April 25, 2024

At a reception on April 22, the Office of Student Life & Development honored more than 65 registered student organizations and their leaders for their dedication and service to the university and the community.

As part of the Division of Student Affairs, the Office of Student Leadership & Development serves the entire student body. It coordinates the work of more than 80 active registered student organizations and 10 student boards that collectively include 150-plus student leaders, 500-plus annual organization-hosted campus events, and 100-plus campus events planned directly by the office.

“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 same interests and passions, as well as gain valuable leadership skills, experience through volunteerism and a broad network through social and community programs.”

Award honorees for the 2023-24 academic year included:

INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT

Tyler Brown, Outstanding Graduating Senior Award. Brown is a senior from Atlanta, Georgia, majoring in cybersecurity. In addition to dedicating time to his graduate studies, he serves Greek Life, Collegiate 100 and the Student Government Association as a member and through key leadership roles.

Nicole Paul, Charles R. Eason Leadership Award. Paul, a senior chemistry major from Douglasville, Georgia, has demonstrated exemplary leadership and a passion for the university in the spirit of the award’s namesake, Charles Eason. Eason was the first recipient of the Thomas Y. Whitley Distinguished Alumnus Award and a past director of planned giving. He was widely known for his love of Columbus State as a student, alumnus, sports fan and employee. 

Justin Youmes, Graduate Student of the Year. Youmes, a native of Baconton, Georgia, is pursuing a master of public administration degree. In addition to his graduate studies, he is involved extensively in Campus Recreation programs—from serving as president of the club football team to a graduate assistant for Recreational Facilities, Intramural Sports and Club Sports.

REGISTERED STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

Individual Awards

Kiana Aguilar, Emerging Leader of the Year Award. Aguilar is a senior from Albuquerque, New Mexico, majoring in art education. She was credited with demonstrating her future leadership potential through her service to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.

LaWanna Hayes, On-Campus Advisor of the Year Award. The senior executive assistant in the Office of the Vice President for Business & Finance, Hayes advises two National Panhellenic Council organizations: Phi Beta Sigma, Fraternity, Inc. and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. She was cited for her kindness, compassion and mentoring to her chapter members.

Ginny Head, President of the Year. Head is a junior health science major from Leesburg, Georgia, and president of Baptist Collegiate Ministries. She was credited with being an amazing and selfless leader who puts the needs of others above her own. 

Bryan Lucas, Student Activities Council Committee Member of the Year. Lucas was one of two students receiving the SAC Committee Member of the Year Award for his dedication and commitment to the program through volunteerism and for professionally representing the organization. He is a freshman from Dalton, Georgia, majoring in business management.

Nicole Paul, Student Leader of the Year Award. Paul is a senior criminal justice major from Douglasville, Georgia, and president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. She inspires growth and development in others, demonstrates exemplary service and integrity, and makes meaningful contributions to her peers, the university and the community.

Bri White, Student Activities Council Committee Member of the Year. White was one of two students receiving the SAC Committee Member of the Year Award for her dedication and commitment to the program through volunteerism and for professionally representing the organization. She is a freshman from Macon, Georgia, majoring in nursing.

Organization-level Awards

Cougarthon, Outstanding Online Presence Award. Cougarthon’s online presence has enhanced its partnership with Piedmont Columbus Regional, its annual fundraising success on behalf of the Children’s Miracle Network, and its awareness on campus, by local media outlets and the broader community.

Eta Sigma Gamma’s Breast Cancer Awareness Event. The October 2023 event hosted by the Eta Sigma Gamma National Health Education Honor Society increased awareness and early detection of breast cancer on campus through partnerships with other organizations like the Student Nurses Association. In addition to engaging students, Eta Sigma Gamma raised funds for breast cancer research and food donations for the Frank Brown Hall Free Market student food pantry.

Future African American Health Care Professionals Society, SGA Registered Student Organization of the Year Award. The student-led FAAHPS seeks to inspire African American students to enter the medical field. It was recognized for its year-long program of events, forums and other activities, which also recently garnered the organization the Civic Engagement Award, part of the 2024 Legacy Awards program.

Schwob School of Music Recording Studio, Outstanding Teamwork & Collaboration Award. Students in the Schwob Music Recording Studio live stream, record and produce more than 300 live concerts each academic year in addition to providing technical support for lectures, classes, performances and other school activities.

United Nations Competition Team, Most Improved Registered Student Organization. The UN Competition Team has demonstrated a commitment to growing and developing its members. This has included collaborating with other registered student organizations—such as CHISPA and the Sigma Delta Pi National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society—and study away activities through which its members learn the importance of international education, relations and law.

GREEK LIFE

Living Your Values Awards

The Living Your Values Award is presented to fraternity and sorority members who exemplify their chapter’s values through their everyday actions.

Isabella Bankston. Bankston is a member of Phi Mu Sorority and has served in various chapter capacities including sisterhood development chair, membership director, academic excellence chair, treasurer, DEI chair, director of harm reduction, and president. She is a Griffin, Georgia, senior majoring in English language/literature.

Angel Morgan. Morgan is a member of Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority and the chapter’s vice president of membership integrity. She is a senior from Franklin, Georgia, majoring in criminal justice.

Makynleigh Roberson. Roberson is a member of Delta Zeta Sorority and the chapter’s vice president of membership. She is a senior from Columbus, Georgia, majoring in general business.

Individual Awards

Tyler Brown, Fraternity Member of the Year. Brown is a senior cybersecurity major from Atlanta, Georgia. He was commended for being a model for Greek Life leadership on campus as a brother of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. and for his involvement in Collegiate 100 and the Student Government Association. 

Victoria Buchanan ’21,’22, Outstanding Chapter Advisor. A two-time Columbus State alumna, Buchanan volunteers her time as Delta Zeta’s chapter advisor in addition to her professional duties as a student life and development coordinator in the Division of Student Affairs. The one-time-chapter-member-now-advisor was credited for her availability to her chapter members, mentoring, and serving as a model “Delta Zeta woman.”

Meaghan Goddard, Sorority Member of the Year. Goddard is a junior from LaGrange, Georgia, majoring in elementary education and a member of Delta Zeta Sorority. She was credited with bringing grace, poise and trust to any chapter leadership role she has undertaken. 

Braxton Greer, Outstanding Fraternity Chapter President. Greer is a senior communication major from Austell, Georgia, and president of the Theta Zeta Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. He was credited by his chapter for navigating multiple intake processes, building relationships within the National Panhellenic Council, and serving in various campus leadership roles while studying in a demanding major.

Yasmin Mandujuano-Martinez, Outstanding Sorority New Member. Mandujuano-Martinez is a sophomore from Brookhaven, Georgia, majoring in sociology and a member of Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority. The award is presented to a sorority member who has gone above and beyond the expectations of Greek Life and those of her chapter.

Tyler Thomas, Outstanding Fraternity New Member. Thomas is a senior cybersecurity major from Fairburn, Georgia, and a member of the Theta Zeta Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. The award is presented to a fraternity member who has gone above and beyond the expectations of Greek Life and those of his chapter.

Kennedy Larkin, Outstanding Sorority Chapter President. Larkin is a sophomore elementary education major from Albany, Georgia, and president of the Eta Iota Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. She was credited with making great strides in chapter operations in just her first semester as its president.

Council Awards

Council awards are bestowed based on a variety of factors, including meeting chapter expectations and pillars, Greek Week participation, council participation, campus involvement and chapter improvement.

• Delta Zeta Sorority, Panhellenic Council Chapter of the Year 
• Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., National Pan-Hellenic Council Chapter of the Year
• Sigma Nu Fraternity, Interfraternity Council Chapter of the Year

OTHER RECOGNITIONS

Student Leadership

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

• Chrystal Phillips, Leadership in Facility Management​. Philips is a junior from Willowbrook, California, majoring in the computer science cybersecurity track.
• Rodrick Fowler, Leadership in Customer Service​. Fowler is a senior computer science major from Albany, Georgia.
• ​Justin Youmes, Campus Recreation, Student Employee of the Year. Youmes, a native of Baconton, Georgia, is pursuing a master of public administration degree.

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 100 students, who now include: #103 Lizzy Grant; #104 Karmyn Lucas; #105 Kenzi Jackson; #106 Christina Burgess; #107 Amelia Mcinnis; #108 Lauryn Roberson; and #109 Gabrielle Harris.

President’s Volunteer Service Award

The President's Volunteer Service Award is a civil award bestowed by the president of the United States. First established through executive order by 43rd U.S. President George W. Bush, the award honors volunteers who give hundreds of hours of service each year through the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation.

Each semester at Columbus State, Student Leadership and Service presents eligible graduating seniors with their medals. This year’s gold-medal recipients for young adults accumulating 250-plus hours of service are Torie Hartis, Elizabeth Hedrick, Vinh Quang Huynh, Amelia Mcinnis, Emily Urban and Kensley Anne Zieba.

Visit the university’s Flickr account for photos from the event.

Media contact:
Michael Tullier, APR, Executive Director of Strategic Communication + Marketing, 706.507.8729, mtullier@columbusstate.edu