Valdosta State University

A female duo from Valdosta State University's Debate Team took home the top prize at the University System of Georgia's inaugural Regents Cup Debate Series competition April 11.

Callie Reid of Lakeland, Georgia, is the recipient of the Spring 2024 President's Award for Academic Excellence for the College of Science and Mathematics at Valdosta State University. She will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics, a Minor in Applied Statistics, and a Certificate in Data Science during VSU's 237th Commencement at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, on the Main Campus Front Lawn.

Shantia "Tia" Keondra Thomas of Macon, Georgia, is the recipient of the Spring 2024 President's Award for Academic Excellence for the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Valdosta State University. She will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing during VSU's 237th Commencement at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, on the Main Campus Front Lawn.

Lindsey Le Strickland of Homerville, Georgia, is the recipient of the Spring 2024 President's Award for Academic Excellence for the James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services at Valdosta State University. She will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Education in Middle Grades Education Mathematics and Science during VSU's 237th Commencement at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, on the Main Campus Front Lawn.

McKenzie Simpson of Quitman, Georgia, is the recipient of the Spring 2024 President's Award for Academic Excellence for the College of the Arts at Valdosta State University. She will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Art during VSU's 237th Commencement at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, on the Main Campus Front Lawn.

Julia Rafferty of Gwinnett, Georgia, is the recipient of the Spring 2024 President's Award for Academic Excellence for the Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration at Valdosta State University. She will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting, a Minor in Entrepreneurship, and an Honors College Certificate during VSU's 237th Commencement at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, on the Main Campus Front Lawn.

Logan Spooner of Bainbridge, Georgia, has been fascinated with the fundamental structure of the universe since he was in the eighth grade at Bainbridge Middle School. He will earn a B.S. in Astronomy and a B.S. in Physics from Valdosta State University's College of Science and Mathematics on May 4. Afterwards he plans to continue his education at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he will pursue a Ph.D. in physics as a presidential fellow. He says his time at VSU has prepared him well for the academic and professional challenges he will face in graduate school and beyond.

Jordan Hewins discovered a passion for "humans in space" when he was just 8 years old and watching "Star Trek" on the couch with his mother. The Georgia Academy of Sciences recently honored him with a Best Oral Presentation award for his research, "Modeling the Orbital Dynamics of Super Earth Kepler-62f." This summer he's headed to the Edge of Space Academy in Iowa to study space-based instrumentation and how it's used to observe Earth and space. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Astronomy and a Bachelor of Science in Physics at VSU and plans to graduate in May 2025.

Grayson Friedman of Evans, Georgia, is the recipient of the Spring 2024 President's Award for Academic Excellence for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Valdosta State University. Friedman will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, with concentrations in American Sign Language, Deaf Studies, and Art during VSU's 237th Commencement at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, on the Main Campus Front Lawn.

Valdosta State University is proud to announce the members of its graduating class of Fall 2023.

Nearly 1,800 students were named to Valdosta State University's Fall 2023 Dean's List. To qualify for Dean's List at VSU, students must 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. Please note that developmental studies, transient, and graduate students are not eligible for Dean's List status.

Teressa Konyo Akuoko of Valdosta, Georgia, is the recipient of the Fall 2023 President's Award for Academic Excellence for the College of Science and Mathematics at Valdosta State University. She will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, a Minor in Chemistry, and an Honors College Certificate during VSU's 236th Commencement at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9.

Kianna Lynn Ross of Thomasville, Georgia, is the recipient of the Fall 2023 President's Award for Academic Excellence for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Valdosta State University. She will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, with concentrations in Journalism, English Studies, and Sociology during VSU's 236th Commencement at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9.

Hunter Allen Rentz of Hazlehurst, Georgia, is the recipient of the Fall 2023 President's Award for Academic Excellence for the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Valdosta State University. He will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing during VSU's 236th Commencement at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9.

Marybelle "Belle" Christine Caldwell of Dalton, Georgia, is the recipient of the Fall 2023 President's Award for Academic Excellence for the College of the Arts at Valdosta State University. She will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Art during VSU's 236th Commencement at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9.

Conner Elizabeth Knuckles of Albany, Georgia, is the recipient of the Fall 2023 President's Award for Academic Excellence for the Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration at Valdosta State University. She will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting during VSU's 236th Commencement at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9.

Katie Lynn Ward of Valdosta, Georgia, is the recipient of the Fall 2023 President's Award for Academic Excellence for the James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services at Valdosta State University. She will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Education in Elementary Education during VSU's 236th Commencement at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9.

Valdosta State University is proud to announce the members of its graduating class of Summer 2023.

More than 300 students were named to Valdosta State University's Summer 2023 Dean's List. To qualify for Dean's List at VSU, students must 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. Please note that developmental studies, transient, and graduate students are not eligible for Dean's List status.

Valdosta State University is proud to announce the members of its graduating class of Spring 2023.

Samuel Nicolas, a Valdosta State University student from Lauderhill, Florida, recently completed a summer internship with Verizon. He spent 10 weeks working in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, with the Human Resource Experience and Insight unit for Verizon's new HR Answers.

Summer Dee of Monticello, Florida, is the recipient of a scholarship from the Scottish Rite Foundation of Georgia Inc. Dee anticipates earning a Master of Education in Communication Disorders from Valdosta State University in December 2023. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Education in Communication Disorders from VSU in May 2022.

Carlyn Seese of Douglasville, Georgia, is the recipient of a scholarship from the Scottish Rite Foundation of Georgia Inc. Seese anticipates earning a Master of Education in Communication Disorders from Valdosta State University in May 2024. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Education in Communication Disorders from VSU in May 2022.

More than 1,600 students were named to Valdosta State University's Spring 2023 Dean's List. To qualify for Dean's List at VSU, students must 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. Please note that developmental studies, transient, and graduate students are not eligible for Dean's List status.

Anna-Kathryn Gardner of Valdosta, Georgia, is the recipient of the 2022-2023 Annie Powe Hopper Award at Valdosta State University.

Dalila Sanchez of Roopville, Georgia, is the recipient of the 2022-2023 American Association of University Women Award at Valdosta State University.

Elizabeth "Ellie" Lehto of Savannah, Georgia, is the recipient of the 2022-2023 Clare Philips Martin Scholarship at Valdosta State University.

Logan Kraus of Melbourne, Florida, is the recipient of the 2022-2023 Division of Athletics Student-Athlete Academic Award at Valdosta State University.

Jared Lee Collum of Moultrie, Georgia, is the recipient of the 2022-2023 Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration Outstanding Student Award at Valdosta State University.

Darshi Narendrakumar Patel, an international student from Gujarat, India, is the recipient of the 2022-2023 College of Science and Mathematics Outstanding Student Award and University System of Georgia Academic Recognition Day Award at Valdosta State University.