for me to be involved on campus, to help the community and to learn about the dental field and the process of applying to dental school and becoming a dentist.

It will truly be an honor to carry on my family’s tradition of earning a degree from NAU. Upon graduation, I will be the third grandchild of Ben and Jacy Zinnecker to graduate as a lumberjack, along with my mother, uncles and aunts.

I was born and raised in Flagstaff, Arizona. Growing up in Flagstaff has been a blessing for many reasons. For one, my mom’s entire side of the family also lives here, so I was able to play with my cousins growing up and enjoy big family gatherings. Also, my grandparents were there to help raise me. I was lucky enough that my mom was able to stay home with my little sister and me when we were young. I grew up playing Barbie dolls with my sister, and riding bikes with the neighbor’s kids. I had a happy childhood that was surrounded with memories of family and friends.

I attended several elementary schools in Flagstaff, Sinagua Middle School, and then finally Flagstaff High School. My mom attended Flag High also, so it was a cool experience for me to walk the same halls she walked. I enjoyed high school and was actively involved in extracurricular activities. I was in the Honor Society at Flag High and would volunteer at various events/places. I also ran cross country in high school and played some volleyball. I attended a high school youth group through my church, and now attend a college youth group. The people who lead these groups have helped me to focus on my goals in life and have helped me to grow closer to God. Now, at Northern Arizona University, I am studying Interior Design. I have a passion for this major and find myself pouring hours of my time and effort into projects for these classes. I am really enjoying college and am going to continue to work hard so that I can graduate with my current standing of a 4.0.

My grandparents Wally and Sharon Duncan have helped to teach me many life skills and have always loved and supported me. My mom, Julie, has been such an example to me growing up on how to be a strong, independent, and successful woman. She has loved me since the day I was born, and she shows her love each day. My dad has always supported my hopes and dreams for the future and tries to help in any way he can. My sister is the one who always can put a smile on my face, when she puts her mind to it, and tells me to “go for it” when I am trying to make a decision. Without these people, and the Lord, I wouldn’t be the person that I am today.

The recipient of our NAU Retirees Centennial Scholarship for fall 2014, spring 2015 is Laura Nelson. Laura is a Northern Arizona native who is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Special and Elementary Education with an ESL Endorsement.

Laura has been interested in NAU ever since her father shared that he had graduated from the university with his Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership in 1993. Laura has always been inspired by her hardworking father, Matthew Weber, who is an exceptional husband, father of eight children and administrator who is currently working in Northern Arizona for NAVIT.

After completing high school in Northern Arizona, Laura moved to Mesa, Arizona where she completed her prerequisites and met the love of her life, Tanner Nelson, at Mesa Community College. Laura and Tanner were married in 2012 and moved to Yuma shortly after they got the exciting news that she was accepted into NAU. Laura has enjoyed her studies very much and she is looking forward to her opportunity to student teach in December 2015. Laura has wanted to become a special education teacher for as long as she can remember and with the help of this scholarship and the exceptional instruction that she is receiving at NAU, she will become qualified to teach students with special needs and fulfill her dreams of being a successful special educator.

The recipient of our NAU Retirees Centennial Scholarship for fall 2013, spring 2014 is Kiara Lee Weathersby.  Kiara is a multicultural Flagstaff native who is pursuing a dual degree in Business Management and Psychology.

Kiara’s earliest connection to NAU is her great grandfather, Lemuel Lane Littleman, who was a groundskeeper from 1947-1983.  Lemuel was born in a canyon near Navajo Mountain.  He and his wife, Marie, had seven children, two of whom graduated from NAU.  Lemuel is recognized at the Arboretum on campus; go to ww4.nau.edu/arboretum/littleman/littleman.html. There is also a bust housed in the Native American Cultural Center that recognizes him for the many noteworthy contributions he made over 36 years on campus.

Kiara left home at an early age and was employed in the escrow and title insurance business.  There she quickly learned the importance of finishing high school and pursuing a college degree.  After earning a GED and an associate degree she transferred to NAU.  In addition to her studies, she is an intern at Mountain Heart and also works in the Dean’s Office at The W.A. Franke   College of Business.

Upon completion of her undergraduate degree, Kiara intends to pursue an MBA, and then continue her education in medicine with her ultimate goal to become a cardiac psychologist.  This career path will enable Kiara to give back to her community and “be the change I want to see in the world.”

The fall 2012, spring 2013 recipient of the NAURA Centennial Scholarship was awarded to Kelly Wells, a hometown person. She is a graduate of Coconino High School and is returning to school to earn a degree in Social Work. After completing two years at Mohave Community College, Kelly, her husband, and their two sons relocated to Flagstaff. Many of us were fortunate to meet her at our spring lunch meeting. Kelly is a delightful woman who is busy raising two boys, volunteers at Victim Witness and maintains a 4.0 in her studies at NAU.  She is the daughter of the late Mary Crowley who worked in Cline.