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Thomas University honors outstanding students during Commencement
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During its undergraduate and graduate Commencement ceremonies held on its Forbes Campus on Saturday, May 8, Thomas University recognized students receiving degrees from the class of 2020 and 2021. TU also presented awards to its outstanding graduates from the class of 2021 with its President’s Award and division awards.
During the undergraduate ceremony held in the morning, TU announced the recipient of its President’s Award, which is the highest honor presented to a TU student. This year’s recipient is Austin Roberts from Ponce De Leon, Florida, who graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology.
Thomas University President Dr. Andy Sheppard (right) presents the President’s Award, TU’s most prestigious student honor, to Austin Roberts of Ponce De Leon, Florida, during the Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony held the morning of Saturday, May 8, on TU’s Forbes Campus.
A member of the Night Hawks Baseball Team, Roberts’ academic work placed him on the President’s List every semester of his time at TU.
“He has a passion for science and recently presented his research for Mexico at the 82nd Association of Southeastern Biologists Annual Meeting,” said Dr. Andy Sheppard, TU President, as he announced Roberts’ selection for the award. “He has earned praise from colleagues at Tall Timbers, where he completed his internship and he is an active member of Mu Kappa Delta Chapter of Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society. You should know that I have selected Austin on the basis of the very strong recommendations from his professors who describe him as respectful, smart, intuitive and helpful.”
Other outstanding undergraduate award winners recognized include:
Tiffoney Smith (center) of Thomasville recipient of the Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award for the Division of Business, is joined by family members.
Morgan Smith of Ochlocknee received the Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award for the Division of Health and Sciences.
Sylvia Annette Gautney (right) of Donalsonville, Georgia, recipient of the Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award for the Division of Education is joined by Dr. Susan Lynn, Chair of the Division of Education.
Jordan Roddenberry (second from right) of Tallahassee, a Social Work major and recipient of the Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award for the Division Social and Behavioral Sciences, is joined by (from left) Dr. Pauline Patrick, Chair of the Division; Dr. Debra Gresham, Program Director for Social Work; and Dr. Andy Sheppard, TU President.
Laura Mican (second from left) of Bogota, Colombia, recipient of the Outstanding Undergraduate Student for the Division of Humanities, is joined by Dr. Andy Sheppard (third from left), TU President, and family members.
Outstanding graduate award winners recognized were:
Benjamin McFarlane-Barnes (right) of Hemel Hempstead, United Kingdom, recipient of the Outstanding Graduate Student Award for the Division of Business, is joined by Dr. Melinda Piller, Chair of the Division of Business.
Zachary Bradley of Martinez, Georgia, received the Outstanding Graduate Student Award for the Division of Education.
Donald Lewis (left) of Thomasville, recipient of the Outstanding Graduate Student Award for the Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences, is joined by Dr. Andy Sheppard, TU President, and Dr. Pauline Patrick, Chair of the Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences.
(Not pictured) The Outstanding Graduate Student Award for the Division of Health & Sciences went to Binglei Li of Ningbo, China.
