FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (November 29, 2021) – Senior
Mara Abernethy was one of 29 Northern Arizona University graduating seniors to receive the Gold Axe Award at the Gold Axe and Distinguished Senior Awards Ceremony earlier this month.
The Gold Axe Award has been a symbol of recognition at NAU, a tradition that dates back to 1933 – a year after the student body adopted the axe as the symbol for university's athletics. Each semester, a select group of graduating seniors are presented with the award based on their outstanding achievements and distinguished service to NAU and the greater community.
Abernethy, out of Colorado Springs, Colo., is NAU Athletics' 58th Gold Axe recipient since 2004. She is the third Lumberjack volleyball player, following Janae Vander Ploeg (2016) and Abby Stomp (2019), to be presented with the prestigious honor in the last five years.
Entering her final semester, Abernethy carried a 3.83 cumulative grade point average while majoring in philosophy, politics & law with a certificate in economics. Since transferring to NAU in the spring of 2020 after two years at the University of Denver, Abernethy has been an active member of the campus community in addition to her two seasons on the NAU volleyball team.
Abernethy is a member of the Blue Key Honors Society, aiding in the planning of the NAU Homecoming parade, volunteering within the Flagstaff community weekly and fostering a partnership between Blue Key and other on campus organizations.
Additionally, Abernethy – a member of the Dean's List since her first semester – has served as a student research assistant and student team lead with NAU's Economic Policy Institute since August 2020, and was an NAU Presidential Leadership Fellow during the spring 2021 semester.
Following graduation next month, Abernethy will be a pre-law intern with the Colorado Attorney General's Office in her home state.
Athletically, Abernethy earned the Golden Eagle Scholar-Athlete award and was named to the Big Sky All-Academic team last year.
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