Latest News

---

05/16/24

Outstanding students honored at Honors Day programs

Anniston, Ala. — Gadsden State Community College recently held its 58th annual Honors Day at Pierce Cain Learning Resource Center for students attending the Ayers Campus.

A second Honors Day was held at the Wallace Hall Fine Arts Center on the Wallace Drive Campus for students attending classes on campuses located in Gadsden and Centre. Over 300 awards and scholarships were given at the Honors Days, which spanned two days in April.

A high honor for Ayers Campus students is the President’s Cup, a designated award for those who demonstrate exceptional success in all phases of college life. It is presented each year to students in the academic, health science and technical divisions. It is given by Dr. Kathy Murphy, president of Gadsden State.

The Academic Division recipient for the Ayers Campus is Saralynn Boyd of Oxford. At Gadsden State, she is the president of the Cardinal Student Success Club, secretary of the Health, Wellness and Wellbeing Club and a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. She was also on Gadsden State’s Homecoming Court earlier this year.

In addition to winning the President’s Cup, Boyd was also named a Student of Distinction. She will graduate in December with an Associate in Science in Office Administration-Health Information Technology Management. She plans to be a medical biller and coder upon graduation.

The Technical Division recipient of the President’s Cup for the Ayers Camus is Jackson Roberts of Heflin. He is a part of the FAME program, which couples classroom instruction with real world work experience in modern manufacturing. At Gadsden State,

he received an honors scholarship and has maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA. He has attended the FAME USA Conference as a student ambassador, represented FAME at Worlds of Work and encourages others at recruitment events to apply to the FAME program.

Roberts also received the FAME Award and was named a Student of Distinction at Honors Day. On May 9, he earned an Associate in Applied Science in Industrial Automation. He wants to work full time at Eastman Chemical Co. as a chemical operator. He also plans to work towards a bachelor’s degree in industrial management. His career goal is to become a plant manager.

This year, Gadsden State added a President’s Cup exclusively for a student in a Health Science Program who has demonstrated excellence during their time at Gadsden State. The first-ever recipient of the President’s Cup for the Health Sciences Division at the Ayers Campus is Alisha Hall of Lincoln. At Gadsden State, she is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, serves as a tutor in the Cardinal Tutoring Center and is active with Student Support Services. She has been named to both the President’s List and the Dean’s List.

On Honors Day, Boyd was also named a Student of Distinction. She will complete requirements for an Associate in Science in Nursing in August. Her goal is to continue her education to become a nurse practitioner.

Jose Arroyo of Talladega was given the Outstanding Achievement Award, which recognizes a student who has succeeded in pursuit of higher education despite varying traumas, adversities, personal losses and difficulties.

Arroyo was raised by a single mother who balanced three jobs to support him and his siblings. He didn’t think college could be a reality, but the hard work and determination shown by his mother inspired him to enroll at Gadsden State. He earned a spot in the highly-competitive FAME program and currently works at Honda Manufacturing of Alabama. He earned a degree in Industrial Automation Technology and plans to continue working at Honda to help support his mother and siblings.

Several students earned departmental awards during the Ayers Campus Honors Day. They include:

Accounting – Duc Minh Khoa Nguyen of Anniston, Debrina Hamilton of Arley and Chelsey Smith of Heflin

Cardinal Tutoring Center Peer Tutor of the Year – Josiah Joshua Boyd of Oxford

History – Katelyne Gruber of Weaver, Elijah Alexander Rosser of Anniston, John Brennen Parrish of Jacksonville and Briana Stephanie Smith of Lincoln

Mathematics – Bryant Yoder of Sand Rock

Office Administration – Jada Pickens of Jacksonville

Medical Coding and Scribing – Marty Davenport of Gadsden

Air Conditioning and Refrigeration – Gerald Murphy of Anniston and Brock Burns of Anniston

Auto Body Collision and Repair – William James Jenkins of Altoona

Diesel Technology – Daniel Sanford Kelsch of Crossville

Electrical Technology – Carson Riddle of Heflin

FAME Program – Briteon Husk of Oxford and Jackson Roberts of Heflin

Industrial Automation Technology – Chandler McGinnis of Ashville

Mechanical Design Technology – Richard Glenn Potter of Oxford, Brianna Diane Ussery of Alexandria, Nevaeh Grace Foster of Oxford, Haven Jude Niblett of Weaver and Angel Le of Weaver

Mechatronics, Robotics and Automation – Aiden McKenzie Beddingfield of Hokes Bluff and Zaybien Jamal Willis of Anniston

Precision Machining – Taylor Jones of Delta

Salon and Spa Management – Alyanna Cheyenne Little of Anniston, Erin Elizabeth Wells of Munford, Makensi Grace Surles of Pell City and Geraldine Elizabeth Brown of Oxford

Welding – Seth Turner of Oxford and Dennis Folk of Heflin

Students recognized with the Rising Scholar Award are Amanda Snelling, Bailey Mitchell, Gavin Moore, Halima Alise Cochran, Hope Jenkins, Katelyne Gruber and Trent Hopkins.

Students from the Ayers Campus earning the Student of Distinction Award are Jose Arroyo, Duc Minh Khoa Nguyen, Ekeaxus Pettus, Katelyne Gruber, Saralynn Boyd, Skot Rodgers, Yasmin Fody, Alisha Hall, Briteon Husk, Caden Mitchell, Jackson Roberts, Ja’Miracle Bass, Kelvin Zheng, Nathan Carr, Zaybien Willis and Anthony Burns.

---

Gadsden, Ala. — Gadsden State Community College recently held its 58th annual Honors Day at Wallace Hall Fine Arts Center for students attending campuses in Gadsden and Centre. The program included student achievements and scholarship presentations.

A second Honors Day was held in the Learning Resource Center at the Ayers Campus for students attending that campus. Over 300 awards and scholarships were given at the Honors Days, which spanned two days in April.

Traditionally one of the highest honors presented each spring is the Allen-Ray Award. The award, which has been presented at every Honors Day program over the past 58 years, is presented in honor of the late Sen. James B. Allen and the late Jack Ray, former CEO of the Exchange Bank of Alabama.  Both men were active supporters of Gadsden State.  Chris Ray, a relative of Jack Ray, presented the 2024 Allen-Ray Award to Sebella Henry.

Henry is the president of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society as well as a volunteer tutor in math and computer literacy for Adult Education Services. She was on the 2024 Gadsden State Homecoming Court and has volunteered at the Cardinal Gala, Candy with the Cardinals, G-Day and Get on Board Day. She also serves as a reading tutor at Donehoo Elementary School and volunteers with hospice organizations and senior centers.

Henry is a member of the All-Alabama Academic Team and was named a Coca-Cola Scholar. She was a Gadsden State representative at the recent PTK international convention, where the local PTK chapter was recognized as a Five-Star Chapter and won the Distinguished College Project Award for the work done at an Etowah Chamber event for local teachers, counselors and administrators.

In addition to winning the most prestigious award, Henry was also named a Student of Distinction and was awarded scholarships to the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the University of Alabama, Athens State University and Jacksonville State University.

Henry graduated on May 9 with an Associate of Science in General Studies. She plans to attend UAB to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mathematics education.

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 Dr. Kathy Murphy, president of Gadsden State.

The Academic Division recipient for the Etowah County campuses and Gadsden State Cherokee is Harrison Glenn of Rainbow City. He is a vice president of PTK and joins Henry as Gadsden State’s two representatives on the All-Alabama Academic Team. As a Gadsden State Ambassador, Glenn has led over 50 tours for prospective students and has volunteered at many college events, including graduations, Cardinal Commit and Candy with the Cardinals. In addition to winning the President’s Cup at Honors Day, he earned the Student of Distinction designation and received scholarships to JSU and UA. Glenn graduated May 9 with an associate degree in general studies. He will attend the University of Alabama to pursue bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration.

2024 marks the addition of a President’s Cup exclusively for a student in the Health Science Division. The winner is Joshua McKenzie, a non-traditional student in the Nursing Program. McKenzie is a former SWAT team leader, patrol supervisor and combat veteran. At Gadsden State, he is a member of PTK and serves as the president of his nursing cohort. The Anniston resident was also recognized with the Student of Distinction Award on Honors Day. In December, McKenzie will graduate with a degree in nursing and plans to work in Intensive Care. He hopes to continue his education and earn credentials to be a nurse anesthetist.

The recipient of the President’s Cup for the Technical Division is both a Gadsden State student and an employee. Kyle Roberts of Boaz worked in the Maintenance Department while working towards a degree in Electrical Technology, which he earned on May 9. The father of four has maintained a 4.0 GPA and has remained on the President’s List each semester. He plans to continue working at Gadsden State to use the skills he has learned. On Honors Day, Roberts also received the Student of Distinction Award.

Four area students were presented awards for outstanding achievement. The Outstanding Achievement Awards recognize students who have succeeded in pursuit of higher education despite varying traumas, adversities, personal losses and difficulties.

The Outstanding Achievement Awards given at the Wallace Drive Campus event went to Ashley Shaddix of Eastaboga, Cassie Bergstresser of Anniston, Gregorio Antonio of Gadsden and Taylor Edmondson of Gadsden.

Shaddix grew up in an unstable environment that required her to move 17 times before graduating from high school. She eventually turned to drugs and was a victim of domestic violence. She was caught in the cycle of abuse and ultimately lost custody of her children. In 2019, she turned to religion and started her educational journey towards a degree in nursing at Gadsden State. She now has custody of her children as well as a college degree. On Honors Day, Shaddix received the Student of Distinction Award, and she was awarded the Academic Achievement Award at the Nursing Pinning Ceremony.

The second recipient, Bergstresser, is also a nursing student. She became engrained in student life at Gadsden State serving as a peer tutor for the Cardinal Tutoring Center and volunteering at multiple events while juggling her responsibilities as a wife and mother. During her third semester, she was diagnosed with Behcet’s Syndrome, a rare disorder that causes blood vessel inflammation throughout her body. This did not stop her from continuing her education. Bergstresser graduated May 9 with her nursing degree and plans to study to be a nurse practitioner. At the recent Nursing Pinning Ceremony, she was given the Academic Achievement Award. During Honors Day, she was also recognized as the Peer Tutor of the Year.

The third recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Award is Antonio, who has served in the U.S. Army for the past 14 years. He works full time while maintaining a GPA that keeps him on the President’s List or Dean’s List each semester. The single father of a 6-year-old, Antonio is working toward a degree in Human Services and hopes to have a career in veterans counseling. He is active in Veterans Upward Bound on the Wallace Drive Campus and is featured in an inspirational Gadsden State commercial.

The final Outstanding Achievement Award recipient is Edmondson, a student completing a degree in Salon and Spa Management. With a goal of one day taking over her father’s business, she was unfortunately attacked by two dogs and became disabled. Her medical limitations made it impossible for her to take over the business, but she had to do something. She wanted a career. She enrolled in Salon and Spa Management and has created a business plan to open her own spa. Edmondson was named a Student of Distinction at the Honors Day ceremony.

Departmental awards were given to students during the Wallace Drive Campus Honors Day. They include:

Accounting – Sawyer Miller of Chatsworth, Ga., Kari Wineman of Southside, Raquel Martinez of Albertville, Tracie Stanford of Gadsden and Timothy Guice of Gadsden

Business Administration – Kari Wineman of Southside

Cardinal Arts Journal Contributor Award – Ta’Shanuna Barton of Gadsden

Cardinal Tutoring Center Peer Tutor of the Year – Cassie Marie Bergstresser of Anniston

Chemistry – Skot Rodgers of Talladega and Summer Zamora of Gadsden

Child Development – Merianne Northington of Gadsden and Summer Boyanton of Gadsden

Computer Science – Morgan Walker of Piedmont, Mitchell Hannan of Boaz and Josiah Boyd of Oxford

Economics – Nicholas Ford of Canton, Ga.

English – Katelinn McKerley of Cedar Bluff, Mason Freeman of Gadsden 

Fine Arts – Emily Kathryn Phillips of Southside

History – Victoria McGinnis of Gadsden

Western Civilization – Brooklynn Barley of Rainbow City

Literature – Sara Carlisle of Southside

Mathematics – John Michael Weaver of Guntersville, Samuel Luke Morton of Sand Rock, William Frampton of Centre, Laura Ashley Davis of New Market and Jayden Oliver Gibbs of Hokes Bluff

Music – Evan Tigue of Gadsden  

Show Band – Isaiah Shupe of Springville

Networking and Cyber Security – Tyler Elmore of St. Paul, Va., Denedria Baba of Gadsden, Jeylen Pace-Johnson of Centre, Darius Spencer of Gadsden and Scotty Cortez of Hokes Bluff

Office Administration – Saloni Patel of Gadsden and Brittany White of Gadsden

Medical Coding and Scribing – Ashley Hawk of Gadsden

Outstanding International Student – N’din Ivan Serge Assi of the Ivory Coast

Outstanding Ambassador Award – Madison Atchley of Weaver

Paralegal Studies – Alexis Rodriguez of Birmingham, Yolanda Peters of Anniston, Riley Michelle Hull of Odenville, Christina Hollis of Pell City, Aubrey Elizabeth Bell of Ragland and Nora Kristine Bunke of Gadsden    

Lambda Epsilon Chi Paralegal Honor Society Award – Emily Anne Garmon of Southside

Student Government Association – Caity Daniel of Oxford

Speech – Alyssa Farley of Gadsden  

Theatre – Jacob Morris Rhinehart of Piedmont, Lilly Grace Barber of Rainbow City and Jonas Micah Abernathy of Lincoln

Radiography – Shelby Davis

Air Conditioning and Refrigeration – Justin Shane Jenkins of Leesburg

Auto Body Collision and Repair – Austin Gilliland of Albertville

Automotive Service Technology – John Parker Gammon of Dyersburg, Tenn.

Civil Engineering – Jacie Divine of Hokes Bluff

Construction Technology – Carmelo Gomez of Oxford

Court Reporting – Tori Smith of Gadsden  

Electrical Technology – Jackson Barronn of Gallant

Industrial Automation Technology – John Crane of Leesburg

Mechanical Design Technology – David Turner of Gadsden 

Mechatronics, Robotics and Automation – DeWayne Childers

Precision Machining – Chris Briese of Southside

Salon and Spa Management – Jasmine Meadows of Pell City

Welding – Jackson Rogers of Spring Garden

Students earning scholarships are:

James L. Brown Free Enterprise Scholarship – Derek Schmitz of Oxford

Jesse L. Walker Jr. Business Scholarship – Brittany White of Rainbow City

Barry Boatwright Scholarship – Jasia Long of Leesburg

Nell Thomas Scholarship – Lori Coleman of Euharlee, Ga.

Sue McMeekin Griffith Scholarship – Kristina O’Neal of Centre

Nan Pentecost Scholarship – Jacey Langley of Ranburne

Jim Vanderford Scholarships – Evan Brown of Boaz, Darren Jones of Rainbow City and Eduardo Alexis Guerrero-Francisco of Fort Payne

R&M McCord Scholarship – Samuel Jaggers of Gadsden

Jesse Walker Scholarship – Brittany White of Rainbow City

West Pentecost Scholarship – Curtis Collins of Pell City

Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama’s E2 Program Scholarship – Britnee Alexandria Crozier of Rainbow City

Jacksonville State University Presidential Transfer Scholarship –  Hannah Blevins, Emma Bohannon, Audrey Bowen, Kendra Boyd, Reid Bradshaw, Kasey Carroll, Yi Chen, De’Nyah Cunningham, Lauren Davis, Andrew Dunlap, Connor Faulkner, Stephanie Harris, Samantha Hosea, Annie Jones, Grayson Kellett, Terrie Martin, Farrah McKinney, Maminirina Randriamanantsoa, Emma Ray, Skot Rodgers, Stacy Rodriguez, Saibri Ross, Brandon Turner, Corrieanna Underwood, Sydney Whiteside and Summer Zamora

JSU Academic Transfer Scholarship – Layla Abernathy, Griffin Amos, Mylia Barnette, Kaytie Britton, Hunter Bryant, Zela Bush, Emily Lane, Kimberly Madrie, Andrew May, Laura Pierce, Kelly Pruitt, Lexi Sanderson, Zaryiah Shack and Saige Trainor

JSU Opportunity Transfer Scholarship – Madison Atchley, Leah Campbell, Patience Carr, Alexa Compton, Carson Davis, Brianna Farrell, Mason Faulkner, Romona Finch, Harrison Glenn, Sebella Henry, Zyler Higgins, Samantha Hughes, Emily Johnson, Saige Kennedy, Cursia Kirksey, Madilyn Layfield, Jennifer Le, Kevin Le, Nehemias Loarca Lucas, Alissa McNeal, Laiya Moncrief, Hugh Moore, Bo Parker, Katie Parker, Joshua Parrish, Kendra Perry, Kadence Priest, Jackson Primm, Evan Ranjitkar, Brian Rivas, Alexander Robinson, Zachary Sparks, Grace Sun, Morgan Thompson, Sasha Tidwell, Evan Tigue, Case Townsel, Lillian Usry, Natalie Ward, Kari Wineman and Nicholas Young

JSU Gamecock Transfer Scholarship – Erica Dark, Robert Eagly, Joshua Green, Max Hefner, Jonas Jackson, Jarrett Sampson, Britney Stevenson, Chastaigne Stewart, Nelly Welsh, Bradley Williams, Rebecca Wilson and Christon Wright

Athens State University – Kaytie Britton of Jacksonville, Kellie Edwards of Gadsden, Sebella Henry of Gadsden, Brianna Ferrell of Centre and Hollie Bonds of Gadsden

University of Alabama – Anna Katherine Williams of Gadsden, Sydney Erin Skelton of Collinsville, Cynthia Nkulikiye of Haiti, Alexa Maze of Heflin, Madilyn Layfield of Gadsden, Annie Jones of Attalla, Sebella Henry of Gadsden, Harrison Glenn of Rainbow City, Steven Ray Eisneberg of Oneonta and Nicholas Phillip Clark of Gadsden

Alabama A&M University – Cameron Garmon of Gadsden

University of Alabama at Birmingham Transfer Presidential Scholarship – Sebella Henry and Madilyn Layfield, both of Gadsden

UAB Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship – DeNyah Cunningham of Anniston, Marissa Hays of Oxford, Gabrielle More of Trussville, Melody Myers of Alexandria, Huntley Pointer of Piedmont, Zane Probus of Gadsden and Maggie Rebarchik of Attalla

UAB Transfer Excellence Scholarship – Jordan Clark of Arab, Cheslee Duke of Munford, Brianna Farrell of Centre, Connor Faulkner of Glencoe, Annie Jones of Attalla and Brittney Ridley

UAB Transfer Pathway Scholarship – Kayli Brothers of Rainbow City, Bryanna Hurado of Jacksonville, Andrew Kimbril of Southside, Jennifer Le of Waver, Aliya Moncrief of Jacksonville, Ariana Threatt of Anniston and Brandon Turner of Attalla

Students were recognized with the Rising Scholar Award are Alie Taylor, Bo Brown, Brandon Fears, Celina Norton, Christopher Wimpee, Clarissa Williams, Dalton Chestnut, Destini Bradley, Dontarius Coleman, Elisha Sims, Emalee Morrison, Emily roe, Hadassa Dourado, Jackson Christopher Primm, Jazmine Fomby, Kadence Priest, Karinsa Morgan, Katelinn McKerley, Kaylee Green, Kelsey Cooper, Layla Hammett, Leah Campbell, Leathia Marshall, Lillian McDill, Logan Watts, Macee New, Maggie Rebarchik, Makenzi Collins, Randi Morgan, Stephanie Maldonado, Thomas Cole Jackson, Tiffany Rae Savin, Yasmin Brenner Fody and Zoe Highfield.

Students from the Gadsden campuses or Gadsden State Cherokee earning the Student of Distinction Award are Ashley Shaddix, Christian Proper, Austin Lambert, Clarissa Williams, Harrison Glenn, Jessica Brumblow, Joshua McKenzie, Nora Bunke, Tyson Trammell, Taylor Edmondson, Ashley Hawk, Avery McRay, Brandon Fears, Brittany White, Caitlin Simone O’Neal, Chase Lopas, Claire Williams, Clark Vincent Oliphant, Conner Faulkner, Corrieanna Renee Underwood, Daniel Brown, Denedria Ash Baba, Domingo Andres Jr., Emily Phillips, Haya Ghazal, Hugh Moore, Jacob Davis, Jordan Clark, Katy Minton, Kaylee Leeanne Dove, Kendra Perry, Madilyn Layfield, Madison Atchley, Mia Bailey, Nadage Oyeket, Randal Scott Cortez II, Saibri Ross, Saloni Patel, Sebella Henry, Skot Rodgers, Summer Zamora, Tiffany Durham, Timothy William Guice and William Kyle Roberts

Paralegal Studies students were recognized for their inclusion in Lambda Epsilon Chi National Honor Society, which is for those who have demonstrated superior academic performance with at least a 3.25 overall GPA and at least a 3.5 GPA in paralegal classes. Students are Alexis Rodriguez, Aubrey Ball, Christina Hollis, Emily Anne Garmon, Nora Kristine Bunke, Riley Michelle Hull and Yolanda Melson Peters.