McArthurs recognized at NWC Student Academic Recognition Reception

On Thursday, April 25, Northwest College held a Student Academic Recognition Reception.

The faculty selected students to receive outstanding recognition in the different programs for the 2023-24 academic year.

Two Lovell High School graduates were selected for the honors.

Ozz McArthur was chosen for his hard work and excellence in the Engineering Program under the STEM Division, and Meyja McArthur was honored for her focus in the Japanese Program for the Humanities, Visual & Performing Art Division.

ENGINEERING

“This year I am happy to say that I have several engineering students who are as good as any I have ever taught, so for Ozz to stand out among that group truly means that he is the best of the best,” presenter Astrid Northrup, professor of engineering and mathematics, said.

“Ozz came to NWC from Lovell, and last summer he spent it with an internship with Engineering Associates,” Northrup continued. “Internships are really important for engineering students to have those opportunities, because a major part of engineering is the vocational component and getting that experience is going to be invaluable to his future.

“He maintains excellent grades in a rigorous program of study and has received numerous scholarships and plans to transfer to the University of Wyoming to continue pursuing a civil engineering degree.”

HUMANITIES

Elaine DeBuhr, associate professor of art and chairperson of the Humanities and Visual and Performing Arts Division, presented Meyja McArthur with her award in the Japanese Language program.

“Naoko Ohno, our instructor of Japanese, speaks so highly of Meyja’s progress toward fluency in Japanese because of her dedication and hard work,” DeBuhr said. “Naoko raved to me about Meyja’s presentation on Yokai, Japanese monsters and ghosts. Yokai are feelings, events and sounds personified and captured in art and stories. They are creatures that you meet in fairytales -- the fairies and goblins of Japan -- Meyja’s favorite being ‘betobeto-san,’ the sound of footsteps following you.”

Meyja McArthur plans to transfer to Utah State University to study anthropology and museum studies and achieve a certificate to teach English, DeBuhe said. She recently taught English in Thailand as a volunteer and enjoyed it so much that she hopes to teach English in Japan after earning her degree.

“We look forward to hearing of Meyja’s future studies and adventures ahead,” DeBuhr concluded. 

ACADEMIC SHOWCASE

The winner of the Student Academic Showcase logo competition was Cecilia Harder of Lovell. 

The competition was held earlier this spring, but the showcase took place on Friday, April 26, where she presented her work and the process that went into it.