PSC honors outstanding students at 2025 Student Excellence Awards Ceremony

Pensacola State College honored its finest during the 2025 Student Excellence Awards ceremony held April 17 in the Jean and Paul Amos Performance Studio. The annual event recognizes more than 100 exceptional students for their academic success, leadership and commitment to service.

Michael Listau, Dean of Workforce Education, served as Master of Ceremonies, welcoming honorees and guests to an evening themed “A Tradition of Excellence.” In his opening remarks, PSC President Ed Meadows reflected on the College’s proud legacy of student achievement, noting that this year’s ceremony continued decades of celebrating dedication, hard work and leadership.

Newly appointed PSC Board of Trustees member and Escambia County Chief Deputy Andrew Hobbs also addressed the crowd, commending the honorees for their resilience and drive.

“Thank you for being future leaders, for doing what’s hard,” said Hobbs. “It’s easy to stay at home, to get by. But you chose the harder path. You chose to push yourself every day, to strive for more – but you’ve done it and keep doing it, making you exceptional.”

Hobbs underscored the close-knit nature of the PSC community, adding, “Your success is our success, and our success is yours. We are a family at Pensacola State.”

Following the remarks, College leaders presented awards to the student honorees, celebrating their extraordinary contributions on campus and beyond.

The Student Excellence Awards remain one of the College’s most meaningful traditions, showcasing the extraordinary students who embody PSC’s mission and values both in the classroom and throughout the community.

 

ALL FLORIDA ACADEMIC TEAM – presented by Dr. Dusti Sluder, Dean of Health Science

All-Florida Academic Team recipients are recognized by the Florida College System for their academic achievement, leadership, and service to their community.

• Milton Campus: James Barnes and Carolyn Bragg
• Pensacola Campus: Alyssa Chambliss Gamble, Jessica Landrum, and Danielle Leatherwood
• Warrington Campus: Ty’kerria Beasley, Lori Lombardo and Michelle Rosario

 

DEPARTMENT SCHOLARS – presented by Dr. Brenda Kelly, Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs

Department Scholar recipients are nominated and selected by their department instructors in recognition of their scholastic achievement, outstanding commitment to the program, or extraordinary commitment to their peers or the class setting.

• Katelyn Post – Visual Arts
• Fiona Rodriguez – English and Communications
• Lori Rudd – Business

 

LEADERSHIP AWARDS – presented by Dr. Brian Ward, Assistant Professor of Business

Leadership Awards are based upon participation in campus activities and service clubs. The recipients are nominated by instructors and administration who have witnessed exemplary leadership capabilities in the students. The students are selected by committee members on the Student Excellence Awards committee.

• Heaven Lee
• Steven Ortiz

 

PROGRAM SCHOLARS – presented by Dr. Brenda Kelly, Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs

Program Scholar recipients are nominated and selected by their program instructors and department in recognition of their scholastic achievement, outstanding commitment to the program, or extraordinary commitment to their peers or the class setting.

• Ashley Alvaro – Pre-Medical, AA
• Triniti Ard – Radiography, AS
• Chloe Ayres – Early Childhood Education (Advising Track), AA
• Jelani (JB) Berry – Massage Therapy, Career Certificate
• Amber Bruce – Cosmetology, Career Certificate
• Justin Cobb – Culinary and Hospitality, AS
• Mary Ellis – Elementary Education (Advising Track), AA
• Kerstin Floda – Sonography, AS
• Asia Greer – Pre-Pharmacy, AA
• Niquella Griffin – Pre-Nursing, AA
• Charlie Hall – Dual Enrollment
• Adrian Javier – Dental Hygiene, AS
• Alfreda Merrill – Facials, Career Certificate
• Paige Miller – Physical Therapy Assistant, AS
• Faith Scott – Social Work (Advising Track), AA
• Victoria Trammell – Registered Nursing, AS

 

SCHOLASTIC ACHIEVEMENT, ASSOCIATE LEVEL – presented by Dr. Kirk Bradley, Dean of Baccalaureate Studies and Academic Support

Scholastic Achievement Award recipients at the Associate level must maintain at least a 3.9 GPA while completing at least 80% of the requirements for the degree they are seeking.

• Jawaher Abumohaimed, McKenzie Alfred, Mikaangela Ayson
• Jeremiah Barberi, Jackson Batton, Tristany Benton, Neil Boekel, Emma Byrd
• Anastasia Cardey, Kaelyn Christiana, Michelle Cook
• Leah Daniels, Caroline Davis, Christina Dean, Carla Deering, Adal Deycard
• Anabelle Ellis, Mary Ellis
• Shyan Fredrickson, Emily Fugatt, Layla Fullmer
• Lauren Garner, Lisa Gassman, Jaden Gentry, Makenna Gentry, Vaughan Godby, Sarrah Goodyear, Randelaysia Grier, Jonathan Gulley
• Joshua Helt, Michael Hennessy, Cayla Houston, Jordan Howard, Abigail Hrabar
• Caitlin Jiron
• Huda Kader, Leah Kalai
• Alicia Lafont, Madison Levins, Olivia Long, Shad Lynn
• Mathew Maldonado, Aaron Martin, Gabriel Martin, Jason Mulvihill, Dexter Murphy
• Alyna Nguyen
• Melody Patterson, Jordan Posey
• Drew Reaves, Leah Reid, Blaine Richardson, Daniel Riggs, Noah Robertson, Jack Roest, Allison Russo
• Nicholas Sachse, Raleigh Samford, William Schraer, Maggie Scott, Hector Serrano, Grace Wippler-Shaw, Cody Sonnier, Ruby Stake, Truette Stubbs, Grace Swan
• Samuel Tadlock, Scott Tena, Shaylyn Thompson, Kristen Treadaway
• Olivia Underwood, Abigail Urnowey
• Aiden Wallace, Emerson Walters, Claire Warner, Kaylee Wasilausky, Ashton Welch, Leah Williams, Caleb Wise
• Cailynn Zenisek

 

SCHOLASTIC ACHIEVEMENT, BACCALAUREATE DEGREE LEVEL – presented by Dr. Kirk Bradley, Dean of Baccalaureate Studies and Academic Support

Scholastic Achievement Award recipients at the Baccalaureate level must maintain at least a 3.9 GPA while completing at least 85% or 102 credits of their degree requirements.

• Stacey Allison
• Catherine Bost
• Tony Edmundson
• Tyler Henry
• Thomas Japp
• Katelyn Post
• Oksana Sherman
• Christina Sullivan

 

SERVICE AWARDS – presented by Stacey Stewart, Instructor of Allied Health

Service Award recipients are selected by campus personnel based on the outstanding services rendered in their respective departments, schools, and campuses, as well as the community and their fellow students.

• Gregory Baker
• Ian Benton
• Jelani (JB) Berry
• Neil Boekel
• Amber Bruce
• Katherine Carstens
• Leah Daniels
• Kellen Gibson
• Dwayne Irvin
• Alexander Jeffries
• Devin Pugh
• Detra Simmons McDonald
• Brycen Roth
• Trinity Tolbert
• William Yarbrough

 

SHARLENE E. BURKHARDT AWARD – presented by Stacey Stewart, Instructor of Allied Health

The Sharlene E. Burkhardt Award was established in honor of a prior PSC student who gave a great deal of herself in helping others. Her parents established the fund after her death in 1968 to honor students with the same spirit.

• Melody Neal and Steven “Chris” Williams

 

OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER AWARDS – presented by Dr. Jon Stephenson, Associate Vice President of Student Affairs

Volunteer Award recipients are selected by Campus Directors and Student Activities Directors based on various factors, including active involvement with campus events, promoting student engagement, and helping to build a welcoming environment on PSC’s campuses.

• Mary Born – Veterinary Technology
• Joni Verrette – Dental Hygiene
• Elisabeth Stowers – Business and Management, Organizational Administration Concentration
• Baptist Collegiate Ministries – Outstanding Student Group
• Student American Dental Hygienists’ Association – Outstanding Student Group

 

 

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2025 Student Excellence Awards. (Clockwise, from top left) President Ed Meadows and Justin Cobb, Culinary Arts student; Dr. Michael Payne, Business Department Head, Dr. Tracy Peyton, English and Communications Department Head, and Dr. Mitzi Sowell, Allied Health Department Head, chat with President Ed Meadows; honorees applaud PSC faculty and staff; Lauren Wood, Dental Hygiene student, speaks on behalf of the Student American Dental Hygienists’ Association; honorees wait to be called; PSC leaders anticipate honoring exceptional students; Board of Trustee Chief Andrew Hobbs; honorees wait for their moments to shine.