Gadsden State Community College recently held its 55th annual Honors Day events at the Cheaha Center on the Ayers Campus in Anniston and at the Wallace Hall Fine Arts Center in Gadsden. The programs spanned two days of recognizing student achievements and scholarship presentations. Almost 300 awards and scholarships were given with scholarships totaling more than $812,000.
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 54 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. Ricky Ray, the son of the late Jack Ray, presented the 2022 Allen-Ray Award to Kourtney Tillman.
Tillman, a resident of Southside, is the vice president of the Student Government Association representing Gadsden State Cherokee. She is a peer tutor with the Cardinal Tutoring Center and is embedded in remedial math to assist her fellow students. She is president of her nursing cohort and a member of the Trio for Success Club, the Student Disciplinary Committee and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. She has been on both the President’s and Dean’s List and was a member of the 2022 Homecoming Court. She was awarded a certificate in Practical Nursing at the May 5 commencement ceremonies.
Tillman is a helpful community and college steward. She assisted in writing a grant with fellow SGA officers for outdoor learning space in the quad on the Wallace Drive Campus. She spearheaded student activities, like the Halloween Dance, and a bed build with Trio for Success Club for Sleep in Heavenly Peace. She also organized a campus blood drive as well as a clothes closet for students in need of professional attire for job interviews. In addition to winning the prestigious Allen-Ray Award, she also was awarded a Student of Distinction Award, Outstanding SGA Officer Award and Outstanding CTC Peer Tutor Award
K. Tillman
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 both the academic 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 Kennedy Fox of Hokes Bluff. Fox received her Associate in Science in General Studies with a short-term certificate in Surgical Operating Room Technician at the May 5 commencement ceremonies at Gadsden State Cherokee. While at Gadsden State, she served as president of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and served as a tutor in the Cardinal Tutoring Center. She was named to the All-Alabama Academic Team and was instrumental in PTK achieving the Distinguished Honors in Action Hallmark Award. In February, she was crowned Gadsden State’s Homecoming Queen.
During Honors Day, Fox also received the Jacksonville State University Presidential Transfer Scholarship and the University of Alabama at Birmingham Transfer Presidential Scholarship She plans to obtain a bachelor’s degree before applying to a physician’s assistant graduate program.
K. Fox
The Technical Division recipient of the President’s Cup is Hannah Kate Dale of Centre. Dale is a student in the Precision Machining Program. She started her educational journey at Gadsden State as a dual enrollment student. She went on to earn the Gene Haas Scholarship Award and became the first in her family to enroll as a college student. At Gadsden State, Dale is a member of the Project MFG Machining Competition Team. She and her teammates participate in joint machining, programing and welding competitions that are funded and supported by the U.S. Department of Defense.
H. Dale
Three Gadsden area students were presented awards for outstanding achievement. The Outstanding Achievement Awards recognize students who have succeeded in pursuit of higher education in spite of varying traumas, adversities, personal losses and difficulties.
The Outstanding Achievement Awards given at the Wallace Drive Campus event went to Janice Underwood of Gadsden, Joshua Parrish of Gadsden and Roberta Bush of Attalla.
Underwood’s college journey began years ago but was halted after her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and required constant care. When she recovered, Underwood went to work at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. instead of enrolling in college. When the plant closed in 2020, Underwood decided to enroll at Gadsden State because the class schedule was convenient and allowed her the time necessary to care for her special needs child.
At Gadsden State, Underwood has flourished as a college student. She has maintained a 4.0 and is a member of Student Support Services, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Alpha Beta Gamma Business Honor Society, Trio for Success Club and Phi Beta Lambda, a business organization. In addition to winning the Outstanding Achievement Award, Underwood earned scholarships to Auburn University at Montgomery and Athens State University. She plans to transfer to a four-year university to pursue a degree in Human Resources Management.
J. Underwood
Parrish has defied the odds since being born with cerebral palsy. His parents were told that he would be wheelchair bound but, to this day, he walks without assistance. He is now majoring in Electrical Technology at Gadsden State and has been on both the President’s and Dean’s lists. He is a member of Student Support Services and Trio for Success Club at the College.
J. Parrish
Twenty years ago, Bush enrolled in College but soon dropped out after the death of her infant son. She eventually began working as a surgical technician and was so highly regarded that she was asked to work with students training to be nurses, many of them from Gadsden State. When her husband became ill, she decided that she needed a career that would put her in a better financial situation to care for her two daughters. Remembering the positive experiences she had with Gadsden State nursing students, she applied to and was accepted into the nursing program. Nursing school has been a challenge for Bush. She worked full time in addition to taking a full load of classes. A tornado struck her house during her first semester and required a repair and remodel. She persevered and graduated from Gadsden State in May.
Bush was also honored at the recent Nursing Pinning Ceremony with the highly-coveted Florence Nightingdale Award, which recognizes the student who is the most committed to caring and compassionate nursing care. She was also the featured speaker at the pinning ceremony and was recognized for being an Alabama Area Health Center Scholar. The AHEC-sponsored program is designed to enhance the education and training of health science students committed to serving Alabama’s rural and underserved populations. Bush now works in a surgical intensive care unit at a local hospital.
R. Bush
Other award and scholarship winners recognized at Honors Day include:
Cardinal Foundation – Gerald Acker Scholarship: Chandler McGinnis of Ashville
Cardinal Foundation – Alabama Homebuilders Association Scholarship: Reginal Pitts of Gadsden
Cardinal Foundation – William Thomas Dawson Family Scholarship: Alyssa Martin and Mason Robinson, both of Gadsden
Cardinal Foundation – Michael Scott Hatten Memorial Scholarship: Joshua Pritchard of Oxford
Cardinal Foundation – Chad Hawkins Educational Foundation Scholarship: Hadie Negrete of Gadsden
Cardinal Foundation – Louis & Elaine Marsalis Scholarship: Madison Garrett of Cedar Bluff
Cardinal Foundation – Tim & Laura McCartney Career Technical Education Scholarship: Lucas Bradley and Daylan Day, both of Gadsden and Ethan Cothran of Hokes Bluff
Cardinal Foundation – Benjamin Steinberg Nursing Scholarship: Nyasa McNeil of Gadsden
Cardinal Foundation – Student Access Scholarship: Misty Maddox of Piedmont
Cardinal Foundation – Swoop Sprint 5K Scholarship: Kaitlyn Meats of Leesburg and Molly Lopez of Rainsville
Cardinal Foundation – Dr. Aletta C. Williamson Leadership Scholarship: Anna Hipps of Gadsden
Alabama A&M University Transfer Merit Scholarship: Ceniyah Williams of Gadsden
University of Alabama Presidential Scholarship: Isaiah Gallardo of Gadsden and Tyler Roberts of Southside
University of Alabama Community College Distinguished Scholarship: Everett Kelly of Gallant and Ritik Patel of Rainbow City
University of Alabama PTK Honors Scholarship: Ritik Patel of Rainbow City
University of Alabama Achievement Scholarship: Emma Townsend of Gadsden
University of Alabama Roll Tide Transfer Scholarship: Emma Townsend of Gadsden
Athens State University Institutional Scholarship: Amanda Salers of Boaz; Madalynn Owen of Decatur and Janice Underwood and Krislyn West, both of Gadsden
University of Alabama at Birmingham Transfer Presidential Scholarship: Jackson Clayton and Isaiah Gallardo, both of Gadsden and Kennedy Fox of Hokes Bluff
University of Alabama at Birmingham Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship: Ashanti Hawkins, Miracle Oni, Magan Patterson and Jason Santos, all of Gadsden; Tamara Garner of Huntsville; Carter Huffstutler and Cade Thompson, both of Southside and Emma Chumley of Steele
University of Alabama at Birmingham Transfer Excellence Scholarship: Kaitlyn Meats of Leesburg; Christopher Braden Lang, Autumn Pentecost and James Wilson, all of Gadsden; Santee Kyle of Oneonta; Emma Dunaway of Oxford and Andruw Giamalva and Malcolm Prater, both of Southside
University of Alabama at Birmingham Transfer Pathway Scholarship: Jerod Guthrie of Anniston and Jackson Guthrie of Oxford
University of Alabama in Huntsville Super Scholar Transfer Scholarship: Salman Alradhi and Isaiah Gallardo, both of Gadsden; Everett Kelly of Gallant and Ali Alradhi of Rainbow City
University of Alabama in Huntsville Transfer Merit Scholarship: Amy Gore of Oneonta
Auburn University Board of Trustees Endowed Scholarship: Isaiah Gallardo of Gadsden
Auburn University Ever to Conquer Scholarship for Transfer Students: Charles Trey Massey and Christopher Braden Lang, both of Gadsden
Auburn University Thomas Goode Jones Endowed Scholarship: Dezaray Dean of Anniston; Isaiah Gallardo and Charles Trey Massey, both of Gadsden
Auburn University Walt and Virginia Woltosz Annual Creed Scholarship: Isaiah Gallardo of Gadsden
Auburn University at Montgomery Premier Transfer Scholarship: Bre’Shayla Hill of Lincoln
Auburn University at Montgomery General Transfer Scholarship: Janice Underwood of Gadsden and Francisca Arroyo of Hartselle
Jacksonville State University Presidential Transfer Scholarship: Audrey Walters and Nidhi Chauhan, both of Albertville; Brianna Farrell of Centre; Justin Tidwell of Collinsville; Unity Edwards of Fort Payne; Isaiah Gallardo, Aubrey Gray, Tristan Hines, Kelsie McVeigh, Shalonda Ragland, Abby Vice, Venus Yari and Joshua Zanzig, all of Gadsden; Amanda Bailey of Glencoe; Marie Woodall of Grove Oak; Elizabeth Cortez and Kennedy Fox, both of Hokes Bluff; Rachel Dunkle of Jacksonville, Matthew Neivel of Leesburg, Cora Martin of Oxford; Kaylen Quinn of Rainbow City; Peyton Abernathy, Christian Greene and Tyler Roberts, all of Southside; Eli Fair of Weaver and Rachel Medders of Wellington
Jacksonville State University Academic Transfer Scholarship: Kelly Perez Aragon of Albertville; Kasey Chandler of Alexandria; Halie Wood of Centre; Kierra Park and Katie Smith, both of Gadsden; Kenleigh Harper of Glencoe; Christopher Fagan of Hokes Bluff; Whitney Black of Rainbow City; Carly Butler and Jacob Rogers, both of Southside and Jeremy Cockrell of Wellington
Jacksonville State University Opportunity Transfer Scholarship: Amy Sutherland of Alexandria; Keaton Gaines and Mark Wilson, both of Anniston; Alencia Brown of Ashville; Sydney Smith of Attalla; Olivia Tucker of Cedar Bluff; Madyson Doyal and Kalie Jolly, both of Centre; Gracie Tinsley of Collinsville; Christopher Bedwell, Jesse Coggins, Firas Kouki, Christopher Braden Lang, Miracle Oni and Addy Smith, all of Gadsden; Ashlyn Clowdus and Madison Potter, both of Glencoe; Maggie Woodall of Grove Oak; Ryan Coggins and Tabitha Dodd, both of Hokes Bluff; Tamara Garner of Huntsville; Coleman Haynes of Jacksonville; Kaitlyn Meats of Leesburg; Cara Archer and Malachi Jackson-Talmadge, both of Piedmont; Fannie Dillon, Jason McSpadden, Savannah Sizemore, Maggie Steapleton and Hannah Whittenberg, all of Rainbow City and Carter Huffstutler, Hannah Henderson and Gabriel Jones, all of Southside
Jacksonville State University Band Scholarship: Gabriel Jones of Southside
University of Montevallo Transfer Academic Recognition Scholarship: Kaitlyn Meats of Leesburg and Katelyn Morrow of Steele
BBVA/Compass Bank Scholarship: Alex Densmore of Albertville
Barry Boatwright Scholarship: Olivia Weathington of Ashville and Hadie Negrete of Gadsden
James L. Brown Free Enterprise Scholarship: Madison Blackerby of Piedmont
Sue McMeekin Griffith Scholarship: Jordan Hicks of Oneonta
Rena and Edgar McCord Scholarship: Kaylie Reeves of Rainbow City
Nan Pentecost Scholarship: Tara Pearson of Springville
West/Pentecost Scholarship: Zachary Bradshaw of Glencoe
Joe Robertson Scholarship: Ashley Henderson of Huntsville
Nell Thomas Scholarship: Giang Ho-Nguyen of Gadsden
Jim Vanderford Scholarship: Angel Agustin of Crossville and Colby Hill and Michael Morgan, both of Rainbow City
Dr. Jesse L. Walker Jr. Business Faculty Scholarship: McCain Gilbreath of Rainbow City
All-Alabama Academic Team Members: Jase Jelks of Centre and Kennedy Fox of Hokes Bluff
Ambassador Service Award: Ceniyah Williams of Gadsden
Cardinal Arts Journal Award for Creative Nonfiction: Mariia Morgunova of Bryansk, Russia
Cardinal Arts Journal Award for Poetry/Excellence as Student Editor: Robert Corker of Anniston
Cardinal Tutoring Center Peer Tutor Award: Allen Black of Hokes Bluff and Kourtney Tillman of Southside
Circle K Leadership Award: Allen Black of Hokes Bluff
Lambda Epsilon Chi Paralegal Honor Society Inductee: Paola Rosales of Boaz; Kelsey Elliott of Guntersville and Macy Morrison of Wellington
Outstanding Achievement in Accounting: Kallie Jolly of Centre; Michael Daugherty of Gadsden and Tyler Roberts of Southside
Outstanding Achievement in Accounting Technology: Austin Lutley of Rainbow City
Outstanding Achievement in Chemistry: Jaron Gray of Gadsden
Outstanding Achievement in Computer Science: Nidhi Chauhan of Albertville; Jase Jelks of Centre and Stephen Ako of Jacksonville
Outstanding Achievement in Computer Science Technology – Network Administration: Wesley Maks of Gadsden and Noah Sawyer of Jacksonville
Outstanding Achievement in Economics: Fedor Krasilnikov of Ivanovo, Russia
Outstanding Achievement in English: Mariia Morgunova of Bryansk, Russia
Outstanding Achievement in History: Vanessa Cochran of Steele
Outstanding Achievement in Mathematics/Pre-Engineering: Kelly Perez Aragon of Albertville; Ali Alradhi of Bahrain; Madalynn Owen of Decatur; Clay Spurlin of Heflin; Onitiana Razafimino of Madagascar and Jay Patel of Philadelphia, Pa.
Outstanding Achievement in Office Administration-Medical Coding and Scribing: Meghan Chaparro of Anniston
Outstanding Achievement in Paralegal Studies: Lacinda Beshears of Gadsden and Kodi Davis of Rainbow City
Outstanding Achievement in Speech: Sadie Carver of Attalla; Tanner Arnold of Cedartown, Ga.; Jay Patel of Philadelphia, Pa.; Clarissa Beal of Piedmont and Joshua Perez of Southside
Outstanding Baptist Campus Ministries Student: Harrison Hood of Southside
Outstanding International Student: Fedor Krasilnikov of Ivanovo, Russia
Outstanding Show Band Students: Christopher McCurley of Boaz; Cody Cofield of Odenville and Destiny McCarter of Rainbow City
Outstanding SGA Officer: Kourtney Tillman of Southside
Outstanding Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology Student: Craig Espy of Gadsden
Outstanding Auto Collision Repair Technology Student: Estuardo Ortiz of Boaz
Outstanding Automotive Manufacturing Technology Student: Mason Finch of Pell City
Outstanding Automotive Service Technology Student: Angel Agustin of Crossville
Outstanding Civil Engineering Technology Student: Andrew Copeland of Attalla
Outstanding Construction Technology Student: Antoya Bufford of Gadsden
Outstanding Court Reporting Student: Valerie Slaton of Hokes Bluff
Outstanding Electrical Technology Student: Derrick Douthard of Fort Payne
Outstanding Electronic Engineering Technology Student: Alissa Bearden of Gadsden
Outstanding FAME Students: Jakeb Mintz of Rainbow City and Garrett Williamon of Oxford
Outstanding Industrial Automation Technology Student: Kevin Rigby II of Gadsden
Outstanding Mechanical Design Technology Student: John Brown of Hokes Bluff
Outstanding Precision Machining Student: Travis Jones of Boaz
Outstanding Salon and Spa Management Student: Denisha Stockdale of Childersburg; Luteasha Brazier of Piedmont (Ayers Campus)
Outstanding Welding Technology Student: Mason Robinson of Gadsden
The honor of Student of Distinction is bestowed on those who are nominated by the faculty and staff at Gadsden State. They have maintained a 3.5 minimum GPA, have completed at least 54 credit hours by the end of the spring semester, demonstrated leadership at the College and service to the community. Students of Distinction by hometown are:
Anniston: Robert Corker
Attalla: Brian Galimore, Julia Rodgers, Richard Sims, Sydney Smith
Boaz: Clay Roberson
Cedar Bluff: Savanah Clifton
Centre: Hannah Dale, Brianna Farrell, Erica King
Fort Payne: Jayla Gravitt
Gadsden: Charlotte Byers, Judah Duren, Aubrey Gray, Beverly Hardy, Ashanti Hawkins, Spencer Higgins, Kelsie McVeigh, Hadie Negrete, Janice Underwood, Venus Yari
Glencoe: Sandy Teel
Hendersonville, Tn.: Katy Minton
Hokes Bluff: Elizabeth Cortez, Kennedy Fox
Jacksonville: Stephen Ako, Ericka Calderon, Samantha Megill
Leesburg: Kaitlyn Meats
Lincoln: Dominique Elston, Bre’Shayla Hill
Milwaukee, Wis.: Fannie Dillon
Piedmont: Donna Adkison, Cara Archer
Rainbow City: Josie Nelson
Southside: Cade Thompson, Kourtney Tillman
Springville: Sheyanne Butler
Wedowee: Darciss Walker
Wellington: Rachel Medders
Rising Scholars are those students who have maintained a 3.5 minimum GPA, have completed 24-53 credit hours by the end of the spring semester and exhibit service to Gadsden State and the community by participating in at least one extracurricular activity. They are nominated by faculty and staff members. Rising Scholars by hometown are:
Albertville: Alex Velasquez
Ashland: Brittany White
Ashville: Lily Anderson
Attalla: Miranda Tarvin
Birmingham: Nadage Oyeket
Boaz: Hunter Day
Cedar Bluff: Madison Garrett
Fort Payne: Alisha Mulligan
Gadsden: Ronda Bennich, Shakia Byers, Branden Cook, Sarah Johnson, Ashley Lemons, Victoria Luker, Abagail Reeves
Glencoe: Makhaiya Cherry, Morgan Lasseter
Leesburg: Xander Bradley, Kerri Uptagrafft
Piedmont: Jesse Storey
Ragland: Robert Bowlin
Southside: Lacey Daugherty
Steele: Vanessa Cochran
Original source can be found here.
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