News and Updates

SGSC honors academic achievement with annual Honors Night ceremonies

Students at South Georgia State College were recognized for their academic achievements during recent Honors Night ceremonies. The SGSC Douglas Campus ceremony was held on Monday, April 21, followed by the Waycross Campus ceremony on Tuesday, April 22.

Paige Smith of Nicholls received the most honors during the Douglas Campus ceremony,
including four academic honors and the most prestigious student honor. Smith was one of 31 students in the University System of Georgia (USG) to be recognized by the Georgia General Assembly, and a resolution was passed commending Smith on her academic success. She was the recipient of the Dr. Michael D. Fisher Humanities Award, named for the late Professor Emeritus of English and French who taught at the former South Georgia College for over 20 years. The award was presented by Dr. Lori Seward, wife of the late Dr. Fisher and interim director of the Division of Humanities. Smith received the Sophomore Academic Achievement Award, which is given to students within each academic unit with the highest grade point average. Smith has also excelled outside of the classroom acting as president of several SGSC clubs, including the Kappa Sigma Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa. She was also recognized as a member of the Phi Theta Kappa All-Georgia Academic Team, which is based on academic performance as well as college and community service.

Andrew Maley of Hazlehurst and Jessica Nicole Spivey of Pearson both received three academic honors during the Douglas Campus ceremony. Maley received the J.D. Spooner Science Award for his academic achievements in science. He was also a recipient of the Jim Cottingham Leadership Award for his leadership achievements outside of the classroom. Maley serves as captain of the SGSC Swim Team, which placed third at the NJCAA Swimming and Diving Championships. He is an NJCAA All-American swimmer and holds the school record for the 50 yard backstroke. Maley received the Sophomore Academic Achievement Award and is a Peterson Scholar.

Spivey received the Organic Chemistry Award and the Sophomore Academic Achievement Award. Spivey also excels outside of the classroom, being actively involved in numerous clubs and organizations including the Peterson Scholars. She was also honored as a member of the Phi Theta Kappa All-Georgia Academic Team.

Alex Googe and Jenna Rozier, both of Hazlehurst, received two academic honors at the Douglas Campus ceremony. Googe was awarded the Mathematics Award for outstanding academic achievement in the subject. Rozier won the General Chemistry Award. Both Googe and Rozier won Freshman Academic Achievement awards for academic achievement in their respective academic units at SGSC.

Other students recognized at the Douglas Campus ceremony included Valerie Mangeot of Douglas (E.R. Bradley Award for Excellence in Social Sciences); Collin Tatum of Douglas (Libbo Belger Award for Excellence in Business); Dustin Dowling of Douglas (Libba Burch Award for Excellence in Nursing); Kendall Morgan of Douglas (Sophomore Academic Achievement Award); Kathleen Stansbery of Douglas (Freshman Academic Achievement Award); Jerome Lairsey of Hazlehurst (Freshman Academic Achievement Award); and Holly Lee (Freshman Academic Achievement Award).

Henisha Patel of Waycross and Amelia Beckworth of Blackshear were the top winners during the Waycross Campus ceremony, each winning two awards. Patel received the Award for Excellence in Mathematics and won the Student Life Award for her leadership outside of the classroom. She serves as a math tutor in the Academic Support Center and is involved with other extracurricular activities.

Beckworth won the Dr. Pam Stille Quinn Award for Excellence in Humanities and received the Sophomore Academic Achievement Award. She is an active member of Student Government Association (Parliamentarian) and a member of the Alpha Rho Omega Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa.  She is also a member of BASIC.

Other Waycross Campus students recognized included Gregory O’Driscoll of Blackshear (Dr. Ted C. Harris Award for Excellence in History); Curtis Griffin of Waycross (James Brewton Business Award); Ciera Lynn of Patterson (Award for Excellence in Natural Sciences); and Laura Pickett of Kingsland (Vera B. Doering Nursing Award).

Michael D’Ambrosio of Blackshear was recognized as a member of the Phi Theta Kappa All-Georgia Academic Team. D’Ambrosio, Paige Smith, and Jessica Nicole Spivey were three of only 23 students from nine USG institutions selected to the team.

Christy Cahill of Waycross received the Student Life Award for her leadership achievements outside the classroom. Bennett Grieco of Blackshear was recognized for his dedication to SGSC as the 2013-2014 President of the Waycross Campus Student Government Association.

Stephen Smith of Waycross and Michael Kubik of Waycross both received the Sophomore Academic Achievement Award. Freshman Academic Achievement Award winners included Brittany Cribb of Folkston, Camry Chapman of Hoboken, Jacob Highsmith of Waycross, William Thomas of Waycross, and Mason James of Blackshear.

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FIRST PHOTO: SGSC President Dr. Virginia Carson celebrated the academic achievements of Jessica Nicole Spivey (left) and Paige Smith (right) during the recent Honors Night ceremony on the Douglas Campus.

SECOND PHOTO: SGSC President Dr. Virginia Carson congratulated Andrew Maley for receiving three awards during the recent Honors Night ceremony on the Douglas Campus.

THIRD PHOTO: Henisha Patel (right) received the Award for Excellence in Mathematics from Dr. Charles Johnson, chair of the Division of Natural Sciences, Physical Education, and Mathematics, during the recent Honors Night ceremony on SGSC’s Waycross Campus.  Patel also received the Student Life Award.

FOURTH PHOTO: Amelia Beckworth (right) received the Sophomore Academic Achievement Award from Dr. Robert Page, vice president for academic affairs, during the recent Honors Night ceremony on SGSC’s Waycross Campus.  Beckworth also received the Dr. Pam Stille Quinn Award for Excellence in Humanities.