FAIRBANKS - Ainsley Smith of the Nanooks volleyball team and Taylor Pilot of the Nanooks women's basketball team were named the Nanooks selections for the October 2024 Warrior of the Month award. Warrior of the Month, presented by the Alaska Army National Guard, is an award highlighting students 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 volleyball game tomorrow against Seattle Pacific.

Ainsley Smith, Redshirt Junior, Volleyball, Biological Sciences
Ainsley exemplifies all the qualities that her coaches, Brian Scott, Meagan Woods and Cate Atkins, want their athletes to have. She is hard-working and dedicated. She is a natural leader, especially as a setter on the team. Ainsley is also a mentor for her church, True North and FCA at the university. She puts in extra time in the gym, the weight room and the classroom. Ainsley is very diligent in her studies, which is reflected in her 3.8 GPA in the biology department. She is someone who goes above and beyond to make herself a better athlete for her team. Ainsley is a great role model and is always willing to help and volunteer her time for those in need, having volunteered at the ravens landing and food bank.

Head Coach Brian Scott Quote
"Ainsley is a 'Warrior' in every sense of the word. She has always gone above and beyond what is necessary in how she approaches her development as an athlete. She holds herself and her teammates to the highest standard of play and preparation. She doesn't shy away from leadership roles and responsibilities and is always willing to take on any challenge that comes her way. She represents herself, our team, and the university well on the court and in her studies, maintaining a 3.8 GPA. She volunteers on SAAC, FCA and works with the local volleyball club, sharing her knowledge of volleyball. Ainsley truly is a 'Warrior' and somebody that each of us in the volleyball program loves going to battle with daily."

Taylor Pilot, Senior, Women's Basketball, Business Administration
Taylor is an incredibly hard worker and well-respected leader on the court. According to head coach, Amy Donovan, she is vocal, helps her teammates know where to go and handles the pressures of being a leader exceptionally well. Off the court, she is a straight-A student in business administration. She is someone that coaches do not have to worry about. She is a leader in the weight room, locker room and classroom. Taylor arrives early to workouts in order to cheer on her teammates, even if she could have taken extra time for herself. She proactively identifies issues that could arise and helps her teammates know where to be, what time to be there and how to conduct themselves. She has volunteered at several UAF-sponsored events, like Party in the Park and the Chancellor's convocation while working as a student worker in the athletic department. When Taylor talks, her teammates listen. She has experience, empathy and kindness, which makes her someone that her teammates always listen to.

Head Coach Amy Donovan Quote
"TP exemplifies what it means to be a student-athlete and is one of the first people to come to mind when I hear the word 'warrior.' She is an incredibly hard worker, a leader for our team on and off the court and has embedded herself in the Fairbanks community quickly. She already works as a volunteer at University Park Elementary and has also worked with the middle school team at Tanana Middle School. We can't wait for everyone to see her on the court as a Nanook!" 

Allicia Tuttle, Graduate Student, M.Ed Counseling
"Allicia is in her last semester of a 60 credit hour M.Ed program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She has gone above and beyond as a student clinician providing counseling services through her field placement at the UAF Community Mental Health Clinic. She has exhibited a high level of professionalism, compassion, and dedication within this role. Allicia works from an empowerment model and believes in each individual's capacity for change, healing, and personal growth." - Dana Lindauer, Education Programs Research Professional/CAEP at the UAF School of Education.

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