More than 250 Grayson County College students were recognized for their collegiate achievements during the college's annual "Evening of Excellence" program. The event was held in Cruce Stark Auditorium on April 8.
GCC Vice President for Student Services Wendell Williams welcomed the audience and introduced GCC Dean of Academic Instruction Dr. Ann Kirch and Dean of Workforce Education Steve Davis as emcees of the event.
Arts and Sciences Division recognized achievements in the Fine Arts, Science and Mathematics departments. Steve Black, chair of Fine Arts, presented Studio Arts awards to David Ablett of Van Alstyne and Maria Silen; Outstanding Achievement in Design and Art History Carrie Chambers of Sherman; and Distinguished Acknowledgement for Excellence in all aspects of the Visual Arts to Debra Sexton of Sherman.
Speech awards were presented to top student Ashleigh McNamara, Sherman, outstanding students Sean Douglas of Sherman and Tracy Perry of Denison, and academic perseverance to Rhonda Addington, Blue Ridge, Cynthia Hall, Bells, and Tatiana Morton of Denison. Robin Robinson of the Theater department presented the acting award to Danilo Garcia, San Angelo, and Reginal Talley, Houston. The technical theater award was presented to Andres Cruz of Crossroads, Tx.
Laurie Williams, chair of the Science department, and presented honors for anatomy and physiology to Deanna Bertholf, Tom Bean, Kelly Johnson, Frisco, and Mandy Spaugh, Denison; general biology- Benjamin Elberson, Frisco, Robert Miller, Sherman, and Angel Price, Bells; microbiology-Mandy Leonard, Bonham; general chemistry - Stephen St. Clair, Ravenna; organic chemistry- Gyanu Kushawah, Sherman, and Chester Wilson, Denison; outstanding physics student was Mahmoud Fall of Sherman. GCC Mathematics department chair Sherre Mercer presented the top mathematics awards to Monteiro Pemba, Sherman, and Kelly Robinson, Pilot Point.
Literature and Language awards were presented by department chair Mary Yetta McKelva. Outstanding English freshman was Kristin Colclasure, Savoy and sophomore Blanca Serrano, Sherman. Outstanding Spanish first year student was Benjamin Brooks, Honey Grove, and Intermediate student Jeffrey Vessell of Sherman.
Psychology professor Dr. Paul Bowers named Matthew Loomis of Gunter and Vivian Garrett of Sherman as the outstanding psychology students. Dr. Kim Teel, education program coordinator, recognized top elementary education student Katie Williams of Denison and top secondary education student Matthew Malone of Pottsboro.
Mark Taylor, director of Developmental Studies Division and assistant to the Dean of Academic Studies, named Maggie Schepok of Gordonville as the Tutor of the Year, and recognized Michael Gray of Denison as the Writing with Style student.
Student achievements within the Workforce Education Division of the college were recognized for their work. Business and Technology Department Chair Dr. Wade Graves named Aaron Shelton of Sherman as the outstanding student in computer maintenance and technology, Cynthia Hall of Bells as the outstanding student in the office and computer technology associate degree program and Kendall Hendricks, Denison, as the outstanding medical administrative assistant student. Professor Susie Viars named Jennifer Kehler of Van Alstyne as the outstanding student in microcomputer applications.
The top awards for the accounting program were Denison students Lori Rice, for associate of applied science, and Sam Borg for the certificate accounting program. Graves also named the outstanding student in business administration-Ashley McAnally, Jacksonville, Tx; business and management-Vikki Chumbley, Pottsboro; computer science-Matt Stroud, Bonham; and computer maintenance and networking technology-Catherine Dell, Sherman.
Auto Collision Repair program coordinator Terry Loughry named the top students in that program as Monty Bell, Whitewright, Chastin Farrington, Denison, and Robert Hogan, Sherman. Charlotte McLain, Cosmetology program coordinator, awarded Tracie Emiliano, Plano, and Susan Sarris, Sherman, for their excellence in skin care techniques. Top Criminal Justice student David Morris of Dallas and Forensic Science Student of the Year Amanda Haney of Whitewright were also recognized.
The outstanding student in computer aided drafting and design technology was Jeremy Lyons of Pottsboro. Welding professors Greg Beckley and Alan McAdams named Gary Waugh of Bonham as the top combination welder certificate student and Adrian Anderle of Valley View, Tx, as the top associate of applied science student.
Health Science program awards were presented in Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counseling by program coordinator Barbara Roland to Denison students Thomas Carroll, academic excellence and professionalism, and Mark Duval for outstanding student. Vocational nursing director Kathy Bredberg recognized the outstanding efforts of Cheri Holmes, Farmersville; Jeremy Parker, Sherman; Rachael Ricker, Ector, and Jerina Smith, Dallas.
Associate Nursing Director Jean Flick presented academic achievement awards to Sandra Carroll of Sherman and Julie St. Amour of Denison. Clinical achievement awards were given to Yvonne Capers of Dallas and Amy Harrison of Allen. Professor Salena Sanders named David Bowles of Plano as the outstanding radiologic technology student. Emergency Medical Services professor Brandon Poteet presented the outstanding paramedic student award to Jake Reynolds of Whitewright.
Excellence in athletics awards were named by the Viking coaching staff. Awards were presented in baseball to Scott Lawson of Grapevine; softball to Sarah Lankford of Mesquite and Katie Lenderman of Plano; men's basketball to Tyson Koehler of Draper, Utah; and women's basketball honors went to Caribbean Luellen of Denison.
Honors College sponsor Dr. Jean Sorensen recognized Cassandra Campbell, Kevin Clement, Pottsboro; Kathleen Cox, Ginger Hughes, Whitesboro; Benjamin Elberson, Frisco; Wendy Fallon, Tom Bean; Krystal Frazier, Denison; Sharonna Garrison, Trenton; Andrea Gorman, Mary Katherine Kumler, Bricia Mayombo, Jesus Sosa, Fatim Soumah, Rachel Symons, Sherman; Christiana Horn, Gunter; and Maggie Schepok, Gordonville, for their participation in the honors program.
Phi That Kappa honor fraternity members were also recognized. Professor and PTK sponsor Ron Velten acknowledged the work of Tonie Butler, Sherman; John Epperson, Denison; Christiana Horn, Gunter; Ginger Hughes, Whitesboro; Maggie Schepok and Phillip Schepok, Gordonville; and Ashley Wiles, Van Alstyne.
GCC Director of Student Life Gregg Miles announced Student Government Association Leadership Team awards for Ginger Hughes of Whitesboro, Andrea Gorman of Sherman and Christiana Horn of Gunter. Miles presented Eleanor Cox of Sherman, Kenneth Horn of Gunter and Charlie McAnally of Denison with the Volunteer of the Year awards.
Recipients of the President's List Honor Roll for Fall 2007 were recognized for their 4.0 grade point average. Students must be enrolled in at least 12 hours during the semester, and developmental courses, incomplete courses, credit awards and courses with "W" (withdrawn) grades are not counted in the full-time determination of the honor. The following students were named to the President's Honor Roll:
Austin: Patrick Adiaheno, Hans Anguillet; Bells: Matthew Alderson, Michelle Flores, Angel Price; Bonham: Jennifer Caringer, Kathleen Hitt, Mandy Leonard, Retha Walker; Collinsville: Haley Cox; Denison: Tammy Adame, Jessica Atterberry, George Blankenship, Stephanie Blankenship, Jack Bogard, Paula Bryant, Michele Cowan, Mark Duvall, Seynabou Fall, Kara Gay, John Gibson, Paul Graxiola, Melissa Hardin, Dee Harris, Suzanne Hawkins, Kendall Hendricks, Thomas Hermanson, Candice Herrin, Johnathan Johnston, Priti KC, Whitney Pedigo, Alyssa Ridenour, Cindy Sanchez, Melissa Sims, Katie Williams; Durant: Collin Gordon; Frisco: Benjamin Elberson; Gainesville: Janet Nelson; Garland: Joseph Castleman; and Gordonville: Shannon Norvell.
Also, from Leonard: Megan McCord; Honey Grove: Rebeka Beavers; Howe: Katie Jo Murdock; Pottsboro: Deanna Barnes, Annette Corbett, Brain Davis, Vicky Henderson, Jeremy Lyons, Nicholas Perkins, Janene Sutherland; Sadler: Jennifer Richards; Savoy: Chanda Cheney; Sherman: Lindsay Black, Karmen Burton, Sarah Crawford, Catherine Dell, Brian Hambrick, Bradley House, Mary Katherine Kumler, Chelsea Maloy, Sarah Miles, Cyprien Mouanda, Brenna O'Nolan, Betty Parker, Cindy Sanchez, Debra Sexton, Isabelle Siewe, Sun Young Woo, Seoyoung Yook; Tom Bean: Wendy Fallon, Shanne Miller; Van Alstyne: Krystal Lepain, Brandon Perkins, Abby Skaggs; Whitesboro: Ashley Perez, Sarah Wells; Wichita Falls: Felicity McClure; Windom: Jessica Holmes; and Wolfe City: Catherine George, Jacy Robinson.
