76th Thunderbird Awards Celebrate SUU's Finest

Published: April 03, 2026 | Read Time: 8 minutes

For over seven decades, Southern Utah University has celebrated its outstanding T-Birds at the annual Thunderbird Awards. What began in 1950 with just four categories has evolved into a community-wide celebration of our exceptional students, faculty, staff, and alumni. This year's event features 25 award categories that honor the hard work and heart of SUU.

The entire SUU community is invited to attend the 76th annual Thunderbird Awards to recognize the accomplishments of their fellow T-Birds. The awards ceremony will be held in the Randall L. Jones Theatre on April 17 at 7 p.m. Semi-formal dress is encouraged.

2026 Thunderbird Award Finalists

University Department Award
The University Department Award is presented to one department, unit, or office on campus recognizing their outstanding contributions to the university and a commitment to the students of SUU.

Finalists:

Alumni & Community Relations Office
Gerald R. Sherratt Library
Sorenson Legacy Foundation Center for Hope
Student Outreach & Support
Thunder 91.1

Lifetime Achievement Award
The lifetime achievement award is given to a faculty or staff member who has excelled academically or professionally as well as demonstrated outstanding leadership ability and service to the institution during their career at SUU.

Recipient: Pam Branin

Board of Trustees Award of Excellence
This award is intended to formally recognize the outstanding achievements of faculty and staff at SUU with a particular emphasis in teaching, scholarship, administration, innovation, and public service. The award criteria for staff members is quality service according to the staff member's responsibilities, innovative practices, and other service to the university or the community.

Recipients:

Eric Houle (Staff)
Helen Chuang Boswell (Faculty)

Gerald R. Sherratt: Friend of SUU Award
In memory of Gerald R. Sherratt, this award recognizes and honors a member of the local community who, like Dr. Sherratt, has cultivated a distinguished record of service to SUU and the community.

Recipient: Ryan Paul

Carmen Rose Hepworth Award
Carmen Rose Hepworth, a 1953 Southern Utah University graduate from Delta, Utah, dedicated her life to education, service, and mentorship. Through her work in Iron County schools, the SUU Alumni Association, and the Utah Shakespeare Festival, she inspired generations. This award honors those who better others and strengthen SUU in her memory.

Recipient: Terri Metcalf-Peterson

Outstanding Educator Award
This award recognizes an individual, full-time faculty who demonstrates outstanding teaching effectiveness; scholarly activity; peer respect from fellow colleagues; sincere interest in students; and professional commitment and service to others and the University overall.

Recipient: Susanna Herrmann

Distinguished Educators
This award recognizes three individual, full-time faculty for distinguished teaching effectiveness; professional commitment; demonstrated interest in students; and service to others and the University overall.

Recipients:

Clint Broadbent
David Lunt
Danielle Lydia Sheather

Distinguished Scholarly or Creative Activity
This award recognizes three faculty members for distinguished academic achievement in scholarship, which is defined by scholarly and/or creative work that has been peer-reviewed and judged to be superior.

Recipients:

Sarah Allen
Jessica Pullan
Sandy Zhang

Distinguished Faculty Service
This award recognizes an individual, full-time faculty for demonstration of distinguished service to the University and the greater community; a pattern of quality service; a variety of service efforts; efforts having increased the quality of some aspect of the University's mission; and a genuine interest in serving students, colleagues, and the University.

Finalists:

Gretchen Ellefson
Fred Govedich
Maren Hirschi
Samantha Kirkley
Julie McCown

Staff Community & Culture Award
This award is given to a staff member who has built community across disciplines, departments, and divisions on campus and has contributed to cultivating a positive campus culture for employees and students.

Finalists:

Ron Cardon
Aimee DiBrienza
Heather Garcia
Pam Powell
Noa Taeafata

Staff Mentorship Award
This award recognizes a staff member who has excelled at mentoring others (colleagues and/or students) in achieving their career objectives through moral, social, and intellectual support.

Finalists:

Ammon Harris
Amy Kemp
Natalie Marshall
Levi Pendleton
Alexis Taeatafa

Outstanding Staff Award
Each year the Staff Association recognizes and honors two outstanding staff employees: one classified and one professional staff member. These awards recognize the recipients' career in University service and their dedication to the institution.

Classified Staff Finalists:

Breanna Bradshaw
Adriana Carranza
Angela Eyre
Kim Sawyer
Stacie Stein

Professional Staff Finalists:

Rachel Brindley
Kate Crowe
Kaylynn Jensen
Carlos Medina
Rachel Woodward

Staff Distinguished Initiative or Activity Award
This award recognizes a staff member who has gone above and beyond their job duties to improve operational processes and/or establish initiatives that support SUU's strategic goals.

Finalists:

Meagan Beesley
Braden Davis
Ben Hohman

America 250 Presidential Citation of Appreciation
As part of Southern Utah University's designation as an America 250 Campus - led by President Mindy Benson, co-chair of the Utah America 250 Commission - the Thunderbird Awards will feature a special Presidential Citation of Appreciation honoring faculty who have taught History 1700 during this commemorative year. These educators have played a vital role in helping students explore the foundations of the American experience, fostering a deeper understanding of the nation's history, civic responsibility, and enduring ideals as we approach the 250th anniversary of the United States.

Recipients:

Josh Klein
Mark Miller
Earl Mulderink
Michelle Orihel
Ryan Paul
Richard Saunders

Personality of the Year Award
Recipients of the Personality of the Year Award are campus characters who are remarkably funny, uncommonly kind, and a little quirky. These unique students and employees make campus life exciting and fun, and they use their enthusiasm, optimism, and humor to lighten a situation or encourage a friend with a simple smile and impeccable timing. Personality of the Year is awarded each year to one student and one employee.

Student Finalists:

Jesse Carl Banks
Amine Faressee
Monica Martin
Mishree Thakkar
Martina Tringale

Employee Finalists:

Laurel Buxton
Landry Igiraneza
Edward Larsen
Jennifer Weaver
Derek Wood

Employees of the Month
Throughout the year, numerous staff members are nominated by their peers, supervisors, faculty, and students to receive the honor of being selected as a Staff Employee of the Month. These individuals have gone above and beyond their regular duties to better our campus culture.

Stephen Wagner - May
Shelly Merrill - June
Christine Fawson - July
Elliani Decker - August
Craig Lewis - September
Allison Bulloch - October
Mason Cottam - November
Angela Patino-Acevedo - December
Crystal Reed - January
Wyett Ihler - February
Cory Taylor - March
Denean Peterson - April

R. Kenneth Benson Award
Recipients of the R. Kenneth Benson Award have excelled academically; maintaining a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.6. They have also shown outstanding leadership ability and dedicated themselves to serving the University and the community. This is the most prestigious and distinguished award given to a student at Southern Utah University.

Finalists:

Amy Adams
Grace Ash
Hallie Ericksen
Jeremy Perkins
Jaggur Walker

Sterling R. Church Student Involvement Award
Recipients of the Sterling R. Church Student Involvement Award have shown extraordinary commitment within one specific organization, club, or department at SUU. Their contributions within the specific area are not only visible to those within their organization but to the campus as a whole. The student has gone above and beyond their call of duty.

Finalists:

Sydney Crystal
Kasen Graff
Tifa Kioa
Landon Lee
Kate Woolstenhulme

Georgia Beth Thompson Service Award
Recipients of the Georgia Beth Thompson Service of the Year Award have exhibited volunteer service that has had a significant impact on Southern Utah University and the local community. This student has exhibited a high level of commitment to volunteerism and civic engagement.

Finalists:

Sierra Hamilton
Aleena Jones
Bethany Richard
Leah Rowley
Audra Wilson

Student Organization Award
Recipients of the Student Organization Award consistently contribute to the improvement and well-being of their members while also enhancing the educational experience of students at Southern Utah University. Through meaningful campus involvement and considerable community service, the Student Organization Award is a leading organization among the University's numerous independent student clubs and university-sponsored organizations.

Finalists:

Alpha Phi
Art Education Club
Latine Student Alliance 
Michael O. Leavitt Center for Politics and Public Service
Student Alumni Association

Scholars of the Year
Eight outstanding students have been named Southern Utah University's valedictorians in honor of their perseverance and academic excellence. Each has a remarkable story leading them to be placed as the highest academically ranked individual in their area of study.

Recipients:

University Valedictorian - Emily Sage Wheeler
College of Performing and Visual Arts - Kira Wootton
Walter Maxwell Gibson College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics - Kaden Jensen
College of Health Sciences - Tim Arauzo
Beverley Taylor Sorenson College of Education and Human Development - Nakomi Yardley
Dixie L. Leavitt School of Business - Matt Cherry
College of Humanities and Social Sciences - Hayden McCoy
School of Aviation - Josh Pinneker

Student Artist of the Year
The Student Artist of the Year finalists are selected as exceptional students in their field by the College of Performing and Visual Arts faculty.

Finalists:

Micah Cajilig
Orlando Grayson
Hannah Hoff
Isabella Sanchez
EJ Williams

Athlete of the Year
The award for athlete of the year honors men and women who have demonstrated exceptional athletic prowess, commitment to their teammates, and authentic sportsmanship while representing Southern Utah University in intercollegiate athletic competitions. Although highly dedicated to their sport, these men and women also excel academically and define what it means to be a student athlete.

Male Finalists:

Lando Brown (Football)
Elijah Duval (Men's Basketball)
Josh Dye (Football)
Jaiden Feroah (Men's Basketball)
Ashton Miller (Track & Field)

Female Finalists:

Sierra Chambers (Women's Basketball)
Whitney Gardner (Women's Soccer)
Ari Ramirez (Softball)
Niya Randolph (Gymnastics)
Ava Uhrich (Women's Basketball)

About Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University is a caring campus community where students realize their potential through personalized mentorship from people dedicated to helping them soar. Offering a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs, SUU provides hands-on, career-focused learning to prepare students for the future. Located in the world's best backyard, SUU's safe and vibrant campus offers a welcoming atmosphere where everyone feels supported and inspired by both the natural beauty and a strong sense of community. Whether on campus or online, SUU provides an education that is competitively priced and highly valued, giving students the skills and confidence to thrive in any professional setting. This is where students soar.

Tags: Campus Tradition and History Community Academic

Contact Information

Brooke Heath
435-586-5400
brookeheath1@suu.edu