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Cory Bryan
By Jennifer Tanner & Natalie Quinn. Photo by Bobby Lacey
The 2009 Mac Award winner, Cory Bryan, is more than just a 4.0 student. The well-rounded Dacula native considers himself the "coolest nerd you will ever meet." Not only does he knock out A's in the classroom, he thrives on intramural sports and claims he can "shred" anything with six strings. His sense of humor brings constant amusement to others, while his willingness to work hard keeps him grounded.
His dedication will serve him well in his next life venture — medical school. Bryan said that he came to VSU with plans to study pharmacy, but changed to medicine because it offered him a career that would be challenging and rewarding and would allow him to serve his community.
The studious, yet adventurous college graduate is now attending the Medical College of Georgia, but he can look back on his years at VSU with pride. When he wasn't enjoying on-campus dining with friends or working out at the Student Recreation Center, he was hitting the books to maintain his dean's list standing and bringing home honors like the President's First Year Scholar Award and the Alpha Lambda Delta Marie Leonard Senior Book Award.
Name: Cory A. Bryan
Academic Year: Senior
Academic Standing/GPA: 4.0
Expected Graduation: May 2009
Degree Objective: Chemistry (focus in pre-medicine)
Employer: Valdosta State University Chemistry Department / Valdosta Optics Laboratory, Inc.
Hometown: Dacula, GA
High school: Dacula High School
Academic Achievements: Dean’s List, Valdosta State University’s President’s First-Year Scholars award, National Scholars Honor Society, Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, MAC award winner, ALD Marie Leonard Senior Book Award winner, working towards publication (C. Bryan, T. Manning, et al. "Computational Studies of Ferric Complexes With Medicinal Value" (invited book chapter, in progress) in Encyclopedia of
Medicinal Plants. Studium Press LLC, USA)
I chose to attend VSU because.... I like the idea of a university that offers a smaller-school atmosphere that doesn’t compromise the quality of its education….and you can’t beat a sunny day in Valdosta.
My favorite things to do on campus are… enjoy the always-tasty on-campus dining, toss a ball around on the front lawn, and take in the scenery (when it’s not raining).
When I have free time, I like… playing ball in the rec center, watching a movie at Ashley Cinemas, or spending some quality time on the couch.
My favorite place to study is… well, I try not to do too much of that because it can really bring you down, but, if I have to, I will do it in the solitude of my dining room table.
The most exciting/interesting thing I’ve done is… getting to contribute to defense-oriented research for the military at Valdosta Optics Lab, Inc.
My favorite professor was… Dr. Thomas Manning…the definition of cool.
My favorite class was… Environmental Chemistry. You can’t shake a stick at the field trips.
If I could share an afternoon with anyone, I would love to share it with… Ludwig van Beethoven, but I should probably learn sign language first.
If I knew I could not fail, I would… study a lot less (joking). But here is the truth; even a failure should be respected because at least that failure has attempted some feat. Without a possibility of failure there is no possibility for victory.
The three words that best describe me are… Real. Comfortable. Man.
Growing up the persons I looked up to the most were… My father and grandfather, who, by the grace of God, instilled some of the characteristics that make me who I am.
The thing that I will miss the most about college is… the friends I’ve made thus far.
The one VSU experience I will always remember is… dominating intramurals!
Some of my long-term goals are… to become a righteous doctor, husband, and father.
I chose my major/career because… I originally came to VSU to start down a path in pharmacy (which requires chemistry classes), but I changed to pre-med. I stuck with chemistry, so that I would not have to start back at square one on my degree. I chose medicine because I feel like it partially satiates my desires for a fulfilling life, in that a career in medicine can be quite challenging while offering a reward to both doctor and community.
My biggest supporters in life are… Mom and Dad (I think they are made of money). I enVISION my previous efforts amounting to nothing had it not been for the financial and moral support of my parents and other friends/family.