FAIRBANKS, Alaska - Alaska Nanook rifle alumnus and Olympic medalist Matt Emmons will give the keynote address at the University of Alaska Fairbanks commencement ceremony Sunday, May 12, 2013 at 1:30 p.m. at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks.
Emmons, who shot for the Nanooks from 1999-2003 and graduated from UAF in 2003 with a bachelor's degree in business administration, is among the most successful athletes in Alaska Nanooks history.
While a Nanook, Emmons helped lead the rifle team capture four consecutive national championships and earned four NCAA individual titles in the process. An eight-time National Rifle Association First Team All-American, he was the first and only shooter in NCAA history to claim three career NCAA smallbore championships.
Emmons continued his rifle career after graduation. In international competition, he is consistently ranked among the top 10 rifle shooters in the world and holds USA Shooting records for smallbore and air rifle. He is one of few shooters internationally to have shot perfect scores in both disciplines.
He has participated and medaled as a member of Team USA in each of the last three Olympic Games: gold in 2004, silver in 2008 and bronze in 2012.
He was inducted into the Nanook Hall of Fame as a member of the inaugural class in 2008 and also holds a master's degree from the University of Colorado.
