FAIRBANKS - Gustavs Davis Grigals of the Nanooks hockey team and Destiny Reimers of the women's basketball team were named the Nanooks selections for March Warrior of the Month. Alongside Grigals and Reimers, Fort Wainwright named Sgt. Jonathan Waldon of U.S. Army Alaska and Cadet Miguel Saavedra of the UAF Army ROTC.
 

Gustavs Davis Grigals, Junior, Hockey, 3.32 Cumulative GPA, Business Administration
Gustavs has been instrumental to the Nanook hockey team's success this season. Both on and off the ice, Grigals embodies what it means to be a Nanook. On the ice, he is the team captain. He keeps the Nanooks in every game that he starts and quite literally stands on his head in many games. There have been 198 goalies who have played in a college game this season, and Gustavs is in the top-25 in all major statistics, while having one of the hardest schedules in Division I hockey. Off the ice, Gustavs has been a team leader helping with whatever is needed. He can speak three languages fluently and often helps teammates from other countries with the language barriers. In the classroom, Grigals earned a 4.00 GPA this past semester while also volunteering with numerous youth hockey teams. He's assisted at Sunday practices, goalie clinics, and he has even refereed a couple of games when needed. 

Destiny Reimers, Freshman, Women's Basketball, 4.0 Cumulative GPA, Rural Development Major
Destiny is one of the women basketball captains and leads by example both in practice and in games by being one of the hardest workers. She is one of the top scorers, rebounders, passers and defensive players in all of the GNAC. Off the court, she gives back to those in her community. During the summers, she runs youth basketball camps for you in and around her home village of Iliamna, Alaska, in Arizona and all around other parts of Alaska. This year she was named president of the Festival of Native Arts (FNA) here at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. As the president, she is responsible for being the main speaker at the event, organizing and getting performers from around the state, running the social media for the event, as well as other duties. Destiny is a phenomenal role model for all young women, especially native Alaskan girls. She carries a 4.0 GPA while being very successful on the basketball court, but also turns around and gives back in ways to build up her culture and empower those around her. Alongside her on the court success, Reimers has gone to local schools to speak about mental health with a native and student-athlete perspective.
 

SGT Jonathan Waldon, U.S. Army Alaska 
Sgt. Jonathan Waldon is assigned to Medical Department Activity – Alaska as an optometry technician. Waldon has served at Bassett Army Community Hospital on Fort Wainwright, Alaska since October 2017. 

Waldon, whose hometown is Carmel, Indiana, enlisted in the Army in 2017 as an Eye Specialist. In his current assignment, leaders credit Waldon as being an integral piece of COVID testing efforts on Ft. Wainwright and stepping up to assist in managing the ear nose and throat, audiology, nutrition, and dermatology clinics. Additionally, Waldon is a Unit Prevention Leader by conducting drug screening for the unit. 

Considered the "go-to" leader in his section, Waldon leads and mentors fellow soldiers through mock promotion boards, volunteerism, and Alaskan activities such as hiking and fishing. 

Waldon continually strives to improve himself. He consistently scores well on the Army Combat Fitness Test and pushes his soldiers to improve themselves during physical training, as well. He has completed a Bachelors in Political Science and is currently pursuing a Master's in Public Administration at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.

Cadet Miguel Saavedra, Senior, UAF ROTC
Cadet Miguel Saavedra is a Senior at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and a recipient of a 3 year Army ROTC scholarship. Cadet Saavedra is pursuing a Bachelors in Homeland Security and Emergency Management with a concentration in Police Leadership Management while maintaining a 3.7 GPA. Due to his performance Cadet Saavedra is a member of the Order of the Sword and Shield National Honor Society. Cadet Saavedra has played hockey for 15 years and assists in teaching his fellow classmates in his recreational hockey class in addition to volunteering time with the youth hockey program in his hometown of Glennallen, Alaska. Cadet Saavedra is the recipient of multiple awards throughout his career at UAF Army ROTC and was selected to represent the University as a part of the Nanook Battalion Ranger Challenge team. Cadet Saavedra branched into Army Aviation and will begin his training as a U.S. Army Aviator this coming year and hopes to select the CH-47 Chinook helicopter as his platform. Saavedra hopes to one day return to Alaska and be involved in youth hockey coaching. Cadet Saavedra is the epitome of a Warrior, Scholar, and Athlete and is a proud member of the Nanook Community.  

For more information on the Alaska Nanooks athletics department, follow @AlaskaNanooks on Twitter or Instagram, or like the Alaska Nanooks athletics page on Facebook.