2024 Centennial Achievement Undergraduate Awards
In December 1984, the University of Arizona Division of Student Affairs created the Centennial Achievement Award to be presented annually. This award is given to two seniors graduating during the current academic year.
Robynique Kendryna
Robynique Kendryna is a first-generation college student set to graduate in May 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in human development and family science. Originally from Saraland, a small town in Alabama, Robynique was in high school when she moved to Tucson, which she now considers her home.
Her decision to pursue a degree in human development stems from personal experiences, particularly the loss of her mother during her teenage years, which had a profound impact on her life. Motivated by these challenges, Robynique is dedicated to empowering younger generations and hopes to use her education to support and uplift families and children facing similar hardships.
Throughout her undergraduate career, Robynique has been actively involved in many campus organizations, including African Americans in Life Sciences, and the Blue Chip Leadership Experience. She has held multiple leadership roles in these organizations, such as teaching assistant, peer mentor and First-Year Experience Coordinator. Through all these positions, she has contributed to her community in various volunteering capacities. She also focuses on researching and addressing homelessness in Tucson and has done extensive volunteer work providing the homeless population with essentials.
In addition to her community involvement, Robynique has multiple academic achievements. She had the opportunity to study abroad and was awarded the prestigious Gilman Scholarship. This experience not only provided her with a broader psychological perspective, but also marked a personal milestone as the first member of her family to visit Europe. Robynique is also an Arizona Assurance Scholar and received a Horatio Alger Scholarship. She has been named to the dean's list multiple times in recognition of her academic excellence. Upon graduation, Robynique plans to pursue a Master of Social Work in clinical social work, with the long-term goal of providing support to families and children in need. Her academic
journey is a testament to her resilience, passion and commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of others.
Octreyvian Killian
Octreyvian Killian expects graduate in May summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in learning, literacy, and leadership, along with a Bachelor of Arts in German studies and philosophy with an honors designation in philosophy. He is also in an accelerated master's program in philosophy but does not plan to complete any advanced degrees until 2026.
Born in Salt Lake City, Octreyvian experienced family and health challenges from a young age. Struggling with illness and intermittent homelessness throughout his life, Octrevian has been forced to take many breaks from his educational pursuits.
Since coming to the University of Arizona, he has worked as an undergraduate teaching assistant and as a tutor at the Strategic Alternative Learning Techniques, or SALT, Center, where he has supported first-years and other students with disabilities to build the skills, techniques and confidence needed succeed.
At the U of A, he has diligently advocated for equity and access for disabled and LGBTQIA+ students. As a preceptor, he created a system for more equitable testing processes that allowed students with dyslexia and other disabilities multiple ways to demonstrate content comprehension.
In his work with UROC (Undergraduate Research Opportunities Consortium) as an AWARDSS-PLUS fellow, Octreyvian has been conducting ongoing research into the discrepancy between fixed and transfer student graduation rates to aid his fellow transfer students in continuing their education and completing their degrees. Although this portion of his research has recently concluded, he hopes to conduct a follow-up study to investigate solutions for the systemic challenges his study uncovered. After finishing his master's program, Octreyvian hopes to pursue a doctorate in either philosophy or educational psychology. He also hopes to study mentorship in order to reinvigorate higher education and create more opportunities for transformative experiences.