Honors Day Winners
Gadsden State Community College held its 52nd annual Honors Day events at the Ayers Campus Learning Resource Center in Anniston and at the Wallace Hall Fine Arts Center in Gadsden. The programs spanned two days of recognizing student achievements and scholarship presentations. Over 160 students were honored and more than $1.4 million was awarded in scholarships.
Traditionally one of the highest honors presented each spring is the Allen-Ray Award. The award, which has been presented at every Honors Day program over the past 52 years, is presented in honor of the late Sen. James B. Allen and the late Jack Ray, former CEO of the Exchange Bank of Alabama. Both men were active supporters of Gadsden State. Rachel Houghton was named the 2018 recipient of the Allen-Ray Award. She was presented the award by Catherine Martin, granddaughter of Jack Ray and marketing director at Exchange Bank.
Houghton of Attalla received her associate degree in general studies at the May 10, 2018, commencement ceremonies. She worked as a tutor at the Cardinal Tutoring Center, and she tutored for Student Support Services. She was a member of TRiO for Success and the Gadsden State Facility Planning and Evaluation Committee. Houghton has the distinct honor of being one of seven community college students statewide to be named a silver scholar on the Coca-Cola Academic Team. She was also one of two Gadsden State students to be named to the Phi Theta Kappa All-Alabama Academic Team. In addition to the President’s Cup, Houghton received the Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship to the University of Alabama at Birmingham at Honors Day.
The President’s Cup, a designated award for students who demonstrate exceptional success in all phases of college life, is presented each year to students in both the academic and technical divisions. It is given by Dr. Martha Lavender, president of Gadsden State.
Anniston Honors
The Academic Division recipient for the Anniston campuses was Gabriel R. Weatherspoon III of Jacksonville. He enrolled at Gadsden State after spending over a decade as a non-commissioned officer in the U.S. Army. He served multiple combat deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan. At Gadsden State, Weatherspoon participated in many Veterans Upward Bound events, and he tutored and assisted other veterans in his spare time. A general studies student, he graduated with a 3.7 GPA. He is now a student at Jacksonville State University.
The Ayers Campus Technical Division recipient of the President’s Cup was Sharon Zachery of Anniston. Zachery enrolled at Gadsden State after working 33 years as an office manager. As a Gadsden State student, she maintained a 3.956 GPA and earned a degree in Electronic Engineering Technology. She was a member of the Student Success Club, Phi Theta Kappa and the National Technical Honor Society. Also at Honors Day, she was named Outstanding Student in Electronic Engineering Technology. After graduating from Gadsden State, Zachery enrolled at UAB to continue her studies in engineering.
Three Anniston area students were presented awards for outstanding achievement. The Outstanding Achievement Awards recognize students who have succeeded in pursuit of higher education in spite of varying traumas, adversities, personal losses and difficulties.
In the fall of 2018, she received her associate degree in Paralegal Studies. The Outstanding Achievement Awards given at the Ayers Campus event went to Crystal Casey of Anniston, Ariell Cotney of Heflin and Jonathan Clint Starling of Wellington. The awards were presented by Audrey Webb, Electronics Engineering instructor.
Casey has persevered through many life challenges, including an abusive childhood, a string of dead-end jobs and multiple miscarriages. Her son, Fisher, was born in 2008 with Down syndrome and holes in his heart that required surgery. He inspired her to write a series of stories about “Huggie Dougie.” In 2012, she earned her GED at the Cheaha Career Center and enrolled at Gadsden State. In 2016, she earned a degree in general studies. In the fall of 2018, she received her associate degree in Paralegal Studies. Casey is an honors student who served as a tutor in the Cardinal Tutoring Center and for the Veterans Upward Bound program. She is a 2018 recipient of the Everyday Hero Award from the Gadsden State Cardinal Foundation.
Cotney became a parent and a high school drop-out at 16 years old. She also had to overcome other difficulties, including an abusive relationship, cervical cancer and a snake bite that resulted in nerve damage. Things started to improve after she earned her GED at Gadsden State’s Cheaha Career Center. She received a scholarship to Gadsden State and decided to take online classes to earn an associate degree in general studies. Online classes proved to be the best option for the mother of four, and she graduated in the fall 2018. Cotney, who maintained a 3.8 GPA, was a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.
Starling has had many trials and tribulations, including long commutes to find work, a child with a life-threatening illness that requires many hospitalizations and a wife who suffered massive head trauma from a fall. Still, his commitment to education never wavered. He earned a degree in Electrical Technology/Industrial Automation and works as an industrial electrician. At the Honors Day event, Starling, who had a 3.6 GPA upon graduation, was also named the Outstanding Student in Industrial Automation Technology.
Other winners recognized at the Honors Day for students at the Ayers and McClellan campuses include:
Gadsden Honors
The Academic Division recipient of the President’s Cup for the Etowah County campuses and Gadsden State Cherokee was Joel Wester of Centre. Wester was the captain of the Gadsden State Cardinal Tennis Team. He was also a member of Phi Theta Kappa and served as a tutor and student coach for Student Support Services. He earned his Associate in Science degree at Gadsden State’s May 2018 graduation. Wester, who had a 4.0 GPA, is one of three Gadsden State students to earn a $20,000 Presidential Scholarship to the University of Alabama. He transferred to UA to study Finance in the fall.
The Technical Division recipient of the President’s Cup was Jared Rhae Blackwell of Collinsville. He is a member of Phi Theta Kappa and the National Technical Honor Society. He is a participant in Skills USA and served as a math tutor to fellow students and local high school students. In addition to the President’s Cup, Blackwell received a Presidential Transfer Scholarship from Jacksonville State University. He has maintained a 3.9 GPA and received his associate degree in Automation Technology in May 2018.
The Outstanding Achievement Awards given at the Wallace Drive Campus event went to Diana Celeste Etain of Gadsden, Michael Neal Bailey of Attalla and Haleigh Louise Roberson of Rainbow City. The awards were presented by Christine Foster-Cates, academic advisor for Student Support Services.
Overcoming a troubled childhood, Etain proved to be a successful Gadsden State student. She graduated with honors in the summer of 2018 with an Associate in Science degree. She was on the President’s List and was a five-star member of Phi Theta Kappa. She participated in the Honors Scholar Program and was a work study student in the Advising Center. Etain was awarded the $20,000 Presidential Scholarship to the University of Alabama. She studies English and hopes to one day be a college English instructor.
Bailey has never let his physical limitations deter him from achieving his goals. He came to Gadsden State on a manager’s scholarship for the women’s basketball team. He was a member of the National Technical Honor Society and a lab assistant in the Electrical Department and Automation Lab. Most recently, he has had to take on more responsibility at home as his father battles lymphoma, requiring multiple trips to Houston for treatment. Still, he maintained a 3.45 GPA, and he graduated with a degree in Electrical Technology.
Roberson maintained a 4.0 GPA despite her struggles with dyslexia. As a Gadsden State student, she earned two scholarships and was on the President’s List every semester. She was a tutor in the Cardinal Tutoring Center and was a member of Phi Theta Kappa. She graduated in the fall of 2018 with an Associate in Science degree. Roberson continues her education at JSU, where she has been awarded the Presidential Transfer Scholarship. She is majoring in Elementary Education.
Other award and scholarship winners recognized at Honors Day include:
