University Honors

To be eligible to graduate with honors, associate and baccalaureate degree-seeking students must first earn a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or above in all college work attempted at UAA. A transfer student who is earning an associate degree must complete a minimum of 15 resident credits with academic letter grades to be eligible to graduate with honors. A transfer student who is earning a baccalaureate degree must complete a minimum of 30 resident credits with academic letter grades to be eligible to graduate with honors. All transfer students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or above in all college work attempted both at UAA and at all other accredited institutions attended and for all courses used to fulfill the degree program in order to graduate with honors. At UAA, graduation with honors represents a student’s entire academic history. All grades and credits earned will be included in determining eligibility to graduate with honors (Ds, Fs, retaken courses, courses lost in academic bankruptcy, etc.). In addition, a student transferring coursework and grades must have a minimum of 70 percent of their credits submitted with letter grades to be eligible to graduate with honors. Honors are awarded to associate and baccalaureate degree students with cumulative GPAs as follows:

Cum Laude 3.50 to 3.79
Magna Cum Laude 3.80 to 3.99
Summa Cum Laude 4.0

Departmental Honors

Anthropology Departmental Honors

To graduate with Departmental Honors in Anthropology, students must be a declared anthropology major; satisfy all requirements for a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Anthropology; meet the requirements for graduation with honors as published in the UAA catalog; and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.50 in their major requirements. In addition, they must complete a senior thesis project, taken as ANTH A499 Senior Thesis in Anthropology, based on library, laboratory, or field research resulting in a substantial thesis-quality paper defended before the Anthropology faculty.

Meghan R. Ussing Cum Laude

Biological Sciences Departmental Honors

To graduate with Departmental Honors in Biological Sciences, students must be a declared biological sciences major. In addition, students must meet the requirements for graduation with honors as published in the UAA catalog, meet the requirements for a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Sciences in Biological Sciences, and earn a GPA of 3.50 or above in major requirements. During the senior year of their academic program, students must complete BIOL A499 Senior Thesis with a minimum grade of B. This includes completion of a thesis research project. Biological sciences faculty members must approve the project proposal and final written report.

Caitlin A. Kollander Cum Laude

Civil Engineering Departmental Honors

To graduate with Departmental Honors in Civil Engineering, students must be a declared civil engineering major and complete all requirements for a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. In addition, the student must successfully complete 30 credits applicable to the civil engineering degree with a GPA of 3.30 and be an active member for at least one year of both a national and an on-campus student chapter of a professional engineering society that addresses issues relevant to the civil engineering profession. The student must also complete a design/research project prior to applying for graduation and an oral presentation of the project, pass the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam in the fall semester of the senior year and document a minimum of eight weeks’ work experience in an engineering or engineering-related position.

Matthew D. Fischer

Kacy R. Grundhauser Cum Laude

Arianna J. Sosnowski Magna Cum Laude

Electrical Engineering Departmental Honors

To graduate with Departmental Honors in Electrical Engineering, students must be a declared electrical engineering major and complete all program requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. In addition, students must be an active member of both a national and an on-campus student chapter of a professional engineering society, maintain a GPA of 3.50 or above in all courses applicable to the Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, and gain approval for, complete, and present a design/research project prior to applying for graduation.

Justin M. Benz Cum Laude

Henrique H. Oliveira Miller Summa Cum Laude

Daniel J. Warta Magna Cum Laude

English Departmental Honors

To graduate with Departmental Honors in English, students must be a declared English major, meet the requirements for graduation with honors as published in the UAA catalog, satisfy all requirements for a Bachelor of Arts in English (literature, rhetoric or education option), and maintain a GPA of 3.50 or above in all courses in the English major. In addition, students must complete six credits of specific 400-level topics courses with a grade of A and complete ENGL A499 English Honors with a grade of A in the judgment of two faculty readers.

Hannah L. Cox Magna Cum Laude

Geomatics Departmental Honors

To graduate with Departmental Honors in Geomatics, students must be a declared geomatics major and complete all major requirements. In addition, students must be an active member of both a national and an on-campus student chapter of a professional geomatics society, maintain a GPA of 3.50 or above in all geomatics and geographic information system courses and a cumulative GPA of 3.30, gain approval for and complete a design/research project prior to applying for graduation, pass the Fundamentals of Surveying Examination and document a minimum of eight weeks work experience in an engineering or engineering-related position.

Kiva A. McCarthy Cum Laude

Katie Y. Miller Summa Cum Laude

Samuel A. Phillips Cum Laude

Matthew D. Santiago

Nicholas G. Svinicki

Health Sciences Departmental Honors

To graduate with Departmental Honors in Health Sciences, Health Educator track or Pre-professional track, students must be a declared health sciences major and satisfy all requirements for the BSHS Health Educator or Pre-professional track. In addition, students must earn a GPA of 3.50 or higher in upper-division BSHS core and focus sequence courses, meet the requirements to graduate with honors, complete HS A492 with a grade of B or better, and complete a senior project or thesis (HS A498 or HS A499) with a grade of B or better.

Justine N. Anderson Magna Cum Laude

Justice A. Jensen

Martin L. Molodih Cum Laude

Mallory C. Raymore Cum Laude

Kaylee A. Simmons Magna Cum Laude

History Departmental Honors

To graduate with Departmental Honors in History, students must be a declared history major. In addition, students must meet the major requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in History, meet the requirements for graduation with honors as published in the UAA catalog, maintain a GPA of 3.50 or above in courses specific to the History major, complete HIST A377 Historiography with a grade of A and complete the senior seminar paper in HIST A477 with a grade of A.

Hunter D. Blair Cum Laude

Emilia E. Brown Magna Cum Laude

Steven L. Calvin Magna Cum Laude

Zachary M. Christy Magna Cum Laude

Joseph D. Longuevan Magna Cum Laude

Daniel S. Ogden Magna Cum Laude

Meghan E. Thompson Cum Laude

International Studies Departmental Honors

To graduate with Departmental Honors in International Studies, students must be a declared international studies major. In addition, students must successfully satisfy all requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in International Studies, meet the requirements for graduation with honors as published in the UAA catalog, maintain a GPA of 3.80 or above in courses applicable to the degree and complete a program capstone course (GEOG A390A, HIST A390 or PHIL A400) with an honor grade of A.

Aleya G. Gile Magna Cum Laude

Information Systems and Decision Sciences Departmental Honors

To graduate with Departmental Honors in Management Information Systems, students must be a declared Management Information Systems major and complete all requirements for a Bachelor of Business Administration in MIS. In addition, students must maintain a GPA of 3.50 or above in their major requirements and/or receive a technical award in the AITP’s (Association of Information Technology Professional) National Collegiate Competition or a technical award in the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition.

Courtney M. Baffrey

Wesley S. Dellinger Cum Laude

Gustavo A. Henriquez Magna Cum Laude

Journalism and Public Communication Departmental Honors

To graduate with Departmental Honors in Journalism and Public Communications, students must be a declared journalism and public communications major and complete the major requirements. In addition, students must maintain a GPA of 3.50 or above in courses applicable to the major and complete JPC A403 Communications and Media Research, or JPC A492 Capstone Seminar with a grade of A or B.

Bobby O. Ellis

Jason C. Herr

Austin D. Michie

Marie C. Ries Summa Cum Laude

Cindy Rocha Esparza

David Sramek Cum Laude

Justice Departmental Honors

The Justice Center awards Departmental Honors for outstanding achievement in the study of justice. To graduate with Justice Honors, students must meet the requirements for a Bachelor of Arts in Justice. In addition, students must earn a 3.20 or above cumulative GPA (including a minimum 3.50 Justice Major GPA); complete a Justice GER integrated capstone, e.g. JUST A460 or JUST A463, with an honor grade (A); and notify the Justice Undergraduate Program Coordinator of their intent to graduate with Justice Honors in writing on or before the date they file their Application for Graduation with the Office of the Registrar.

Alissa I. Foy Magna Cum Laude

Yazmeen D. K. Goo

Nolan D. Nicholas Magna Cum Laude

Matthew H. Stone

Madeline C. Tschappat-Larson

Languages Departmental Honors

To graduate with Departmental Honors in Languages, students must be a declared languages major. In addition, students must successfully satisfy all requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Languages, meet the requirements for graduation with honors as published in the UAA catalog, maintain an overall UAA GPA of 3.80, and maintain a 3.90 in courses taken in the primary language option beyond A302.

Hannah N. Rudd Magna Cum Laude

Mathematics Departmental Honors

To graduate with Departmental Honors in Mathematics, students must be a declared mathematics major. In addition, students must meet the requirements for graduation with honors as published in the UAA catalog, meet the requirements for a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, earn a GPA of 3.50 or above in the major requirements and complete a minimum of 12 upper-division credits required for the major in residence.

Jonna D. Bartlett Magna Cum Laude

Henrique H. Oliveira Miller Summa Cum Laude

Mechanical Engineering Departmental Honors

To graduate with Departmental Honors in Mechanical Engineering, students must be a declared mechanical engineering major and complete all program requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. In addition, students must maintain a GPA of 3.50 or above in all courses applicable to the Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, and gain approval for, complete, and present a design/research project prior to applying for graduation.

Aileen V. Gundran Cum Laude

Aaron J. Hallman Magna Cum Laude

Dennis P. Kudryn Magna Cum Laude

Matthew J. Minute Cum Laude

Marlon J. Saturnino Cum Laude

Thisal B. Senevirathne Cum Laude

Nataliya F. Udovyk

Ryan Christian V. Villaran Cum Laude

Music Departmental Honors

To graduate with Departmental Honors in Music, students must be a declared major in at least one of the following programs: Bachelor of Arts in Music, Bachelor of Music in Music Performance, or Bachelor of Music in Music Education. In addition, students must meet the major requirements, meet the requirements for graduation with honors as published in the UAA catalog, maintain a GPA of 3.50 or above in music courses applicable to the degree, complete MUS A462, which includes a senior recital, with a minimum grade of B, and receive an honors scores (based on criteria established by the department) on a comprehensive examination for majors.

Briana K. Glasionov

Michael D. Sutton Cum Laude

Political Science Departmental Honors

To graduate with Departmental Honors in Political Science, students must be a declared political science major. In addition, students must successfully satisfy all requirements for a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, maintain a GPA of 3.50 or above in courses applicable to the major, complete PS A492 Senior Seminar in Politics with an honor grade of A or B and receive an honors score (based upon criteria established by the department) on a comprehensive examination for majors.

Hunter Z. Dunn

Margaret E. Lamborn

Josiah K. Nash

Daniel S. Ogden Magna Cum Laude

Garrick A. Pedersen Magna Cum Laude

Delaney E. Thiele

Michael W. Willis Cum Laude

Ian N. Zwink Cum Laude

Psychology Departmental Honors

To graduate with Departmental Honors in Psychology, students must be a declared psychology major. In addition, students must successfully satisfy all requirements for a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Psychology, maintain an overall GPA of 3.50 or above, complete PSY A412 Foundations of Modern Psychology and successfully complete course work in Conducting Research in Psychology and complete PSY A499 Senior Thesis, which must be approved in advance by the Undergraduate Studies Committee and carried out by following applicable departmental guidelines. Students must also notify the Departmental Honors Committee in writing, on or before the date they file their application for graduation with the Office of the Registrar, of their intention to graduate with departmental honors.

Caitlyn J. Hammett Cum Laude

Kelcie E. McCafferty Magna Cum Laude

Social Work Departmental Honors

To graduate with Departmental Honors in Social Work, students must be a declared social work major. In addition, students must complete a minimum of 30 Bachelor of Social Work major credits at UAA, earn a GPA of 3.75 or above in upper-division courses specific to the social work major and complete SWK A498.

Ashleigh E. Mora

Erica Nielsen

Sociology Departmental Honors

To graduate with Departmental Honors in Sociology, students must be a declared sociology major. In addition, students must meet all the requirements for a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Sociology, maintain a GPA of 3.50 or above in all sociology courses and attain a score at or above the 90th percentile on the ETS Major Field Test OR attain a score at or above the 85th percentile on the ETS Major Field Test and successfully complete an undergraduate research/service project resulting in a presentation at a conference, symposium, or community meeting.

Marley A. Elconin Cum Laude

Sara Forbes Hall Magna Cum Laude

Honor Societies

Alpha Phi Sigma

Alpha Phi Sigma is the National Criminal Justice Honor Society. Its purpose is the recognition of scholastic excellence by undergraduate and graduate students in the criminal justice sciences and related fields. To be eligible for Alpha Phi Sigma at UAA, undergraduates must maintain a 3.20 or above cumulative GPA, a 3.20 or above GPA in their Justice or Legal Studies courses, and major or minor in either Justice or Legal Studies at the UAA Justice Center. Alpha Phi Sigma was founded in 1942 at Washington State University. Since 1975 it has had affiliate status with the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS) and has held its national convention in conjunction with the annual ACJS meeting. The Omega Xi Chapter, chartered in 1980, is the oldest nationally affiliated student honor society on the UAA campus.

Laura A. Eagle

Gloria R. Miller Summa Cum Laude

Marcia Wyman Cum Laude

Delta Alpha Pi

Delta Alpha Pi International Honor Society (DAPi) is an academic honor society founded to recognize high-achieving students with disabilities who are attending colleges (including community colleges) and universities as undergraduate or graduate students. Founded in 2004 at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania, DAPi is open to undergraduate and graduate students with disabilities. Students initiated into Delta Alpha Pi International Honor Society must have completed 24 undergraduate credits and have an overall GPA of 3.10, or 18 graduate credits and a GPA of 3.30. Students must self-identify as an individual with a disability and demonstrate an interest in disability issues. Because of the negative stereotyping associated with disability, students have been reluctant to identify themselves publicly. Delta Alpha Pi Honor Society presents an opportunity to change that perception by recognizing students with disabilities for their academic accomplishments. In addition, this Honor Society facilitates development of skills in leadership, advocacy and education for participating students.

Cindy Rocha Esparza

Zoe S. Sherer Summa Cum Laude

National Society of Leadership and Success

The National Society of Leadership and Success, Sigma Alpha Pi, is an organization that helps people discover and achieve their goals. It is the nation's largest leadership honor society and offers high quality, in-person leadership development and peer-to-peer networking. The NSLS Chapter at University of Alaska Anchorage is the largest student-run organization in the state of Alaska, engaging both undergraduate and graduate students, as well as full-time and part-time students. Students at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, the University of Alaska Matsu, the University of Alaska Southeast, as well as students participating in online courses are also able to interact with the Society through our unique online chapter. The Society offers a community where like-minded, success-oriented individuals come together and help one another succeed in current and future goals. It provides students with tools to identify their passions, set and achieve goals, and ultimately affect positive change in their community.

Kassandra S. Barker Cum Laude

Amy R. Eakin

Bobby O. Ellis

Virginia C. D. Groeschel

Elinor M. Harrington

Jason C. Herr

Nicolette J. Holmes

Alyssa B. Hunter Magna Cum Laude

Eryn L. Hutchings

Anthony G. Itta

Minta K. Jarvis

Robin C. Letourneau

Ibe Mamudi

Kian A. L. McNair Speech

Willie Moody

David A. Muriente Santiago

Kaitlyn M. Nelson

Rebecca A. Osterkamp Cum Laude

Neil S. Pilaspilas

Veronica L. Smith

Meghan E. Thompson Cum Laude

Heather Vlach

Robert K. Whiteley

Phi Alpha

The Phi Alpha National Honor Society, Epsilon Chi Chapter, serves to promote a closer bond among students of social work and to enter into more intimate fellowship with those dedicated to the promotion of humanitarian goals and ideals by a professional group for which quality educational preparation is deemed imperative. Students and faculty involved in social work education at the University of Alaska Anchorage foster high standards of education for social work and invite into membership those who have attained excellence of scholarship and distinction of achievement as students of social work.

Naidene S. F. Baechler

Sophia E. Branson

Stacy M. Johnson

Kelly L. Marre

Shelly A. Matherne - awarded posthumously

Abigail Michel Cum Laude

Keeli N. Moreland

Erica Nielsen

Lynette G. Ramos

Joselyn Robles Magna Cum Laude

Catherine C. Stallings

Cimmie L. White

Phi Kappa Phi

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi was founded in 1897 at the state universities of Maine, Tennessee and Pennsylvania to recognize and encourage superior scholarship in all academic disciplines. The UAA chapter of Phi Kappa Phi was chartered in 1990. The society was named Phi Kappa Phi from the initial letter of the Greek words forming its adopted motto: Philosophia Krateito Photon, “Let the love of learning rule humanity.” Nomination to membership in Phi Kappa Phi is very selective, and is based upon academic achievement and good character. Membership in Phi Kappa Phi is limited to students with a GPA of 3.8 and above.

Matthew G. Baker Magna Cum Laude

Clara C. Baldwin Magna Cum Laude

Loreen E. Davis

Faith M. Farris Magna Cum Laude

Christine M. Michel

Mallory L. Reeves Magna Cum Laude

Leadership Honors

Tom Case Leadership Fellows Honors

The College of Business and Public Policy’s Tom Case Leadership Fellows Program is a co-curricular mentoring program for exceptional graduate and junior or higher-level undergraduate students who are committed to leadership and professional development. Fellows are paired with influential mentors in the community and complete a demanding list of co-curricular requirements. These honorees have demonstrated their leadership in both the classroom and the community and are ready to meet the needs of Alaska organizations.

Amanda J. Allard

Nicolette J. Holmes

Jennifer A. McConnel

Emily J. Raines Magna Cum Laude

Veronica L. Smith

Valerie M. Westdahl

University Leadership Honors

Leadership Honors are awarded to recognize and honor the effort of an individual who has maintained academic excellence and whose leadership has significantly contributed to the University of Alaska Anchorage. The leadership contributions of these honorees have enhanced the educational mission of UAA and promoted individual and collective growth, thereby enhancing student life at UAA.

Clara C. Baldwin Magna Cum Laude

Justin M. Benz Cum Laude

Kacy R. Grundhauser Cum Laude

Alexis L. Harvey Cum Laude

Lea Jackson

Alexander H. Jorgensen Cum Laude

Edna C. S. Standifer

Shamai K. Thacker

Eva A. Ulukivaiola

Emily J. Wood