USM Student Awards Day Highlights Scholarship, Leadership, Service
Tue, 04/02/2024 - 08:58am | By: David Tisdale
USM Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management Dr. Kristi Motter, left, presents undergraduate Kayce Allen with the Judge R.J. Bishop Mississippian Award at the 2024 Student Awards Day ceremony at Bennett Auditorium March 27 on the Hattiesburg campus (USM photo by Kelly Dunn).
Whether in the classroom as scholars, as leaders of one of a multitude of student organizations or in service to the campus or surrounding communities, students with records of achievement in these areas were honored at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) during the annual Student Awards Day ceremony, held March 27 in conjunction with Founders’ Week celebrations marking the 114th anniversary of the school.
USM President Dr. Joseph S. Paul and Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management Dr. Kristi Motter welcomed those in attendance and introduced the student honorees, respectively, at the event held at historic Bennett Auditorium on the University’s Hattiesburg campus. Installment of new USM Student Government Association (SGA) executive officers was also conducted at the ceremony.
USM President Dr. Joseph S. Paul, left, presents undergraduate Mac McCormick with the Phi Kappa Silver Bowl at the 2024 Student Awards Day ceremony at Bennett Auditorium March 27 on the Hattiesburg campus (USM photo by Kelly Dunn).
“Founders’ Week is an opportunity for Southern Miss students, past and present, to come together and remember our past, celebrate today, and embrace the future,” said outgoing SGA President Jonathan Jenkins.
Student recognition categories and recipients include the following:
*Outstanding Freshmen: JaKedrick Exson; Kaleb Favaloro; Joaquin Hall; Josi Johnson; Lauryl Madison Joyner; David Laseinde; Neta Nnabuenyi; Emma Saulters.
*Most Outstanding Freshmen: Micah Hill, Devontae Smith.
*Who’s Who Among Students at Southern Miss: Anza Ali; Morgan Alker; Hanna Allen; Cara Atkinson; Kerigan Brewer; Kenning Bridges; J.K. Brock; Erin Burleson; Erin Bynum; Madison Calkins; Zohaib Chaudhary; Jordyn Cook; Raven Day; Ann Wallace DeRossette; Rebecca Dunn; Anders Estorge; Jillian Fuller; Jacob Gardner; Aly Gonzalez; A’lora Griffith; Allison Hanby; Madison Henderson; Serena Howell; Kathleen Huey; Julia James; Walter Johnson; Tori Jones; Kennedy Lambert; Breanna Masterson; Anna Mayberry; Azaria McDowell; Jacob Meilleur; Jannie Nguyen; Sarah Parnell; Tara Piggott; Lily Ready; Desiree Rodriguez; Lexie Rouse; Shayna Smith; Avery Spring; Miguel Valadez-Sanchez; Zacchaeus Wallace; Yasmine Ware; Braden Waugh; Alexandrea Westcott; Kristen Wilson.
*Best Citizen Award: Hanna Allen, Braden Waugh.
*Leave It Better Than You Found It Award: Erin Burleson.
*Dr. Joe Paul Society of 1910 Scholarship Award: Addison Boyette.
*Barbara Ross Golf Leaf Scholarship: Anna Philpot.
*Phi Kappa Silver Bowl: Mac McCormick.
*Judge R.J. Bishop Mississippian Award: Kayce Allen.
*USM Student Hall of Fame inductees: Kenning Bridges; Jordyn Cook; Raven Day; Ann Wallace DeRossette; Alyson Gonzalez; Breanna Masterson; Anna Mayberry; Miguel Valadez-Sanchez; Zacchaeus Wallace; Alexandrea Westcott.
*Student Government Association Officers for 2024-25: Braxton Ruddock, president; Logan Boudreaux, senior vice president; Courtney Francois, vice president of finance administration; Vivian Hale, vice president of communication; Tatum Hansen, chief of staff.