CHESTER and MIDLOTHIAN, Va. – John Tyler Community College recognized dozens of students for their academic achievements, leadership skills and community service during the College’s annual Awards Banquet and Ceremony, held April 24, 2015, in the Nicholas Center at Tyler’s Chester Campus. The following awards were presented (zip codes follow recipient names):
Who’s Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges
Students named to Who’s Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5; have an outstanding record of participation and leadership in extracurricular and/or community activities; and be nominated by faculty. Recipients are selected by a faculty committee after committee members meet with the nominees.
Courtney Britt (23831)
Michelle Hayes (23831)
Donya Heide (23112)
Elyse Sachiko Kamibayashi (23235)
Kenneth Pritchett (23805)
Alexandria “Alex” Ritchie (23236)
Sherwood Forest Art & Literary Review Winners
John Tyler Community College publishes the Sherwood Forest Art & Literary Review each year in conjunction with its annual student literary and art contest. The publication has highlighted the creativity and talent of John Tyler students since 1968. Students submit entries in the categories of fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry and art. Judges review and select first, second and third place winners in each category. Honorable mention awards may be given if the judges choose to recognize additional entries. The winning entries are published in the Review. An electronic copy of the publication may be downloaded at http://www.jtcc.edu/sherwoodforest.
Fiction
1st Place – Tracy Hineman (23227)
2nd Place – Anna-Maria Thomann (23831)
3rd Place – Alyssa Johnson (23238)
Honorable Mention – Brandon Johnson (23832)
Nonfiction
1st Place – Dylan Lewis (23139)
2nd Place – Lydia Thompson (23842)
Poetry
1st Place – Zoe Davis (23112)
2nd Place – Dylan Lewis (23139)
3rd Place – Kacey Ingram (23112)
3rd Place – James Moore (23838)
Art
1st Place – Frances Rauscher (23112)
2nd Place – Benjamin Pullen (23112)
3rd Place – Noel Wykle (23112)
Tau Rho and Beta Omicron Omicron Academic Awards
The Tau Rho and Beta Omicron Omicron Chapters of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society recognized the top graduates in each of John Tyler Community College’s associate degree programs. Each of these students has a cumulative grade point average of 4.0 in their programs.
Associate of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts
Courtney Nicole Granderson (23860)
Elyse Sachiko Kamibayashi (23235)
Associate of Science Degree in Business Administration
Sean Beverly (23237)
Jeffrey Arthur Coiner (23236)
Amanda L. Grizzle (23805)
Daniel Matheson (23112)
Associate of Science Degree in Engineering
Adam Michael Leipold (23225)
Associate of Science Degree in General Studies
Jason Theodore Bachert (23235)
Katie Lyn Jones (23831)
Kendall Lloyd (23139)
Michael William Proffitt (23226)
Joyce M.Z. Rodgers (23235)
Donya Heide (23112)
Christina Grace Struzzieri (23112)
Sophia Vilar (23235)
Associate of Science Degree in Information Systems
Danielle Nicole Carawan (23112)
Associate of Applied Science Degree in Accounting
Kenneth Peloquin (23114)
Associate of Applied Science Degree in Architectural Engineering Technology
Harry Edward Macey III (23236)
Associate of Applied Science Degree in Business Management
Bradley Christopher Kennedy (23831)
Associate of Applied Science Degree in Criminal Justice
Kevin Ray Wolfe (23139)
Associate of Applied Science Degree in Early Childhood Development
Nicole Lee Baker (23231)
Associate of Applied Science Degree in Funeral Services
Leslie Dannese Russell (22406)
Kathleen Duckworth Feiring (23236)
Associate of Applied Science Degree in Human Services
Gwendolyn Wynne Jordan (23803)
Associate of Applied Science Degree in Information Technology
Marie-Anne Roswitha Martino (23112)
Associate of Applied Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology
Arturo Lopez (23842)
Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing
Jennifer McKay Healy (23112)
Associate of Applied Science Degree in Technical Studies
Aaron Adams Brown (24503)
NASA Scholar Awards
The Virginia Space Grant Consortium offers a variety of scholarships and educational experiences to community college students who are pursuing degrees in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Three John Tyler Community College Engineering students were recognized by this NASA-affiliated consortium.
Juliana Hybner (23831) was selected to receive a STEM Takes Flight in the Community College Scholarship in the amount of $5,000. She was one of 15 students selected out of over 200 applicants.
Hunter Morris (23112) received a Community College STEM Scholarship in the amount of $2,000 for the 2015–2016 academic year.
David Seaton (23838) was selected to attend 3-day workshop to Stennis Space Center in Mississippi this May.
John Tyler Community College Foundation Awards
The newly named Trailblazer Award was created to recognize a student for outstanding academic performance and volunteer service to the College. This year’s Trailblazer Award was given to Suzanna Goode (23116). Goode is a senior in high school and is a concurrent student at John Tyler Community College. In May, she will graduate from high school with a 3.97 grade point average, and she will finish this semester at Tyler with a 4.0 and will have completed 33 credit hours this academic year. She has participated in Tyler activities and is very active with her church.
The Rising Star Award recognizes a student who faculty and staff believe will be a positive ambassador for the college and who also will be distinguished in his or her chosen career. This year, the Rising Star Award was given to Elyse Sachiko Kamibayashi (23235). Kamibayashi is a member of the Phi Kappa Theta honor society and has a 4.0 grade point average. She will be continuing her education at the College of William & Mary this fall.
Theresa Windham Service Award
This award was first presented in 1996 in honor of Theresa Hands Windham who succumbed to a sudden illness in 1993 at the age of 37 while serving as the College’s coordinator of grants and development. During her short tenure at the College, Ms. Windham’s kindness and selflessness touched the lives of countless students, faculty, and staff. Always smiling, always striving to help others, she was loved by all who had the good fortune to make her acquaintance. This award recognizes students who personify Ms. Windham’s dedication to service without regard for personal gain or adulation. This year’s recipient was Amber Staton (23803). Staton is in the Human Services program, is president of the Human Services Club, and is a member of Rotaract.
The Marshall Denison Society, named for the College’s second president, was established to recognize individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the student activities program at John Tyler. Dr. Alyce Miller, associate professor of history, was this year’s inductee. Miller was recognized for her work with the College’s students and with the community. Miller is actively involved in a statewide initiative to save Virginia’s Rosenwald Schools, an effort in which she’s encouraged Tyler’s students to be involved. She is also the advisor to the College’s History Club.
The Daniel Dalton Award, named in honor of a John Tyler Community College founding faculty member, is presented annually to an outstanding club or student organization that exhibits excellence in the areas of service to the College, commitment to community service, and dedication to academics. This year’s award was presented to the Chemistry Club. Accepting the award was the club’s co-presidents Lilianna Perales and Silvia Garcia, and the club’s advisor, Dr. Kristine Smetana, professor of chemistry.
Rotary International named Alexandria “Alex” Ritchie (23236) a Paul Harris Fellow in recognition of her community service. This recognition is named for Paul Harris, who founded Rotary with three business associates in Chicago in 1905. The Paul Harris Fellow was established in 1957 in his honor to express The Rotary Foundation's appreciation for a substantial contribution to its humanitarian and educational programs.
Photographs taken during the awards ceremony may be downloaded from the College’s Flickr page at https://www.flickr.com/photos/johntylercc/sets/72157649895329353/.
John Tyler Community College is the fifth largest of the 23 community colleges in Virginia. With campuses in Chester and Midlothian and off-campus classrooms throughout the area, John Tyler offers quality and economical opportunities for students who want to earn a degree or certificate, transfer to a four-year college or university, train for the workforce, or switch careers. The College, which served nearly 14,000 students during the 2013-14 academic year, offers 18 associate degrees, seven certificates, and 36 career studies certificates. The institution also serves more than 13,000 non-credit trainees and over 1,000 companies and government agencies annually through the Community College Workforce Alliance.
