USA Honors Outstanding Students as 2015 Academic All Stars

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Posted on May 7, 2015

Joy Washington

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The University of South Alabama recently recognized 21 outstanding students as 2015 Academic All Stars and recipients of national scholarships and fellowships. Faculty mentors who have supported students were also recognized.

The students were honored with an awards reception held in the Student Center Terrace. The event was hosted by President Dr. Tony G. Waldrop, and the program was planned by Dr. Marsha Hamilton and Dr. Sally Steadman, scholarship coordinators for the USA Honors Program. Dr. Michael Doran, director of the USA Honors Program, and Goldwater Scholarship Committee Chair Dr. Michael Spector were recognized for their dedication to student success.

Waldrop welcomed the students and their families and shared how proud he was to honor each of them. He said the research and fellowship opportunities allow students to learn and have academic experiences outside of the USA classroom, which affords them a compelling learning experience.

“These are highly competitive awards, and we honor our students for being recognized with these national achievements, which will be a life-long benefit,” Waldrop said. “We recognize our students by saying thank you for displaying hard work and determination. We are also grateful to the many faculty members who serve as mentors to the students.”

The Academic All Stars Awards reception was created three years ago to recognize outstanding students for receiving national recognition for their dedicated work through research and fellowship opportunities.

“We started this event to honor and recognize our outstanding students for their academic achievements at USA, just as we have done for our athletes for many years,” said Dr. David Johnson, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs.“It’s important that we applaud our students for displaying this level of excellence. Research benefits our students educationally, professionally, and personally.”

 

USA 2015 Academic All Stars

Goldwater Scholars

• Catherine Zivanov, of Semmes, is a chemistry major and a Goldwater Scholar for 2014-2016. Her mentors are Dr. David Forbes and Dr. Rich Honkanen.
• Robert Mines, of Pensacola, Fla., is a chemical and biomolecular engineering major and a Goldwater Scholar for 2015-2017. He received an Honorable Mention in 2014. His mentors are Dr. Larry Yet and Dr. Christy Wheeler West.
• Mikayla Wheeler, of Ocean Springs, Miss., received an Honorable Mention in 2015. Her mentors are Dr. Silas Leavesley, Dr. Tom Rich and Dr. Christy Wheeler West.

Hollings Scholars

• Nick Grondin, of Newington, Conn., is a meteorology major who will  receive a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration internship. He is a Hollings Scholar for 2014-2016.
• Bethany Cobb, of Mobile, is a geology major who will receive a National Oceanic and Atmospheric internship. She is a Hollings Scholar for 2015-2017.

Department of Defense SMART Scholarship

• Brandi Stewart, of Mobile, is a geography major. She will receive an internship and a permanent position.

Research Experiences for Undergraduates

• Hannah Becton, of Mobile, is a computer engineering major. She conducted research at the University of California at Santa Cruz.
• Kadeem Fuller, of Opelika, Ala., is a political science major. He participated in research at Pennsylvania State University.
• Jan Hellmich, of Germany, is a mechanical engineering major. He conducted research at Oakland University.
• Robert Mines, of Pensacola, Fla., is a chemical and biomolecular engineering major. He did research at the University of Kentucky.
• George Moore, of Lucedale, Miss., is a mechanical engineering major. He conducted research at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
• Ric Poirson, of Ocean Springs, Miss., is a computer science major. He participated in research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and received the Honorable Mention from the National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship.

Tau Beta Pi Scholarship Recipients

• Nikunj Patel, of Pascagoula, Miss., is a mechanical engineering major.
• Minh Lu, of Mobile, is a mechanical engineering major.
• Johanna Schleinitz, of Germany, is a computer engineering major.
• Bryan Ricksecker, of Pace, Fla., is a chemical and biomolecular engineering major.
• Brandon Rittelmeyer, of Mobile, is a mechanical engineering major.

American Institute of Chemical Engineers Scholarship

• Bryan Ricksecker, of Pace, Fla., is a chemical and biomolecular engineering major. He also was selected to attend the National Science Foundation-sponsored Transforming Undergraduate Education in Engineering Conference.

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Power and Energy Society

• Greg Lewis, of Mobile, is an electrical engineering major.

Phi Sigma Iota

• Nicholas Knaebel, of Theodore, is an English/foreign languages and literatures major.

American Association of Teachers of French

• George Colbourne of Hueytown, Ala., is an international studies major.

2015 Study Aboard Scholarships

• Charles Barrow, of Mobile, is a foreign languages and literatures major.
• Matthew Daugherty, of Mobile, is a mechanical engineering major.

Graduate Fellowships

• Ningyong Xu, of Shanghai, China, has received an American Heart Association Pre-doctoral Fellowship. She is conducting research at USA’s Center for Lung Biology.
• Kari Servold, of Prattville, Ala., has received a David P. Simpson Coastal Engineering Fellowship. She is involved in research at USA in civil engineering.

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