Southern Utah University held its 76th annual Thunderbird Awards on Friday, April 17. The event awarded faculty, students and staff for their contributions to the university and the T-Bird community at large.
The theme of community was strong at the event, with many speakers expressing their love for the community that SUU offers, a sentiment shared by SUU President Mindy Benson during her closing remarks.
“I want to share my gratitude with all of our campus,” said Benson. “It is the people that make SUU such a remarkable place, and the place we all love so much.”
Many of those such people were awarded during the night, including T-Bird Grace Ash, recipient of the R. Kenneth Benson Award.
“As someone who has tried college a few times and had a rough start of it, it wasn’t until I came to SUU that I found my place,” Ash said. “SUU is a place that really values students. SUU values students the most out of any place I’ve been to.”
Alongside the awards, the ceremony also included concert piano performances from the school mascot, Thor the Thunderbird. He performed many medleys of popular songs to the enjoyment of the attendees.
The 2026 winners are listed below:
Staff Community & Culture Award
- Heather Garcia Blake
Student & Employee Personality of the Year Awards
- Amine Faresse
- Laurel Buxton
Georgia Beth Thompson Service Award
- Audra Wilson
Distinguished Faculty Service Award
- Fred Govedich
Staff Mentorship Award
- Ammon Harris
Male & Female Athlete of the Year
- Ava Uhrich
- Jaiden Feroah
Sterling R. Church Student Involvement Award
- Tifa Kioa
Staff Distinguished Initiative or Activity
- Meagan Beesley
Faculty Distinguished Scholarly/Creative Activity
- Sarah Allen
- Jessica Pullan
- Sandy Zhang
Scholars of the Year
- Emily Sage Wheeler
- Josh Pinneker
- Matt Cherry
- Nakomie Yardley
- Timothy Arauzo
- Hayden McCoy
- Kaden Jensen
- Kira Wootton
Carmen Rose Hepworth Award
- Terri Metcalf-Peterson
Outstanding Classified Staff
- Breanna Bradshaw
Outstanding Professional Staff
- Rachel Brindley
Distinguished Educator Awards
- Clint Broadbent
- David Lunt
- Danielle Lydia Sheather
Outstanding Educator Award
- Susana Herrman
University Department of the Year Award
- Student Outreach & Support
Student Organization of the Year Award
- Latine Student Alliance
Artist of the Year Award
- Orlando Grayson
Board of Trustees Staff Award of Excellence
- Eric Houle
Board of Trustees Faculty Award of Excellence
- Helen Boswell
Gerald R. Sherratt Friend of SUU Awards
- Ryan Paul
R Kenneth Benson Award
- Grace Ash
Lifetime Achievement Award
- Pam Branin
Author: Conner Dean
Editor: Fanny Felixine
Photos by Conner Dean
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