FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Contact:  Robert Preston, Jr.,
              912.260.4276
              robert.preston@sgc.edu

Annual Honors Ceremony Celebrates Academic Achievement

Honors Day at South Georgia College is a tradition that began many years ago as an effort to recognize outstanding students for their achievement, talent, dedication, success, and service. College is a time for many students, regardless of age, to be challenged by a number of new experiences. Throughout everything that college offers, academic performance should remain at the forefront. Honors Day ensures that students never forget the importance of excelling in the classroom and getting involved in campus activities. The 2011 ceremony took place inside Peterson Hall’s McGouirk Auditorium on Thursday, April 14. Already a special occasion, many of the honorees made the day even more meaningful by inviting friends and family to share in their successes.

The college’s academic divisions each distinguished one or more outstanding students who excel in their disciplines. Hilaria D. Taft of Axson received the E.R. Bradley Award for Excellence in the Social Sciences, while Diane Blum of Fitzgerald became the recipient of the Libbo Belger Award for Excellence in Business.

David S. Medders of Douglas took home the award for Excellence in Education, and Christopher C. Newkirk of Douglas received the newly created Outstanding Academic Quiz Team Performance Award.

The Humanities Award was given to Sally Anderson of Claxton and the Foreign Language Award to James Brandon Gilbert of Douglas. Amanda Mincey of Brunswick received the Theatre Award.

The J. D. Spooner Science Award was earned by Matthew D. Sears of Willacoochee while the Mathematics Award went to Mary Esther Braswell of Douglas. The top chemistry honors went to Dustin Vaughn of Willacoochee who got the General Chemistry Award, and Brittany A. Yates of Douglasville, who received the Organic Chemistry Award.

The college’s top Awards for Excellence in Nursing were presented to Nathan B. Saunders of Uvalda and Cheryl L. Swain of Douglas. These awards are named after Vera B. Doering and long-time faculty member and GANS advisor Libba Burch. Christy A. Streat of Baxley earned the Waycross College Nursing Award.

The Student Activities Service Award went to Ariel Melton of Snellville.

The Freshman Academic Award was presented to the five students who earned the highest grade point averages in their class. Those receiving this recognition were Mary Esther Braswell of Douglas, Candace Yvonne Harper of Wray, Karen Ann Jones of Jacksonville, Ga., Ageda Sandra Machuca of Douglas, and Pratik Pravin Patel of Thomasville.

Those leading the sophomore class in academic achievement are Sally Anderson of Claxton, James W. Luke of Pearson, Jason W. McCallum of Ambrose, Ralph Michael Reed of Douglas, and Brittany A. Yates of Douglasville.

The largest group of honorees was those who were named Who’s Who Among Students in American Two-Year Colleges. In addition to succeeding academically, they were selected for their wider involvement in the college community. Their names will be posted at the college’s Web site: www.sgc.edu.

Two students, James C. O’Neal of Douglas and Brittany A. Yates of Douglasville, were named to the Phi Theta Kappa All-Georgia Academic Team.

Gerald Jonah of Lawrenceville received the SGC/University System of Georgia Academic Recognition Day Award.

Wes Brown, Vice President for Student Success, presented a new award, the Dr. Jim Cottingham Leadership Award, to Diane Blum of Fitzgerald. The award is given in honor of Dr. Cottingham, who served SGC as a professor of education and psychology, and, from 1995-2010, as Vice President of Student Affairs. Dr. Cottingham was a fixture on the SGC campus for over 30 years and was very involved in all aspects of student life.

Mr. Brown also presented the Student Government Service Awards, which went to President Chelsea Mitchell of Hazlehurst, Vice President Brittany Porter of Atlanta, and Secretary Brittany A. Yates of Douglasville.

Dr. Virginia Carson, SGC President, recognized the cross country and swim teams, both of which competed in their respective national meets this year. The swim team came away from its meet with a sixth place finish (men) and eighth place finish (women) in the nation.

The 2011 Honors Day program concluded with Dr. Carson naming Best All-Around Students at South Georgia College. These students were nominated by the faculty and chosen by the Student Affairs Committee for their academic success coupled with contributions in the areas of athletics, student leadership, campus life, and community involvement. The two students who were named Best All-Around were Brittany A. Yates of Douglasville and Wyllyam Sparks of Atlanta. Female runners-up for Best All-Around for 2010-2011 were Sally Anderson of Claxton and Natasha C. Corbett of Adel. The male runners-up were Frank J. Ambrosino of Valrico, Fla., and Jason W. McCallum of Ambrose.

“We would like to congratulate these outstanding students for their exemplary academic performance this year at South Georgia College. We are proud of their accomplishments and we wish them the very best in their future endeavors,” states Dr. Carson.

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About South Georgia College

South Georgia College (www.sgc.edu) was founded in 1906 and is located in Douglas, Ga. The college's environment gives students exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary study and close collaboration with faculty. With over 20 majors and transfer opportunities, South Georgia College provides the finest education possible to the citizens of its service area.