Outstanding seniors recognized during Gold Axe banquet

Three graduating seniors have been singled out to receive the prestigious President’s Prize for their exemplary leadership, academic excellence and service to the NAU community.

The awards were announced at the Gold Axe Awards banquet on Wednesday night at the High Country Conference Center, where the three—Rachel Gardner, Kaleigh Martino and Alexander Oden—were among 20 students receiving the coveted Gold Axe Award for their achievements.

The tradition of the Gold Axe Award dates back to 1933, a year after the student body adopted the axe as the symbol for Lumberjack athletics. It was then that NAU adopted the tradition of awarding small gold axe pins to outstanding members of the student body. To this day, the gold axe pin is considered the official emblem of the Associated Students of NAU and is presented each semester to recognize students’ outstanding achievement and distinguished service to the university and the greater community.

Students selected for a Gold Axe Award also are eligible for the President’s Prize, considered the highest student recognition from the university. After reviewing all the Gold Axe nominations, a universitywide committee makes its recommendations to President John Haeger, who then selects the President’s Prize winners.

Also during the ceremony, seven students were named as Distinguished Seniors by their college:

*College of Arts and Letters*
**L. Antonia Hernandez Speirs**
Art History

*College of Education*
**Lisa Munson**
Special/Elementary Education

*College of Education*
**Erin Vachon-Vierra**
Liberal Studies:
Learning and Pedagogy

*College of Engineering, Forestry and Natural Sciences*
**Zach Lerner**
Mechanical Engineering

*College of Health and Human Services*
**Joshua Wansley**
Nursing

*College of Social and Behavioral Sciences*
**Alexander Oden**
Psychology

*The W.A. Franke College of Business*
**Benjamin Yeh**
Accounting

Below are this year’s Gold Axe Award winners, along with the NAU faculty or staff member the students named as having the most significant impact on them during their undergraduate career.

Meghan Almaas Public Relations Cassie Luke Coordinator, Residence Life	Kristi Andreassen Exercise Science Richard Coast Biology Professor	Cecile Banks Exercise Science Pauline Entin Associate Dean, CEFNS	Ryan Carle Secondary Education, Music John Masserini Assistant Professor of Clarinet
Meagan Fredrick Special/Elementary Education, Psychology Jamie Whelan Lecturer, Educational Specialties	Rachel Gardner Biology Chuck Eade RHD, McKay Village	Kaleigh Martino Preforensics, Criminology Glenn Hansen Honors Georgia Totress Residence Life	David McNeill Exercise Science Chris Baldi Assistant Professor, Biology
Samantha Mitchell Music Education Louise Scott Music Professor	Ian Montanye-McRee Management/Computer Information Systems Susan Williams Associate Professor Richard Toeniskoetter IT Systems Manager The W.A. Franke College of Business	Alexander Oden Psychology Ann Huffman Associate Professor, Psychology	Monica Pirshafiey Health Sciences/Surgical Technology Gary Witt Communication Instructor
Levi Sikkema Finance/Management Mary Bowers Senior Lecturer, Management	L. Jane Stewart Environmental Science Mark Aasmundstad Administrative Associate, School of Earth Science	Christina Suarez Hotel and Restaurant Management Kathleen Krahn Lecturer, HRM	Sarah Sylvia Early Childhood Education Pamela Powell Assistant Professor, Education
Sarah True Microbiology Jamie Axelrod Director, Disability Resources	Jesse Trujillo Microbiology Fernando Monroy Biology Professor	Patrick Walker Electronic Media and Film K. Charlie Hicks Lecturer, Communication	Sherrie Watson Choral Music Education Edith Copley Professor, Choral Studies