2018 Distinguished Award Winner: Nathan Johnson
Today's featured recipient is Nathan Johnson of Jonesboro. A Jonesboro native through and through, he was nominated by Dr. Marceline Thompson-Hayes for his passion in communication, his leadership for student groups including the A-State Debate Team and his tireless volunteer work.
Johnson completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication studies in December. He served as captain of the Debate Team for three years, frequently winning awards as top debater and top speaker and becoming nationally ranked. He was the first Debate Team member to win the prestigious Top Professional Speaker Award.
He filled a vital role in design and development of his department's Communication Center, writing curriculum and foundational literature, along with the mission statement and training and promotional materials. As a communication coach and intern, he spoke to classes on the center's advantages and opportunities. In Lambda Pi Eta, the national communications honor society, he led the campus chapter as president, and he represented media and communication on the Dean's Advisory Board in the College of Liberal Arts and Communication.
After graduation, he plans to attend law school. He was nominated by Dr. Marceline Hayes, chair, Department of Communication.
About the Distinguished Service Award
The Distinguished Service Award winners are the institution’s most outstanding graduates because of their leadership, scholarship and citizenship. Faculty, staff, advisers to student organizations, and other members of the campus community submit nominations for the prestigious awards.
All of the recipients have achieved excellent academic records and provided countless hours of service to the community, their classmates, campus organizations, their departments and colleges, and to Arkansas State University. A committee comprised of students, faculty, staff and previous Wilson Award recipients makes the final selections.
