Two NAU Swimmers Earn Prestigious Gold Axe Award

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (April 22, 2026) – Two Northern Arizona swimmers, Elsa Musselman and Cydnie Perkins, have been named recipients of the college’s prestigious Gold Axe Award for Spring 2026, recognizing their excellent contributions each in and past the classroom.

The Gold Axe Award has been a logo of recognition at NAU for the reason that custom started in 1933, a 12 months after the scholar physique adopted the axe because the image for the college’s athletics. Presented every semester by Northern Arizona University, the Gold Axe Award honors graduating seniors who display distinctive management, service and involvement throughout campus and inside their communities. The distinction is likely one of the college’s highest scholar honors, awarded to roughly 1% of graduating seniors.

Musselman and Perkins have been two of fifty graduating seniors as a part of the Spring Class of 2026 to obtain the Gold Axe Award throughout a ceremony Tuesday night time. They are the 63rd and sixty fourth Lumberjack student-athletes to obtain the award since 2004.

Musselman at the moment holds an ideal 4.00 cumulative GPA in biomedical science within the College of Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences. The San Antonio, Texas native graduates from NAU with faculty information within the 100 butterfly (53.16) and 200 particular person medley (1:59.96), each of which she set throughout her sophomore season. This spring, she earned a podium end putting third within the 200 butterfly (2:01.70), whereas additionally swimming on two podium freestyle relay groups and scoring factors within the 200 IM and 100 fly in her closing convention championship meet.

Beyond the pool, Musselman has been deeply concerned in educational, service and management roles throughout campus and the Flagstaff group. She is an undergraduate researcher in train physiology and serves as a instructing assistant for gross anatomy, whereas additionally contributing as a world athlete testing coordinator for the Institute of Human Performance. Musselman has been energetic in a number of scholar organizations, together with the Exercise Physiology Journal Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and a Christian Challenge girls’s small group. Her dedication to service is mirrored by means of volunteer work with Flagstaff Medical Center, the native meals financial institution and Welcome Jacks, along with her function as a medical scribe in inside drugs. She has additionally labored on the Wall Aquatic Center as a supervisor, lifeguard, cashier and water security teacher.

Perkins, a breaststroke specialist from Scottsdale, Ariz., is an energetic member of The W.A. Franke College of Business whereas pursuing her diploma in lodge & restaurant administration. At this spring’s MPSF Championships, Perkins set a brand new faculty file within the 200 breaststroke, taking silver with a time of two:12.75. Perkins additionally earned the silver medal within the 100 breaststroke and swam on two medal-winning medley relay groups.

Perkins has demonstrated intensive management and involvement throughout her time at NAU, significantly by means of her work with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), the place she served as E-Board chair for student-athlete engagement and beforehand as keyboard chair. In that function, she helped plan main campus occasions, together with organizing one of many largest Trunk or Treat occasions in Flagstaff by means of multi-club collaboration, and contributed to the Louie Awards by writing occasion scripts. A founding member and govt sous chef of the Gastronomy Club, Perkins helped launch the group and at the moment serves on its board, organizing large-scale fundraisers and occasions, together with a full venue takeover that raised greater than $1,000.

Professionally, Perkins has gained intensive expertise within the hospitality business as a kitchen supervisor at Annex Cocktail Lounge, the place she led giant occasions, developed menu ideas and contributed to restaurant advertising and marketing and social media. She has additionally labored as a line cook dinner at Tinderbox Kitchen and operates her personal non-public chef and catering enterprise. In addition, Perkins has been acknowledged for her service efforts, volunteering with organizations resembling Swim Buddies and making ready meals for local people members, additional reflecting her dedication to management and affect past athletics.

Gold Axe Award recipients are chosen for his or her dedication to excelling exterior the classroom, together with management in scholar organizations, group service and energetic participation inside their educational faculties.