Annual Scholastic Honors Convocation spotlights ‘top’ students, faculty

April 28, 2026

Held on Friday, April 24, Columbus State University’s annual Scholastic Honors Convocation bestowed awards on more than 100 students for their academic and service accomplishments at the university, departmental and program levels.

Awards included the Faculty Cup Award and Educator of the Year Award—considered to be the university’s “top” student and faculty awards.

Faculty Cup: Fiza Khan

Fiza Khan from Columbus is a distinguished scholar and servant leader, showcasing excellent academic achievement, leadership and community service during her undergraduate studies. She graduated in December 2025 with a bachelor’s degree in biology and a 4.0 GPA, serving as a Presidential Scholar and earning continuous spots on the President’s List, as well as recognition from Phi Kappa Phi. She was also honored as Columbus State’s recipient of the University System of Georgia Academic Recognition Day Award, given to the top undergraduate at each USG institution.

During her college years, Khan held various leadership roles, including vice president of the Honors College’s Honoris Causa, a member of the Presidential Envoy Program, and a student representative on the Provost Search Committee. Through the Servant Leadership Program, she completed over 500 hours of community service and led projects such as Read Across Columbus, a citywide literacy outreach initiative. She plans to start her studies at Mercer University School of Medicine this fall.

The Faculty Cup is the university’s highest student academic award. It recognizes a student classified as a senior for their superior academic achievement, student engagement, leadership, service and potential for future achievement.

Educator of the Year: Dr. Joshua May

Associate Professor Joshua May serves as the director of opera activities, voice area coordinator in the Joyce & Henry Schwob School of Music and is also an Honors College Faculty Fellow. Since joining the Columbus State faculty in 2018, he has based his teaching philosophy on the idea that students learn most effectively through active creation. He guides students through every stage of production, from initial concept and analysis to performance, helping them grasp both artistic and technical aspects. His courses focus on collaboration, critical thinking and adaptability, preparing students for real-world creative careers.

Drawing on his directing and mentorship experience, he offers practical opportunities such as internships, portfolio development and production work. He values reflection and growth, encouraging students to learn from all experiences—whether successful or not. By fostering a supportive environment that mirrors professional practice, May helps students build confidence, take ownership of their work, and develop a distinct artistic voice.

The Student Government Association presents the Educator of the Year Award annually to recognize and promote teaching excellence among the university’s faculty. Students nominate and evaluate awardees based on their knowledge, consistency, dependability and creativity.

Other Awards

The program also recognized departmental- and program-level Student of Excellence and Tower Day winners, as well as other award recipients (PDF). In addition, the Honors College presented 13 of its spring graduates with their honors cords and eight students with honors pins.

Photos from the event are available from the univeristy’s Flickr account.

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Media contact: Michael Tullier, APR