b'Akins is currently attending the University of St. Augustine forJ AmeSl. & D orothyh. D ewArC olleGe ofHealth Sciences, where she anticipates earning a Doctor of Physicale DuCAtion& h umAnS erviCeSTherapy in December 2022. Her dream is to establish a practice near her hometown and help rural Georgia citizens optimize theirm ADiSonl ynnm C A rthur of quality of life through prescribed exercise, hands-on care, and patientGlennville, Georgia, is the recipient education. She is the daughter of Brion and Susan Akins. of the Spring 2020 Presidents Award for Academic Excellence for the James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services at C olleGe of theA rtS Valdosta State University. She graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of r AChelm C k enziem AthiSofScience in Education in Elementary Nashville, Georgia, is the recipient ofEducation during VSUs virtual 229th the Spring 2020 Presidents Award forCommencement on May 9. Academic Excellence at Valdosta State University. She graduated summa cumI was very surprised and delighted when laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts inI learned that I was the top graduate in the Spring Class of 2020 in the Interior Design during VSUs virtualJames L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human 229th Commencement on May 9. Services, she said. It would not have been possible without the help and support of my family and professors. Being named the top graduate for my college is one of the most rewardingAs a student at VSU, McArthur was a member of the Eta Iota moments of my time here at ValdostaChapter of Zeta Tau Alpha, where she served as academic achievement State, she said. I am incredibly honored and so proud of the hardchairman in 2017 and 2018, Parents Weekend coordinator in 2018, work I have put into the last four years of my life. The College of theand risk reduction chairman in 2019. She was also a member of Kappa Arts has been such a blessing to me, and Im delighted to have beenDelta Pi: The International Honor Society in Education and Alpha connected with such a talented community of people. I certainlyLambda Delta: The International Honor Society for First-Year Success. couldnt have done this without all of them. McArthurs commitment to academic excellence resulted in her earning As a student at VSU, Mathis enjoyed sharing her passion for art,repeated spots on the Deans List. She was also a HOPE Scholar.design, and craft with students at her hometown Berrien High School, where she worked as an after-school instructor and a summerMcArthur is currently teaching prekindergarten students at Glennville school instructor.Elementary School in her hometown. She plans to eventually continue her education through the masters, specialist, and doctoral levels. Mathiss commitment to academic and creative excellence resulted in herShe is the daughter of Quentin and Lynn McArthur and the sister of earning repeated spots on the Deans List and the 2019 Danielle BarrierMarlee McArthur.Harmon Discretionary Award. She was nominated for the 2020 Annie Powe Hopper Award. Her design project, Steelcase NEXT, earned honorable mention honors at the Department of Art and Designs 22nd annual Juried Student Art Competition and Exhibition. Mathis plans to continue working with Chicken Salad Chick, where she has been employed since August 2019. She will participate in management training at the Valdosta location before transitioning to a management position with the opening of a new Tifton, Georgia, location. Although that decision was not part of her original plan when she started college, she said that she is more than happy with my choice to work with such a wonderful company that encourages me to be my best and supports me and my passions. She is the daughter of Malinda and Gene Mathis.44 |VALDOSTA STATE UNIVERSITY'