Georgia Highlands College distributed awards to its most distinguished students Thursday evening at the Honors Assembly

Photo, left to right:Rob Watts, interim president; students William Gourdine, Christie Boyd and Abraham Ortiz; Dr. Renva Watterson, vice president for Academic Affairs.

Media release: Georgia Highlands College distributed awards to its most distinguished students Thursday evening at the Honors Assembly, a dinner and awards ceremony, at the Clarence Brown Center in Cartersville. In all, 141 students from all instructional sites were honored.

The academic awards:

Educational Foundation of the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants' Certificate of Excellence in the Study of Principles of Accounting: Katie S. Jennings (Buchanan)

The recipient must have the highest combined grade point average in second-year accounting courses achieved by a student who is planning to major accounting.

Business Merit Award: Jessica Rampley (Ball Ground)

The award recognizes a student's achievement in business by having the highest average in the required business courses. The student must have completed at least five of the six required classes.

Excellence in Journalism: Kaitlyn Hyde (Ball Ground)

Students must have served and held leadership positions on the student newspaper staff for one year or longer, demonstrating exceptional journalistic achievement.

Excellence in Biological Sciences: David L. Jarrett (Rome)

The award recognizes a student who plans to pursue a career in biology and who demonstrates academic excellence in multiple biological science courses with a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.

Excellence in Health Sciences: Anna Lynne Harris (Bremen)

For recognition of a student who is pursuing a career in allied health and demonstrates academic excellence in multiple biological science courses and who possesses a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher.

CRC Press Chemistry Achievement Award: Samuel Luke Thompson (Summerville)

Recognizes an outstanding student who demonstrates academic excellence in multiple chemical science courses and possess a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.

Superior Achievement in Physics Award: Ronald Dustin Del Rosario (Powder Springs)

Awarded to a student who is interested in learning how the fundamental principles of the universe work and trying to apply them to real life via the existing laws of physics.

Jim McKeel Human Service Achievement Award: Megan Gafnea (Rome)

Awards a student who has demonstrated commitment to the field of human services active in volunteer experiences and possesses a genuine concern for the community.

Warren Akin IV Award for Excellence in English Studies: Christopher McAbee (Cartersville) and John Ross Rogers (Cedartown)

For a student with demonstrated excellence in writing ability and a personal interest in literature who maintains a 3.0 GPA. The recipient is selected by the English faculty.

Dr. Melvin Perry AAUP Outstanding Future Educator Award: Hannah Smith (Rome) and Madison White (Hiram)

Honors an outstanding future educator with a 3.0 GPA on a career track in education who demonstrates an aptitude for commitment to excellence in teaching.

　

Outstanding Spanish Student and Club President: Victoria A. Kikulis (Acworth)

Recognizes high academic achievement, strong leadership and dedication to GHC.

Outstanding Spanish Honor Student: Kristen R. Bennett (Woodstock)

Honors outstanding work and achievement from an honor student in Spanish 2002.

Mathematics Award: Kenneth Winston Kingery (Kennesaw)

Presented to the student with the highest class average in calculus.

Excellence in Bedside Care: Barrie Shirley (Marietta), Richard Eberhart (Rome), Robin House (Armuchee)

For excellence in bed care as identified by GHC nursing faculty.

Redmond Regional Medical Center Outstanding Nursing Student Award: Amanda Bohannon (Rome)

For competent clinical performance and outstanding academic achievement.

Amedysis Home Health Care Agency Outstanding Nursing Student in Geriatrics Award: Trina Davidson (Rome)

For a student who demonstrates the ability to work with aged patients and their families.

Outstanding Academic Achievement in Nursing Award: Ashley Granger (Marietta), Robin House (Armuchee)

For the highest cumulative graduating GPA by a GHC nursing student.

Floyd Medical Center Nancy Gunther Award for Outstanding Nursing Student: Christina Martin (Rockmart)

For outstanding clinical performance and dedication to the nursing profession.

Dr. Philip Dillard Achievement Award: Haley Mullen (Silver Creek)

For a student or faculty member who enhances disability awareness within the GHC community and is involved in campus activities and volunteer services.

Foundation Achievement Trophy: Jesse Beard (Cedartown)

A special, one-time recognition for the founder of GHC's Gaming Club, one of the institution's largest clubs with members at all instructional sites.

Cornerstone Award: William Gourdine (Douglasville)

Recognizes a student officer for leadership skills and demonstration of the positive influence games can have in the community.

GHAME Student Achievement Award: Joshua Brown (Rome) and Isaac Watters (Cartersville)

Recognizes a returning student in the Georgia Highlands African-American and Minority Male Excellence program for demonstrating leadership, academic excellence and dedication to the success of his fellow members.

Old Red Kimono Creative Writing Awards: Felicia Scott (Powder Springs), third place; John Ross Rogers (Cedartown), second place; Abigail Sosebee (Kingston), first place.

For students whose original work, published in the Old Red Kimono, was judged to be of special merit.

Old Red Kimono Creative Art Awards: Amera Samha (Rome), third place; Amanda Torres, (Atlanta), second place; Rebecca Layson (Calhoun), first place.

For students who original work, published in the Old Red Kimono, was judged to be of special merit.

FLASH in the Highlands Student Playwriting Finalists: Nancy Coleman (Villa Rica) and Rachel C. Buckley (Woodstock)

Chosen by students and faculty to honor exemplary original flash drama and contributions to the Romecreative and cultural enrichment of the college.

Honors Diploma: Abigail Sosebee (Kingston)

Given to students who have fulfilled all the requirements of the honors program, including community service, honors coursework and research projects outside the classroom. This year is the first for this award.

Honors Certificate: Liv Hood (Cartersville) and Brandy Riekert (Calhoun)

Given to honors program students how have fulfilled most of the requirements of the program. This year is the first for this award.

Georgia General Assembly Board of Regents Academic Recognition Award: Abraham Ortiz (Kennesaw)

For a Georgia resident student attending a University System of Georgia institution who has demonstrated outstanding academic and scholastic achievement.

All-USA Academic Team: Matthew Kendall (Dallas), Galen Maret (Marietta), Samuel Luke Thompson (Summerville) and Robert Warden (Cartersville

Sponsored by USA Today, Phi theta Kappa and the American Association of Community Colleges, the All-USA Academic Team competition honors excellent students for academic achievement and campus involvement.

Georgia Highlands College Steve Burns Service Award: Christie Boyd (Rome)

For the student who has demonstrated a commitment and passion for serving others and has contributed to the wellbeing of the community.

Georgia Highlands College Spirit Award: William Gourdine (Douglasville)

For the student who best demonstrates dedication to campus life, activity in school and community projects and school spirit to fellow students.

Georgia Highlands College Leadership Award: Abraham Ortiz (Kennesaw)

For the student who best demonstrates the qualities of a positive leader, shows exemplary leadership on campus and in community activities and maintains high academic standards.

The last three GHC awards of the night were a surprise to the recipients, and represent the most coveted honors because they are voted on by students, faculty and staff.

A group of students received honors for completing the Emerging Leaders program during spring semester. They included:

Lina Alcaraz, Douglasville Dexter Hudson, Cartersville

Jessyca Arndt, White Rachael King, Cartersville

Amelia Bagwell, Cartersville Dru Lomeli, Rome

Kristen Bennett, Woodstock Matthew Mason, Dallas

Kiana Boyer, Douglasville Rhett Norris, Rockmart

Kanneya Brown, Cartersville Chelsea Orzechowski, Villa Rica

Zachary Bulford, Douglasville Soletia Owens, Cartersville

Erica Chineth, Marietta Kishan Patel, Rome

Sherida Clincy, Marietta Clint Richards, Cartersville

Starsha Curry, Union City Bradley Six, Marietta

Kayla Farabaugh, Canton Hannah Smith, Rome

Demetria Gainor, Cartersville Riley Solomon, Silver Creek

Walter Galvan, Douglasville Donnette Tennial, Dallas

Joshua Geer, Cartersville Juliet Thomas, Kennesaw

William Gourdine, Douglasville Samuel Luke Thompson, Summerville

Kim Guyton, Douglasville Robert Warden, Cartersville

Anna Lynne Harris, Bremen Isaac Watters, Cartersville

Ariel Henderson, Cartersville Edwin Whitworth, Dallas

Cateria Hobbs, Austell Chelsea Worthy, Carrollton

Evan Hoggs, Douglasville

The following students were named to "Who's Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges:"

Lina Alcaraz, Douglasville Kristi McCarley, Cartersville

Brandon Allen, Douglasville Daryl McCloud, Marietta

Rachelle Allison Allen, Kingston Christopher McClure, Taylorsville

Jessyca Arndt, White Betsy McElhannon, Buchanan

Amelia Bagwell, Cartersville Jordan McFather, Rome

Erin Baker, Marietta Tara Menard, Dallas

Christopher Bates, Powder Springs Elizabeth Merna, Acworth

Jesse Beard, Cedartown Anthony Minaya, Villa Rica

Kristen Bennett, Woodstock Chukunyere Nlewedim, Marietta

Christie Boyd, Rome Rhett Norris, Rockmart

Joshua Brown, Rome Chukwuemeka Nwokike, Marietta

Kanneya Brown, Cartersville Patricia Ogle, Acworth

Courtney Self Carter, Kennesaw Adebola Ojosipe, Powder Springs

Maximus Ceaser, Cartersville Abraham Ortiz, Kennesaw

Linda Chuong, Rome Caleb Parris, Cave Spring

Donnetta Creamer, Cedartown Annay Perez, Cedartown

Jennifer Davenport, Ellijay Ashley Perry, Adairsville

Ashley Dennard, Kennesaw Lora Perry, Coosa

Lauren Desilva, Rockmart Megan Perry, Coosa

Anthony Donaldson, Rome Elisheva Ray, Mableton

Ann Dorsainvil, Acworth Heather Redding, Cartersville

Stephen Early, Rome Brandy Riekert, Calhoun

Mark Ewings, Acworth Wynema Rodgers, Villa Rica

Andrea Fillmore, Rome John Ross Rogers, Cedartown

Danielle Fluck, Douglasville Alberto Romero, Canton

Joshua Geer, Cartersville Amera Samha, Rome

Ginger Green, Cave Spring Barrie Shirley, Marietta

Kimberly Guyton, Douglasville Bradley Six, Marietta

Scotty Hale, Atlanta Joseph Slay, Dallas

Cynthia Harrington, Kennesaw Tatiana Smithson, Cartersville

Anna Lynne Harris, Bremen Davina Snowball, Lyerly

Nevin Hillegass, Canton Abigail Sosebee, Kingston

Peter C. Holmes, Mableton Alicia Speece, Dallas

Liv Hood, Cartersville Keitravis Squire, Marietta

Alicia Houston, Carrollton Bryan Sunrich, Rome

Dexter Hudson, Cartersville Samuel Luke Thompson, Summerville

Amber Hulsey, Cedartown Andrew Torres, Woodstock

Kaitlyn Hyde, Ball Ground Christopher Tranter, Kennesaw

Chidozie Ikwuezunma, Cartersville Brandon Treglown, Silver Creek

Robenson Joseph, Dallas Chukwuma Ugwu, Marietta

Kirsten Kapustay, Rome Vincent Waithe, Douglasville

Shannon Keeler, Powder Springs Ervin Watkins, Rome

Kylie Lee, Bremen Isaac Watters, Cartersville

Islam Leung, Rome Kendall Weatherman, Cedartown

Jeremy Linville, Cartersville Sarah Willingham, Summerville

Drusila Lomeli, Rome