Outstanding Student of the Year

Every year the College of Liberal Arts asks each department to select their outstanding student(s) for that year- students who possess the passion and creativity for new discoveries and scholarship, students who demonstrate independence of thought and action in the pursuit of knowledge, and students who exemplify excellence.

The Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies program has chosen the following as students who embodies these qualities and so much more. Thank you for all your hard work and contributions to your department. You make a difference at UAF.

 

Congratulations to our 2025 Outstanding Students of the Year!

Kayla Johnson. UAF Photo by Brian Sevald
Kayla Johnson

BA in Psychology, minor in Creative Writing and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

"WGS 201X (as well as the Women and Gender Theories class...) has helped me realize how much I love learning about sex and the impacts of sex on society. There’s no shame in this passion, and I’m constantly thinking about ways to make this work my career... Before this semester, I was completely unsure of what I wanted to do with my life, but I’ve found that answer."

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Sarah Manriquez, UAF Photo by Eric Engman
Sarah Manriquez

BA in Art & Digital Journalism, minor in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies & Music Performance

"When I actually walked into the venue on opening night, it was packed. People were engaging with the work that I had done, and that was so special and it made me so proud. So many of us have goals. To stand there at the opening and just have this moment where I got to just watch people and observe, that was so special and I was so proud."

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Destiny Rymer. Photo courtesy of Rymer
Destiny Rymer

BA in Anthropology, minor in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

"I've drawn motivation from my patients and my coworkers. Being in the medical field has shown me the importance of compassion, advocacy and connection, which all reinforce my academic work, especially with anthropology and gender studies. So even when it got hard, the people I serve and the people that I love kept me focused on the future."

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Always Outstanding

Jessica Searles. UAF Photo by Sarah Manriquez
Jessica Searles, 2024 Outstanding Student

2024-2025

2023-2024

    • Olivia Ryan
    • Cadence Conner
    • Jessica Searles 

2022-2023

Kennedy Atlee. UAF photo by Sarah Manriquez
Kennedy Atlee, 2023 Outstanding Student

A

C

    • Cadence Conner

J

M

R

S

    • Jessica Searles

 

 

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