Outstanding students recognized at Awards Day Ceremony

By: Mike Gavin
Published: May 06, 2022

SPINDALE (May 5, 2022) – Dozens of Isothermal Community College’s finest students were praised for their exceptional academic efforts this week.

The annual Awards Day ceremony was held on Thursday, May 5, at the Main Campus Amphitheater. Dr. Margaret Annunziata, the college’s president, welcomed the audience of students, friends, family, faculty and staff.

This year’s Academic Excellence Award went to Adam Chinchar. The award is the highest honor given to an Isothermal student each year. 

Chinchar, a Polk County native and graduate pf Polk Central High School, enrolled at Isothermal Community College after serving as a sonar technician in the US Navy.  During his time at ICC, he has been a role model and leader. He plans to transfer to UNC-Charlotte to further his education. 

The award was presented by Aaron Greene, superintendent of Polk County Schools and a member of the ICC Polk Foundation.

Special recognition was also given to Eddy Jackson Corbin, the student who was the college’s nominee for the Dallas Herring Award, a prestigious state-level honor. Hope Sarate was recognized as the nominee for the North Carolina Community College System’s Gov. Bob Scott Student Leadership Award. The William V. Lee Scholarship for a student in the field of criminal justice was awarded to Lindsey Deese.

Members of this year’s Student Government Association were also recognized and thanked. They are: Hope Sarate, president; Madison Wise, vice president; Francisco Chavez, secretary; Nicholas Burgin, parliamentarian; Cheyenne Jennings, treasurer; Ashley Cole, public information officer; Abby Hammock, public information officer; David Nolan, public information officer and Pat the Patriot; Kim Trivette, Engineering & Applied Sciences senator; and Shaunita Toney, Peer 2 Peer representative and Business Sciences senator.

Many other awards were given that evening, each to a student who has distinguished himself or herself in their academic endeavors. The Learning College Student of the Semester Awards were presented by Dr. Greg Thomas, vice president of Academic and Student Affairs. The program awards were presented by the faculty members who nominated the various students. The awarded were presented to:

Students of the Semester

Kaleb James Adair, CCP College Transfer; 

Jessica Atkins, Occupational Education; 

Catherine Barsaloux, arts and Sciences; 

Jose Chavez-Bautista, Business Sciences; 

Debra Brown, Health and Public Services; 

Dakota Davis, Business Sciences; 

Hannah Elliott, Business Sciences; 

Amelia Raquel Harmon, Health and Public Services; 

Luke Hood, CCP College Transfer; 

Rebecca Jackson, Academic Development; 

Jennifer Lawrence, Occupational Education; 

Tabitha Lucas, Applied Sciences and Engineering Technologies; 

Trinity B Powell, Polk Early College; 

Selena Prescott, Rutherford Early College High School; 

Bryan Raymundo, CCP College Transfer; 

Karah Ruppe, Academic Development; 

Esperanza Santibanez, College and Career Readiness; 

Graciela Trejo-Diaz, College and Career Readiness; 

Seth Trottier, Arts and Sciences; and 

Anya White Applied Sciences and Engineering Technologies.

 

Departmental Outstanding Students

Arts and Sciences

Adam Chinchar, and Jessika Hardin

Applied Sciences and Engineering Technologies

Teva Crawford, Tyler Gibson, and Nicolas Murray

 

Business Sciences

Jamie Marr, and Margaret Mauriello

 

Health and Public Services

Riley Lauter, and Lucero Santibanez

 

Program Awards

Self-Enrichment Award: Academic Development – Kolby Grub

Biology – Serena Prescott

Biology: Pre-Allied Health – Buffy Lynch

General Chemistry – Ryan Davis

Organic and Biochemistry – Taylor Jackson

Freshman English – Andrew Rice

Sophomore English – Lydia Zimmer

History – Stephanie Roach

Psychology – Catherine Barsaloux

Humanities – Seth Trottier

Mathematics – Christian N. Modirzadeh

Music – Caleb Wallace

Astronomy – Carter McKinney

College Physics – Kasey Smith

General Physics – Matthew Heffron

Public Speaking – Andrea Narvaez-Santos

Sociology – Amiyah Hardy

Spanish – Emily Waters

Accounting and Finance – Ana Aleman

Agribusiness Technology – Dakota B. Davis

Business Administration – Jamie Marr

Equine Business – Jordan Laws

Information Technology: Web Admin. And Design – Deborah Kennedy

Medical Office Administration – Traci Nalley

Associate Degree Nursing – Christine Conner

Criminal Justice Technology – Lindsay Deese

Dental Assisting – Jennifer “Taylor” Harris

Early Childhood Education – Ashley McEntyre

Esthetics – Daisy Soto-Rivera

Human Services Technology – Debra Brown

Human Services Technology: Animal-Assisted Interactions – Amanda Yokely

Practical Nursing – Jessica Louise Hembree

Advertising and Graphic Design – Kat Mikelson

Broadcasting and Production Technology – Mariah Elliott

Computer Engineering Technology – Cory Clemons

Electronics Engineering Technology – Matthew Heffron

Welding Technology – Ronnie Simpson

Mechanical Engineering – Dalton Osborn