Gloria de la Garza Honored with Outstanding Student Award at Valdosta State University

2016 Apr 13

Gloria de la Garza of Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico, is the Spring 2016 Outstanding Student Award recipient for the College of Arts and Sciences at Valdosta State University.

The Outstanding Student Award is presented to the student who has demonstrated a high level of academic competence and service to the College of Arts and Sciences, as well as Valdosta State University and the community.

As VSU celebrates its 221st commencement on Saturday, May 7, de la Garza is scheduled to be honored at the College of Arts and Sciences convocation at 4 p.m. on the West Hall front lawn and to receive a Bachelor of Science in chemistry at 8 p.m. at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.

"I am honored and grateful for receiving this award which recognizes my dedication and passion for chemistry," she said. "There are many good students in the College of Arts and Sciences; therefore, I am honored to be selected to receive this award."

As a student at VSU, de la Garza served as president and vice president of the Student Members of the American Chemical Society, vice president and secretary of the Society of International Students, an ambassador for the university, and an ambassador for the Department of Chemistry. She was also inducted into Sigma Alpha Pi, the National Society of Leadership and Success, and the American Chemical Society.

A regular on the Dean's List, de la Garza is the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including the 2016 Annie Powe Hopper Award, the 2016 Outstanding Chemistry Senior Award, the 2015 Southwest Georgia Section of the American Chemical Society's Outstanding Chemistry Student Award, the 2015 American Chemical Society's Student Leadership Award, and the International Student Scholarship. She was also selected by faculty, staff, and administrators to represent the university in the 2015-2016 Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.

De la Garza plans to pursue a graduate degree in chemistry after working for a year. Her dream job is to work towards the advancement of renewable energies.

About Valdosta State University:

Valdosta State University is a comprehensive university characterized by outstanding instruction, a wide range of student life opportunities, and a close connection to the community. Established in 1906, the institution's mission is to prepare students to meet global opportunities and challenges through excellence in teaching and learning; to expand the boundaries of current knowledge and explore the practical applications of that knowledge through excellence in scholarship and creative endeavors; and to promote the economic, cultural, and educational progress of the community and region through excellence in service outreach.

Valdosta State University seeks to accomplish this mission in a dynamic, student-centered learning environment marked by a respect for diverse abilities, backgrounds, and contributions by all members of the university community.

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