FAIRBANKS - Cecelia Ossi of the Nanooks rifle team and Paul Johnson of the Nanooks men's basketball team were named the Nanooks selections for the September 2023 Warrior of the Month award. Warrior of the Month is an award highlighting military members and student-athletes who excel on and off the court, in the classroom and on base or in the field. The Nanooks will present the awards at the Alaska hockey game tomorrow against Penn State.

Cecelia Ossi, Graduate Student, Rifle, Master's of Business Administration
Every day, Cecelia has walked in with intensity and enthusiasm to work on the range. Even though the season is just beginning, she moves with haste to make progress and continuously do better than the previous day. She has made big goals off the range, committing herself to completing the Equinox Marathon with another teammate. After a slow start she helped convince her partner in running to not finish the race after a few tough miles. Along the way, she stuck alongside him until he made his way to a shuttle and could safely make his way back to campus before picking up her speed. After finishing the race, her first concern was for a teammate, as well as how the recruiting visit was going that was happening the same day. She is a competitor and brings intention to her actions on the range, in her classes, and in the weight room. Her maturity in the sport, including knowing when to push her limits and when to slow down and pay attention to her body, has made her an example. She is on top of her school work and commits enough time to understand the material and complete the assignments early. Cecelia, along with the rest of the team, is eager to help as opportunities have presented themselves. She was helpful with the team fundraiser "Top Shot" competition and a team bonding shoot for the Women's Swim Team, teaching athletes and the community how to shoot our competition rifles. She is Enthusiastic and the first to collaborate on training plans, as well as using her 4 years of experience from her previous team at Nebraska Lincoln to give advice and ask insightful questions about the sport. Finally, she is a great teammate and motivates a group through her actions. A freshman from the team was inspired to begin plans to train for her own marathon after seeing Cecelia complete the race.

Head Coach Will Anti Quote
"As a graduate transfer, Ossi has quickly made herself a leader and indispensable team member. She brings an intensity and excitement into the range that pushes her and her teammates to continue to push for new bests. Along with being an enthusiastic collaborator and kind friend, Cecelia is the ultimate competitor. That was highlighted in September when she completed the equinox marathon for her first ever marathon with teammates cheering along the route. Look for Cecelia and her fellow seniors to lead the Nooks all season!"

Paul Johnson, Senior, Men's Basketball, Business Administration
Paul is the first one in the gym every morning. He has embraced the weight room and is a leader in the room itself. You will find him cleaning benches after we finish working out, putting in great effort and encouraging his teammates. Paul is a quiet person by nature but talks at a high level on the court, demonstrating a willingness to be uncomfortable because it is what we need as a team to succeed. He provided important feedback and wisdom into the returning players and what needed to change as a program. Paul serves on the men's basketball leadership team, continuing to represent the team and provide great feedback. Paul embodies the standard every day. He embraces discipline in his daily life, by the hour he shows up in the gym, how he takes care of his body and the effort with which he does little things well, which is very uncommon. For the past two weekends, Paul has been willing to show up on Saturdays and work with local players from grades K-6. He doesn't just show up and go through the motions. He engages and takes the time to positively impact the life of those he is working with. Paul is not afraid to say what needs to be said to his teammates. He is the one player who will speak out and hold others accountable.

Head Coach Frank Ostanik Quote
"The entire University of Alaska Men's Basketball program is excited for Paul being named Warrior of the Month. In the first six weeks of our team being together, Paul has embodied what we hope our program will become -- Tough, consistent and selfless. What makes Paul even more valuable to our team is not that he lives these qualities in his daily life but that he raises the standard of these qualities within our team. Paul is a Warrior in every sense of the word."

Marcelo Ketzler-Lopez
Marcelo Ketzler-Lopez is a senior in the Accounting Program at the College of Business & Security Management and one of our standout students. He is actively involved across the college, participating in various student organizations and events. As Vice President of GAAP, the student accounting organization, and a member of NABL, the Native Alaskan Business Leaders group, he demonstrates exceptional leadership. Additionally, he co-chairs the CBSM Business Leader of the Year event and was part of the CBSM team that won first place at the National Business Plan Competition hosted by the American Indigenous Business Leaders. Marcelo truly shines as one of the brightest stars at CBSM.

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