Rising with Resilience
The College of Liberal Arts is proud to announce that Sarah Manriquez has been selected as the 2025 recipient of the Gray S. Tilly Memorial Award. This honor is reserved for students who have taken nontraditional paths in higher education and have demonstrated resilience, academic excellence, and meaningful contributions to the university and broader Fairbanks community.
The Gray S. Tilly Memorial Award was established by Lola C. Tilly in memory of her husband, Gray Tilly, who served as head of ý’s Selective Service Board for 25 years. The award honors students who have taken longer than the traditional 4–5 years to complete their degree due to challenges such as family responsibilities, financial hardship, or military service. In addition to academic performance — including a minimum GPA of 3.5 — recipients must also demonstrate strong character, active engagement in extracurriculars, and a commitment to service both on and off campus.
Sarah's academic journey exemplifies the spirit of the Tilly Award. This spring, she will graduate with two degrees: a Bachelor of Fine Arts in photography with a minor in music performance, and a Bachelor of Arts in digital journalism with a minor in women, gender and sexuality studies. Her educational path has been expansive, interdisciplinary, and deeply rooted in both creativity and advocacy.
Through her work as a photographer, Sarah has explored complex social issues with a particular focus on homelessness and housing insecurity. Her exhibitions confront audiences with stories often left untold, revealing both the hardship and humanity of her subjects. These values extended beyond her photography, too — Sarah served as director of UAF’s Frozen Lenses photography club, worked as a freelance photojournalist, and held the role of photo editor for The Sun Star, UAF’s student-run newspaper.
Elizabeth Arnold, who taught Sarah in a journalism ethics course, described the dynamic impact she had in the classroom: “Sarah Manriquez is the kind of student every professor wants in their class, the student whose curiosity and engagement is just simply contagious. Sarah went the extra mile on every assignment, was willing to consider controversial viewpoints, and inspired meaningful conversation in an emotionally charged course that examined complex ethical case studies.”
Sarah’s commitment to academic excellence extends into every discipline she touches. Richard Murphy, who instructed her in both photography and journalism, noted the tenacity and openness she brings to every challenge: "Sarah came to the project of her education with a clear-eyed enthusiasm and a willingness to strive, whatever the challenges. To work with Sarah is a delight."
Visitors view “Through Our Eyes,” a photo project led by Sarah Manriquez that shares life through the lens of Fairbanks’ unhoused community.
The entrance to “Through Our Eyes” featured a bold banner and prints sold to support homelessness-focused programs.
A disposable camera sits below the exhibit’s message: “The cameras are disposable, the people are not” — the project’s mission in one line.
Sarah Manriquez stands with selected works from “Through Our Eyes,” a project rooted in empathy and empowerment.
Sarah Manriquez captures headshots of exhibit participants, continuing her commitment to honoring each voice behind the lens.
In one of her most unique academic experiences, Sarah participated in a course through the College of Business and Security Management titled Creating Theme Park Magic. As part of the program, students traveled to Walt Disney World and took part in workshops hosted by Disney’s Imagination Campus. These included immersive, hands-on sessions in leadership, storytelling, teamwork, and theme park design. Ruth Prato, who taught the course, highlighted Sarah’s standout performance: “Sarah Manriquez is an outstanding student whose unwavering positive attitude, exceptional leadership, and remarkable perseverance through personal and academic challenges set her apart. Her resilience, dedication to community, and passion for her craft embody the spirit of excellence and determination that defines UAF.”
Sarah was also recently named Outstanding Student of the Year for UAF’s Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies program. WGSS faculty Kayt Sunwood offered high praise for Sarah’s impact as both a student and a contributor to the learning environment: “Sarah Manriquez is the epitome of a modern-day Renaissance woman. In the spirit of Oprah Winfrey, Lady Gaga, and Justice Sonia Sotomayor — to name just a few — Sarah does it all and then some in pursuit of her passions and dreams. She also lifts as she climbs, supporting and encouraging peers, colleagues, faculty, departments, programs, clubs, organizations, the College of Liberal Arts, the community, and the entire university…”
CLA PIO Sarah Manriquez speaks with an ASUAF rep at Graduation Gear Up. Her work earned her the 2025 Chancellor’s Cornerstone Award.
Sunwood went on to describe Sarah’s brilliance in the classroom, noting: “Sarah shines in her outstanding and insightful reflections, connections, analysis, questions, conversations, and deep thinking she evokes in the courses I teach. Her exquisite, complimentary, and complementary replies to other students enhance insightful conversation and expand our understanding! Sarah is a fount of knowledge and connections for me and our learning communities. I anticipate taking classes from Sarah… Sarah inspires all of us fortunate enough to have been in her orbit!”
Beyond her academic accomplishments, Sarah has also distinguished herself through her service as the public information officer for the College of Liberal Arts. Her efforts in this role support faculty, programs, and departments across CLA — building visibility, fostering connections, and helping tell the stories that define our college. Her dedication in this position was recognized with the 2025 Chancellor’s Cornerstone Award, given annually to UAF staff members who go above and beyond in service to the university community.
Department of Music Chair Jaunelle Celaire works closely with Sarah in her PIO role and offered this heartfelt endorsement: “I am so excited and relieved when one of our own is recognized for their hard work. Nobody ever gives credit to the ones who are not in the front spotlight. I have watched Sarah wear multiple hats over the course of the past decade and I am proud of this accomplishment! She has been a student ambassador for herself, her education, her peers and her colleagues. She has been a faithful employee to UAF and CLA. And most importantly, she has been a great teacher to those of us who are always striving to have our departments grow through the eyes of her expertise! She is definitely a CLA GEM!!!!”
With a voice that moves across journalism and advocacy, an eye that captures justice through photography, and a heart deeply committed to community, Sarah Manriquez exemplifies the spirit of the Gray S. Tilly Memorial Award. Please join us in celebrating her tremendous accomplishments, and in recognizing the indelible mark she has left on UAF and the College of Liberal Arts.