Lander University Honors College Recognizes Student Achievements  

Lander University gathered to honor the achievements of its students during the Honors College Academic Awards Ceremony on April 7. Students who were recognized received either the Honors Medal or the Honors Pin.

“This generation of students had to face the limits caused by COVID-19, but they met that setback with creativity and determination,” said Dr. Lillian Craton, director of the Honors College. “Our students took a leap into the unkown and proved to themselves, and to us, that they can rise to any challenge.”

The Honors Medal is the College’s most elite award. Students must maintain high grades through an array of honors courses, and must complete a major challenge beyond Lander’s campus. This is referred to as a “breakaway,” and might be studying abroad, original research, a high-level internship or a major contribution to an important cause.

Honors Medal recipients:

Akilah Abdullah, of Greenville; Amber Ballenger, of Abbeville; Ashley Beatriz, of Westminister; Skylar Brown, of Williston; Madison Corley, of Lexington; Chelsea Marelda Davis, of Lexington; Morgan Ferqueron, of Hodges; Macy Gault of Gaffney; Imon Govan, of Orangeburg; Sara Gray, of Newberry; Kimberly Hall, of Orangeburg; Kailey Haynes, of Murrells Inlet; Sarah Heming, of Camden; Carrie Irick, of Florence; David Jeffrey, of Irmo; Catherine “Catie” McKee, of Mauldin; Lydia O’Neal, of Greenwood; Grayson Peoples, of Clinton; Meghan Philcox, of Greenwood; Madison Ranalli, of Walhalla; Emma Richardson, of Ridgeland; Daniel Sanchez, of Greenwood; Joel Seymour, of Bishopville; Jacob Sims, of Landrum; Jadyn Sopha, of Irmo; Madison Stansell, of Piedmont; Alexandra “Lexi” Sterling, of Batesburg; Sara Summerfield, of Florence; Tierra Thompson, of York; Kendall Wakester, of Gray Court; Courtney Weber, of Taylors; Johnelle Weekley, of Irmo; Abigail Willis, of Gilbert; Jennifer Wilson, of Anderson; and Angelina Vita, of Somers, Connecticut.

Honors Pins are awarded to students who have earned recognition through maintaining high grades throughout their rigorous coursework, taking classes that challenge them to explore the world beyond their major and are active members of the campus community.

Honors Pins recipients:

Savannah Bates, of Irmo; Anna Connelly, of Saluda; Isaac Cook, of Liberty; Allison Devore, of Saluda; Niah Elder, of Georgetown; Aaron Herrick, of Summerville; Victoria Rose Jackson Andrews-Wimmer, of Columbia; Michael Kline, of Powdersville; Oliver J. Townsend, of Port Royal; and Rebekah Smith, of Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina.

The Lander University Honors College is a community of bright, ambitious students working closely with faculty mentors to take on challenges both inside and outside of the classroom. To learn more, visit www.lander.edu.