Jaguar Senior Medallion Members Inducted

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Posted on April 26, 2024

Joy Crawford

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Twenty-four students were inducted into the Jaguar Senior Medallion Society for outstanding academic and leadership achievements, community service, engagement and for displaying Jaguar pride. The honorees were recently celebrated during a ceremony on Tuesday, April 23.

“The University is pleased to recognize this year’s honorees for their excellence and Jaguar Pride,” said USA President Jo Bonner. “Honorees, this is your University, and you are part of its story. Many of you will be graduating in a few weeks. I look forward to shaking your hand as you walk across the stage, and I look forward to seeing you back on campus as you either study to earn another degree or attend homecoming or other alumni events.”

Students were nominated and voted on by a University committee. The initiative is organized by the Division of Student Affairs.

“Our Division of Student Affairs joins the University to recognize and congratulate the 2024 Jaguar Senior Medallion Society honorees,” said Dr. Michael Mitchell, vice president for student affairs and dean of students. “This program celebrates these outstanding seniors and signifies the highest level of achievement for student engagement, academics, and leadership. We wish all the honorees the best as they graduate from the University of South Alabama. Go Jags!”

Students, faculty, staff, administrators and parents congratulated the honorees during the induction ceremony and attended the reception that followed the program.

2024 Jaguar Senior Medallion Society Honorees 

Breanna Byrd is a speech and hearing sciences major from Petal, Mississippi. She is a graduate of Petal High School. Byrd has a 3.94 grade-point average, and she is a member of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association and Alpha Eta National Honor Society. She has been named on the President’s List.

While studying at South, she has worked on campus at the Center for Educational Accessibility and Disability Services since 2022. She plans to attend USA’s master’s degree program for speech-language pathology in the fall. She is the daughter of Joseph and Karyn Byrd.

Neil Chaudhary is a biomedical sciences major from Madison, Alabama. He is a graduate of James Clemens High School. He has a 4.0 grade-point average and is a Frederick P. Whiddon Honors Scholarship recipient, a member of the Frederick P. Whiddon USA College of Medicine Early Acceptance program and a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellow.

He’s a member of the Sally Steadman Azalea Chapter of the Mortar Board National Senior Honor Society, Alpha Epsilon Delta, where he served as president, the Indian Student Association, where he was president, and he was named the Taylor Davis Key Player of the Year as a member of the Student Government Association. Chaudhary has received the UAB Heersink School of Medicine Early Acceptance Offer. He is the son of Manoj Chaudhary and Mona Chaudhary.

Becca Clark is a computer science major from Mobile. She is a graduate of St. Luke’s Episcopal School. She has a 4.0 grade-point average and has been awarded the competitive National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship.

She is a School of Computing Ambassador, a member of Jaguar Women in Technology, DayZero Cybersecurity Club, Sally Steadman Azalea Chapter of the Mortar Board Senior Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Upsilon Pi Epsilon Honor Society and was on the President’s List. She is the daughter of Angela and George Clark.

Allison Dollus is an exercise science major from Chatham, Illinois. She is a graduate of Glenwood High School. She has a 4.0 grade-point average and is a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. She has been a Presidential Scholar from 2020-2024. Dollus is the recipient of the Tom Wood Tillinghast Endowed Scholarship.

She is also the winner of the Semester of Service Award for spring 2022 and is a recipient of the Center for Academic Excellence Certificate of Recognition for spring 2023. While studying at South, she worked for USA as a tutor in the Center for Academic Excellence. Dollus plans to pursue her doctorate in South’s occupational therapy program starting this fall. She is the daughter of Richard Dollus and Lisa Dollus.

Emily Gatewood is a speech and hearing science major from Ocean Springs, Mississippi. She is a graduate of Ocean Springs High School. She has a 3.69 grade-point average and is a member of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association, a 2023 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellow, a recipient of the South Promise Award and a recipient of the Jaguar Marching Band Scholarship and the Jaguar Freshman Dream Scholarship. She is a member of the Theta Epsilon Chapter of Alpha Gamma Delta fraternity, where she is the recipient of the Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation scholarship.

Gatewood is a member of the Woodridge Baptist Church Missions. She has made the Dean’s and President’s Lists. She will graduate with the University honor of Magna Cum Laude and plans to earn her doctorate in USA’s audiology program beginning this summer. She is the daughter of Tina Gatewood.

Olivia Lackie is a biology major from Walker, Louisiana. She is a graduate of Holden High School. Lackie has a 3.70 grade-point average and is a member of the USA Women’s Softball team. She’s an accomplished athlete who became the All-Time Shutout Leader in South’s history. She is also the first player in the program’s history to be named Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Year.

Lackie has earned the distinction of being named to the Academic Honor Roll, and the second player in the program’s history to be a three-time All-Region selection. She is the daughter of Jeremy and Kasie Lackie.

Jenna Lankford is a biology major from Malcolm, Alabama. She is a graduate of Citronelle High School. Lankford has a 3.64 grade-point average and is an Army ROTC Battalion Commander. She is the recipient of the George C. Marshall Award, was named Military Officer Association of American Cadet of the Year and has made the Dean’s and President’s Lists while studying at South.

She plans to pursue her master’s degree in community health. After earning that degree, she plans to study to become a dentist. She is the daughter of Dianne and Tim Lankford.

Nicole Lemon is an anthropology major from Gulfport, Mississippi. She is a graduate of West Harrison High School. She has a 3.86 grade-point average and is in the Honors College and the Student Anthropological Society, where she has served as vice president and secretary. Lemon was a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellow. She is Camp Kesem's coordinator and a Make the Magic coordinator and director.

Lemon is also a member of the Sally Steadman Azalea Chapter of the Mortar Board Honor Society, where she served as social media chair. While studying at South, Lemon worked at the USA Student-Athlete Academic Services as a tutor. She is the daughter of Sonya Moran and Steven Moran.

Luke Love is a history major from Birmingham, Alabama. He is a graduate of Oak Mountain High School. He has a 4.0 grade-point average and he is studying in the Honors College. He is also a member of the Jaguar Marching Band, First Year Council, Student Government Association Chief Justice for 2021-2023, Alabama Zeta Chapter of Alpha Epsilon Delta, premedical scholarship organization, the Filipino Cultural Society, the Sally Steadman Azalea Chapter of the Mortar Board Honor Society and a National Alumni Association Southerner.

Love is also a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and the Phi Kappa Alpha Honor Society. He is the recipient of the Dr. James W. Green Scholarship for pre-med students. Love is a member of the early acceptance program for the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine. He is the son of Chris and Sarah Love.

Olivia Martin is a history major with a grade-point average of 3.85. She has served as a Senator for the USA College of Arts and Sciences for the Student Government Association for 2021-2022. Martin is treasurer for the History Society and was a member of the First Year Council. She is the recipient of the Minnie Lee Wilkins Stallworth Scholarship in the USA History Department.

She is a member of the Rho-Theta Chapter of Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society and the recipient of the E. Lewis B. Curtis Certificate of Merit for Outstanding Scholarship and was a Freshman Leadership Scholar.

Maiben Mitchell is a communication studies major from Mobile, Alabama. She has a 3.7 grade-point average and was the Chief Justice for the Student Government Association for 2023-2024. She is a member of the Order of Omega Honor Society, the Sally Steadman Azalea Chapter of the Mortar Board Honor Society, the Abeneefoo Kuo Honor Society, the National Society of Leadership and Success, NAACP and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., where she serves as president of the Epsilon Upsilon Chapter.

She is the 2023-2024 USA Homecoming Queen, the recipient of the Hanna Endowed Communication Scholarship, Ammons Student Leadership Scholarship, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Student Scholarship and was a recipient of the Freshman Admissions Scholarship. She plans to pursue a master’s degree in higher education. She is the daughter of Drs. Michael and Merlinda Mitchell.

Abby Mock is a chemical engineering major from Gulf Breeze, Florida. She is a graduate of Gulf Breeze High School. Mock has a 3.93 grade-point average and is the recipient of the Drs. John and Sally Steadman IAB Endowed Scholarship, the Federick P. Whiddon Honors College Scholarship, the NASA Space Grant Scholarship, the Coca-Cola STEM Internship Scholarship and the Dr. Williams Crews Askew Memorial Scholarship.

In addition, Mock is involved in synthetic organic chemistry research with Dr. David Forbes, professor of chemistry at South. Mock plans to attend an osteopathic medicine program. She is the daughter of Donny and Michelle Mock.

Kaitlyn Riggins is a communication studies major from Eclectic, Alabama. She is a graduate of Benjamin Russell High School. She has a 4.0 grade-point average and has studied in the Honors College.

She received the USA Frederick P. Whiddon Diversity Recruitment and Enrichment for Admission into Medicine Scholar, the USA Department of Communication Early Achievement Award and the Black Student Union’s “Black Girls Rock” Scholarship. Riggins plans to attend the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine at South. She is the daughter of Priscilla Bickley and James Riggins.

Michael Roque is a biomedical sciences major from Montgomery, Alabama. He is a graduate of LAMP High School. Mock has a 3.92 grade-point average and was selected as a member of the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine Early Acceptance Program and the UAB Summer Health Professions Education Program. He presented at the Alabama Academy of Science, earning second place for his podium presentation. Roque is a member of the Catholic Student Association, USA’s Filipino Cultural Society, Running Club and Alpha Epsilon Delta Health Preprofessional Honor Society.

Roque was a participant in the Partners in Caring Medicine in Kenya Study Abroad Program, and he’s studying at the USA Honors College. He’s a member of the Sally Steadman Azalea Chapter of the Mortar Board Honor Society and is the recipient of the Southerner of the Year Scholarship, FYC Award, and he has been named to the USA Dean’s and President’s Lists. He hopes to attend medical school and become a physician. He is the son of Aina Roque and Elmer Roque.

Cheyenne Strickland is a biomedical sciences major from Vancleave, Mississippi. She is a graduate of Vancleave High School. She has a 4.0 grade-point average. As a Pensacola State Community College graduate, she was recognized with the Student Excellence Award.

She was an outstanding volleyball player, receiving the highest honor for her outstanding grade-point average. She has been recognized for her overall success in character, leadership and academics. She is also conducting research alongside Dr. Mark Taylor, a professor in the Department of Physiology and Cell Biology. She is the daughter of Michael and Karen Strickland.

Ann Elizabeth Thaxton is a biology major from Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She is a graduate of Tuscaloosa County High School.  She has a 4.0 grade-point average, studies in the Honors College and was selected as a member of the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine Early Acceptance Program. Thaxton is a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellow, Undergraduate Research Assistant and a recipient of the 2022 Rubies and Pearls Award, the Dr. James W. Green Scholarship for Pre-Med Students in 2022 and the Howard-McCarley SWAN Grant, and she received a Sigma XI Student Research Grant.

Thaxton is also a member of the Gamma Delta Chapter of Alpha Omicron Pi Fraternity, where she received the Alpha Omicron Pi Chapter Membership Experience Award and was selected as a Collegiate Woman of Leadership. She has also served as a Southerner and member of the Sally Steadman Azalea Chapter of the Mortar Board Honor Society. She plans to pursue a medical degree to become a physician. She is the daughter of Ron and Merideth Lett.

Andrea Vavrinek is a biomedical sciences major from Huntley, Illinois. She is a graduate of Bessemer Academy. She earned a 3.94 grade-point average and is a USA Eating Behaviors and Health Lab Research Assistant at USA. Vavrinek is a USA Leadership Scholar, USA President’s Scholar, a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellow for 2022 and a Phi Mu Foundation Sara C. Merrick Memorial Fund Scholarship Recipient for 2023.

Vavrinek is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honors Society for 2022-24, the Alpha Epsilon Delta Pre-Health Honors Society where she serves as treasurer, the current advisor for the Mega Musical Chairs, a member of Kappa Omega Chapter of Phi Mu Sorority and an Order of Omega Greek Leaders Honor Society member. Vavrinek plans to pursue a medical degree to become a physician. She is the daughter of Pavel Vavrinek and Dobromila Pavlasova.

Breighanna Vigor is a criminal justice major from Citronelle, Alabama. She is a graduate of the Mary G. Montgomery High School. She has earned a 3.0 grade-point average and is the vice president of the National Honor Society. She founded the nonprofit organization Stopping Traffick to raise awareness of human trafficking, helped raise more than $10,000 for survivor scholarships and served more than 400 hours of community service. 

In addition, she is a former Miss Mobile Bay and Miss Coastal Alabama, and she received the Miss Alabama Non-Finalist Talent Award, Change the World Scholarship and Alabama Theatre Talent Scholarship. She was a Community Service Finalist for the Miss Alabama Organization, and she received the Presidential Recognition for Community Service. She is also the Distinguished Young Women of Mobile County second runner-up. She is the daughter of David and Cricket Vigor.

Bailey Welch is a biomedical sciences major from Hueytown, Alabama. She has a 3.92 grade-point average and is on the USA’s President’s and Dean’s List. She is an accomplished member of the USA Softball Team.

Welch is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Campus Outreach and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Bailey has also made the President’s and Dean’s List. She is on the Sun Belt Commissioner’s list and the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American Scholar Athlete Honoree. She is the daughter of Shane and Leah Welch.

Jaylen Williams is a professional health sciences major from Detroit. He is a graduate of Tuscaloosa High School. He has a 3.42 grade-point average and has made the President’s and Dean’s List. Williams is a recipient of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship and is a Campus-to-Career Scholar.

Williams is also a member of USA’s Black Student Union, Collegiate 100, Abeneefoo Kuo Honor Society, NAACP and College Democrats. He is a member of the Theta Delta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. and the National Society of Leadership and Success. He is the son of Charlie and Michelle Williams.

The following inductees in this year’s class will each receive a $500 award:

Disability and Accessibility Champion Award Recipient

Amya Douglas is a digital film and TV production major from Ocean Springs, Mississippi. She is a graduate of St. Martin High School. Douglas earned a 3.9 grade-point average and is a member of the Sally Steadman Azalea Chapter of the Mortar Board Honor Society. She is a Frederick P. Whiddon Scholar and Earl P. Andrews Scholar.

Douglas is president of the USA Campus Ministry and 2023-24 Student Government Association president and has served as a member of the Green Jags, Solidarity Coalition and Reformed University Fellowship. In addition, she has served as a PASSAGE USA mentor and South Strong Ambassador. She is a Black Girls Rock Award Honoree and a recipient of the First Year Council President’s Award. She is the daughter of Eon and Sharon Douglas. 

Excellence in Diversity Award Recipient

Hanh-Nhan Tran is an English major from Pensacola, Florida. She is a graduate of Pensacola High School. She has a 3.97 grade-point average and is serving as a Peer Academic Leader, where she instructs and helps professors in the classroom. She is also a private tutor and works as a translator. She is fluent in Vietnamese and proficient in Spanish.

Tran is a member of the Phi Sigma Iota Foreign Language Honor Society, has made the President’s List and is a member of the Vietnamese Student Association. She is the daughter of MyHuong Thi Nguyen and Tony Phu Tran.

Overcomer Award Recipient

Patricia Socorro is an interdisciplinary studies major from Mobile, Alabama. She is a graduate of Baker High School. She has a 3.6 grade-point average and is the recipient of the Hispanic American of the Gulf Coast Scholarship.

She is a member of the International Foreign Language Society and treasurer of the Pre-Dental Society. She plans on attending dental school to become a bilingual dentist.

Undergraduate Research Award

Grace Coppinger is a biology major from Union, Missouri. She is a graduate of Union High School. Coppinger has a 3.82 grade-point average and is a recipient of the National Science Foundation Research Fellowship and Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, and was a Barry Goldwater National Scholarship Nominee.

Coppinger is a published student scholar and the recipient of the Frederick P. Whiddon Honors Scholarship, USA Honors College Exploration and Experiential Learning Scholarship, Honors Summer Fellowship, Ron Kiene Research Scholarship and Angelia and Steven Stokes Undergraduate Learning Scholarship. She’s also the recipient of the Mike DeGruy Memorial Scholarship and a Neely Memorial Scholarship recipient. Coppinger also conducted undergraduate research. She is a member of the Biology Student Association, Marine Science Student Association, First Year Council Association and she is a Go Explore Math and Science Outreach Instructor.

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