Students achieve success with the help of the communities they built at NAU.
Northern Arizona University has many sources of school pride: our accredited programs, experienced faculty, and enthusiastic alumni, to name a few. Our biggest source of pride, however, is the success of our students. Student support in all its forms鈥攆rom military veteran student resources to undergraduate research opportunities and beyond鈥攊s part of NAU鈥檚 goal to unlock achievement and unlimited possibility for our student body at the Flagstaff campus and statewide locations. 鈥淟umberjack pride鈥� is pride in our community.
Celebrating Veterans Day at NAU
November 11 marks an important date for director of 鈥攊迟鈥檚 Veterans Day, an occasion to honor and acknowledge America鈥檚 military veterans. 鈥淰eterans Day to me personally is a day to say thank you for veterans鈥� commitment to the greater good in our communities, in the region, and in our nation,鈥� Yanka says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a humble way to honor those who have committed to something that we all benefit from.鈥澛燦AU commits to supporting our military-connected students not only for one day but throughout the calendar year. Brandon Hutton, an NAU student and military veteran, says the Veteran Success Center 鈥渉elped me by giving me guidance about anything in the school as well as getting tutoring sessions. But most importantly, it鈥檚 a place where I can relax and have someone to talk to.鈥� Yanka agrees and expands on the ultimate goal of his department: success for each military veteran student at NAU.
鈥淲e serve as a hub. But we鈥檙e also able to get them connected with resources, not only within our department, but throughout the entire university, that help them succeed,鈥� Yanka says.
Communicating school pride
Scott Hanson is an NAU alumnus who gives back to his alma mater through leadership in NAU鈥檚 Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) chapter. Graduating in 鈥�83 with a degree in Telecommunications, Hanson鈥檚 early career focused on sports journalism at KNAZ-TV, Ed Moser & 青青草视频s, and KPHO-TV. In 1991, Hanson became the president and owner of Ed Moser & 青青草视频s (now called HMA Public Relations), the oldest continuously operating public relations agency in Arizona. Hanson recommends the Flagstaff community and NAU connections to prospective students and feels that 鈥渂eing associated with so many other successful NAU grads who were classmates creates a sense of pride.鈥� He also encourages students to consider the field of communications.
鈥淭he communications industry continues to evolve and grow. Today there are directors of departments overseeing things that didn鈥檛 even exist five years ago! Public relations is a truly dynamic field where your expertise in communications and storytelling aligns with business,鈥� Hanson says.
Advancing the future: scientific discovery and a diploma at NAU
Chemistry major Zachariah Bess built his story of success on the foundations of NAU support systems and a passion for hands-on work in 鈥檚 research lab. Her encouragement, as well as guidance from NAU advisor , helped Bess overcome a difficult freshman year. 鈥淸Hemmer] cared enough to still be my advisor and wanted to make sure that I was able to graduate and finish what I started,鈥� Bess says. 鈥淪he also made sure that when I got here, I had everything in order. She impacted my life, more than anybody, ever.鈥�
Over a period of two years in Browder鈥檚 lab, Bess pursued two separate projects, one of which involved creating an antifungal solution using amino acids. 鈥淏asically, it鈥檚 like an antibiotic but for fungi, specifically fungus that grows on plants,鈥� Bess says. 鈥淪o, I鈥檝e been working on making an antifungal solution that you can spray on plants and break down the fungus without harming the plant.鈥� Bess continues, saying that 鈥渢he second project is still using the same medium as we did with the antifungal solution鈥攊onic liquids prepared from amino acids鈥攂ut this time we鈥檙e using the ionic liquids to make solid electrolytes.鈥� For his work on solid electrolytes, Bess won an Urdea Undergraduate Research Award. Following his success at NAU and recent graduation, Bess plans to pursue a master鈥檚 degree and, ultimately, a PhD in organic chemistry.
Speaking for the students: an ABOR student regent represents her peers
Rachel Kanyur, an Exercise Science major at NAU, became an (ABOR) student regent in July 2021. Her objective is to represent her peers and make sure their voices are heard. 鈥淢y main goal is to make聽sure that students have support on campus. That they鈥檙e able to have the tools that they need to enroll in college if they want to pursue that. That they have support on campus, so then they鈥檙e able to finish those degrees, go back in their communities, and contribute in whatever ways their career allows them to,鈥澛燢anyur聽says.聽
In addition to Kanyur鈥檚 drive, NAU has been instrumental in encouraging 鈥渙utside-the-classroom鈥� experiences through our commitment to experiential learning. In conjunction with , a senior lecturer in NAU鈥檚 Honors College, Kanyur previously completed a freshman research project focused on food security issues on college campuses. 鈥淭hat, I think, was the moment that I realized that I wanted to make sure that students had resources and felt supported, because the data that I found was shocking,鈥�
As Kanyur puts it: 鈥淚f you told me as a freshman that my research paper was going to be something that I鈥檇 actually be able to make a difference for students with, I wouldn鈥檛 have believed you. But [Martin] giving me that confidence and advice of, 鈥榊ou鈥檙e actually able to make a difference with this,鈥� really encouraged me to learn more and take the opportunities that would allow me to do that.鈥�
Seeing opportunity through a new lens
Claire Sipos, a Photography alumna who graduated in 2020, wants to put things in perspective鈥攊n her photos as well as her life experiences. During a class trip to the Grand Canyon while still a student, she used her photographic eye to capture the human impact of tourism and the Glen Canyon Dam. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just taking pretty pictures for the sake of pretty pictures, but it鈥檚, what are you trying to say? The species that typically live there are dying off and going extinct,鈥� she says. 鈥淭here鈥檚 an undeniable feeling that comes with being outside. Creating art in nature takes it another step further. You鈥檙e connected to something greater. There鈥檚 a lot to be gained that you can鈥檛 get looking at that photo or learning about a place. It hits differently when you鈥檙e actually spending time in that area鈥攅ngaging with it,鈥� Sipos explains. Following graduation, and with her NAU experiences to guide her, Sipos started , offering graphic design and photography services.
Sipos offers advice to other NAU students: 鈥淪eek out opportunities. There are a plethora of opportunities through NAU that will completely transform your college experience.鈥�
UP NEXT...
Hospitality鈥檚 innovation through collaboration
NAU professor Dr. Muhittin Cavusoglu helps his hospitality students connect the dots between collaboration, new technology, and multiculturalism.
Navigating new identities: the first-generation student experience
Student Lizy Martinez and Professor T. Mark Montoya use research to explore learning barriers to first-generation students.
Opening a door for all to learn
Using different teaching styles鈥攁nd a touch of creativity鈥擠r. Andrew S谩nchez Meador connects students with data analysis.
Amplifying Indigenous student voices at NAU
NAU amplifies Indigenous voices on our many platforms, enriching lives and improving our community.