UWRF honors 11 with Chancellor’s Award for Students

two rows of people pose for a photo. All individuals but one are holding plaques and wearing red ribbons with gold medallions around their neck. They're all dressed in business casual clothing.

 

UW-River Falls honors 11 with Chancellor’s Award for Students

Award recognizes academic excellence, service to campus and community

April 23, 2026 — The University of Wisconsin-River Falls presented its highest non-academic honor to 11 students during the annual Chancellor’s Award for Students reception Wednesday.

“Our 2026 Chancellor Award honorees exemplify excellence through their leadership in the classroom, engagement in campus life and service beyond the university,” Interim Chancellor John Chenoweth said. “We are proud to recognize these students for their outstanding achievements in research and for their meaningful contributions to the UW-River Falls community.”

This year’s Chancellor’s Award recipients:

  • Julisa Bearhart, a senior biomedical and health science major from Siren, serves as president of the UWRF Optimist Club, initiated the reinstatement and serves as vice president of the Native American Club on campus, serves as treasurer of the Pre-Health Society and has volunteered at the Free Health Clinic. Alongside these many service roles, Bearhart has conducted research into heart failure resuscitation, cancer and epilepsy. 
  • Laney Brabec, a senior communication sciences and disorders major from Woodbury, Minn., volunteers in the UWRF Speech-Language and Hearing Clinic, works as a community assistant for Residence Life and works off campus as an early childhood teacher. Brabec also serves as president of the UWRF chapter of the National Student Speech, Language and Hearing Association, as a Student Inclusion and Belonging senator for the Student Government Association and as president of the Gender Sexuality Alliance.
  • Autumn Frederick, a senior conservation and environmental planning major from Wykoff, Minn., serves as president of the Bee Club, where she has engaged the campus community in sustainable activities and educated them about the importance of bees and fellow pollinators. Frederick is student manager and communications coordinator for the Sustainability Office and has been active with Earth Fest and the Ecological Restoration Institute. She has put her skills to work during the summer as a conservation technician and an urban forestry intern.
  • Evan Gudmunsen, a junior psychology major from St. Croix Falls, has worked as a youth development specialist at Northwest Passage in Frederic, where he used his talents to teach music to residents of a mental health treatment program and led them in a concert. At UWRF, Gudmunsen has been active in Psychology Club, music, and theater. He has served the campus community as a resident assistant and has worked for the Psychological Sciences Department as an office assistant, peer mentor and learning assistant. 
  • Alyssa Harmon, a senior fine arts - painting major from Lee’s Summit, Mo., is the founder and president of the Art Club and winner of the Art Department’s Walker D. and Helen Bryant Wyman Scholarship. Harmon works as a building manager and art specialist for the University Center, where she helped establish a new Juried Art Exhibition that enables more students to gain crucial experience in showing art. In addition to her activities at UWRF, Harmon provides care for disabled adults as a personal care assistant.
  • Nikki Hoffart, a junior animal science - companion animal major from Edgerton, trains assistance canines through the Fostering Education through Campus Hosting (FETCH) Program, serves as lead of the Falcon Felines Cat Colony on campus, is secretary of the Chancellor’s Student Ambassadors, vice president of the Companion Animal Professional Society, president of the Women’s Rugby Club and a Falcon Guide for Admissions. Hoffart also works as a milker at UWRF’s Mann Valley Farm.
  • Yang Toua Elijah Moua, a senior biomedical and health science major from Roberts, has helped research heart failure therapies as part of a biomedical study abroad program in Taiwan and works as an undergraduate research assistant at UWRF studying the effect of chemical extracts on cancer cells. Moua has mentored high school students as a residential adviser for the TRIO Upward Bound program, serves as president of the Asian American Student Association and volunteers as a peer mentor for Bridges for Community, a day program for adults with disabilities. 
  • Madeline Nelson, a senior political science major from River Falls, serves as president of the Student Government Association. In this role, she has been a consistent and thoughtful advocate for students and has fostered collaboration and transparency, helping student government serve as a meaningful bridge between students and the university. Nelson has balanced this responsibility, along with her commitment to academic excellence, with meaningful professional experience, including working as a congressional intern in the office of U.S. Congressman Tom Tiffany. 
  • Nanati Omer, a junior exercise and sports science major from South Minneapolis, Minn., helps guide first year students to success as a peer mentor for TRIO Student Support Services and prioritizes the safety, belonging and well-being of students as a resident assistant. She actively promotes cultural awareness, mutual respect and meaningful dialogue as a member of the Black Student Union and the Muslim Student Organization and is a committed member of Dance Theater and the tennis team. 
  • Angel Riley, a senior double major in journalism and communication studies from Minneapolis, has served as president of the Black Student Union and as a Student Inclusion and Belonging senator for the Student Government Association. In these roles, she worked to build community and create a sense of belonging for students. Riley has further served the UWRF community as a reporter for the Student Voice newspaper, as a Chancellor’s Student Ambassador and as a lead building manager for Student Involvement.
  • Chase Steele, a senior criminology major from Red Wing, Minn., has consistently demonstrated professionalism, empathy and respect in his role as an office assistant in the Student Health and Counseling Office, where he has often been the first point of contact for students experiencing distress. Steele has supported fellow criminology and sociology students as a peer mentor and has served UWRF as a student representative to the Student Government Association Faculty Hiring Committee. Steel has balanced his academic work and campus service with off-campus jobs to finance his education. 

Introduced in 1980, the award has since been presented to 347 outstanding UWRF students. Students are nominated for the Chancellor’s Award by a faculty member, staff member or student peer. For more information, email michael.gilmer@uwrf.edu.

Photo: Eleven UW-River Falls students were awarded the Chancellor’s Award for Students during a banquet and ceremony Wednesday. Front row, left to right: Nanati Omer, Laney Brabec, Nikki Hoffart, Julisa Bearhart, Angel Riley, Yang Toua Elijah Moua, Chancellor John Chenoweth. Second row, left to right: Alyssa Harmon, Madeline Nelson, Chase Steele, Evan Gudmunsen, Autumn Frederick. UWRF photo.