"There is an undying energy I find in helping others and that is what drives me," said Liu who is an accounting major and plans to pursue higher education and ultimately become a teacher.
All of the award winners are marked by a long list of honors and involvement. "I hope to continue the tradition of scholarship and service as I head into the workforce," said Chatterton. "I would hate to be one of those people who just sit around all the time." Chatterton is an English major who one day hopes to be a teacher.
Williamson is no stranger to on campus involvement. When asked what she did in her spare time, the UNM volleyball player said, "I don't have any! I play a lot of outdoor volleyball now that I am done with my indoor season." After graduation she plans to play professional volleyball in Europe and eventually enter the Peace Corps.
Through their involvement, the award winners have been able to build a strong community and support group to help them be successful. In addition to their involvement, the students have been able to maintain a high academic standard.
"I feel honored to have received an award that so many other successful alumni have received as undergraduates at UNM," said Olguin who plans to pursue a masters of business administration at UNM's Anderson School of Management.
The Clauve Award is named for Dean Emeritus Lena Clauve.
Megan Chatterton
In addition to being involved with many organizations on campus, Megan Chatterton has been nominated for the Clauve Outstanding Senior Award at UNM. The award recognizes seniors who have performed well academically and made significant contributions to the campus community through leadership and involvement.
"I am very honored to have received this award," said Chatterton. "I am grateful that the university has considered me as one of its top students and hope to continue the tradition of scholarship and service as I head into the workforce."
Chatterton is a member of the Golden Key and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies, has been the president of National Society of Collegiate Scholars, vice president and secretary of the Medieval studies Student Association, treasurer of the Hobbit Society, and secretary of the Honors Student Advisory Council. In addition to her campus involvement, she is a shodan, a first degree black belt, and enjoys practicing judo, reading and hanging out with friends.
Chatterton said that her mindset is what has allowed her to accomplish as much as she has. "I just make sure to attend class, do my homework in advance and make time for myself. I would hate to be one of those people who just sit around all the time," she said.
After graduating in May, Chatterton plans to pursue a masters degree in secondary education. She says that the leadership skill she has gained at UNM will be a great benefit to her, especially in the classroom.
The 21 year old has lived in Kiowa, Colo. with her family and eventually moved to many different towns in N.M. including Tularosa, Cloudcroft and Gallup where she graduated valedictorian in 2008.
She would like to thank her parents Terry and Ellen Chatterton and professors Leslie Donovan and Anita Obermeier for their constant support throughout her time at UNM.
Sunny Liu
Portales, N.M. native and high school graduate, Sunny Liu has been nominated for the Clauve Outstanding Senior Award at the University of New Mexico. The award recognizes seniors who have performed well academically and made significant contributions to the campus community through leadership and involvement.
After being offered the UNM Regents' Scholarship, he decided to attend UNM with the goal of soaking up every single part of the college experience.
Throughout his time at UNM, Liu has been involved in Alpha Tau Omega fraternity (ATO), Beta Alpha Psi fraternity, International Business Students Global, Associated Students of the University of New Mexico (ASUNM) and Net Impact, just to name a few.
"I had been extremely involved in high school and vowed to be more selective about my involvement in college, but I suppose old habits die hard," said Liu about his desire to be involved. "There is an undying energy I find in helping others and that is what drives me."
After graduating in May 2013, the 21 year old accounting major plans to pursue higher education and ultimately become a teacher.
Liu said that his favorite memories at UNM involve the student leaders he has met through the ASUNM Office and being a founding father of ATO.
Liu credits much of his success to his girlfriend, Lauren Main for helping him throughout many difficult times during high school and college.
Florencio Olguin Jr.
At a university with a population of just over 20,000 full time students, Florencio Olguin Jr. has managed to create a support group that makes him feel like he is back in his 2,800 person hometown of Santa Rosa, N.M. Being well supported is what has made him so successful.
Florencio Olguin Jr. has been nominated for the Clauve Outstanding Senior Award at The University of New Mexico. The award recognizes seniors who have performed well academically and made significant contributions to the campus community through leadership and involvement.
Despite the fact that UNM is much larger than Santa Rosa where he graduated high school in 2008, Olguin said he has enjoyed his time at UNM very much. He said he had two goals for his collegiate career. He wanted to be involved with organizations that would give him experience and hoped to set a positive example for his younger brother, Andres Olguin. He said that working towards these goals has helped him make the most out of his time at UNM.
His goals for college of being a positive role model for his younger brother, Andres, and being involved with organizations that would give him experience have helped him make the most of his time at UNM.
"When I found out I was a recipient of the Clauve Award I was initially in disbelief," said Olguin. "I feel honored to have received an award that so many other successful alumni have received as undergraduates at UNM."
By being involved in organizations at UNM, Olguin has been able to build a support system and network similar to those of his family and hometown community.
After graduating with a double major political science and public relations in Summer 2012, the 21 year old plans to begin a masters of business administration at UNM's Anderson School of Management.
Olguin credits many people in his life for helping him achieve his personal and academic goals including his parents, Florencio and Roberta Olguin, grandparents Berto and Julia Chavez, girlfriend Ashleigh More and many employees on campus who have been mentors to him. Reminiscing on his undergraduate career at UNM, Olguin said that none of it would have been possible without the support of these people.
Kelly Williamson
As she began her college career at the University of New Mexico, Kelly Williamson had the high goal of being an Academic All American for volleyball. Along with achieving this and many other personal and academic goals, Williamson has been nominated for the Clauve Outstanding Senior Award at UNM. The award recognizes seniors who have performed well academically and made significant contributions to the campus community through leadership and involvement.
Williamson graduated from Lincoln International High School in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She decided to attend UNM after being recruited to play Volleyball there.
Volleyball has been a central part of her time at UNM. When asked what she did in her spare time, Williamson said, "I don't have any! I play a lot of outdoor volleyball now that I am done with my indoor season."
She said her favorite collegiate memory was competing in the NCAA tournament with her teammates. After graduation this May, Williamson plans to play volleyball professionally in Europe and complete the Masters International Program with the Peace Corps.
In addition to volleyball, Williamson is involved with and has held positions with the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, Associated Students of the University of New Mexico and the La Placita Institute.
Williamson is graduating in May with a major in biology and a minor in sustainability studies because she has a passion for preserving the environment.
Williamson said that she is truly honored to receive the award and would like to thank her parents Marcia and Cliff Williamson, her brother Tyler Williamson, coaches and past and current teammates for helping her succeed in all aspects of her life.
Story by Evann Kleinschmidt