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Khaleh Thomas
The best students at VSU excel both in and out of the classroom and new alumna Khaleh Thomas is a prime example. A May 2008 graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Thomas maintained a 4.0 GPA, earned a black belt in karate at age 14, excelled at piano and played a full career on the Lady Blazers basketball team.
A member of the East Conference championship team in 2005, she was voted the Student Athlete of the Year in 2007 by the NCAA Division II Gulf South Conference and was a finalist for the Annie Powe Hopper Award, the university’s top academic honor. Thomas was also winner of the Marie Leonard Book Award, which is given in honor of the founder of Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society to the top graduating senior member of the organization with the highest cumulative GPA
Thomas, whose favorite childhood memory is of family trips to Washington, D.C., has been inspired by her supportive family to exceed in all she does. As a new graduate, she plans to find employment at a crime lab before entering medical school to become a forensic pathologist, a career that should bring her adventure and success.
Status: Alumna
GPA: 4.0
Graduation: May 2008
Degree: B.S. in Chemistry
Hometown: Brunswick
High school: Brunswick High School
Academic achievements/awards/recognition and Career Highlights:
· VSU Dean’s List eight consecutive semesters for academic excellence
· Annie Powe Hopper Award nominee, 2008
· Gulf South Conference (GSC) Top Ten Student Athlete of the Year, 2007
· Recipient of Marie Leonard Senior Book Award for Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, 2008
· Attended NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Conference, Summer 2007
· GSC Winter All-Academic Team, 2006-2007 and 2007-2008
· Outstanding Senior Chemistry Major
· Golden Key International Honor Society
· Alpha Lambda Delta Freshman Honor Society
· American Chemical Society
I chose to attend VSU because… I like the close-knit atmosphere and it has the same community base as my hometown, Brunswick. I also attended the Governor’s Honors Program here and I liked the campus. I liked the coaching staff that VSU women’s basketball offered and the winning program that they have.
My favorite things to do on campus are… go to the sporting events that VSU offers, and attending the step shows that the fraternities/sororities present, and also just sitting on campus meeting new people.
When I have free time, I like… to hang out with my friends, go to the movies, or just watch TV in my room.
My favorite place to study is… in my room with the TV on.
The most exciting thing I’ve done is… attend the NCAA Leadership Conference at the Disney Resorts this past summer. I met a lot of great people (other student-athletes from different universities) and learned a lot about myself.
My favorite professor was… Dr. Barbas, Organic Chemistry Professor.
My favorite class was… Organic Chemistry.
If I knew I could not fail, I would… I would take the MCAT this summer without studying and follow my dreams of becoming a forensic pathologist.
The three words that best describe me are… intelligent, hard- working, spontaneous
Growing up the person I looked up to the most was… my older sister, because she was successful and I strived to follow in her footsteps.
The thing that I will miss the most about college is… my teammates, basketball and just being able to walk outside and meet new people.
The one VSU experience I will always remember is… winning the East Conference Championship in 2005.
After graduation, I plan to… enter the work force, and hope to get a job in a crime lab, and in 1 or 2 years go to Medical school for Forensics.