Outstanding students recognized at Honors Day at the Ayers Campus
Anniston– Gadsden State Community College recently held its 60th annual Honors Day at the Learning Resource Center for students attending the Ayers Campus in Anniston. The program included student achievements and scholarship presentations.
A second Honors Day was held at Wallace Hall on the Wallace Drive Campus for students attending campuses in Etowah and Cherokee counties. Over 230 awards and scholarships were given at the Honors Days, which spanned April 14-15.
The President’s Cup, a designated award for students who demonstrate exceptional success in all phases of college life, is presented each year to students in the academic, health science and technical divisions. It is given by Alan Smith, president of Gadsden State.
The Academic Division recipient for the Ayers Campus is Erin McGuire of Piedmont. At Gadsden State, she has earned numerous honors including the Student of Distinction Award, multiple recognitions on the President’s and Dean’s Lists, membership in the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, and service as a tutor and mentor in Student Support Services.
McGuire will graduate from Gadsden State in May with an associate in applied science in Office Administration – Health Information Technology. Following graduation, she plans to continue her work with Gadsden State’s Health Sciences Department while pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree from Athens State University.
The President’s Cup for the Health Science Division is Kayleigh Lee, of Heflin. Kayleigh will earn her Registered Nurse (RN) degree in May from Gadsden State. As a student, she has served as the Vice President of the Student Success Club, and is the recipient of multiple honors and scholarships, including the Honors Scholarship, the Health Science Scholarship, the Nan Pentecost Scholarship, the Student of Distinction Award, the Swoop Sprint Scholarship, and the Stephen and April LaFollette Scholarship.
During her time at Gadsden State, she has developed a strong passion for critical care and plans to begin her career working in the Emergency Department.
The winner of the President’s Cup for the Technical Division is Braxton Bussie of Talladega. The Industrial Automation student has maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA and will graduate in May with an associate in applied science in Industrial Automation Technology.
During his time at Gadsden State, he has been actively involved in the FAME program and plans to continue his career with Honda in the equipment service field.
One area student was presented with an award for outstanding achievement. The Outstanding Achievement Award recognizes students who have succeeded in pursuit of higher education despite varying traumas, adversities, personal losses and difficulties.
The Outstanding Achievement Award given at the Ayers Campus event went to Annelise Feazell of Piedmont.
From the beginning of her time at Gadsden State, Annelise demonstrated strong academic achievement. She quickly adapted to college life, earned all A’s, and remained consistently on top of her coursework. Everything in her life seemed to be falling into place, and she felt optimistic and excited about her future.
Then, everything changed. Following the sudden and devastating loss of her mother, Annelise’s world was turned upside down. In the midst of her grief, she took on the responsibility of caring for her younger siblings. Almost overnight, she was confronted with challenges far beyond those faced by most college students.
Despite these hardships, Annelise did not give up. She completed the semester and returned to school, continuing to balance her academic responsibilities with family obligations and personal struggles. Day by day, she persevered, doing the best she could under extraordinary circumstances. While attending Gadsden State, she has maintained a 3.625 GPA, serves as a tutor, and is an active member of Student Support Services, with plans to join the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. She also intends to apply to the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program this fall, with the goal of becoming a sonographer.
Departmental awards were given to students during the Ayers Campus Honors Day. They include:
Accounting/Accounting Technology Students – Robert Anderson, Laura Diamond, Brooklyn Ferguson, and Aaron Wade
Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology – Patrick Williams and Joshua Haynes
Child Development Student – Felicia Carter
English – Heather Burgess, Coral Leonard, Caleb Lynch, and Shoshanna White
History – Tessa Chevalier
Mathematics – Stephanie Lindley
Mechanical Design Technology – Ashley Downey
Office Administration – Destiney Elston, Naziya Heard, and Rickie Straw
Speech – Morgan Embry
Welding Technology – Richard Potter
The Cardinal Foundation awarded the following scholarships:
AMC Legacy Wall Technical Scholarship – Ashley Downey and Justin Mann
Boys and Girls Club of Gadsden/Etowah County Career Academy Scholarship – Summer Robinson
Ford Jamboree Scholarship – James Patty
Stephen & April Lafollette Scholarship – Madison Sims
Swoop Sprint Scholarship – Haley Sprayberry
Tim & Laura McCartney Career Technical Education Scholarship – Brady Gazaway
Tyler Union Workforce Development Scholarship –Gael Chino and Bryant McCarney
Tyler Union Electrical Technology and Industrial Automation Technical Scholarship – Benjamin Brady
Additional accolades include:
Outstanding FAME Students – Zachary Blom and Braxton Bussie
Outstanding Cardinal Tutoring Center Peer Tutor – Ashlee Medders
Students were recognized with the Rising Scholar Award for maintaining at least a 3.5 GPA, completing 24-53 credit hours by the end of the spring semester and exhibiting service to the college and community. Honorees are Lily Chapman, Tessa Chevalier, Taryn Kliewer, Stephanie Lindley, Kaden Pritchett, Shaundra Shadinger, and Austin Wynn.
The Student of Distinction Award is given to those who have maintained at least a 3.5 GPA, completed at least 54 credit hours by the end of the spring semester and exhibited service to the college and community. Ayers Campus students earning the award are Destiny Elston, Kiana Garber, Naziya Heard, Carrson Holland, Timothy Mayes, Ashlee Medders, Olivia Overholtzer, Gina Kay Sparks, and Rickie Straw.
