Six other University of Arizona graduates will receive outstanding achievement awards at the school’s 153rd commencement ceremony Friday, May 12:
Abdullah Bader Aleidan
A native of Kuwait, Aleidan had to overcome language and cultural obstacles on his way to earning dual UA bachelor’s degrees in chemical engineering and environmental engineering.
He used his experiences to help other foreign students adjust to university life, working as international student services counselor and speaker. Aleidan will receive a Robert Logan Nugent award.
Jessala A. Grijalva
Grijalva, a single mother, is graduating magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in government and public service. She is one of two recipients of the Robie Gold Medal.
Grijalva became an advocate for other non-traditional students while juggling her studies with the demands of raising three young girls. She also volunteers with Junior Achievement of Southern Arizona and is an intern in Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild’s office.
Jessica Roberts
Roberts is graduating magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and is one of this year’s Merrill P. Freeman Medal recipients.
Roberts, a homecoming queen, has become a role model for women in finance. She was named Outstanding Collegiate Scholar of the Year and Outstanding Finance Senior by the UA’s Eller College of Management and was named one of Eller’s Top 50 Women of the Year.
Maria Smith
Smith is graduating magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in sociology. She’s the winner of this year’s Provost Award, given to an exceptional community-college transfer student.
Smith did a four-year tour in the U.S. Air Force before enrolling at Rio Salado Community College. She has worked as a paralegal at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Tucson, and tutors UA student athletes.
Matthew Wall
Wall, who is graduating with honors with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, is the second Robie Gold Medal recipient.
He has been involved in student government since freshman year, when he served as a senate aide for the Associated Students of the University of Arizona. As a senior, he was the group’s executive deputy chief of staff. Wall also served four years on the sports desk of the Daily Wildcat student newspaper.
Jacob Winkelman
Winkelman, who is graduating from the UA Honors College with bachelor’s degrees in English literature and political science, also will receive a Freeman medal.
He has served as recruitment director for the Arizona Model United Nations, a student director for the campus Pride Alliance, and an opinion columnist for the UA student newspaper and taught English in Mexico through a UA program.
