Octreyvian Killian, an honors student triple majoring in German Studies, Philosophy and Literacy, Learning, and Leadership, has received the 2024 Centennial Achievement Undergraduate Award.
The annual awards, established in 1984, recognize students who have demonstrated integrity, persistence and a commitment to their communities and families. Killian, who expects to graduate in May, is one of two undergraduate students and seven graduate students are honored this year. Undergraduate awardees each receive a $250 stipend and an engraved plaque.
Born in Salt Lake City, Killian experienced family and health challenges from a young age. Struggling with illness and intermittent homelessness throughout his life, Killian 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, Killian 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.
Killian is also in an accelerated master’s program in philosophy, which he plans to complete in 2026. After his master’s, Killian 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.