Pete Choukalas, from Phoenix, AZ, named Jeff Ferris Volunteer of the Year by NAU Alumni Association

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Pete Choukalas and son Ryan, courtesy NAU

FLAGSTAFF, AZ (10/17/2011)(readMedia)-- "I believe giving your time back to anything, whether a cause or your college, is important for all of us. There are several ways of giving, whether financially, with our hands, or through our jobs," says Pete Choukalas, 2011 Jeff Ferris Volunteer of the Year award winner.

Choukalas, '90 BFA, is being honored as Volunteer of the Year for his work with the College of Arts & Letters with the Take-a-Seat Campaign, a project to assist with fundraising to replace the seats in Ardrey Auditorium. In addition to providing personal funding to support the campaign, Choukalas served as a pro-bono designer to create a very compelling visual brand.

"Growing up, we had just enough to get by, but I remember when my dad would do the bills every month and no matter how tough things were he would always try and give $5 to a few different causes. I took those memories when I came up to NAU, but with finances tight up in college I needed to give back in other ways. So NAU is actually where I first really started giving back. Joining groups like Sophos and Blue Key inspired me to give back and help others whether it was cleaning a hiking trail or helping out with Special Olympics or other numerous things."

"Being an NAU alumni I always wanted to give back to my college. Giving financially is great but always wanted to do something else besides that and the opportunity arose to help out with Take-a-Seat and I couldn't pass it up."

Choukalas made several trips to Flagstaff to meet with NAU staff and worked tirelessly to design numerous campaign advertisements, brochures, posters, flyers and inserts. Those involved said they could not have completed such successful campaign publicity and materials without his excitement and passion for NAU as well as his shared vision of renovating Ardrey Auditorium.

"Pete is the best kind of designer; he minds the details while outputting truly creative content, all while being extremely easy and fun to work with. His dedication to NAU, his donation of time and talent on the Ardrey Memorial Auditorium Take-a-Seat Campaign, and his enthusiasm create an atmosphere of support and synergy. I would have been overjoyed to work with a hired designer of this caliber--and Pete did everything pro-bono! Pete is a dedicated family man, a successful professional, and a loyal and generous alumnus--the perfect example of an ideal Lumberjack," says Elizabeth Hellstern, Marketing/PR Coordinator for NAU's College of Arts and Letters, who nominated Choukalas for the award.

"My favorite thing about being an alumnus is giving back and seeing the university grow, whether it's updating Ardrey or new classrooms or growth in students coming. I know with budget cuts things haven't been easy, but to see NAU continue to grow through all this and still be recognized as a top university is amazing," says Choukalas.

Choukalas was NAU Homecoming King in 1989, received the Outstanding Academic Achievement Award in 1990, along with being honored as one of the Outstanding Young Men of America and receiving the Gold Axe Award that same year. He was also a member of Blue Key, Sophos, Northern Lights, and served as a residence hall assistant for three years while attending NAU.

"I still remember going up to NAU the first day to tour the University. I walked away knowing this will be a great home away from home for me," says Choukalas. "The people, the educators, everyone was amazing. I never had a day I didn't want to be there. Everyday was something new. I walked away with a great education from amazing professors, a lot of friends, how to give back and learned a great deal about life in general. Not a day goes by without me being so thankful for what I learned and received from NAU."

The NAU Alumni Association applauds Pete Choukalas with the Jeff Ferris Volunteer of the Year Award.

"Pete stepped up in a big way to help make the outreach campaign highly successful and take it to another level. His dedication and commitment are the reasons we love our many volunteers," says Neil Goodell, Director of NAU Alumni Relations.

Choukalas will be presented the award during halftime at the NAU Homecoming football game, Saturday, October 22, 2011 at the Walkup Skydome in Flagstaff.

About the award:

The NAUAA JEFF FERRIS (class of 1936) Volunteer of the Year Award. Jeff is a past president of the Alumni Association, serving in 1977. He also was one of the original artists for the Lumberjack logo used by the University today. While in school, Jeff participated in AZ Playmakers, Pi Kappa Epsilon and was a PINE editor. He received the Alumni Service Award and worked for the State of Arizona Tax commission. Jeff died in 1999.

Award Description: This award is presented to an alumna or alumnus who has demonstrated sustained interest and loyalty to the NAU Alumni Association and/or the University as a whole. Individuals who have shown initiative in serving NAU will receive extra consideration. The nominee need not be a graduate, although he or she must have attended NAU.