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A Life Lived Full Throttle: Sarah Manriquez

The UAF College of Liberal Arts proudly recognizes Sarah Manriquez as one of the 2024–2025 Outstanding Students in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies. A nontraditional student earning dual degrees in Digital Journalism and Photography & Film—with minors in WGSS and Music Performance—Sarah exemplifies creativity, resilience, and the transformative power of showing up fully for both art and advocacy.

For Sarah, being a student has never been about checking boxes. It’s about chasing purpose, building community, and doing the hard, often messy work of living a life aligned with what she calls “the things that set your soul on fire.”

Her academic journey spans nearly 15 years, two universities, and countless new beginnings. But when asked what advice she would give other students, she doesn’t hesitate: “Try everything. Join the club. Go to the meeting. Say yes to things—even if you think you’ll be bad at them.”

The seeds of that philosophy were planted during her childhood growing up on the island of Roatán, off the coast of Honduras. Raised in the vibrant landscape of a tropical island, Sarah was immersed in color, culture, and story—formative experiences that continue to ripple through her creative work. Sarah was inspired early on by her grandmother, a former off-Broadway actress and model in NYC who instilled in her the importance of dreaming big. “She taught me that life is short, and you need to pursue what sets your soul on fire,” Sarah shared.

That ethos led her to photography. From the moment she held her first disposable camera as a child, Sarah was hooked on visual storytelling. That same passion now fuels her advocacy work, her journalism, and her feminist lens. “Images have weight. They hold memory, they bear witness,” she said. “That’s why I do this work.”

One of her proudest achievements at UAF was seeing her honors thesis capstone project come to life in the form of her first solo exhibition at the International Gallery of Contemporary Art in Anchorage. “When I walked into the venue on opening night, it was packed,” she recalled. “People were engaging with the work I made. I had mentors who came all the way from Fairbanks. I felt proud—not just of what I had made, but of the journey it took to get there.”

Beyond the classroom, Sarah has been a driving force in amplifying stories across UAF and the wider Fairbanks community. As the Public Information Officer for the College of Liberal Arts, she leads marketing and media efforts for more than 20 departments, coordinates major public events, and mentors fellow students in journalism, photography, and digital storytelling. Her work has spotlighted local artists, Indigenous leaders, and climate advocates—bridging campus and community through compelling narratives that matter. Whether producing video content, curating social campaigns, or training the next generation of storytellers, Sarah is committed to making work that resonates beyond the university.

She hopes future students will see the university as more than just a stepping stone. “College is a hive mind. There are mentors who will change your life, friends who will become family, and opportunities you never imagined. Don’t wait for someone to invite you—just show up.” As Sarah puts it: “Go full throttle.”