Valdosta State University

Lea Jaklen is a recipient of Valdosta State University's 2016 Academic Athlete Award.

Taylor Holder of Chicago, Illinois, is a recipient of Valdosta State University's 2016 Academic Athlete Award.

Hunter Pope is the recipient of Valdosta State University's 2016 Outstanding Student in the Arts Award and 2016 Bartram Award for Intellectual Exploration.

Gloria de la Garza is the recipient of Valdosta State University's 2016 Annie Powe Hopper Award and 2016 Outstanding Student in Arts and Sciences Award.

Thomas Wright of Leesburg is a recipient of Valdosta State University's 2016 Academic Athlete Award. This is the second consecutive year he has earned this honor.

Erinika R. Taliaferro is a recipient of Valdosta State University's 2016 American Association of University Women Award.

Hannah Pittman is Valdosta State University's 2016 Alpha Lambda Delta Freshman Honor Society Leonard Senior Book Award recipient.

Landis Johnson of Hinesville is the recipient of Valdosta State University's 2016 Sigma Alpha Chi Mac Award.

Kyle Bragg of Bonaire is the recipient of Valdosta State University's 2016 Most Outstanding AS300 Cadet Award.

Tochukwu Madueke of Nigeria is the recipient of Valdosta State University's 2016 Marga Award.

Alisha Duncan Burdett of Adel is the recipient of Valdosta State University's 2016 College of Education and Human Services Highest Academic Achievement Award.

Ashlie Prain is a recipient of Valdosta State University's 2016 American Association of University Women Award.

Valdosta State University won first place at the 2016 Georgia Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention's inaugural Praxis Bowl.

Elizabeth Melton is Valdosta State University's 2016 Clare Philips Martin Scholarship recipient.

Mara Charles is a recipient of Valdosta State University's 2016 American Association of University Women Award.

Katherine Younker is Valdosta State University's 2016 College of Nursing and Health Sciences Outstanding Senior Sciences Award recipient.

Summer Goff is Valdosta State University's 2016 Outstanding Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration Senior Award recipient.

Sydney Beckmann is Valdosta State University's 2016 University System of Georgia Academic Recognition Day Award recipient.

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.

Kelsey Rice of Tifton, Georgia, is the Spring 2016 Dean's Award for Academic Excellence recipient for the James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services at Valdosta State University.

Valdosta State University has honored 30 students by naming them to the 2015-2016 Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. The honorees were selected by their faculty and administrators based on academic achievement, community service, and leadership.

Katherine Younker of Villa Rica, Georgia, is the Spring 2016 President's Award for Academic Excellence recipient for the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Valdosta State University.

Jesse Wayson of Valdosta, Georgia, is the Spring 2016 President's Award for Academic Excellence recipient for the College of Arts and Sciences at Valdosta State University.

Patricia Lawrence of Atlanta, Georgia, is the Spring 2016 President's Award for Academic Excellence recipient for the Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration at Valdosta State University.

Hayley Zapf of Valdosta, Georgia, is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from VSU's College of Nursing and Health Sciences. Zapf is the daughter of John and Shannon Zapf and the granddaughter of Brenda Taw and James Taw, professor in VSU's Department of History; her parents and grandparents are all VSU alumni. She is a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the Psi Chi National Honor Society in Psychology, and the Sigma Theta Tau Internat

Peter Powers of Cumming, Georgia, is the Spring 2016 President's Award for Academic Excellence recipient for the College of the Arts at Valdosta State University.

Mara Charles of Savannah, Georgia, is the Spring 2016 President's Award for Academic Excellence recipient for the James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services at Valdosta State University.

Daniel Gibson of Tifton, Georgia, is graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in music with a focus in music education as a vocal performer. Gibson, who is the son of Brian and Judith Gibson, is a member of the Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society. He has also been a member of VSU's Chamber Singers and Spotlighters and was one of 40 students who participated in VSU's musical journey through Historic England in March 2014. He is the recipient of the 2014-2015 Department of Music's Outstanding Student Award. After graduation, he hopes to teach high school choir.

Christa Heaney of Valdosta, Georgia, is graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance and accounting from VSU's Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration. Heaney, who is the daughter of Thad and Phyllis Heaney, earned an Associate of Arts in elementary education from VSU in December 2013. She is a member of VSU's student chapter of the Institute of Managerial Accountants, Beta Gamma Sigma, Beta Alpha Psi, Alpha Chi National Honor Society, the Honor

Rebekah Harper of Ocilla, Georgia, is graduating magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in psychology from VSU's James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services. Harper, who is the daughter of Marie Harper and Michael Burnett, is a member of VSU's Psychology Club and a regular on the Dean's List. After graduation, she plans to pursue a Master of Science in industrial/organizational psychology at Valdosta State. Her dream job is to become a human resource specialist.