UNM ANNOUNCES 2003 CLAUVE OUTSTANDING SENIOR AWARD WINNERS

March 31, 2003

UNM ANNOUNCES 2003 CLAUVE OUTSTANDING SENIOR AWARD WINNERS

The recipients of the 2003 Clauve Outstanding Senior Award at the University of New Mexico have been announced by G. Randy Boeglin, UNM dean of students. The students will be honored at a recognition reception on Thursday, April 17, 7 p.m., at Sheraton Old Town in Albuquerque.

This year’s recipients are Heather Gabel, Sarah McKinney, Gil Morales, Rosalyn Nguyen and Angie Wilcox.

Gabel is majoring in nursing and is the daughter of Angela J. Manning and Gerald W. Gabel. She graduated from Valley High School in Albuquerque. Her biggest accomplishment at UNM has been serving the student body as a three-term ASUNM senator and then as the ASUNM vice president.

“This award means a lot to me because I think the best thing you can do in life is to help other people. I feel that by receiving the Clauve Outstanding Senior award it shows I have in some way left an impact on this University and hopefully helped my fellow students along the way,” Gabel said.

McKinney is double majoring in political science and Spanish. She is the daughter of Roy and Susan McKinney. She graduated from Eldorado High School in Albuquerque. Her biggest accomplishment at UNM has been acquiring a well-rounded, competitive education and being a part of the university community.

“I am also very proud of my work with ASUNM Student Special Events,” McKinney said. “It is truly an honor to be recognized by recieving this award for giving back to the campus community that has given me so much.”

Morales is majoring in finance. He is the son of Debra Sue Morales. He graduated from Capital High School in Santa Fe.

“Accepting this generosity by the undergraduate population here at the University of New Mexico is a grand honor, especially for a Chicano who was sometimes told he could never achieve great things,” Morales said. “I believe this award validates my hard work, determination and dedication to myself, my culture, my family and my collegiate community. Through this, I want to consistently remind young Latinos and Latinas that the entire world is open to them if they continue to have faith and never stop believing that all is possible.”

Morales said his greatest accomplishment at UNM can only be calculated by adding all his actions in their entirety. “I believe though many of the single actions I have undertaken here at UNM have been significant in one way or another, only in totality will I have left a greater positive impact for my fellow students and college community that will hopefully be carried on long after I am gone,” Morales said.

Nguyen is majoring in business administration and finance. She is the daughter of Jan and Dr. Thanh Van Nguyen and is a graduate of Tucumcari High School.

“To me, the Clauve Outstanding Senior Award signifies the paramount of honor an undergraduate student can receive at the University of New Mexico,” Nguyen said. “The prestige of the award comes from the consideration of a high standard of academics, but just as important, contributions to the campus community, which encourages UNM to thrive from student engagement.”

Her biggest accomplishment at UNM was participating in a broad range of activities and experiences in service to the UNM community. “I have had the opportunity to be the voice of 20,000 students as a senator, chair the Student Union Building Board before, during and hopefully after, the renovation of the SUB, help get free football admission for UNM students as a member of the Student Fee Review Board, get a coffee cart and omit the “No food and drink” policy in Zimmerman Library through the Student Union Retail Committee, and serve as the undergraduate rep. in the process of selecting the next president of UNM,” she said.

Wilcox is majoring in education with minors in English and music. She is the daughter of Jack and Becky Wilcox and is a graduate of Eldorado High School.

“I am thrilled to be a recipient of the Clauve Award,” Wilcox said. “I have many happy memories of my undergraduate experience at UNM and this award is frosting on the cake. The University faculty, staff and students have provided me with rewarding learning experiences, amazing leadership opportunities, and meaningful relationships, all of which have contributed to my present success and opened the door to an exciting future.

“My biggest accomplishment at UNM was discovering my passion for helping my fellow students,” she said. “Whether I was representing the undergraduate student body through ASUNM, advising incoming freshmen during LOBOrientation, or guiding women through the sorority recruitment process, I was making a difference in someone’s life.”

The awards are presented annually to seniors who have displayed significant academic achievement and contributions, and who have had a positive influence on fellow students and or the University. The award is named after Dean Emeritus Lena Clauve, former dean of Women Students at UNM.

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