This fall, Transfer & Online Connections was thrilled to have two of our Peer Mentors awarded the 2020 Gold Axe Award and Distinguished Senior. These honors were awarded to Transfer Peer Mentor Sabrina Proffitt and Jacks Online Mentor Amber Connolly.
The Gold Axe Award is awarded 
to graduating seniors at the end of each semester. This award acknowledges the impact each student has made at NAU, along with community work and other achievements they have accomplished.
Sabrina Proffitt was awarded for being on the executive board of The Lumberjack Newspaper, being a Senior Transfer Peer Mentor, and interning at The Arizona Daily Sun.
“Winning this award is an amazing opportunity,” Proffitt said. “I felt so proud to win it and to be among so many other graduates who are making huge impacts on our community.” Proffitt said she was excited she was to display the award at her graduation celebration so all her family could see it. After graduation, Proffitt plans to work for a newspaper or magazine in editing or reporting, and that she was motivated to choose the career because of the negative connotations it holds. “I love writing and telling stories,” Proffitt said. “I hear fake news and evil media so much, and as a journalist, I want to be able to share the truth. I believe journalism should always be done from a neutral and unbiased point of view. I want to be one of the journalists who change the bad reputation the media has received and start reporting truth and truth alone.”
Currently, Sabrina is a Program Assistant for Transfer and Online Connections. She is thankful that NAU has impacted her in tremendous ways. NAU has helped her become confident in her skills and made her the journalist she is today. The journalism staff has inspired her in so many ways. Sabrina is also extremely thankful for Leslie Michell, a strong supporting force in her academic career. With the help and continued support from Northern Arizona University and its staff, Sabrina is excited about her bright future.
Amber Connolly was awarded the honor of Distinguished Senior for the College of Health and Human Services. Amber was selected for the rehabilitation services she provided for children with autism and developmental difficulties. She also graduated with a degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Connolly has been a Jacks Online Peer Mentor since fall 2019. She completed her speech-language pathology certificate in 2019. She recently began work on her Master’s in clinical speech-language pathology through NAU’s accelerated program which she will complete in 2022. She was also awarded the Joseph C. and Marie M. Rolle Award for Excellence.
Her supervisor and Jacks Online Coordinator, Rebecca Trujillo, is so proud of Amber’s achievements. “Amber is one of the most caring and kind-hearted people I’ve met,” Trujillo said. “She truly invested all of her energy and focus into her mentee’s success. She has pulled our team together with her easy-to-approach and personable attitude. Her dedication and drive have been such an example and role model to her peers, mentees, and follow those that were in class with her.”
Transfer and Online Connections is so proud of our mentors who received awards and honors and for all of our amazing transfer and online students who graduated this fall.
Written by Ethan Curry and Sabrina Proffitt