EMILY REID/Arizona Daily Wildcat From left to right: graduating seniors Jose ãPacoä Perez, mechanical engineering, winner of the Robie Medal; Brittany Rhodes, psychology, winner of the Robie Medal; Ryan Falsey, microbiology, winner of the Freeman award; Jennifer Olding, marketing and business management, winner of the Nugent award; and Diana Shayevich, nursing, winner of the Freeman award.

Of the more than 5,600 students graduating this weekend, the university selected six to receive the Freeman Medal Award, the Nugent Award and the Robie Medal. These prestigious honors are awarded for a combination of above average scholastic ability, leadership skills and citizenship skills. The students ÷ whose profiles follow ÷ will be honored at Saturdayâs commencement exercises.

Ryan Falsey
Freeman Medal Award

With a third degree black belt in karate and six hours of martial arts training every week, Ryan Falsey teaches karate ÷ but thatâs only when heâs not trying to find a cure for cancer.

Falsey, receiving his degree in microbiology, is a Freeman Medal Award recipient.

His interest in medical research started in high school with UA-sponsored Medstart, a program to educate high school students about the health care profession.

Once in the labs of the Arizona Cancer Center, Falsey started researching the causes of cancer and trying to find a cure using p53, a tumor suppressor protein.

He also researches anti-cancer therapeutic agents for brain cancer.

ãItâs a wonderful feeling to know that I can help contribute to the field,ä Falsey said. ãWeâve been getting great results, especially in brain cancer. Hopefully it will move to clinical trials in the next three months.ä

Falsey also volunteered his time in the emergency room at University Medical Center, usually from 10 p.m. until 2 a.m.

ãThey really appreciated it, itâs incredibly busy,ä he said. ãThere are so many people there that the nurses and doctors donât have time.ä

As a volunteer in the ER, Falsey was there to talk to patients and do other tasks to alleviate some of the work for doctors and nurses.

ãI think it really makes a difference,ä Falsey said. ãI made a lot of good friends there.ä

Falsey plans to continue the cancer research and eventually acquire a degree in cancer biology, specialize in radiation oncology, work with patients and find a cure for cancer.

Falsey finds his late-night lab research exciting and fulfilling, he said.

ãYou have to know whatâs going on in a personâs body and whatâs going on in a petri dish to really know whatâs happening,ä he said.

Joe Muehlbauer
Nugent Award

Watching movies and eating pizza with friends are some of Joe Muehlbauerâs best memories at the University of Arizona.

But his college career has been more than lounging around.

After tutoring students in math and science for the Multicultural Academic Student Affairs program, Muehlbauer wants to use his chemical engineering background to someday teach on a college level.

ãOne of the things I like to do is teach people what I know,ä Muehlbauer said.

Muehlbauer is a Nugent Award recipient and will receive his degree in chemical engineering. UA provides support for students who want to do any research, Muehlbauer said.

ãIf you really wanted to at this university, you can do anything you want to,ä he said.

Professors have helped him along the way, Muehlbauer said.

ãThey were more like mentors,ä he said. ãIn my chemical engineering classes, instead of the teacher lecturing us, he guides us. Itâs more learning than memorizing something to reason through problems.ä

Muehlbauer worked on a project to make smaller computer chips.

A NASA space grant funded his research for one year.

On the side, he played intramural sports like football and joined Mortar Board and Chain Gang. When heâs ready for a break from school, Muehlbauer travels home to Flagstaff and goes fishing. This summer, Muehlbauer will backpack around Europe before going to work for Shell Oil Company in San Francisco.

Jennifer Olding
Nugent Award

To escape from everyday stress and gain a sense of freedom, Jennifer Olding horseback rides twice a week through the desert.

Olding, a Nugent Award recipient, likes to be as active as possible with hobbies like hiking, camping and water sports.

ãOne day, if financially feasible, Iâd like to own a horse ranch,ä she said.

While working as a marketing and development advisor, she helped raise money for the UA Disability Resource Center to allow disabled children to participate in sports.

ãThey have a fabulous self esteem and attitudes about life,ä Olding said about the children.

The program, Olding said, gives students with disabilities a chance to gain coordination and meet other kids like them.

Olding, who will receive her degree in marketing and business management, will work for General Mills Inc. in Scottsdale, creating in-store promotions. Olding was one of the top student recruiters for the Eller College of Business and Public Administration and stayed in tune with her college as part of the business and public administration student council.

ãI was a liaison between administrators and students,ä she said.

She was also the marketing director for last yearâs Spring Fling ÷ in charge of marketing strategies, budget and advertising for the student-run carnival. Touring potential UA students around campus, Olding also answers questions about UAâs party school reputation as an Arizona Ambassador.

ãI always tell the students that you go to a party, the party doesnât come to you,ä Olding said.

Jose Perez Avila
Robie Medal

Working for six hours under the scorching southern Arizona sun, Jose Perez Avila helped build three houses for Habitat for Humanity.

Receiving his degree in mechanical engineering, Perez Avila, a transfer student from Hermosillo, Mexico, and Robie Medal recipient, spent his three years at the University of Arizona tutoring, building houses, making sandwiches for Casa de los Ninos and researching heat transfer material science.

Perez Avila was forced to learn English when he arrived in Tucson from Mexico, but quickly made friends and joined the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

ãI was really impressed with this school,ä Perez Avila said. ãI really think the support here is amazing. If you want to excel, thereâs always support.ä

Perez Avila, who tutors kids in math and science, once had an opportunity to share his experience growing up in Mexico to some elementary school kids.

ãI had never talked to a group of kids,ä he said. ãI was moved by how interested they were. They asked me if kids in Mexico play Nintendo.ä

Perez Avila made a presentation to the students about Mexico using pictures, hot candy and a big sombrero.

Perez Avila will return to Mexico for two months and then pursue his masterâs degree in mechanical engineering, while working for an aerospace company.

ãI love Arizona,ä he said. ãRight now with the job market so tight, I consider myself very lucky.ä

Brittany Rhoades
Robie Medal

Mentoring teenage girls at Girls Ranch keeps Brittany Rhoades inspired.

Rhoades, who will be receiving her degree in psychology, was awarded the Robie Medal for her service to the University of Arizona.

She works with youth programs to advance her own research, but also to empower children from disadvantaged families.

ãThinking about what theyâve gone through at 15 and seeing them and encouraging them to strive past these difficulties has inspired me,ä Rhoades said. ãThese girls were really strong despite the things they went through.ä

Rhoades has been working on the University Life Transitions Project to study the transition students make from high school to college and how their goals affect their decisions about alcohol use. Students with academic goals drink less alcohol and students with social goals tend to drink more, she said.

Rhoadesâ transition to UA was an easy one.

ãI lived in an amazing hall,ä Rhoades said reminiscing about her freshman year in Kaibab-Huachuca Residence Hall. ãI still live with the girls that I lived with my freshman year.ä

On the side of working with youth, she played intramural sports like basketball, volleyball and softball and even went sea kayaking with the UA Outdoor Adventure in Mexico.

For the past year, Rhoades has been involved in Psi Chi, the psychology honors society, and Mortar Board.

After a European vacation this summer, Rhoades will work with Americorps to continue her passion for family studies and working with youth.

Diana Shayevich
Freeman Medal Award

Diana Shayevich dances her stress away, giving her mind and body a rest. But this Freeman Medal Award winner will receive her degree in nursing, not dance.

Although she has danced for 16 years, she is dedicated to healthcare. Originally wanting to be a doctor, Shayevich volunteered to be an emergency medical technician to see if she could handle the blood and gore.

But when she realized that she wanted patient interaction, Shayevich joined the College of Nursing.

ãThe patient contact I want isnât there (as a doctor),ä she said. ãI want to carry people through their illness.ä

Shayevich plans to attend graduate school and become a nurse practitioner.

ãYou really put your whole self in the job,ä she said. ãA good nurse truly cares about the patient. You show them that youâre human. You cry with them and you hold their hand.ä

The quality of healthcare will suffer if the nurse shortage continues, she said.

Shayevich has also volunteered her time with programs Girl Guy Talk, a program to promote abstinence from sex and to increase self-esteem for pre-teens.

ãEleven- and 12-year-old kids donât have a good grasp on these things,ä she said. ãThis programs is trying to get kids to look in the mirror and be happy with what they see.ä

She also keeps in contact with junior high students, encouraging them to think about college through the Planning for Future College Society.

As vice president of the College of Nursing student council, Shayevich established a mentor program for first-semester students in the nursing program.