News Summary
Georgia Southwestern State University recently held its annual Student Recognition Ceremony to honor exceptional students for their academic and leadership accomplishments. Awards were presented across multiple categories including writing, leadership, research, and academic excellence. Notable awards included the Delores Capitan Writing Awards, Outstanding University Pride Award, and the Sigma Leadership Award. The event also showcased the achievements of students at the 7th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium and recognized 885 students on the Dean’s List for Spring 2025, reflecting the university’s commitment to fostering student success.
Americus – Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) recently celebrated its annual Student Recognition Ceremony, where it honored exceptional students for their academic and leadership achievements. The event showcased the talents and dedication of students from diverse disciplines, with awards spanning writing, leadership, research, and academic excellence.
Delores Capitan Writing Awards
The Delores Capitan Writing Awards, established by William H. Capitan to commemorate his late wife’s passion for writing, highlighted the outstanding contributions of student writers. Andrew Bellacomo from Albany achieved first place in both the Academic and Creative Writing categories. Other notable winners in the Academic Writing category included Camila Fajardo in second place and Rene Miller in third. Similarly, in the Creative Writing category, Halle Hockman secured second place, while Jon Marsh took third.
Outstanding University Pride Award
Kaleb Hudson, also from Albany, earned the Outstanding University Pride Award for his efforts in promoting school spirit and enhancing campus life, reflecting the university’s values of community engagement and pride.
Student Employee of the Year
In recognizing student contributions outside the classroom, Savanna Lunsford from Leesburg was named Student Employee of the Year, honored for her exemplary customer service and professionalism in her role on campus.
Sigma Leadership Award
Zoee Jones from Camilla received the Sigma Leadership Award for her significant leadership within the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing at GSW, emphasizing the importance of leadership and service within the nursing profession.
Excellence in History Award
Continuing a tradition of excellence, Morgan Dollar from Leesburg was awarded the Excellence in History Award for the third consecutive year, recognizing her outstanding academic performance in GSW’s History program.
7th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium
The ceremony also highlighted achievements from GSW’s 7th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium, where approximately 70 students presented their research projects. The award for Best Talk was awarded to Alison Stubbs, Noah Gibbs, and Kaylee Gotthardt for their presentation on “Use of Copula Functions in Investment Portfolios.” In the Best Poster category, Maribel Brizendine from Albany secured first place for her work on “Modeling Fatty Liver Disease in a Dish,” while Kaylee Hodges, Neely Austin, Paige Adams, and Rebekah Cooper earned second place for their poster on “Sepsis.”
Dean’s List for Spring 2025
In addition to awards, GSW recognized academic excellence through the Dean’s List for Spring 2025, celebrating 885 students who achieved a GPA of 3.5 or higher. Among the notable local residents named to the Dean’s List were Edith Acevedo Cordero, Hannah Alumbaugh, and Nathaniel Baldwin, highlighting the academic achievements within the local community.
Conclusion
The Student Recognition Ceremony at Georgia Southwestern State University serves as an important occasion to acknowledge student excellence across various fields. The awards presented reflect the university’s commitment to fostering an environment of achievement, leadership, and community engagement.
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