FAIRBANKS - Kyle Gaffney of the Nanooks men's ice hockey team and Adeline Berry of the Nanooks women's swimming team were selected as the Nanook's honorees for the December 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. Manuel Melendez of the College of Liberal Arts also received the honor. The Nanooks presented the awards at the Alaska women's basketball game last Thursday against Northwest Nazarene.
Kyle Gaffney, Junior, Men's Ice Hockey, Business Administration
Gaffney leads the Alaska Nanooks ice hockey team by example, consistently being the first to arrive and last to leave practice. As the leading scorer on the team, he is someone who consistently gives his all on the ice while galvanizing those around him. He is not only an assistant captain on the team, he is also a leader of the workout committee and a member of the travel committee for the hockey team. Gaffney always volunteers for opportunities, whether at youth hockey practices or skill sessions, and is always looking to make an impact in the community.
Adeline Berry, Senior, Women's Swimming, Business Administration
Berry has been a leader and the swim team captain for the past two seasons, offering great support and motivation for her teammates during practices and during swim meets. Outside of her role on the swim team, she is an instructor at the community outreach UAF swim lessons program for kids ages 7-13 and she is a Kachemak Swim Club volunteer coach during the summers. She has served as SAAC president for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons, where she ran the student-athlete Nanook Olympics last year, prepared a blood drive for the UAF population to help blood cancer patients and volunteered to raise money for Make a Wish patients at Central Washington University during the GNAC SAAC retreat. Berry has volunteered as a teacher in the Alaska Gateway School District to help students learn about dog mushing and traditional fishing practices, as a motivational speaker at Tetlin School and as a camp leader at Tok School. She carries a strong voice on the swim team by advocating for her teammates and fellow student-athletes through being a team captain, a current SAAC president and a leader.
Manuel Melendez, College of Liberal Arts, MFA in Creative Writing
Manny Melendez exemplifies leadership, dedication, and academic excellence, making him a deserving recipient of the CLA Warrior of the Month award. As Editor-in-Chief of both Permafrost and the Sun Star, he has made significant contributions to UAF's creative and journalistic communities. In addition to his upcoming thesis defense and prestigious selection for the Rancho Mirage Writers Festival, his roles as Vice President of the English Graduate Organization and Spring 2025 TA for the Midnight Sun Visiting Writers Series reflect his unwavering commitment to fostering literary and academic growth on campus.
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