On Thursday, May 11, 2023, the University held the Student Recognition Awards Ceremony to recognize the accomplishments of outstanding graduating students. Twelve Bovard College students were honored with the prestigious Order of Arête, an award to acknowledge their academic excellence, outstanding leadership, and significant contributions to the university and community. This award represents the highest honor accorded to graduate students upon completion of their academic programs.
Here are the exceptional Bovard College graduates who received this award:
Photo: Ryan Arthurton
Ryan Arthurton, MSCJ, is a Senior District Attorney Investigator, assigned to the Public Integrity Unit in the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office. In this role, Ryan assists various local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to ensure thorough investigations are conducted. He serves on the LFE (Lethal Force Encounter) team and reviews cases to ensure a fair process in achieving justice for the community and all involved. While working for the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department, Ryan earned the Sheriff’s Life Saving Award. These awards are to honor deputies who jumped into action to save someone’s life.
Photo: Sandon Brady
Sandon Brady, MSHT, created his own event and meeting planning firm, DonAtlas Hospitality, while pursuing his master’s degree. As a student in the MSHT program, Sandon’s leadership skills, passion for learning, and empathy for his peers contributed to a positive learning environment in the virtual classroom. He fostered community among his classmates and met up with his peers while traveling for industry events. Sandon co-founded and is the President of the Hospitality Tourism Trojans, a student-led organization with events and networking opportunities within the industry, including events with Meeting Planners International, the California Restaurant Association, and the Hotel & Motel Association.
Photo: Taunya Brown
Taunya Brown, MSPM, is the Vice President of Corporate Marketing for Brandless, where she created and oversees the company’s B.More community giving program that was recently recognized by Inc.’s Best in Business for their unwavering commitment to give aid to communities and individuals in need. Taunya founded and continues to support BYU’s Women in Entrepreneurship program, where she helps female entrepreneurs develop the skills they need to launch their ventures. This past year, Taunya was awarded Utah Business’ 40 Women Over 40 award which recognizes women in business who are creating monumental impact and making huge strides in equity.
Photo: Saralinda Gunnell
Saralinda Gunnell, MSHRM, is the Senior Director of HR for Halozyme Therapeutics where she consults and drives organization-wide strategic talent initiatives. She is a key contributor in rolling out development plans, change management series, integration strategy, and culture alignment. An important initiative for Saralinda is promoting inclusion in her organization by influencing senior leadership to include employees in activities that allow all personnel to be more developed, become lifelong learners, and feel more involved in the organization.
Photo: Caitlin Harkenrider
Caitlin Harkenrider, MSPM, is a Publications Coordinator for General Atomics, Aeronautical Systems, Inc. where she manages publications for 10 different programs within Field Operations. Caitlin excelled academically in the MS in Project Management program while going above and beyond at work. This past year, her employer awarded Caitlin a Spotlight Award for contributions made towards solving a flight safety issue that greatly impacted the operational safety of the aircraft.
Photo: Heather Heleloa
Heather Heleloa, MSHT, serves as Vice President of the California Restaurant Association, Orange County Chapter. Heather honors her Native Hawaiian heritage through her service as the Secretary of ‘Ahahui o Lili’uokalani Hawaiian Civic Club, the oldest Hawaiian Civic Club on the continent. In further service to her community, Heather created Heleloa.com, a directory of Pacific Islander news, events, businesses, and people throughout Southern California.
Photo: Antwine Marshall
Antwine Marshall, MSCJ, is a Military Veteran and currently the Board Director for Chaparral Management Company. He served 25 years in the United States Army and retired as Assistant Inspector General. While serving in the military, Antwine was awarded by the International Society of Logistics for his knowledge and competence and was awarded the Ordnance Order of Samuel Sharpe for demonstrating integrity, moral character, and professional competence while serving the Ordnance Corps. Throughout the program, Antwine excelled academically while overcoming personal obstacles.
Photo: Yoko Matsubara
Yoko Matsubara, MSHT, is a Virtual Learning Producer at Ernst & Young. She also volunteers with Planterra, a non-profit using community tourism to change lives, and with APIA Scholars, assisting with scholarship applications to increase college access opportunities for under-resourced APIA students. Additionally, Yoko mentors unemployed and underemployed US-based refugees and immigrants with Upwardly Global, an organization that works to eliminate employment barriers for immigrant and refugee professionals. Yoko’s commitment to alleviating poverty, creating meaningful employment, and equitable inclusion is demonstrated through her efforts to create a community engagement committee through her employer.
Photo: Naomi Navarro-Kelly
Naomi Navarro-Kelly, MSCJ, is a Network Operations Coordinator pursuing clinical psychology with an emphasis on Latinx mental health. Naomi volunteers with Rising Scholars, an organization that focuses on system-impacted individuals and those that were formerly incarcerated. Through her volunteer work, Naomi provides resources for these individuals to regain their footing in society through education.
Photo: Ivan Ramirez
Ivan Ramirez, MSCJ, is an Installation Patrolman for the 452nd Security Forces Squadron in the United States Air Force. In his service to the Air Force, Ivan has earned numerous awards including the Air Force Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, and Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. In his current role, Ivan created the Active Guard Reserve Sponsorship program to mentor, train, and increase his unit’s effectiveness. Additionally, Ivan is active in the Defender’s Association to assist military families and mentor junior enlistment members.
Photo: Annie Rickabaugh
Annie Rickabaugh, MSPM, is an Emergency Department Quality Management Supervisor with 10 years of nursing experience. In this role, Annie created and manages a monthly newsletter that communicates expectations, professional development, and education opportunities for the Emergency Department at her hospital. Annie also received the Great Catch Award from her employer, for identifying a system error in the electronic health record system. Although her current role is in leadership, Annie continues to work clinically when needed. Annie showed incredible leadership throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and led a collaborative interdepartmental team to design and build a temporary triage tent to safely manage emergency department patients through the December 2022 winter surge.
Photo: Michael Staubly
Michael Staubly, MSPM, is the Global Director of Project Management at Applied Medical. Michael is involved in his community through various organizations, including founding Gridiron Mentorships to actively mentor at-risk youth and Save the Waves, an organization to promote ocean preservation through education and beach cleanups in Southern California. In his current role at Applied Medical, Michael developed and mentored a team of 25 project managers. He also earned his Certified Scrum Master, Certified Product Owner, and Six Sigma Black Belt while working, attending USC, and giving back to the community.
View the ceremony program here.