Columbus State University News

40+ students, campus organizations celebrated for outstanding leadership, service

April 24, 2026

A collage of six photos from an awards ceremony at Columbus State University. Various students and faculty members are shown smiling while holding plaques and medals against a blue university-branded backdrop. The Columbus State University tower logo is displayed on the right side of the collage.

During a reception on April 21, the Office of Student Life & Development honored over 40 registered student organizations, along with their leaders and other students, for their dedication and service to the university and community.

“Student organizations and campus engagement programs allow Columbus State students to create community and find their people,” said Dr. Melissa Dempsey, assistant dean of students for student engagement. “Both allow students to connect with others who share their interests and passions, gain valuable leadership skills and hands-on experience through volunteerism, and build a broad network through social and community programs.”

As part of the Division of Student Affairs, the Office of Student Life & Development serves the entire student body. It coordinates the work of more than 85 registered student organizations and student boards, which collectively include 120-plus student leaders, 550-plus campus events hosted by organizations annually, and 100-plus campus events planned directly by the office.

Visit the university’s Flickr account to view photos from the event. More information about these and other Columbus State student organizations is available in CSUinvolve.

Award honorees for the 2025-26 academic year included:

Individual Achievement

  • Emerging Leader of the Year: Garrett Stephenson, for serving as a Presidential Envoy, Orientation Leader, and Cougar Ambassador and while also taking on leadership roles within the Honors College and the American Chemical Society. Stephenson is a junior from Ellerslie, Georgia, majoring in chemistry.
  • Student Leader of the Year: Erin Mcintyre, a junior dual major in chemistry and criminal justice, for leading across campus as a Presidential Envoy, Student Activities Council member, teaching assistant, member of the Honors College and incoming president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. She is from McDonough, Georgia.
  • Graduate Student of the Year: Braxton Greer, who is a graduate assistant for Orientation and supported incoming freshmen and the Orientation team, is pursuing a master’s degree in communication. He is from Austell, Georgia.
  • Charles R. Eason Leadership Award: Kennedy Larkin, a graduate student from Leesburg, Georgia. pursuing her master’s in elementary education. She received the award for demonstrating the same love for Columbus State as the award’s namesake. Charles Eason. Eason was the first recipient of the CSU Alumni Association’s Thomas Y. Whitley Distinguished Alumnus Award and a past director of planned giving, widely known for his love of Columbus State as a student, alumnus, sports fan and employee.
  • Outstanding Graduating Senior: Malaysia Lockett, a senior majoring in health science, served as a Presidential Envoy, vice president and treasurer of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., and as both vice president and president of the National Pan-Hellenic Council. She is from Swainsboro, Georgia.

Registered Student Organizations

Individual Awards 

  • President of the Year: Rut Del Cid Romero of Reformed University Fellowship and a junior from Warner Robins, Georgia, majoring in history.
  • On-Campus Advisor of the Year: Dr. Rebecca Toland, advisor of the CSU chapter of the Eta Sigma Gamma National Public Health Education Society, and an associate professor and coordinator of the Health Science Program in the Department of Kinesiology & Health Sciences.

Organization-level Awards

  • Outstanding Online Presence: Reformed University Fellowship (RUF)
  • Outstanding Teamwork & Collaboration Award: Fraternity & Sorority Life and the University Police Department for “Cody’s Birthday: Donut Eating Contest.”
  • Event of the Year: Student Activities Council’s “To be a Kid Again.”
  • Most Improved Registered Student Organization: The Collegiate 100 Men of CSU
  • Student Government Association RSO of the Year: Ethnically Asian & Pacific Islanders Club (EPIC)

Greek Life

  • Outstanding New Member: Brianna Boyd of Phi Mu Sorority, a sophomore from Columbus, majoring in health science.
  • Fraternity Member of the Year: Nic Gavitse, a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. and a junior from Newnan, Georgia, majoring in kinesiology
  • Sorority Member of the Year: Chesley Thompson, a member of Delta Zeta Sorority and a junior from Columbus, majoring in management information systems.
  • Outstanding Fraternity President: Ahmad Djigal of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., and a senior from Hephzibah, Georgia, majoring in communication.
  • Outstanding Sorority President: Soraya Davis of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., a junior from Atlanta majoring in accounting.
  • Living Your Values Award: Maisie Wirth of Phi Mu Sorority, a senior from Midland, Georgia, majoring in elementary education.
  • Outstanding Chapter Advisor: Athena Lock of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.
  • Brotherhood Beyond Expectations Award: Montrell Fish of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., a sophomore from Covington, Georgia, majoring in management.
  • Sisterhood in Action Award: Kindle Martin of Phi Mu Sorority, a junior from Marietta, Georgia, majoring in theatre education.
  • Fraternity Chapter of the Year: Theta Zeta Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc.
  • Sorority Chapter of the Year: Delta Zeta Sorority

Other Recognitions

Student Leadership

Student Life & Development recognized the leaders of its student boards, including the Cougar Kickoff Committee, Cougarthon Committee, Student Connection Leaders, YouLead, eSports, Homecoming Committee, ROAR Orientation Team, Student Government Association, and Student Activities Council. Honors also went to Campus Recreation students and staff for their contributions:

Campus Recreation

  • Leadership in Customer Service: Lindsey Hanson, a sophomore from Waverly Hall, Georgia, majoring in general business.
  • Leadership in Facility Management: Jartavious “JT” Wright, a senior from Dublin, Georgia, majoring in psychology.

Tower Traditions

Co-administered by the Office of Student Life & Development and the Office of Alumni Engagement, Tower Traditions was established in 2015. Its compilation of 58 Columbus State traditions honors the university’s founding in 1958. The program challenges students to participate in or complete at least 45 of these traditions and student experiences—from riding the campus shuttle to studying abroad—before they graduate. Students successfully fulfilling that challenge receive a medal to wear at graduation, engraved with their name and the numbered order they were added to the Tower Traditions logbook.

With this academic year, that logbook now exceeds 140 students, who now include: #138 Edwin Espinosa Vazquez (senior, interdisciplinary studies, Columbus), #139 Atiyanna Gandy (senior, psychology, Columbus), #140 Novi Sandhu (senior, psychology, Midland, Georgia), #141 Bryan Lucas (senior, management, Dalton, Georgia), #142 Undrell Walker (senior, health science, Hephzibah, Georgia), #143 Jessica Cegarra Arraiz (senior, robotics engineering, Midland, Georgia), #144 Lily Conner (senior, biology, Williamson, Georgia), #145 Malaysia Lockett (senior, health science, Swainsboro, Georgia), #146 Alexis Crawford (senior, psychology, Columbus), #147 Ariel Oden (senior, Earth & space sciences, Griffin, Georgia), #148 Jameer Bradley (senior, sociology, Newnan, Georgia), and #149 Ahmad Djigal (a senior, communication, Hephzibah, Georgia).

Tower Traditions is a key element of Columbus State’s Cougar Tracks student experience framework. From students’ first day of college to graduation, the Cougar Tracks roadmap of events and traditions is designed to help them succeed and find their CSU community.

President’s Volunteer Service Award

Each semester, Student Leadership & Service presents eligible graduating seniors with their President’s Volunteer Service Award medals. This year’s recipients are Mick Etchison (senior, general business, Columbus), Marika Purce (senior, psychology, Phenix City, Alabama), Edwin Espinosa Vazquez (senior, interdisciplinary studies, Columbus), and Undrell Walker  (senior, health science, Hephzibah, Georgia).

Ketarra Billingslea of the Office of Student Life & Development contributed to this article.

Media contact: Michael Tullier, APR