April 24, 2026

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Laura Brelsford | hcnews@hawks.huntingdon.edu | (334) 833-4563

Huntingdon Honors Students and Faculty at Annual Spring Convocation

Montgomery, AL – On Friday, April 24, Huntingdon College held the annual Awards Convocation in Ligon Chapel. Below is a list of the individual awards and award winners.

Departmental Awards

Accounting

The ASCPA Educational Foundation General Scholarship is a $2,500 competitive general scholarship to declared undergraduate accounting majors who are planning to pursue a career as a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Alabama.  The scholarship is provided by the Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants Educational Foundation.

• Taji J’kai Williams ’26, Cantonment, Florida

Biology

The Everett Lewis Bishop Award is given annually to the junior biology student(s) showing the greatest promise based on progress since entrance to Huntingdon.

• Bryleigh Bodine ’27, Guntersville, Alabama
• Trinity Treadway ’27, Destin, Florida

The Beta Beta Beta Award is presented annually by Huntingdon’s Beta Nu chapter of Beta Beta Beta biology honorary to the biology major who is judged to be the most outstanding senior in the field of biology.

• Ayanna Felder ’26, Montgomery, Alabama

Business

The Warren Andrews Award is presented to the outstanding senior business administration major(s) in recognition of academic achievement, contributions, and leadership in business administration.

• Anna Dickson Beck ’26, Pike Road, Alabama

The Wall Street Journal Award is given to the outstanding business graduate annually.

• Anna Dickson Beck ’26, Pike Road, Alabama

The Business Club Award is given to the most productive member of the Business Club, as chosen by the club’s members.

• Aidan Cox ’27, Arab, Alabama

Chemistry

The Marion Black Cantelou Chemistry Award is given to the graduating senior chemistry major(s) whose skills in analytical and other areas of chemistry are judged by the faculty to be outstanding. General character and attitude are also considered for the award.

• Carryne Chancey ’26, Enterprise, Alabama

The CRC Freshman Chemistry Achievement Award is presented in recognition of outstanding achievement in chemistry during the freshman year.

• Dakotah Zimbelman ’29, Prattville, Alabama

The American Institute of Chemists Award is given each year to the outstanding senior(s) majoring in chemistry. This award is based on recognition of potential advancement in professional chemistry and on leadership, ability, character, and scholastic achievement.

• Carryne Chancey ’26, Enterprise, Alabama

The Organic Chemistry Achievement Award is presented each year to one or more outstanding student(s) in organic chemistry as selected by the chemistry faculty.

• Carter Abrams ’28, Chelsea, Alabama

Margaret and Craig Kneisel Undergraduate Research Awards in Chemistry are given to the students judged to be the most outstanding performers in undergraduate research. The students must be graduating seniors and have had a leading role in original research that has led to at least one external publication or presentation at a conference or symposium.

• Corwin Nance ’26, Montgomery, Alabama

Communication Studies

The Lambda Pi Eta Award is given annually to the outstanding senior communication studies major who is a member of the department’s Lambda Pi Eta honorary.

• Alexandria Hall Bradford ’26, Hartford, Alabama
• Maggie Schaub ’26, Montgomery, Alabama

Criminal Justice

The Criminal Justice Scholar Award is given to the most outstanding student with a major in criminal justice.

• Megan Cochran ’26, Pansey, Alabama

History

The Julia Rinehart Hughes History Award was established by her family in memory of Ms. Hughes’ service as a member of the Huntingdon College faculty. This award recognizes a graduating senior who has exemplified, to an unusual degree, genuine interest in the study of history, and has maintained an outstanding record in history and in all college studies.

• Wyatt Thornton ’26, Rome, Georgia

The Irene Brinson Munro Award is given annually to a graduating senior majoring in history or government who has, at the beginning of the student’s final semester, the highest average in all attempted courses in all departments, and who will have, at graduation, at least 18 hours in world history and/or government and an academic grade point average of at least 3.00 in history courses.

• Laney Bishop ’26, Southside, Alabama
• Montanna Mitchell ’26, Montgomery, Alabama

The Hortense Batre-Colonial Dames Scholarship Award is awarded each year to an outstanding history major who must have completed at least twelve hours in American history. The award, established in 1938, is given in honor of Hortense Batre, the founder of the Society of Colonial Dames of Alabama.

• Emma Grace Samples ’26, Gadsden, Alabama

Houghton Library

The Libris Award is given to an outstanding student library assistant recognizing exemplary performance of responsibilities in a manner contributing to a high level of library service.

• Kameron Collins ’27, Lincoln, Alabama

Languages and Literature

The Joseph L. Dean Memorial Award is given each year to the graduating English major(s) who have achieved the highest academic average(s) in English coursework.

• Payton Allen ’26, Prattville, Alabama
• Jackson Pickering ’26, Alabaster, Alabama

The Frank T. Thompson Award for Creativity is awarded each year by the Huntingdon Publications Board to the student who has demonstrated the greatest creativity in work on student publications.

• Michaela Moore ’27, Jacksonville, Alabama

The Algie Hardwick Hill Prize for Creative Writing is given to a student who, in the opinion of the English program faculty, deserves commendation for demonstrated creative writing ability and for contribution to the publishing of creative writing on the Huntingdon College campus.

• Payton Allen ’26, Prattville, Alabama

Mathematics

The Mathematics Faculty Award is given to the student(s) who exhibited the greatest potential in the areas of creativity, innovation, scholarship, and service to the mathematical sciences.

• Caleb Griffis ’26, Newnan, Georgia
• Jacob McFarling ’26, Southside, Alabama

The Earl Williams Mathematics Award is given to the senior who has made the highest achievement in the field of mathematics during the four years of the college course.

• Caroline Masker ’26, Slidell, Louisiana

Psychology

The L.G. Bailey Psychology Award was established by Mrs. Frances Saunders Britt in memory of her Huntingdon professor, Dr. L.G. Bailey. The award is given annually to the senior(s) judged to be the outstanding student(s) of the year in psychology.

• Elli Lorance ’26, Hartselle, Alabama

Religion

The Lessie Mae Hall Stone Award is presented to the graduating senior with a major in the Department of Religion who has the highest academic average for all courses in all departments through the academic term preceding the granting of the award. A minimum 3.0 academic grade point average is required.

• Daniel Dicus ’26, Enterprise, Alabama

The Louise Panigot Religion and Philosophy Award is presented annually to the senior graduating with a major in Religion and whose overall academic average in all subjects is above 3.0 and who, in the judgment of the department faculty, holds great promise for scholarly achievement in seminary.

• Grace Jayroe ’26, Dothan, Alabama

Sport Science and Physical Education

The Kedra Curtis Memorial Sport Management Award is given to the outstanding graduate in sport management.

• Tate Reynolds ’26, Alexander City, Alabama

The Exercise Science Award is given to the outstanding student majoring in exercise science who displays outstanding scholarship and service to both the college and the community.

• Lex Acevedo ’26, Monroe, Georgia

The Physical Educator of the Year Award is given to the physical education or sport studies student who demonstrates distinguished academic achievement, character, leadership, and service above fellow prospective graduates.

• Connor Cash ’26, Mentone, Alabama

Teacher Education

The Lois B. Gholston Award is given each year to the most outstanding senior who is preparing to teach elementary education.

• Brody Covington ’26, Rogersville, Alabama

The Henry L. Bonner Award is given to the most outstanding senior in teacher education.

• Hannah Rogers ’26, Southside, Alabama

Center for Career and Vocation

Awards for Internship Excellence

• Megan Cochran ’26, Pansey, Alabama
• Randall Davis, Jr. ’26, Bessemer, Alabama
• Isaiah Matthews ’27, Huntsville, Alabama

College Awards

Jane Williams Awards

In 1946, Jane Williams of Miami, Florida, a 1942 Huntingdon graduate, established an endowment for these freshman awards. In her view, the endowment enabled her “to make a more substantial gift toward the building of a greater Huntingdon.” The Jane Williams Scholastic Achievement Award is given to the sophomore-level students who earned the highest-grade point averages during their freshman year. This year’s Jane Williams Scholastic Achievement Award recipients are:

• Carter Abrams ’28, Chelsea, Alabama
• Bryleigh Bodine ’27, Guntersville, Alabama
• Megan Connor ’27, Buford, Georgia
• Jordan Epstein ’28, Evan, Georgia
• Savanna Fain ’28, Montgomery, Alabama
• Lance Frazer ’28, Johns Creek, Georgia
• Addison Gaines ’27, Peachtree City, Georgia
• Adam Gonia ’28, Toney, Alabama
• Sam Hailey ’28, Madison, Mississippi
• Sarah King ’27, Wetumpka, Alabama
• Alyssa Llanos ’26, Port St. Lucie, Florida
• Madelon Machen ’28, Gadsden, Alabama
• Brady Mason ’28, Tallassee, Alabama
• Shaylinn McFarland ’28, Madison, Alabama
• Chloe Parets ’28, Miami, Florida
• Kevin Shaw III ’28, Clarksville, Tennessee
• Sage Speer ’28, Chelsea, Alabama
• Drew Yeats ’28, Panama City, Florida

The Jane Williams Award for Service is given to the sophomore who made a significant contribution to College activities through leadership and participation during the student’s freshman year:

• Jordan Epstein ’28, Evan, Georgia

The Jane Williams Award for Intramural Sports is given to the sophomore student who was a leader in intramural sports during the freshman year.

• Addison Gaines ’27, Peachtree City, Georgia
• Jaxon McMonigle ’28, Woodville, Alabama

The Heart of a Hawk Award is presented to senior students who made a unique and unrecognized contribution to campus life during their Huntingdon experience.

• Carryne Chancey ’26, Enterprise, Alabama
• DeJon Gibby II ’26, Montgomery, Alabama
• Madalyn Grace Hubbard ’26, South Pittsburgh, Tennessee
• Gus Johnson ’26, Gulf Breeze, Florida
• Stephanie Mudgett ’26, Marietta, Georgia
• Myles Murphy ’26, Mobile, Alabama
• Tyler Pruitt ’26, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
• Ashley SaJous ’26, Columbus, Georgia
• Callie Shiver ’26, Geneva, Alabama
• AJ Taylor ’26, Union Springs, Alabama

The Presidential Character Award is presented to senior students in recognition of exemplary character throughout their Huntingdon experience.

• Alexandria Hall Bradford ’26, Hartford, Alabama
• Daniel Dicus ’26, Enterprise, Alabama
• Caleb Griffis ’26, Newnan, Georgia
• Anne Kathryn Hagood ’26, Selma, Alabama
• Charlie Hollis ’26, Gulf Shores, Alabama
• Grace Jayroe ’26, Dothan, Alabama
• Corwin Nance ’26, Montgomery, Alabama
• Charity Shaw ’26, Mobile, Alabama
• Tyler Whiting ’26, Bethlehem, Georgia
• Blair Wyrosdick ’26, Elba, Alabama

The Senior Marshal Award is given in recognition for distinguished service as a Senior Marshal during the 2025-2026 academic year.

• Jeremy Autin, Jr. ’26, Mandeville, Louisiana
• Ethan Duhon ’26, Trussville, Alabama
• Ayanna Felder ’26, Montgomery, Alabama

Other College Awards

The Sara Lee Insley Dunbar Scholastic Award is presented annually to the sister of Alpha Omicron Pi who has earned the highest overall G.P.A. The award was established by Sara Lee Insley Dunbar ’52 in honor of the outstanding education she and her daughter, Dorothy Dunbar Rogers ’78, received at Huntingdon College.

• Emma Grace Samples ’26, Gadsden, Alabama

The Christopher H. Cain Award is given to the outstanding male and female SGA senators.

• Piper Messick ’27, Southport, Florida
• William Milner ’28, Montgomery, Alabama

The Jimmy Baker Spirit Award is given to the most outstanding registered student organization that has been the most active at Huntingdon College during the academic year.

• The Business Club

The Virginia Hicks Sutter Community Service Award is presented to a full-time student in good standing who has completed the most community service hours both on- and off-campus.

• Addison Gaines ’27, Peachtree City, Georgia

The Margaret Hicks Shadoin Community Service Award is presented to the student organization that completes the most community service hours as a group.

• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

The Dean Fran Taylor Award recognizes outstanding spirit and support of Huntingdon student life and of the Huntingdon campus community:

• Jahunna Neston Holmes ’26, Auburn, Alabama
• Myles Johnson ’26, Florence, Alabama

The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award recognizes outstanding community service, faith, and character among students at Huntingdon College.

• Michael Tate ’26, Panama City, Florida

Faculty Awards

The Dr. and Mrs. John N. Todd III Award for Excellence in Teaching is presented annually to an outstanding junior member of the faculty:

• Foster Dickson

The Exemplary Teacher Award is presented annually to an outstanding senior member of the faculty (tenured) who has not won the award in the last five years.

• Johnathan Barnett

The Winn and Gordon Chappell Academic Enrichment Award, presented annually during Commencement Exercises to the member of the faculty who has demonstrated exceptional student engagement and student achievement in the arts and sciences:

• Kelsey Grissom

The Julia Lightfoot Sellers Award is presented annually to a faculty member voted upon by the junior and senior classes as having most inspired them to nobility of purpose and integrity of character and rekindled within them a deeper desire for learning. 

• Allison Mugno

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