Tifton student wins top academic award at ABAC honors day | Community Spirit

TIFTON, GA - News release from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College

There were discipline and distinction award winners from several of the Southwest Georgia Counties

Tift County

Kevin J. Bailey, from Tifton

Grant H. Crane, from Ty Ty;

Michasia L. Harris from Tifton,

Kelsey R. Jones from Chula.

Cassie L. Spears from Tifton  

Cassie L. Spears from Tifton  

Narke J. Norton from Tifton,

Daniel F. Gibson from Ty Ty,

Chance A. Anderson from Tifton

Chelsea E. Bryan from Ty Ty

Nafiz K. Sheikh from Tifton.

Lorenzo Gomez from Omega

Worth County

Canesta K. Hicks from Sylvester

Crisp County

Benjamin Cobb from Cordele,

Ben Hill County

Clayton L. Pierce from Fitzgerald. 

Elisabeth P. O’Quinn from Fitzgerald

Irwin County

Ariel L. Pettis, from Ocilla

Coffee County

Heather B. Selph, from Ambrose;

Justin A. Gilliard from Nicholls,

Colquitt County

Miguel A. Rodriguez from Moultrie.

Carol L. Jackson from Moultrie.

 

Brenda Doss, a Rural Studies--Writing and Communication major from Tifton, was named the top academic student at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College at the recent Honors Day ceremony.

Doss received the J. G. Woodroof Scholar Award, given annually to a student at Honors Day in recognition of top academic standing at the institution.  Woodroof was president of ABAC from 1933-34.

Each of the 35 units of the University System of Georgia selects a top student as the Academic Recognition Day Student of the Year who is also honored in a proclamation by the Georgia General Assembly.

 At ABAC, Doss balances a full-time job at the college as the administrative associate in the Office of Academic Affairs while maintaining a 4.0 grade point average. Doss has been a member of the ABAC staff since 1998.

Since beginning her studies at ABAC, Doss has served as an officer in the Phi Theta Kappa honor society and has been a member of the Rural Studies Club. 

She also won the discipline award from the School of Human Sciences for Rural Studies—Writing and Communication.

Doss is the second member of her family to be recognized as a Woodroof Scholar. Her daughter, Christina Norton, won the award in 2008. 

Also during the ceremony, Awards of Distinction were presented to the students with the greatest overall positive impact in each school of study, both academically and through college service. 

Award of Distinction winners for each school were as follows: School of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Lauren E. Hall, a turfgrass and golf course management major from Loganville; School of Business, Kevin J. Bailey, a business administration major from Tifton; School of Human Sciences, Ariel L. Pettis, an early childhood education major from Ocilla; School of Nursing and Health Sciences, Heather B. Selph, a nursing major from Ambrose; School of Science and Mathematics, Grant H. Crane, a pre-medicine major from Ty Ty; and School of Liberal Arts, Rebekah M. Huffmaster, an English major from Reynolds.

A total of 44 discipline awards were also presented to students who excelled in their individual disciplines. 

Discipline award winners from the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources included Shannon A. Parrish from Alapaha, Agribusiness and Agricultural Economics; William B. Jones from Jacksonville, Agricultural Education; Kalie M. Hall from Carnesville, Agriculture; Guy H. Higdon of Central, S.C., Biological and Agricultural Engineering; Michasia L. Harris from Tifton, Agriscience and Environmental Systems; Matthew R. McQuagge from Gainesville, Fla., Animal Science; Riley G. Davis from Dawson, Diversified Agriculture Technology; Allison F. Gordy from Sharpsburg, Forest Technology; Serenia M. Larrison from White Oak, Forest Resources; Christopher Ellis from Clayton, Golf and Sports Turf Management Technology; Bryan E. Sherman from Winder, Landscape Design and Grounds Management Technology; Victoria J. Filanosky of Blackshear, Wildlife Technology; Justin A. Gilliard from Nicholls, Diversified Agriculture; Benjamin Cobb from Cordele, Natural Resources Management; and Hall, Turfgrass and Golf Course Management. 

In the School of Business, the Business Administration discipline award was presented to Kelsey R. Jones from Chula. The Information Technology award went to Miguel A. Rodriguez from Moultrie. Cassie L. Spears from Tifton and Elisabeth P. O’Quinn of Fitzgerald each received the Rural Studies – Business and Economic Development award.

Discipline award winners in the School of Liberal Arts included Taylor J. Hardy from Opelika, Ala., Art; Huffmaster, English and Spanish; Kimberly K. Cawley from Ashburn, History; Jessica M. Still from Blakely, Journalism; Narke J. Norton of Tifton, Political Science; and Daniel F. Gibson from Ty Ty, Music.

The School of Science and Mathematics presented Jenna L. Kicklighter from Sycamore with the Allied Health award.  The discipline award in Biology went to Thomas R. Turcotte from Ranger. Chance A. Anderson from Tifton received the discipline award in Chemistry. 

The discipline award in Computer Science went to Clayton L. Pierce from Fitzgerald.  Morgan B. Mathis from Nashville received the discipline award in Mathematics.

The Physics award went to Raul Huapilla Perez from Immokalee, Fla. Chelsea E. Bryan of Ty Ty received the A.S. – Biology award. The discipline award in Engineering went to Nafiz K. Sheikh from Tifton. The Pre-Professional award was presented to Crane.

Discipline award winners from the School of Human Sciences included Pettis, Early Childhood Education; Emily J. Bass from Hartsfield, Middle Grades Education; and Samantha K. Morris from Sale City, P-12 Education. 

Mili R. Patel from Tifton received the Criminal Justice award, and the award in Psychology went to Carol L. Jackson from Moultrie. Kristen N. Ray from Alma received the award in Family and Consumer Sciences.

The discipline award for Physical Education went to Lorenzo Gomez from Omega. Mayra R. Damian of Immokalee, Fla., received the Human Services and Sociology award, and Canesta K. Hicks from Sylvester received the Rural Studies – Social and Community Affairs award.