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 22, 2016, in the Nicholas Center at Tyler’s Chester Campus. During the ceremony, hosted by student leader Allison Jasmin (23234), 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.
Shelby Albertson (23831)
Peter Crockett (23237)
Brenda Hayes (23112)
Brandon Johnson (23832)
Belsi Avalos Jordan (23224)
Stevie Murray (23234)
Noah Rothier (23113)
Tara Stevens (23225)
Christine West (23113)
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 – Brandon Johnson (23832)
2nd Place – Marshall Jarrell (23834)
3rd Place – Melissa Calkins (23114)
Creative Nonfiction
1st Place – Myranda Waits (23832)
2nd Place – Laurel Reese (23236)
3rd Place – Crystal Jensen (23832)
Poetry
1st Place – Elaine Moore (23836)
2nd Place – Grace Nelson (23803)
3rd Place – Dana Aderholdt (23294)
Honorable Mention – Enoch Heath (23112)
Honorable Mention – Naomi Carpenter (23113)
Art
1st Place – Anna-Maria Thomann (23831)
2nd Place – Jack Goolsby (23114)
3rd Place – Terry Lynn Smith (23834)
Honorable Mention – Christina Hanft (23832)
Honorable Mention – Juliana Hybner (23831)
Honorable Mention – Robert Wynne (23236)
Tau Rho and Beta Omicron Omicron Phi Theta Kappa Academic Awards
The Tau Rho and Beta Omicron Omicron Chapters of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society honored the top graduates in each of Tyler’s transfer degree programs. Each of these students has a cumulative 4.0 GPA.
Tau Rho Chapter Awards
Business Administration
Jasmin Allison (23234)
General Studies, Science Specialization
Joseph Guy (23831)
Juana Gutierrez (34202)
Liberal Arts
Samantha Daniel (23842)
Beta Omicron Omicron Chapter Awards
Business Administration
Andrea Gooch (23112)
Daphne Jansen (23930)
Mark Peters (23113)
Engineering
Zijia Zeng (23224)
General Studies
Enoch Heath (23112)
Brandon Johnson (23832)
Jamie Ropelewski (23236)
General Studies, Science Specialization
Hoa Pham (23832)
Ngoc Pham (23832)
Liberal Arts
Rose Loughran (23235)
Liberal Arts, Music Specialization
Megan Luck (23832)
Trailblazer Award
The Trailblazer Award is one of the highest honors bestowed upon a student at John Tyler. The award, established in 2006 by the John Tyler Community College Foundation, recognizes a student for outstanding academic performance and volunteer service while at John Tyler and who faculty and staff believe will achieve great success. This year’s Trailblazer Award was given to Stevie Murray (23234) for her academic excellence; her leadership; the guidance she provides to her fellow students, her children and others; and her involvement at Tyler and in the community. Murray is currently president of the Tau Rho Chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and is a student ambassador.
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 Carolynn Zinsmaster (23139) who is regarded as one of the most dedicated and hard-working presidents that the College’s Theatre Club has ever had. Throughout this past year, she has enthusiastically assisted her fellow students and faculty and has been an outstanding representative of the institution. In addition to the Theatre Club, Zinmaster is a student ambassador and vice president of the Student Council.
Marshall Denison Society
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. Amanda Carpenter-Horning, first-year retention coordinator, was this year’s inductee. Carpenter-Horning, who began her tenure with John Tyler in 2006, has made significant and lasting contributions to student activities and to the College’s student clubs and organizations. Under Carpenter-Horning’s leadership, the number of clubs and organizations at the College grew to over 30, and Tyler started a new student ambassador program. She has chaperoned annual student leadership conferences and planned countless student events for the College. And, although she’s transitioned to a new role at Tyler, Carpenter-Horning continues to actively support student activities at the College.
Daniel Dalton Award
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 Human Services Club. Accepting the award was the club’s president Darlene Winn (23834) and the club’s advisor, Dr. Christine Diggs, professor of human services.
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 affordable, quality programs 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 13,800 students during the 2014-15 academic year, offers 20 associate degrees, six certificates, and 38 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.