College of the Arts Outstanding Student Award

The College of the Arts Outstanding Student Award is given to a student who has been recognized for their academic achievement, research, and service activity within their department, the university, and community. This year’s recipient is: Caleb Harris.

University Honors Program’s Bartram Award for Intellectual Exploration

The University Honors Program’s Bartram Award for Intellectual Exploration is named for famed explorer and scientist, William Bartram. The Bartram Award recognizes exceptional achievement in a University Honors Program student who has demonstrated the skills of intellectual exploration, adventure, and competence. The recipient must have a minimum GPA of 3.50, be at least a sophomore, be active in the Honors Program, and must have demonstrated exceptional research, scholarly or creative activity in a course of study. This year’s recipient is: Nestle Butler.

Outstanding Student in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences

The Outstanding Student in Humanities and Social Sciences award is based on demonstrated academic excellence, which includes scholarship, memberships, honors, and GPA, as well as service to the department, college, and community. This year’s recipient is: Karen Ramirez Rubio.

Outstanding Student in the College of Science and Mathematics

The Outstanding Student in the College of Science and Mathematics award is based on demonstrated academic excellence, which includes scholarship, memberships, honors, and GPA, as well as service to the department, college, and community. This year’s recipient is: Mehvish K. Durrani.

Outstanding Langdale College of Business Senior Award

The Outstanding Langdale College of Business Senior Award is the top award given by the College of Business Administration to an outstanding senior. This award goes to: Tiana Miara King.

College of Education & Human Services’ Highest Academic Achievement Award

The recipient of the Dewar College of Education & Human Services Academic Achievement award has been chosen from among students from each of the departments in the College of Education. This award is based on the highest GPA. This year’s recipient is: Emily Nicole Mangham.

The Outstanding Senior College of Nursing and Health Sciences

The Outstanding Senior College of Nursing and Health Sciences Student Award goes to a student with the highest GPA in their graduating class, who is active in campus and community activities. The student needs to show leadership capabilities and initiative in clinical and classroom settings. This year’s recipient is: Leah Suzanne Akins.

The Division of Aerospace Studies’ Most Outstanding AS300 Cadet Award

The Most Outstanding AS300 Cadet Award is presented to the most outstanding junior, ranking in the top 5 percent of their class.  The student must positively contribute to leadership and show initiative, good judgment, self-confidence, promptness, and respect for authority. The individual should be able to adapt to changes and possess the highest personal and ethical standards and strong personal convictions.  This year’s recipient is: Cadet Dustin E. Magilligan.

Male and Female Student-Athlete Academic Awards

The Male and Female Student-Athlete Academic Awards are among the most prestigious awards presented by the Athletic Department.  These awards are presented to juniors or seniors who have been at Valdosta State for at least one full academic year and have the highest cumulative grade point average.”  The Athletic Department does not break ties, so this year they have two recipients for each of these awards. The Male Student-Athlete Academic Award goes to Thomas Jespersen and Wesley Hanson.  The Female Student Academic Athlete of the Year award goes to Logan Taylor Hill and Olivia Rosener.

University Awards

University System of GA Academic Recognition Day Award

Each of Georgia's University System Institutions chooses an outstanding student to be honored on Academic Recognition Day by the House of Representatives and the State Senate. This year the Academic Recognition Day student was chosen by the Academic Honors and Scholarships Committee, on the basis of outstanding academic achievement and service. This year’s recipient is Danielle Spivey.

Clare Philips Martin Scholarship

The Clare Philips Martin Scholarship, presented in honor of Mrs. Clare Martin, wife of the late President Emeritus S. Walter Martin, is awarded to a student at Valdosta State with a 3.5 or higher GPA, who has completed no less than 60 semester hours of work at Valdosta State University and is active in campus and community organizations. This year’s recipient is: Stewart Maxwell Ward.

American Association of University Women Award

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research. AAUW believes that together we can transform society for the better. Our vision is simple — we bring people together united behind the common goal of breaking through educational and economic barriers for women and girls. The recipient of this year’s award is Dorothy Nickell.

The Annie Powe Hopper Award

The Annie Powe Hopper Award marks the apex of academic achievement in one's college career and is given by the Valdosta State Alumni Association and the family and friends of Miss Hopper, the university's first dean of women.  The winner is selected by the Academic Honors and Scholarships Committee.  Over the past 40 years, the award has come to be recognized as the University’s most prestigious Academic Honor.

The qualifications for the award stipulate that the recipient be graduating during the current academic year, stand high academically, and exemplify the tradition of Valdosta State and those traits of character and dignity associated with the late Miss Hopper.

The recipient of the 2020 Annie Powe Hopper Award is Sylandi Brown.