JOHN E. SALLSTROM HONORS COLLEGE
Around the World: 2025 STUDY ABROAD SCHOLARSHIP EXPERIENCES
Letter FROM THE DEAN
Dr. BRIAN NEWSOME
DEAN, JOHN E. SALLSTROM HONORS COLLEGE
The past year has been transformational. We welcomed 158 new students to campus, supported current students with over $33,000 in funding for study abroad, internships and undergraduate research, awarded over $15,000 in tuition scholarships, raised over $18,000 to fund the upcoming fall break program in Alabama, had a record number of students secure Fulbright Canada-Mitacs Globalink Internships, and witnessed students publish their research and creative work in prestigious journals and literary magazines. Those milestones are testaments to the hard work of our students, the guidance of their faculty, and the mentorship of our national scholarships coordinator Anna Whiteside. For me, the most special moments were the ones that I spent with students at the state, regional and national honors conferences. The
ANNA WHITESIDE NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS COORDINATOR
The 2025-2026 academic year has been an exciting one for GCSU students pursuing nationally competitive awards!
Over the summer, two GCSU students, Ama Kpoyizoun and Matthew Malena, studied Mandarin through the Critical Language Scholarships Program. Ama spent her summer in Taiwan, while Matthew completed a virtual program that included a study tour of Singapore. Ama and Matthew previously completed the virtual CLS Spark program and were our first students to complete the CLS program.
In the fall, several students applied for the Fulbright Canada Mitacs-Globalink Program, which places U.S. students in research internships at institutions across Canada. We were very
CHLOE MELTON PRESIDENT, ETA SIGMA ALPHA
I can say with full transparency that I have no idea what my college experience would have looked like without the John E. Sallstrom Honors College. From the minute I stepped into my first honors course, I was amazed at how collaborative and enthusiastic the learning environment was. I was surrounded by peers who dove deep into questions that challenged their critical thinking skills, who encouraged each other to make the most out of the classroom experience, and who were not fazed by content material that tested the bounds of their knowledge. Each unique perspective bounced off one another, cultivating something truly special that reminded me why I had chosen Georgia College & State University in the first place: to be a part of a tight-knit community which centered learning at its core.
I know I am not alone in saying that the mentorship and opportunities provided to me through the Honors College shaped my college experience into something truly
quality of our students’ scholarship stood out, with Katie Cooper and Carly Walker earning prizes for their work. The City as Text explorations of Montgomery, Alabama and San Diego, California were also meaningful. Montgomery’s Legacy Museum was especially moving, and I am eager to take an even larger group to both Montgomery and Birmingham in October. Simple things made lasting memories, too: singing along to show tunes on the ride to Montgomery, sitting on the floor and playing a card game at the San Diego airport, and sharing meals in downtown Montgomery and Old San Diego. Our students are just the best. Our world-class faculty and staff mentor them with such care, and our alumni and friends support them with such generosity. The Sallstrom Honors College truly is a special place.
excited to learn that five GCSU students were selected for this very competitive program the most students we have ever had selected in one year. You can read more about these students in this publication.
This was also a big year for GCSU students applying for the U.S. Fulbright Student Scholarship Program. In the fall, we had a record number of 17 students submit applications, and in the spring, we learned that six of these students were promoted to semifinalist status and that two of them were offered Fulbright Scholarships. We are very proud of all of these students for advancing in a highly competitive award program.
As always, I’d like to remind you that I do work with alumni! If you are interested in applying for an award like Fulbright, please reach out to me. I would love to work with you.
exceptional. Honors faculty, staff and students go the extra mile to ensure that educational experiences become lifelong learning endeavors. I am constantly impressed by the hard work my peers are putting into undergraduate research, community service, internships, creative works and longlasting relationships with each other. Honors, at its core, is about uplifting each other, providing each other with new perspectives, and forging opportunities and lessons in places we never expected to find them.
Serving on the Eta Sigma Alpha board for the past two years has been one of the greatest pleasures of my academic career, and I am so blessed to have worked alongside such intelligent, diligent, kind-hearted peers. Some of my greatest memories have been made through Eta Sigma Alpha, and I will take them with me wherever I go. I am grateful to know that the Honors College will continue to thrive and grow long after I graduate, in the hands and by the minds of incredible students with new ideas to share and the power to bring them to fruition.
MARGARET HARVIN WILSON WRITING AWARD RECIPIENTS
The Margaret Harvin Wilson Writing Award is granted annually to two Georgia College & State University undergraduate students in recognition and celebration of their excellence in writing. In 2025, sophomore English major Maggie Creekmore placed first in the first-year and sophomore division for her short story “The Fourth Ballerina.” Creekmore noted, “It just means so much to me and my future because I want to continue writing, editing and designing my books for the rest of my life.”
Charlotte Aexel, a 2025 alumna who earned her MFA in English literature from GCSU this year, took first place for her poem “Starling Menace” and second place for her poem “Such Beautiful Things” in the junior and senior category. For the past three years, Aexel has been the editor-in-chief of the “Peacock’s Feet,” GCSU’s student literary journal. “Winning the Margaret Harvin Wilson Writing Award means everything to me,” she said. “It makes me feel validated as a writer.” Aexel plans to earn a Ph.D. so she can become a literature professor.
It just means so much to me and my future
-Maggie Creekmore
GUIDING HISTORY IN SAVANNAH
Caroline Cole (’24), a Saladin Scholarship recipient who studied abroad at Oxford and earned her master's degree from the University of St Andrews in Scotland, has been hired as a lead guide at the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace Museum in Savannah, Georgia. Owned and operated by Girl Scouts of the USA, the house museum allows visitors to trace the arc of Gordon Low’s life and the Girl Scout Movement she founded.
It makes me feel validated as a writer.
-Charlotte Aexel
During Cole’s time at GCSU, she worked at the Old Governor’s Mansion and the Sallie Ellis Davis House, both of which gave her practical museum experience. With a degree in history and minors in museum studies and English from GCSU combined with advanced study at St Andrews, Cole honed the skills that she is now using in the lead guide position. “The support [from] Dr. Newsome and the Honors College gave me the confidence to take risks and to apply to opportunities with no guarantee of success,” said Cole. “I am so grateful for my time at Georgia College and for my professors that have helped and inspired me to pursue my goals!”
CHLOE MELTON’S Published Articles
Whatstarted out as an independent study on the origins of the Body Mass Index with Dr. Brian Newsome and Professor Helen Dupree turned into something much more significant for senior history major Chloe Melton. With additional mentorship from Dr. Kenneth Saladin, Melton revamped the paper for submission to “The Human Anatomy and Physiology Educator Journal,” a professional journal normally reserved for articles by university professors. After further revision, based on feedback from peer reviewers, the editors accepted the article and
published it in December 2025. Melton said something that stuck with her about the process is “how much endurance it takes to work with a paper for so long.” It also taught her how important it is to advocate for herself.
“It was a process that taught me so much about imposter syndrome,” she said, “believing in myself, and remembering that the research process is all about being a life-long learner.”
Dr. Kenneth Saladin said he was “struck by Chloe’s treatment of the historical background of this concept.”
As the author of a highly regarded anatomy and physiology undergraduate textbook, Dr. Saladin said his work with Melton “resulted in some significant changes in a half-page sidebar essay” in the new edition of the book. He predicts her research and writing will “affect many instructors and healthscience students and have a significant impact on many people’s perception of BMI as an index of healthy weight.”
In February 2025, Melton won a prize for an earlier edition of the paper when she presented it at the
GEORGIA COLLEGIATE HONORS CONFERENCE
Georgia Collegiate Honors Conference. In October 2025, she also took the stage at TEDx Georgia College to present her research and make it more accessible to those who might not be as familiar with the topic, and who otherwise would likely never be educated on it.
Under the mentorship of Dr. Mark Huddle, a separate article of Melton’s, “America’s Response to Italian Subjugation of Ethiopia: Black Mobilization v. Government Neutrality,” has also been published in “UReCA,” the undergraduate research journal of the National Collegiate Honors Council.
SOUTHERN REGIONAL HONORS CONFERENCE&
In February 2026, 15 Honors students presented their scholarship and creative work at the Georgia Collegiate Honors Conference held at Kennesaw State University, and in March, 15 presented at the Southern Regional Honors Conference in Montgomery, Alabama. At GCHC, Katie Cooper (’26) won second place in the Arts and Humanities category for her paper on the position of LGBTQ migrants in the Dutch asylum process—research that she conducted while studying abroad in Amsterdam. “Getting feedback on my presentation from the audience and professors was extremely helpful as I continued
to develop the project,” Cooper said. At SRHC, students participated in a special “City as Text” program that sent them on structured explorations of downtown Montgomery’s historic sites, including the Legacy Museum. “It was very valuable to see a museum so highly regarded in teaching U.S. history’s impact and to understand the legacy of civil rights activists,” said Kassie Arps (’26). “It was [also] great meeting other motivated honors students and having the chance to network with them.”
OMICRON DELTA KAPPA Induction
Omicron Delta Kappa is a national leadership society that recognizes college juniors, seniors and graduate students for excellence in academics, athletics, community service, arts and journalism. This year, GCSU’s ODK chapter inducted 20 students, including Honors students Eve Briscoe, Evelyn Lessl, Chloe Melton, Mia Morrow, Carly Walker and Emily Wright. In addition, Honors Assistant Director and National Scholarships Coordinator Anna Whiteside received the Paul Jahr Award for Civic Leadership & Commitment to Democratic Values. It is named after Dr. Paul K. Jahr, who served 25 years at Georgia College, retiring in 2013 as associate vice president for student affairs. Jahr led the institution’s transformation into a residential liberal arts college, and his efforts were instrumental in the Georgia College Circle receiving its charter from Omicron Delta Kappa in 2001. “Having just wrapped up my 10th year here at GCSU,” Whiteside said, “I was delighted to be recognized for my contribution to our campus community. I believe in the power of democracy and try to live out my democratic values in all that I do, and I am honored to be given such a wonderful award.”
“Ms. Whiteside was chosen for her extraordinary leadership and dedication to our students and their success,” said Dr. Veronica Womack, the inaugural recipient of the award and the executive director of the Rural Studies Institute at GCSU. “Since her arrival, our national applications and awards have been positively advanced, and our students have been very successful.”
SAMUEL KINNEY Article Publication
Junior economics major and math minor Samuel Kinney is the primary author of the article, “Detection Rates of Artificial Intelligence Generated Content in Scholarly Publishing Before and After ChatGPT,” which was recently accepted by the “Journal of Scholarly Publishing.” Written in collaboration with Dr. Ward Risvold and Dr. Brooke Conaway, it explores how AI usage has changed over
time. The team analyzed 200 economics journal articles to see how accurately AI detectors could identify AI-generated text and found that detection tools vary widely in their accuracy, highlighting the challenges of identifying AI use in academic writing. Eventually, Kinney plans to earn a Ph.D. in economics and teach in college—since he loves research, he said it sounds like “a pretty sweet gig.”
PCAOB SCHOLAR
ChloeCrosby (’25) has been named a Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Scholar, making her the first GCSU student in nearly a decade to earn this honor. The PCAOB is a nonprofit corporation established by Congress to oversee the audits of public companies, and the scholarship was established to reward standout students studying accounting. In 2025, the PCAOB awarded students from universities across the United States over $10 million in total. Crosby attributes the recognition to her involvement at GCSU, namely with the J. Whitney Bunting College of Business & Technology and in clubs across campus. She is now pursuing her master's degree in accounting at GCSU and ultimately plans to earn her license to become a CPA.
GILMAN SCHOLAR
Politicalscience major Mary Piper (’28) has earned a U.S. Department of State Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to study International Relations in London, England for six weeks. “I originally applied for the Gilman scholarship because I have never left the country before,” Piper said. “I wanted a global experience to broaden my understanding of cultures, global politics and leadership.”
As the Academic Development Committee Chair of the Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity, ESA Honors College Secretary, Director of Environmental Affairs for the Student Government Association and Committee Chair for the Sustainability & Infrastructure Committee, Piper has spearheaded 10 different initiatives to bolster
Cameron Watts
Aspart of the Honors Program at GCSU, Cameron Watts (’20) said he was provided with “an incredible playground of resources and environments to explore and test ideas.” He took advantage of GCSU’s resources, but his journey did not turn out at all like he planned.
Like many students during the pandemic, he struggled with the transition to isolation and was unsure what would be next for him. He eventually decided to make a big move to Philadelphia, finding his footing in start-up nonprofits by working for young and innovative organizations like Lead For America and Mindful Philanthropy. Watts is pursuing a Master of Public Administration at the University of Pennsylvania's Fels Institute of Government, where he is studying the decline of civic engagement in American communities and researching the underlying principles of our democracy. After graduating from UPenn, Watts hopes to “advocate for reforms by building coalitions of nonprofits, philanthropies and governments working together to restore trust in our democracy.”
sustainability measures and infrastructure on GCSU’s campus. Piper is passionate about sustainability. “I plan on continuing to work in some capacity for all of these areas,” she said, “even if the roles I serve change.” Now, she will get the chance to take these passions abroad.
Piper credits National Scholarships Coordinator Anna Whiteside for mentoring her through the application process. “I would not be where I am today without her guidance,” Piper said. In the future, Piper hopes to attend law school and pursue a career in environmental law. “I have no doubt this experience will advance my leadership skills and enhance my ability to understand how to tackle future environmental issues,” she said.
I’m excited to have the next generation of Bobcats join me in fighting for a better future for our communities and democracy.
-Cameron Watts
Watts credits a lot to the Honors Program and the Economics Department for teaching him how to think critically and learn quickly. “It gave me a foundation to grow from that rivals the education I received at UPenn,” he said. He wants to reassure any current students or recent graduates who may be worried about a shaky job market that you will find your footing. Take a risk. Move somewhere new. Apply to jobs you may not normally consider. “Get involved in your community, and reach out to GCSU alumni like me who can share their networks with you,” he said. “I’m excited to have the next generation of Bobcats join me in fighting for a better future for our communities and democracy.”
SALLSTROM AWARD
Recipient
The John E. Sallstrom Award is an annual honor presented to a graduating senior recognized for outstanding academic achievement, leadership skills and a strong commitment to the Honors community. This year's recipient is English literature and liberal studies double major Tommy Creekmore (’26). He sees Honors as instrumental for his academic and personal growth. “It was largely through the Honors College that I really found my place,” said Creekmore. Honors also provided one of his defining experiences as a Bobcat— traveling to New York City
with Dr. Jenny Flaherty’s class on Underworlds and Afterlives. Creekmore plans to pursue graduate study at the University of Alabama to expand on the literary research he has done as an undergraduate. “My plan is to one day teach Shakespeare, adaptation and international literature at the university level,” Creekmore said, “most specifically how Shakespeare has been adapted outside of Anglophone countries. Receiving the Sallstrom Award is a great honor, and I am grateful for how it will assist me in my post-graduate ambitions.”
It was largely through the Honors College that I really found my place
-Tommy Creekmore
EMILY WRIGHT’S PUBLISHED ARTICLE
In2025, the “Pi Sigma Alpha Undergraduate Journal of Politics” published “The Effect of U.S. State Abortion Bans on Births, Abortions, and Compensating Behavior: Evidence Using a Quasi-Experimental Difference-in-Differences Analysis”—an article by senior political science and philosophy double major Emily Wright (’26). The overturning of Roe v. Wade inspired Wright to conduct research for the piece. She sought to understand how subsequent laws altered the reproductive healthcare landscape for women across the country, and she was interested in understanding how women adapt their fertility behaviors to major changes in accessibility. Dr. Max Harleman, a former political science professor at GCSU, was her mentor for the project. His support and guidance were vital to the article's completion and in igniting Wright's passion for high-level public policy research. After graduation, Wright plans to obtain a J.D. as well as a Ph.D. in public policy. She hopes to pursue a career in immigration law that combines direct legal representation with in-depth policy analysis and advocacy.
MURACE SUMMER Research Grant
The Mentored Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors Summer Research Grant funds summertime research or creative projects with GCSU faculty. In 2025, Sarah Carter (’26) earned this prestigious award. Carter is a member of the joint research lab led by Dr. Bruce Snyder and Dr. Arnab Sengupta, who are analyzing the southeastern millipede species Cherokia georgiana. With the support of the MURACE Summer Research Grant, Carter performed her first independent research in the lab. Her work could help create better ways to produce medicines and agricultural chemicals using enzymes. “Leading a project from concept to final product has been especially rewarding and has given me a greater appreciation for how molecular biology connects to biological processes,” Carter said. “This experience has helped me solidify how much I enjoy the research process and has helped clarify my future career goals.”
FULBRIGHT SEMIFINALISTS
Fulbright
is one of the nation’s most competitive international exchange programs, drawing tens of thousands of post-grad applicants each year, with only a small percentage ultimately selected. At its core, the program is about cultural exchange and academic excellence, sending students abroad to conduct original research, pursue graduate degrees or teach English. This year, six GCSU students, including Honors students Tommy Creekmore (’26), Hunter
FIELD SCHOOL RESEARCH
Pierce (’26) and Connor Sivley (’25), advanced to the semi-finalist stage of consideration, ranking them among the strongest applicants nationwide. “Fulbright recipients have the extra weight of representing the U.S. abroad,” noted GCSU National Scholarships Coordinator Anna Whiteside, “and I think our students who were selected as semifinalists will do that exceptionally well.”
Biology major Kaitlyn Quillen (’25) attended the 2025 Stonerose DIG field school in Republic, Washington. There, she worked with researchers and educators to unearth fossilized plants from a field site in the Klondike Mountain Formation, which is known for its preserved leaves, seeds and stems from the Eocene Epoch. Mentored by Dr. Melanie DeVore, Quillen learned how to record fossil locations, take field notes, measure rock layers and identify fossil types—data which contributed to the Burke Museum's ongoing paleobotany research. Quillen found this hands-on experience unique. It is “not something you get to do in a typical classroom,” she said. Upon graduation, Quillen plans to attend dental school and hopes to bring the same spirit of curiosity and community service to healthcare.
Not something you get to do in a typical classroom
-Kaitlyn Quillen
ALEXIS KEENEY SELECTED AS GCSU’S 2025-2026
ACADEMIC RECOGNITION DAY REPRESENTATIVE
Sociology major Alexis Keeney (’26) is Georgia College & State University’s 2026 Academic Recognition Day representative.
The University System of Georgia’s Academic Recognition Day is an annual event that honors outstanding students from the state’s public colleges and universities. Each USG institution selects one student who has demonstrated exceptional academic excellence as its honoree.
Keeney said the recognition came as a surprise. “I've been recognized for my work in service and leadership, but having academic recognition means something entirely new,” she said.
For Keeney, school and work have always come first. “As a student who lives without her parents and pays for her own college, having good grades and academics is a necessity to receive scholarships and funding,” Keeney said. “It's truly humbling to be seen and honored for that effort.”
Upon arriving at GCSU, Keeney jumped in early with the GIVE Center, volunteering with Communities in Schools. Now, she works in the Office of Community Engagement & Belonging, where she plans service events for the entire GCSU community. Additionally, she serves as the president of GCSU's chapter of Gamma Sigma Sigma National Service Sorority and has won several silver and bronze medals from the Office of Community Engagement & Belonging. “My motivation has always been to help people,” she said. “This internal love for helping has kept me centered on my goals and always pushed me in the best opportunity-opening directions.” One of her undertakings includes re-founding the Debunkers, the student sociology club. There, she served as president and helped establish the organization as one that both spreads sociology and commits to doing service in the community.
In her first year at GCSU, Keeney was selected for the Fulbright UK Summer Institute, which took her to Queen’s University Belfast to study conflict resolution in Northern Ireland. Keeney has also completed a number of research projects, including one with the Office of Community Engagement & Belonging that she presented at the Southern Sociological Society’s annual conference. “I've always loved school and enjoyed working with others in a classroom setting,” she said, “but never did I think I would conduct as much research as I have.”
In the future, Keeney hopes to earn graduate degrees in social work and possibly public health, with the goal of becoming a medical social worker.
This internal love for helping has kept me centered on my goals and always pushed me in the best opportunityopening directions.
- Alexis Keeney
Ashley Beaty
Data science major and Spanish minor Ashley Beaty (’26), earned the 2026 Outstanding Data Science Major award. Ashley's skills, well-roundedness and involvement on campus set her apart for this honor. She has presented at Research Day, studied with Dr. Daniel Wu, Dr. Jeannie Pridmore and Dr. Jebessa Mijena in and outside of class, and serves in many leadership roles across campus. A project in Dr. Wu’s Big Data Analysis course was both her most recent and most impactful project. Thiele Kaolin Company partnered
with the class and provided them with access to the datasets of their preventive maintenance work orders. Ashley's team performed exploratory data analysis on the datasets and then presented their findings and recommendations to staff members at Thiele Kaolin. Ashley says she enjoys how much the data science major is rooted in reasoning. After graduation, she plans to pursue a career as a data analyst or a business intelligence analyst.
GEORGIA COLLEGE TEDX
TEDX
Carly Walker, Chloe Melton and Paige Blakemore each took the stage at TEDx Georgia College, an annual event organized by GCSU Leadership Programs. Each worked with a thought partner from GCSU to develop their scripts, then a coach who helped translate those scripts into speeches, and finally alumna and Master of Ceremonies Dr. Genie Snyder Chamberlin to bring those speeches to the stage.
Walker knew she wanted to present on obsessive-compulsive disorder, but the way she chose to speak about it changed drastically throughout the drafting process. “It was wild how much my talk changed from start to finish,” she said. Walker said that TEDx was a combination of everything she loves and everything she is good at. “It was terrifying to step out on that stage in front of hundreds of people and six cameras,” she admitted, “and I’m so proud of myself for the work I put into TEDx, the connections I made and what I was able to put out into the world!”
As someone who nearly died from anorexia nervosa, Melton’s mission was to “expose the dangers of diet culture,” but she was unsure how to do so. Because of her major, she wondered if she should speak about the importance of learning history instead, but throughout the drafting process, her script became both. She integrated the topics by speaking on
the history of the body mass index and says she “wouldn’t have had it any other way.”
Blakemore was the designated “production genius” for the 2024 TEDx, meaning she followed along with each individual speaker’s script and managed their presentation slides. She knew then that she wanted to participate in the 2025 event.
“After many rough drafts and workshopping and conversations with close friends, I decided to focus on the decline of local journalism, particularly through my view as a firstgeneration college student growing up in Appalachia,” Blakemore said. “I hope audience members felt inspired to subscribe to their local newspaper and support a local journalist.
In our ever-changing, dynamic world, spotlighting local voices and communities is more imperative now than ever before.”
FULBRIGHT CANADA-MITACS GLOBALINK
Research Program
Thanks to the Fulbright Canada-Mitacs Globalink Research Internship program, five GCSU Honors students will conduct advanced research at Canadian universities this summer. Morgan Collins (’27 chemistry) will be at the University of the Fraser Valley in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Bridget Mainor (’27 philosophy and psychology) at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, British Columbia, Chloe Melton (’26 history and interdisciplinary studies) at the University of Calgary in Calgary, Alberta, and both Lydia Nasmith (’28 history and French) and Kayley Owens (’27 chemistry)
at Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario. They will work with renowned scholars, learn about Canadian culture, and enjoy a summer of moderate temperatures and low humidity! “This internship is a dream opportunity,” Mainor said. “I am so grateful and cannot wait to make lifelong memories.”
“Undergraduates don't often get the opportunity to perform international research,” said GCSU National Scholarships Coordinator Anna Whiteside, “so our five recipients will have a really special experience this summer.”
GCSU PROFESSOR RECOGNIZED AS DISTINGUISHED HIGHER EDUCATION AMBASSADOR
TheCouncil of Foreign Relations Ambassador Program brings together educators from across the country who are dedicated to helping students engage meaningfully with the global issues that affect their lives. The ambassador cohorts include 70 high school educators and 80 higher education faculty and administrators from 45 states, representing a wide range of institutions. For the 2025-2026 school year,
they selected Dr. Steven Elliott-Gower— Honors Program director from 2008 to 2020 and current head of the Honors College’s Global Civic Literacy Residential Learning Community—as a Distinguished Higher Education Ambassador.
Dr. Gower said this recognition means a lot to him: “Personally, it’s a great honor and enormously gratifying to be associated in this way with, arguably, one of the most respected and prestigious international relations think tanks in the world. Professionally, it ties me into a network of like-minded educators around the country.”
Thanks to GCSU, indicated Dr. Gower, he now takes a more multidisciplinary approach to his teaching. The university has given him the academic freedom to explore international relations beyond just
Poetry IN VALENCIA
HunterPierce (’26), a double major in English and Spanish and a Saladin Scholarship recipient, spent 11 months studying abroad at the University of Valencia in Spain. During his time there, he wrote nearly 300 poems, a notable one being “Números de la Dana,” which he read at a gala in his residence hall in the wake of a disastrous flood that claimed over 200 lives and devastated communities in Valencia. Pierce felt the weight of this presentation—what it was like expressing feelings of hopelessness, helplessness and
anger plaguing him and his fellow students. Upon returning to GCSU, Pierce drew on love poetry he had written in Spain for an Honors option project in Dr. Kerry James Evans’ poetry workshop. "Sanctuary," the literary journal of the Southern Regional Honors Council, has also published three of Pierce’s poems: “¿Hablas Español?,” “Laked until we reach Ontario” and “Drum Lessons from Riverbend Elementary School.” He plans to continue learning Spanish in the future and found his experiences in Spain invaluable.
political science and the opportunity to take a more holistic and humanistic approach to education and student learning. His hope is to increase students’ global literacy and interest in the happenings of the world. “I’d be grateful if one day,” he noted, “one of my students reads about something going on in some far-flung part of the world and says, ‘Oh, yes, I remember we did a simulation on this with that British guy!’”
Dr. Gower encourages students to work hard to improve their corners of the world in a small way: “If everyone does this, then we have a better world, right?!”
CHLOE MARTIN VOLUNTEERS AT THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL
go outside; go outside for free
With scholarships from the Southern Regional Honors Council and the Honors College, Chloe Martin (’28) was one of seven honors students in the country to participate in the National Collegiate Honors Council’s Partners in the Park service-learning program on the Appalachian Trail. As an environmental sciences major and outdoor education minor, she is no stranger to hiking and camping but never realized how much work goes into caring for trails and campgrounds until she helped maintain the Appalachian Trail herself. For example, she transported logs for trail stairs and assisted in widening an eroded trail
into the mountain. Martin said she felt inspired throughout the trip and is grateful for the opportunity. She encourages everyone to “go outside; go outside for free” whenever they get the chance.
GCSU ALUMNA EARNS Ph.D. in Math
Afterher first year at GCSU with professors whose courses cemented her love of math, Kirsten Morris (’16) decided to pursue a degree in the discipline. “The creativity and pattern recognition involved in mathematics is a fundamentally rewarding and interesting way for me to spend my time,” she said. She has since earned her Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is now a postdoctoral associate at Virginia Tech. During her time at GCSU, Morris participated in the Math Jeopardy team, the Math Club and the GCSU Chapter of the Association for Women in Mathematics, all of which, she said, helped solidify her sense of belonging in the field and “set a very high bar for the types of workplaces that I would like to be in.” Morris was searching for a program that would be a supportive place for her to succeed, “akin to what [she] experienced at GCSU,” landing her at Nebraska-Lincoln.
For Morris, being involved in what was then the Honors Program was a rewarding experience, providing opportunities for her to digest her course content on a deeper level and allowing her to explore topics she wouldn’t have had exposure to otherwise. These experiences opened her to the broader mathematics community, further helping her visualize a potential future the field. “I will always be so grateful for the support of the faculty in the GCSU Mathematics Department and the lovely community of fellow math majors,” Morris said.
AROUND THE WORLD: 2025 STUDY ABROAD SCHOLARSHIP EXPERIENCES
Thanks to the generosity of dozens of alumni, friends and students, the Honors College awarded $1000 scholarships to 10 students—Mia Barone, Peyton Burch, Sarah Carter, Lily Cox, Brenna Gallman, Annabel Hirst, Allison Kakaty, Audrey Lesniak, Carly Walker and Kate Walker—to support participation in international summer programs. From Italy and France to the Bahamas and Belize, these students pursued scholarship abroad and immersed themselves in new cultures. Here are a few highlights.
Mia Barone (’26) traveled to Paris, France with AIFS to be a full-time marketing intern for a small wine tasting business. She worked alongside the founder to rebrand the business and increase its social media presence. “This was an incredible experience for me,” Barone said, “both being able to work hands-on in the marketing industry as an intern and being able to travel and gain cultural understanding while working with new people.”
Sarah Carter (’26) spent 10 days on Andros Island in the Bahamas. In addition to attending nightly lectures on oceanography, taxonomy and identification, she was frequently “on the boat, visiting coral reefs, marine blue holes and mangroves.” Carter got to know local residents, noting that “everyone on the island was so welcoming and eager to share their culture.”
Brenna Gallman (’26) spent two weeks in San Ignacio, Belize providing free health care screenings and giving guidance on how to address health concerns. Along with other exercise science and nursing majors, she provided free healthcare and hygiene products to residents and offered a coaching clinic for athletes. “Seeing the differences in healthcare systems was so eye-opening,” Gallman said. “Seeing the smiles on people's faces and the change I was making in their lives firsthand felt so rewarding.”
Annabel Hirst (’26) spent her summer interning and teaching English in Spain. As a world languages major with a specialization in Spanish, Hirst was incredibly excited to use her Spanish skills to foster new connections in a foreign country. She loved the experience so much that she “made it [her] goal to return to Spain to continue teaching English after graduation this May.”
Carly Walker (’26) spent four weeks in Sevilla, Spain studying social psychology and the art and culture of the city. What stuck out to her the most were the people she met and new connections she made. “It felt like being a freshman at GCSU again where everyone makes friends quickly because we all need someone to hang out with and we're all nervous,” Walker said. She quickly became comfortable walking into any store, restaurant, or museum and “stumbling [her] way through a conversation.”
Kate Walker (’26) studied abroad in Oxford, England, taking a course on Oxford fiction writers in addition to masterclass sessions on ancient Greek pottery and medieval manuscripts. “What stuck with me the most,” Walker said, “was being able to experience the stories I grew up reading in the city they were first imagined in, to walk the same streets and visit the same places as some of my favorite authors.”
CONFERENCES
Academy of Economics and Finance
Lauren Decker
Samuel Kinney
Ethan Montgomery
American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Sarah Carter
Association of Middle Level Educators Conference
Marie Puckett
Gabriela Sanacore
Association of Southeastern Biologists
Dale Fulcher
Georgia Academy of Science
Lily Cox
Rebecca DeRoth
Breanna Epps
Dale Fulcher
Georgia Collegiate Honors Conference
Kassie Arps
Trenton Browning
Kathryn Cooper
Maggie Creekmore
Thomas Creekmore
Talia Dobkin
Ben Globerman
Marshall Gregory
Elisabeth Greig
Haley Hargrove
Rebecca Huisman
Chloe Melton
Kayley Owens
Samantha Paton
Alyssa Radnoczi
Drew Rice
Josephine Stephens
Georgia Political Science Association
Emily Wright
Georgia Undergraduate Research Conference
Lucy Artime
Sarah Breen
Sarah Carter
Lily Cox
Dale Fulcher
Mason Grant
Jae Kinsey
Evelyn Lessl
Grace Hopper Conference
Ashley Beaty
Kylie Dallas
Sam Samiya
National Collegiate Honors Conference
Kassie Arps
Morgan Collins
Thomas Creekmore
Chloe Melton
Carly Walker
National Council of Undergraduate Research
Carly Walker
Pittcon
Morgan Collins
Bailey Dassow
Thomas Rice
Popular Culture Association Conference
Thomas Creekmore
Posters at the Georgia State Capitol
Sarah Carter
Emily Wright
Research Day
Eowyn Agullo
Katelyn Ard
EJ Autrey
Asher Balmes
Mia Barone
Valeria Barrera-Vazquez
Sophia Beal
Ashley Beaty
Halle Bergstrom
Christina Bonacci
Sarah Breen
Eve Briscoe
Dasia Brown
Trenton Browning
Sarah Carter
Diana Cazacu
Morgan Collins
Kathryn Cooper
Lily Cox
Maggie Creekmore
Thomas Creekmore
Bailey Dassow
Tess Davidson
Jasmine Davis
Allison Decker
Rebecca DeRoth
Talia Dobkin
Dale Fulcher
Brenna Gallman
Ansley Gardner
Mason Grant
Kara Grieve
Andrea Guider
Marisol Guzman-Rangel
Avery Halseth
Haley Hargrove
Daniel Hastings
Kali Holierhoek
Elyse Hoopes
Rebecca Huisman
Julia Jensen
Ari Johns
Derek Kim
Samuel Kinney
Jae Kinsey
Jayden Kypri
Evelyn Lessl
Maya Lewis
River MacIntyre
Anna Marti
Chloe Melton
Ethan Montgomery
Anne O'Neill
Kayley Owens
Emma Paliotta
NATIONAL COLLEGIATE
InRebecca Price
Thomas Rice
Maci Riley
Liza Rogers
Sam Samiya
Connor Sivley
Nickolas Stephens
Vee Todd
Avery Treadwell
Grace Tsakonas
Carly Walker
Wesley Whitehead
Marisa Williams
Roxanne Wroe
Kylie York
Erin Young
Southeastern Psychological Association Conference
Jessica Berry
Savannah Colegrove
Morgan Gosdin
Honors Conference
November 2025, five GCSU students—Kassie Arps, Morgan Collins, Tommy Creekmore, Chloe Melton, and Carly Walker—traveled to San Diego, California to present their scholarship at the National Collegiate Honors Conference. “I had so much fun engaging with my peers at GCSU and across the country,” said Melton, “and I loved being able to share my own advice and story regarding undergraduate research.” In the annual poster presentation competition, Walker won first place in the diversity division of the Sloane Prize for Undergraduate Research. “There's such a large spread of personalities amongst honors students,” she said, “but I met so many people… [who became] friends within minutes. It was amazing to be in an academic environment with so many hard-working people!”
Kara Grieve
Evelyn Lessl
Emma Paliotta
Ren Peribonio
Grace Tsakonas
Carly Walker
Southern Regional
Honors Conference
Kassie Arps
Trenton Browning
Kathryn Cooper
Maggie Creekmore
Talia Dobkin
Elisabeth Greig
Haley Hargrove
Rebecca Huisman
Jayden Kypri
Chloe Melton
Kayley Owens
Drew Rice
Sam Samiya
Bradley Smith
Josephine Stephens
Each year, the conference also features signature “City as Text” explorations, where participants engage with the host city to learn by immersion. Creekmore found this aspect of NCHC especially meaningful: “I had the opportunity to explore art museums, botanical gardens, the Spanish Village Art Center, the Seaport Village, an open Dr. Seuss gallery and see a production of Shakespeare’s ‘Titus Andronicus’ at the Old Globe theatre.”
I had so much fun engaging with my peers at GCSU and across the country.
-Chloe Melton
2024-2025 SALADIN SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
Named for Dr. Kenneth Saladin, Saladin Scholarships provide $2,000 to support undergraduate research, internships, study abroad or community-based learning.
KATHRYN Cooper
Political science and philosophy double-major Kathryn Cooper (’26) spent her fall semester in Amsterdam studying international perspectives on sexuality and gender and found the experience “both personally and professionally transformative.” She had opportunities to meet with leading advocacy organizations, live with a Dutch host family, and learn some conversational Dutch in the process. “Studying both the theoretical and tangible aspects of human-centered advocacy was an invaluable experience,” Cooper said. The program also included two weeks in Morocco where she met with human rights nonprofits and scholars, including the Democratic Association of Moroccan Women and Dr. Souad Eddouada, professor of gender and cultural studies at Iben Tofail University in Kenitra. In addition, Cooper completed an independent research project on how LGBTQ migrants are evaluated in the Dutch asylum process and presented her findings at the Georgia Collegiate and Southern Regional Honors conferences in the spring.
AVERY Halseth
Biology major Avery Halseth (’25) traveled to Belize for a service-learning program through which her team of GCSU students provided blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol and body fat percentage assessments for Belezean patients. As someone who is passionate about adaptive healthcare, Halseth gained practical experience, cultural awareness and a global perspective necessary to excel in her graduate studies. “Any healthcare career requires vast knowledge and an open mind,” Halseth said, “and this program provided the opportunity to see healthcare from a different perspective than ever before.” In addition, she examined Belize’s Mayan history, even spelunking to explore an ancient religious site!
SYDNEY Irons
For two years, Sydney Irons (’25) worked with GCSU’s Dr. Bruce Snyder on the use of fluorescent powder to mark millipedes and track their movement, breeding patterns and population size. With the support of a Saladin Scholarship, Irons traveled to Belgrade, Serbia to present that research with him at the International Congress of Myriapodology. The conference drew researchers from across the globe to share findings on centipedes, millipedes and velvet worms. On her first trip outside the United States, Irons befriended renowned scholars in the field of myriapodology. “It was like meeting celebrities in the millipede world,” said Irons. Her work was well received, and faculty from around the world have since reached out to her, asking more about her work and possibilities for future collaboration. Irons noted, “It was an awesome experience that I would not have been able to have if I had not started research early at GCSU and been funded and supported by the Honors College.”
ISABELLA Datillio
Isabella Datillio (’25) spent two weeks exploring history, culture and healthcare in Belize. She had the chance to visit a variety of healthcare facilities and apply her knowledge and skills in a meaningful way—much of the trip involved hands-on learning experiences such as facilitating free health screenings, physical and occupational therapy for the elderly, and workshops on health topics for schools. As the older population of Belize is predominantly Spanish speaking, it was a perfect opportunity for language immersion as well. “As healthcare professionals, it is essential to become a global citizen and acquire the necessary skills to meet the needs of all patients,” Datillio said. “My aspiration is to pursue the degree of M.D.-Ph.D., as I want to make a difference in this world. What better way than through medicine and research?”
CALEB Rogers
In the summer of 2025, biology and Spanish major Caleb Rogers (’26) studied abroad in Santiago, Chile. He spent time “moving between lab benches, sight seeing, classes and rapid-fire Spanish conversations that forced [him] to get comfortable being a beginner again.” While he devoted most of his time to an internship—practicing core wet lab techniques like Western blotting and cell culture—he says what made the trip so unforgettable was how personally it hit. The loss of his mother to Stage 4 cancer has fueled Rogers’ study of science and medicine. The journey to Chile was his first trip out of the country, and he said he was “undoubtedly inspired, as it reminded me daily why I am doing all of this. Living in Santiago pushed me to pay attention to the human details.... I'm a firm believer that science and service have to coexist if we want healthcare to be equitable.” Looking ahead, Rogers hopes to become a pediatric oncologist who combines research and advocacy: “By going to Chile, that goal feels sharper, more real, and more urgent, and I am profoundly grateful the Saladin Scholarship helped put me in the place where that clarity could happen.”
SAMANTHA Paton
Growing up interested in politics, Samantha Paton (’26) had always viewed Washington, D.C. as the hub for everything she wanted to do and see. During her internship for Georgia Congressman Barry Loudermilk, she gained firsthand experience with the legislative process and domestic policy work. By being immersed in the dayto-day operations of government, she “developed a deeper appreciation for the behind-the-scenes work that goes into effective governance, particularly on issues that directly affect communities across the country.” Building on this experience, Paton landed an internship at the Georgia State Capitol during her final semester at GCSU.
“My time on [Capitol Hill] was so exciting,” she said. “I am incredibly grateful for the Saladin Scholarship and the doors it has opened for me. It not only supported my education but made it possible for me to pursue a lifelong goal and gain invaluable experience in Washington, D.C.”
2025-2026
SALADIN AND TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
SALADIN Scholarship recipients
• Sarah Breen (’28 public health) will be studying in The Netherlands
• Maggie Creekmore (’28 English) will be studying in Italy
• Charlotte Freymann (’29 psychology) will be studying in France
• Savannah Givens (’29 management) will be studying in France
• Andrea Guider (’28 data science) will be studying in Spain
• Alyssa Jones (’28 criminal justice & political science) will be doing an internship in Statesboro, Georgia
• Alexis Keeney (’26 sociology) will be studying in Denmark
• Kanchan Laul (’28 biology) will be studying in India
• Alina Pishock (’28 criminal justice and psychology) will be studying in the Czech Republic
• Sam Samiya (’28 data science) will be doing an internship in Atlanta, Georgia
• Emma Stowers (’28 data science) will be studying in Spain
• Abigail Todd (’27 exercise science) will be studying in Belize
TRANSFORMATIVE Scholarship recipients
• Christina Bonacci (’27 interdisciplinary studies and world languages & cultures, Spanish)
• Sarah Carter (’27 biology)
• Madison Connor (’29 political science)
• Thomas Creekmore (’26 English and liberal studies)
• Bailey Dassow (’26 chemistry)
• Ava Dente (’26 management information systems)
• Emily Fenstermaker (’27 geography)
• Kara Grieve (’26 psychology)
• Bridget Mainor (’27 philosophy and psychology)
• Jonah Marks (’28 management information systems)
• Mary Piper (’28 political science)
• Marie Puckett (’28 middle grades education)
• Kaitlyn Quillen (’25 biology)
• Addison Rathbun (’29 elementary education track)
• Sam Samiya (’28 data science)
• Gabriela Sanacore (’26 middle grades education)
• Caroline Spivey (’29 psychology)
• Carly Walker (’26 psychology)
• Ashlyn Young (’27 marketing)
ANNUAL & ENDOWED HONORS SCHOLARSHIPS
Baker Family Endowed Honors Scholarship
Donor: Prof. Carol Dean Baker
Devlin & Ashley Cooper Annual Honors Scholarship
Donors: Mr. Devlin and Mrs. Ashley Cooper
Doris C. Moody Endowed Honors Scholarship
Donor: Dr. John Sallstrom
Elaine Brown Riley Endowed Honors Scholarship
Donor: Dr. Mike Riley
Harold Edward Riley Endowed Honors Scholarship
Donor: Dr. Mike Riley
JoAn & Nicholas Shields Endowed Honors Scholarship
Donor: Mrs. Elizabeth Hines
Karen D. Green Endowed Honors Scholarship
Donors: Dr. Dana Gorzelany-Mostak and Mrs. Jennifer Gorzelany
Lee & Holly Snelling First Generation Endowed Honors Scholarship
Donors: Mr. Lee and Mrs. Holly Snelling
Margaret Samprone Endowed Honors Scholarship
Donors: Dr. Joseph and Mrs. Patricia Samprone
Mark & Martha Morris Family Annual Honors Scholarship
Donors: Mr. Mark and Mrs. Martha Morris
Plutarch-Stelios Spirou Endowed Honors Scholarship
Donor: Dr. Costas Spirou
Sapp Family Endowed Honors Scholarship
Dr. Carol Cowart Sapp
Steven Elliott-Gower Endowed Honors Scholarship
Donors: Dr. Doris Moody and Dr. Steven Elliott-Gower
William A. Westbrook Endowed Honors Scholarship
Donors: Mrs. Brandie Mock, Dr. Harold Mock, Dr. Doris Moody and Dr. John Sallstrom
Dr. Kenneth Saladin provided the matching gifts for the Honors College's endowed scholarships.
2026-2027
ANNUAL AND ENDOWED HONORS
SCHOLARSHIP
RECIPIENTS
Baker Family Endowed Honors Scholarship Derek Sanders (’27 nursing)
Devlin & Ashley Cooper Annual Honors Scholarship Erin Young (’27 economics) and Samuel Kinney (’27 economics)
Doris C. Moody Endowed Honors Scholarship Mia Morrow (’27 management)
Elaine Brown Riley Endowed Honors Scholarship Michelle Hyppolite (’28 music therapy)
Harold Edward Riley Endowed Honors Scholarship Madeleine Miller (’28 music)
JoAn & Nicholas Shields Endowed Honors Scholarship Josefa Tchamnakouna (’27 biology)
Karen D. Green Endowed Honors Scholarship Alyssa Radnoczi (’29 music therapy)
Margaret Samprone Endowed Honors Scholarship Romanee Murillo (’27 biology)
Mark & Martha Morris Family Annual Honors Scholarship
Sofia Legoff-Flores (’27 accounting) and Bridget Mainor (’27 philosophy & psychology)
Plutarch-Stelios Spirou Endowed Honors Scholarship Tyson Butler (’27 psychology)
Sapp Family Endowed Honors Scholarship Zephyr Clark (’27 nursing)
Steven Elliott-Gower Endowed Honors Scholarship Vee Todd (’28 theatre)
William A. Westbrook Endowed Honors Scholarship Chloe Melton (’26 history & interdisciplinary studies)
SAM Rauschenberg
Sam Rauschenberg (’07), who has served on both the Honors Advisory Board and the GCSU Alumni Board of Directors, is the Honors College’s ’25-’26 Alum of the Year. Upon graduating from GCSU, Rauschenberg taught high school math in New Orleans for three years before pursuing his master's degree in public policy at Duke University. He said his GCSU education, specifically the Honors coursework, “prepared [him] well for the rigor of [his] Duke program.”
Following graduate school, he moved back to Georgia, where he served in the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement before moving to Achieve Atlanta, a non-profit that helps Atlanta Public Schools students access and earn postsecondary credentials. There, he serves as vice president of Growth & Impact, leading the organization’s expansion into additional districts within Metro Atlanta and overseeing how they measure their impact on students' postsecondary and life outcomes. Rauschenberg lives in Lilburn, Georgia with his wife Hannah and their children
Hudson, Ruth and Luke.
“Being selected for the Honors College Alum of the Year is an honor because there are so many graduates who are deserving,” he said. “I'm grateful for my experience in the GCSU Honors Program and was excited to see it transition to being the Honors College several years ago. Dr. Sallstrom, Dr. Moody, Dr. Eliott-Gower and now Dr. Newsome have built a strong legacy that continues to push students' thinking and prepare them for a changing world.”
DR. STEVEN
Elliott-Gower
Eta Sigma Alpha recognized the contributions of Dr. Steven Elliott-Gower by awarding him an Honorary Membership. Dr. Gower came to GCSU in 2008 to direct the Honors Program, working with various departments around campus and creating an external advisory board. He said the highlight of his job has always been teaching Honors classes and participating in
Honors dinner seminars: “The job became a vocation.” He now teaches courses as head of the Honors Global Civic Literacy Residential Learning Community. “It’s an incredible privilege to have been a part of Honors at Georgia College,” Dr. Gower said, “and to be around so many smart, amiable students for the past 18 years.”
DR. JENNIFER Flaherty
Eta Sigma Alpha has recognized Dr. Jennifer Flaherty, professor of English, with the Honors Distinguished Faculty Member Award, an accolade granted in recognition of her long and meaningful partnership with Honors. Dr. Flaherty’s research focuses on adaptation studies, particularly how Shakespeare has been used to address contemporary girlhood, and she has taught numerous Honors courses, from introductory offerings on Shakespeare to advanced classes on Shakespeare and the Teenage
Girl. She even organized a trip to New York for her course on Underworlds and Afterlives so students could see related exhibits at The Met and experience the musical “Hadestown.”
“One of the things I love about teaching Honors courses is the level of engagement in the discussions,” Dr. Flaherty said. “I really love being part of a community of faculty and students who are so passionate about learning and exploring new ideas.”
DONORS TO GIVING CHALLENGE
Thanks to the generosity of alumni, friends and students, the Honors College raised $8,103 during the 2026 Honor Giving Challenge, exceeding the goal of $7,000. Together with previous contributions by a number of donors, including members of the Honors Advisory Board, the college raised a total of over $18,000 to take at least 40 Honors students on a fall break trip to Birmingham and Montgomery, Alabama to explore the history and culture of these two communities. Students will visit the Civil Rights Institute, the 16th Street Baptist Church and the Birmingham Museum of Art in Birmingham—Alabama’s largest city—and the Legacy Museum, the Rosa Parks Museum and the Museum of Alabama in Montgomery—the state’s capital city. Thank you to the individuals who are making these amazing opportunities available to GCSU Honors students!
Isabelle Angell
Dr. Susan Asbury
Ashley Banks
Dr. Roger Best
Jillian Bolak
Nancy Bray
Thomas Brookshire
Jason Butler
Dr. Scott Butler
Renae Browning
Trenton Browning
Jacob Carter
Cathy Cox & Mark Dehler
Doug Crabtree
Susan Daniels
Kendra Evans
Brian Freese
Dr. Sandra Gangstead
Emily Givens
Dr. Dana Gorzelany-Mostak
Christi Gowen
Dr. Jennifer Graham
Laura Graves
Deborah Griffin
Sandy Heslop
Elizabeth Hines
Mary Howard
Jessica Keeley
Jason Lanham
Julian Lopez-Hanson
Noah MacDonald
Jonah Marks
Heidi Mead
Dr. Dorris Moody
Dr. David Muschell
Dr. Brian Newsome
Jennifer & Steve Nicholson
Courtney Owen
Dr. Del &
Mrs. Beverly Presley
Susan Presley
Haleigh Purser
Cristina Rafferty
Sam Rauschenberg
Ryan Reavis
Donald & Theresa Rhodes
Dr. Brad &
Mrs. Deneice Rice
Dr. Kenneth Saladin
Dr. John Sallstrom
Riley Schofield
Phil and Kitty Spivey
Yvette & Wendell Staton
Kristin Villarreal
The Honorable Peggy Walker
Anna Whiteside
Mary Williams & Kenneth Rice
Dr. Robert Wilson
Ruby Zimmerman
2025 DECEMBER COMMENCEMENT
Kaitlin Acosta, biology
Paige Blakemore, mass communication
Courtney Brandon, English, history*
Alyssa Chargualaf, nursing
Chloe Crosby, accounting
Evan George, exercise science
Raven Glover, chemistry
Morgan Gosdin, psychology, world languages & cultures (Spanish)
Avery Halseth, biology
Sydney Irons, environmental sciences
Ama Kpoyizoun, nursing
Liam Landry, philosophy
Tori Lane, nursing
Basia McBride, psychology
Emma Meyer, nursing
Kaitlyn Quillen, biology
Connor Sivley, biology*
Bethany Tapee, English, liberal studies*
Shani Thompson, music therapy
William Turner, accounting*
Anna Yoder, criminal justice
Nicole Zheng, accounting*
*Valedictorian
2026 MAY COMMENCEMENT
Eowyn Agullo, history
Katelyn Ard, psychology, public health
Kassie Arps, mass communication, rhetoric*
Mia Barone, marketing
Tamara Bean, liberal studies, philosophy
Ashley Beaty, data science
Halle Bergstrom, management, rhetoric
Emily Bodamer, nursing
Eve Briscoe, English
Emily Brown, English
Emma Brunner, English*
Sydney Bryant, public health
Anna Carey, political science, rhetoric
Adam Cody, accounting
Kathryn Cooper, philosophy, political science,
Lily Cox, biology, world languages & cultures (French)
Kylie Crabtree, accounting
Olivia Crawford, liberal studies
Thomas Creekmore, English, liberal studies
Carter Crocker, finance
Kylie Dallas, computer science
Jasmine Davis, psychology
Allison Decker, English
Claire DeRoth, nursing
Elizabeth DeRoth, middle grades education
Taylor Doyle, music
Elizabeth Dyal, biology
Andrew Earnest, mass communication
Hannah Ferrar, exercise science
Izzy Galysh, public health
Grace Gilmartin, mass communication
Ben Globerman, nursing
Kara Grieve, psychology*
Ashley Hampton, elementary education
Emily Hansen, biology
Sara Henderson, nursing
Annabel Hirst, world languages & cultures (Spanish)
Elyse Hoopes, public health
Lillian Hornsby, elementary education
Olivia Jaime, nursing
Julia Jensen, art
Alexis Keeney, sociology*
Katie Kennedy, nursing
Derek Kim, liberal studies, philosophy
Jae Kinsey, finance, psychology
Emma Laprade, nursing*
Benjamin Lorentz, management information systems
David Magrino, accounting
Anna Marti, mathematics
Jack McKinney, rhetoric
Trenae Miller, exercise science
Ethan Montgomery, data science, economics
Kate O'Rourke, nursing
Samantha Paton, criminal justice, political science
Joshua Patterson, English
Hunter Pierce, English, world languages & cultures (Spanish)
Marie Puckett, middle grades education
Drew Rice, history
Caleb Rogers, biology, world languages & cultures (Spanish)
Rylee Royster, nursing
Gabriela Sanacore, middle grades education
Abby Smith, nursing
Anna Sorckoff, nursing*
Addy Strickland, psychology*
Fiona Sullivan, nursing
Danielle Tan, nursing
Avery Treadwell, accounting, world languages & cultures (Spanish)*
Noah Turner, accounting
Carly Walker, psychology
Kate Walker, English*
Savannah Walker, mass communication
Catherine Wall, English
Grace Webb, biology
Wesley Whitehead, mathematics
Emily Wright, philosophy political science*
*Valedictorian
PAINTED PARK
GEORGIA COLLEGIATE HONORS CONFERENCE
ALUMNI GATHERING
CONVOCATION
NATIONAL COLLEGIATE HONORS CONFERENCE
SOUTHERN REGIONAL HONORS CONFERENCE
RESEARCH DAY
TEAM BUILDING
John E. Sallstrom Honors College
CBX 029
231 W. Hancock Street
Milledgeville, GA 31061
478-445-4025
honors@gcsu.edu
The John E. Sallstrom Honors College relies on the generosity of faculty, alumni and friends to fund our book discussions, lunch/dinner seminars, undergraduate research, and other educational and cultural activities. Please contact Dr. Brian Newsome at honors@gcsu.edu or visit https://give. gcsu.edu/g/honors if you are interested in supporting us. We are keen to build our base of support with gifts of any amount. Thank you!