Anniston and Gadsden, AL — Gadsden State Community College recently celebrated its 58th annual Honors Day at the Pierce Cain Learning Resource Center, specifically recognizing the achievements of students from the Ayers Campus and the Wallace Drive Campus. The ceremony, part of a two-day event that also included students from the Gadsden and Centre campuses, highlighted over 300 awards and scholarships distributed across the two locations.
Key Awards and Recognitions at Ayers Campus
President’s Cup: The President’s Cup, a prestigious award for exceptional success across all aspects of college life, was presented to three outstanding students from the Ayers Campus:
- Saralynn Boyd of Oxford received the President’s Cup for the Academic Division. Boyd 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 plans to graduate in December with an Associate in Science in Office Administration-Health Information Technology Management and aims to become a medical biller and coder.
- Jackson Roberts of Heflin was honored with the President’s Cup for the Technical Division. As a part of the FAME program, Roberts combined classroom instruction with real-world work experience. He maintained a 4.0 GPA and actively participated in recruitment events and conferences. Roberts earned an Associate in Applied Science in Industrial Automation and plans to work full-time at Eastman Chemical Co. while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in industrial management.
- Alisha Hall of Lincoln was the first-ever recipient of the President’s Cup for the Health Science Division. Hall, a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and an active tutor in the Cardinal Tutoring Center, plans to complete her Associate in Science in Nursing by August. Her goal is to further her education and become a nurse practitioner.
Outstanding Achievement Award: The Outstanding Achievement Award, recognizing students who have triumphed over significant personal challenges, was presented to Jose Arroyo of Talladega. Arroyo, raised by a single mother who worked three jobs, found inspiration in her dedication and enrolled at Gadsden State. He excelled in the competitive FAME program, working at Honda Manufacturing of Alabama while earning a degree in Industrial Automation Technology. Arroyo plans to continue supporting his family while advancing his career at Honda.
Departmental Awards and Recognitions at Ayers Campus
Several students were recognized for their excellence in specific academic and technical fields. The departmental awards included:
- 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 and Brock Burns, both 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.
Rising Scholar and Student of Distinction Awards at Ayers Campus
Students from the Ayers Campus were also recognized with the Rising Scholar Award and the Student of Distinction Award. The Rising Scholar Award honored students who demonstrated remarkable potential and academic progress. Recipients included Amanda Snelling, Bailey Mitchell, Gavin Moore, Halima Alise Cochran, Hope Jenkins, Katelyne Gruber, and Trent Hopkins.
The Student of Distinction Award was given to those who excelled academically and contributed significantly to the campus community. Recipients from the Ayers Campus included 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.
Key Awards and Recognitions at Wallace Drive Campus
President’s Cup: The President’s Cup was also awarded to outstanding students from the Wallace Drive Campus:
- Ja’Shun Staples of Gadsden received the President’s Cup for the Academic Division. Staples, president of the Student Government Association and a member of Phi Theta Kappa, will transfer to the University of Alabama at Birmingham to study biology, aiming for a career in medicine.
- LaTonya Henderson of Attalla received the President’s Cup for the Technical Division. Henderson, a member of the National Technical Honor Society and SkillsUSA, earned an Associate in Applied Science in Office Administration and plans to continue her studies in business administration.
- Zachary Edwards of Rainbow City was the recipient of the President’s Cup for the Health Science Division. Edwards, a member of the Respiratory Therapy Club, completed the Associate in Applied Science in Respiratory Therapy and plans to work as a respiratory therapist.
Outstanding Achievement Award at Wallace Drive Campus
The Outstanding Achievement Award was presented to Anna Marie Bolton of Gadsden, who overcame significant personal challenges to excel in her studies. Bolton plans to pursue a career in social work after completing her Associate in Science degree.
Departmental Awards and Recognitions at Wallace Drive Campus
The departmental awards at the Wallace Drive Campus included:
- Biology: Samantha Jean Smith of Gadsden and Emily Graves of Boaz.
- Business: Kayla Yates of Gadsden.
- Chemistry: Kaitlyn Dawn Walker of Altoona.
- Computer Science: Brandon Matthew Wise of Boaz.
- Criminal Justice: Samantha Marie Seals of Gadsden.
- Early Childhood Education: Haylee Brooke Jeffers of Glencoe.
- English: Mary Margaret Lowery of Attalla.
- History: Jacob Elijah Landers of Boaz.
- Mathematics: Lauren Taylor of Gadsden.
- Physics: Landon Blake of Gadsden.
- Political Science: Anthony Sanders of Gadsden.
- Psychology: Sarah Elizabeth Hill of Southside.
- Sociology: Madison LeeAnn McCord of Gadsden.
- Welding: Ethan Ray Bowers of Hokes Bluff.
Rising Scholar and Student of Distinction Awards at Wallace Drive Campus
Rising Scholar Award recipients included Kendra Lee Cox, Nicholas John Hembree, Gabrielle Laine Kirk, Mia Nicole Satterfield, and Mariela Victoria Vasquez.
Student of Distinction Award recipients included Kassandra Jeanette Calhoun, Kelsey Lee Chapman, Hannah Lashay Eubanks, and Jordan Alexander Gray.
The annual Honors Day ceremonies at Gadsden State Community College’s Ayers and Wallace Drive campuses celebrated the hard work, dedication, and resilience of its students. These awards and recognitions highlight the students’ achievements and inspire continued excellence in their academic and professional journeys.
