Tucson Standard

Nine students from the University of Arizona have been recognized with Centennial Achievement Awards for their dedication and leadership in academics. This year's honorees include two undergraduates and seven graduate students.

Undergraduate recipients receive a $250 stipend, while graduate awardees are given $500. Each honoree also receives an engraved plaque.

"I have always held the success of our students, the experiences we provide them, and the opportunities we create for them as our North Star, our main focus," stated University of Arizona President Suresh Garimella. "We wouldn't be a university if we weren't focused on our students."

The honored students are:

Robynique Kendryna is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Science. As a first-generation college student, she has overcome personal challenges to support others, inspired by her own experiences including losing her mother during her teenage years.

Octreyvian Killian is working towards multiple degrees: Bachelor of Science in Learning, Literacy and Leadership; Bachelor of Arts in German Studies; and Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. Despite facing health issues and homelessness that interrupted his education, he plans to graduate summa cum laude in May and complete an accelerated master's program in philosophy by 2026.

Samantha Barrera is pursuing a Juris Doctor degree as well as a certificate in criminal law and policy from the James E. Rogers College of Law. A first-generation immigrant from Great Britain and survivor of domestic violence, she aims to become a prosecutor offering pro bono family law services to survivors.

Rodrigo Guerra Su is completing his Master of Science in Applied Economics and Policy Analysis. Originally from Managua, Nicaragua, he overcame poverty and political instability to study abroad as the first in his family to earn a U.S. degree.

Margaret Mercer is earning her Master of Science in Wildlife Conservation and Management. Her research focuses on human impact on North American carnivores with the goal of supporting conservation efforts.

Michael Cardenas is pursuing a Doctorate in Neuroscience. A Tucson native and U.S. Navy veteran, he researches how brain-body communication affects decision-making through studying drugs that alter bodily states without directly impacting the brain.

Onur Ural Burns is working towards a Doctorate in Second Language Acquisition and Teaching. He explores educational technologies for language teacher education despite academic restrictions faced at home in Turkey along with personal losses during COVID-19 lockdowns.

Asya Gorlova is also pursuing a Doctorate in Second Language Acquisition and Teaching. Originally from Russia, she studies refugee language education while contributing to projects like the Multilingual Academic Corpus focusing on Russian and Portuguese learners.

Maiya Grace Block Ngaybe is completing her Doctorate in Public Health while balancing motherhood responsibilities alongside studies focusing on informatics strengthening public health responses amid crises such as pandemics or climate change events due to diverse heritage including Sudanese Ethiopian German roots influencing work around advancing global health equity resilience initiatives overall approach taken here too closely aligned mission objectives laid out beforehand accordingly thereby ensuring successful outcomes achieved throughout process involved therein ultimately leading desired results attained thereafter successfully concluded satisfactorily meeting expectations set forth initially planned anticipated course action followed diligently executed precisely order fulfill requirements stipulated herein accordance terms conditions agreed upon mutually beneficial manner satisfactory parties concerned altogether comprehensively thoroughly conclusively finally reached 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Further details about these awardees can be found on the Dean of Students website.