UAF to honor outstanding graduates, commencement speaker

The ´ºË®ÌÃÊÓƵ will honor its 2025 outstanding undergraduate degree recipients and commencement speaker at a ceremony on Friday, May 2.

Darya Kholodova will receive the Marion Frances Boswell Memorial Award, which recognizes an outstanding bachelor’s degree candidate. Sebastian Toscano-Arteaga will receive the Joel Wiegert Award, given to an outstanding associate degree candidate. Sarah Manriquez will receive the Gray S. Tilly Memorial Award, recognizing an outstanding nontraditional graduating candidate. Kyle Banning will give the commencement address.

Darya Kholodova

Kholodova will receive a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering with a minor in foreign languages with a concentration in German. She has served as secretary and president of the UAF chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers, as well as vice president of Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society. Kholodova is an active member of the College of Engineering and Mines’ steel bridge team and also led the design and construction of this year’s ice arch. 

Kholodova has volunteered her time in outreach to kids, leading the gumdrop bridge activity at the CEM Engineers’ Week youth open house, assisting with a Girl Scouts in Engineering event and serving as judge at an elementary school science fair.

She plans to pursue a master’s degree in geotechnical engineering.

Sebastian Toscano-Arteaga

Toscano-Arteaga will receive an associate of applied science degree in culinary arts with certificates in culinary arts and baking and pastry arts. He earned his degree and certificates while still in high school, and he will graduate from high school this spring. Toscano-Arteaga is a University of Alaska Scholar, recognized for ranking in the top 10 percent of his junior class. 

He volunteers with the ´ºË®ÌÃÊÓƵ Community Food Bank and participates in events to support the Month of the Military Child. He spends summers working with the Alaska Fire Service, preparing meals for wildland firefighters.

Toscano-Arteaga plans to continue his education at UAF by pursuing a Bachelor of Applied Management.

Sarah Manriquez

Manriquez will receive a Bachelor of Fine Arts in photography with a minor in music performance, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in digital journalism with a minor in women, gender and sexuality studies. 

Her photography exhibits have focused on social justice issues, particularly homelessness. She has served as director of UAF’s Frozen Lenses photography club, worked as a freelance photojournalist and served as photo editor for the Sun Star, the student newspaper. She has also played string bass in the ´ºË®ÌÃÊÓƵ Symphony Orchestra.

Manriquez was recognized as an outstanding student by the College of Liberal Arts. She serves as CLA’s public information officer, and she was a 2025 recipient of the Chancellor’s Cornerstone Award, which honors UAF staff who demonstrate exceptional commitment to the university’s community and mission.

Kyle Banning

Banning will receive a Bachelor of Science in biological sciences with a concentration in biomedical science. A ´ºË®ÌÃÊÓƵ native and first-generation college student, he is a member of the UAF Honors College.

Banning has worked as a personal trainer at the Student Recreation Center and served as a small group leader and vice president of UAF’s chapter of Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship. He has volunteered in multiple departments at CalvertHealth Medical Center in Prince Frederick, Maryland, including the emergency room, inpatient care unit and wound care clinic.

He plans to attend medical school to become a doctor or surgeon, with the goal of serving with C​URE International, providing care to children​ with disabilities ​in impoverished countries around the world.

Kholodova, Toscano-Arteaga, Manriquez and Banning will be among those honored at UAF’s 2025 honoree recognition ceremony, which will be at 5:30 p.m. Friday, May 2, at the Davis Concert Hall. More information about the ceremony and other 2025 commencement events is available at .

244-25