Liberal Arts and Communication Honors Top Students
JONESBORO – This year's most outstanding graduating students in the College of Liberal Arts and Communication at Arkansas State University were honored for their achievements during Convocation of Scholars award ceremonies, according to Dr. Carl Cates, dean.
The Chancellor’s Scholar award was presented to Fumi Kubota of Japan, who graduated in December with a Bachelor of Music Education degree in instrumental music. The Chancellor’s Scholar is the graduating student with the highest cumulative GPA in the college.
Payton Binns of Cabot, Ethan Cooper of Portageville, Mo., Tomomi Hashimoto of Japan, Katherine Huss of Jonesboro, David Persell of Jonesboro and Tanisha Tak of India, along with Kubota, received the 4.0 Scholar Award. In the event of a tie, the Chancellor's Scholar is the student who has completed the most credit hours.
A highlight this year was the Department of Media's presentation of the inaugural Dick Clay "That's Sports" Memorial Scholarship to Clayton Holderfield of Cabot, a creative media production major with an emphasis in sports media. The scholarship was established in memory of the legendary KAIT-TV sportscaster. Members of Clay's family and representatives of KAIT-TV were present for the announcement.
The award recipients and their respective degree programs are (by academic department):
Art + Design
Dave Persell of Jonesboro, Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), studio art, emphasis in painting; Alivia Rouse of Jonesboro, BFA, graphic design; Mackenzie Barley of Harrisburg, BFA, graphic design.
Communication
Tanisha Tak of India, Bachelor of Arts (BA), communication studies, and Sarah Handloser of Sheridan, Bachelor of Science (BS), strategic communication.
Criminology, Sociology and Geography
Kara Austin of Jonesboro, BA, criminology; Tomomi Hashimoto of Japan, BA, sociology; Justin Gibson of Paragould, Master of Arts (MA), criminology; and LaVonda Evans of Paragould, MA, sociology.
English, Philosophy and World Languages
Emma Reddmann of Pocahontas, Bachelor of Science in Education (BSE), English; Katherine Huss of Jonesboro, BA, English; Stephen Henry of Batesville, BA, philosophy; Lindsay Spell of Cabot, BA, Spanish; Andrew Gadberry of Paragould and Talena Ramnath of Melbourne, Fla., MA, English.
History
Meredith Carvell of Bentonville, BA, history; Rachel Poole of Jonesboro, BSE, social science; Chelsea McNutt of Palestine, MA, history; Morgan Garland of Bryant, MSE, social science; and Will Walker of Pocahontas, MA, history.
Media
Destini Lattimore of North Little Rock, BS, multimedia journalism (emphasis in news-editorial); Jacob Stewart of Mammoth Spring, BS, media (emphasis in narrative media).
Music
Fumi Kubota of Japan, Bachelor of Music Education (BME), instrumental music; Xin Ying Kong of Malaysia, Bachelor of Music (BM), piano performance; and Trevor Asher of Poplar Bluff, Mo., Bachelor of Arts (BA), music.
Political Science
Alejandra Morales of Trumann, BA, political science; Tarnisha Tilson of Jonesboro, Master of Public Administration (MPA); and Johanna Eslinger of Laramie, Wyo., MPA, online program.
Theatre
Davis Campbell of Batesville, Bachelor of Arts (BA), theatre.
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