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.

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.

Natalie Milko of Valdosta, Georgia, is the Spring 2016 welcome speaker for the College of the Arts convocation ceremony 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.

William "Jake" Croft of Valdosta, Georgia, is the Spring 2016 keynote speaker for the College of Arts and Sciences at Valdosta State University.

Diane Isibor, a junior accounting and finance major at Valdosta State University, has earned the 2015-2016 Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) Memorial Education Fund Scholarship in the amount of $2,500.

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.

Jackson Green of Valdosta, Georgia, has earned the 2016 Phillips-Baber Share the Wealth Scholarship.

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.

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.

Kathleen "Katie" L. Tatro's "High Premiums, Low Benefits: A Look at Health Insurance as a Consumer Product" won second place for Best Paper in the Social Sciences at the 2016 Georgia Collegiate Honors Council Conference.

Valdosta State University will welcome 43 new Honors Scholars during the 2016-2017 academic year.

Valdosta State University Honors College students were invited to present research at the 2016 Georgia Collegiate Honors Council Conference, which was held at Augusta University in Augusta, Georgia. The theme was "I Chose Honors."

Valdosta State University is proud to celebrate the accomplishments of the 786 students who completed the requirements of their respective academic programs during the fall semester.

Valdosta State University is proud to announce the names of those Fall 2015 students who earned Dean's List status. Students who achieve a semester grade point average of 3.50 or higher on nine or more semester hours with an institutional grade point average of 3.00 or higher are recognized by being placed on the Dean's List. Developmental studies, transients, and graduate students are not eligible for Dean's List status.

Three Valdosta State University students were invited to present research at the 57th Annual Meeting of the American Physical Society Division of Plasma Physics, which was held at the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center in Savannah, Georgia.

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

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.

Laura Hanna, a doctoral student at Valdosta State University, has earned a 2015 Love of Learning Award from The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest, largest, and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines, founded in 1897.

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.

Lauren Metzger of Valdosta, Georgia, is graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in interdisciplinary studies with a focus in Spanish, English, and religious studies. Metzger, who is the daughter of Ruth McNally and Jim Metzger, is a member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi and Theta Alpha Kappa, the National Honor Society for Religious Studies and Theology. She has volunteered with the VSU English Language Institute's Conversation Partner Program. In 2014, she was named the Outstanding Student in

Valdosta State University announces the names of those students who were inducted into Theta Alpha Kappa, the National Honor Society for Religious Studies and Theology, during the 2015 fall semester.

Valdosta State University announces the names of those students who were inducted into Phi Sigma Tau, the International Honor Society in Philosophy, during the 2015 fall semester.

Valdosta State University announces the names of those students who were inducted into Sigma Alpha Pi: The National Society of Leadership and Success during the 2015 fall semester.

Christina N. Burgess is Valdosta State University's 2015 homecoming queen. Elected by her peers, she was crowned during halftime festivities at the Saturday, Nov. 14, game against the Florida Institute of Technology Panthers -- a game the Blazers won 39-21.

Zachary L. Broussard is Valdosta State University's Homecoming 2015 king. Elected by his peers, he was crowned during halftime festivities at the Saturday, Nov. 14, game against the Florida Institute of Technology Panthers -- a game the Blazers won 39-21.

Valdosta State University's Hunter Howle, a 20-year-old mass media major from Port Richey, Fla., won College Documentary of the Year at the 2015 Great American NO BULL Challenge Teen Video Awards in Los Angeles, Calif.