April 24, 2026

East Mississippi Community College instructors in academic, career-technical, Workforce and Community Services, and Nursing and Health Sciences programs of study on our Golden Triangle campus, The Communiversity and the Lion Hills Center recognized their outstanding students from the past year during the annual Awards Day program that took place April 23 in the Lyceum Auditorium.

The honorees included some students dually enrolled at EMCC and the Golden Triangle Early College High School on the college’s Mayhew campus.

For the awards, EMCC instructors chose the top students in their respective classes and presented them with plaques during the ceremony. Some students earned multiple awards and some instructors who taught more than one class presented more than one award.

EMCC Dean of Instruction and Assessment Mary Warrant provided the welcome. Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Success Dr. Nikita Ashford-Ashworth spoke to the students, as did Vice President of Instruction Dr. James Rush.

Not all students recognized were able to attend the event. Here is a list of the students who received awards and the areas for which they were recognized:

Academic programs

Outstanding American History Student: Calliope Koiva

Outstanding American History Student: Grace Mast

Outstanding American Literature Student: Kimberley Sharp

Outstanding Anatomy and Physiology Student: Hannah Foster

Outstanding Anatomy and Physiology Student: Christina Keenum

Outstanding Art Appreciation Student: Addisen Casey

Outstanding Art Appreciation Student: Meredith Hilfiker

Outstanding Calculus Student: Linden Stelioes-Wills

Outstanding Career Exploration Student: Aubrey Gray

Outstanding Chemistry Student: Emma Morgan

Outstanding Choir Student: Lamonte Jordan

Outstanding College Algebra Student: Annabeth Y. Merrell

Outstanding English Composition I Student: Day Ivy

Outstanding English Composition II Student: Jackie Bryant

Outstanding General Biology I Student: Benjamin Pack

Outstanding General Biology II Student: Allie Mullen

Outstanding General Psychology Student: Katherine Allen

Outstanding Introduction to Sociology Student: Kailey Turner

Outstanding Marriage and Family Student: Hannah Foster

Outstanding Marriage and Family Student: Allie Mullen

Outstanding Microbiology Student: Katie Berquist

Outstanding Music Appreciation Student: Rylee Smith

Outstanding Principles of Accounting I Student: Robert Curland

Outstanding Principles of Accounting II Student: James Aaron Thompson

Outstanding Public Speaking Student: Clara (Nicki) McDaniel

Outstanding Statistics Student: Leah Trammell

Outstanding Technical Mathematics Student: Joseph Wallace

Outstanding Theatre Appreciation Student: Avery Harvey

Outstanding Trigonometry Student: Lai T. Cao

Outstanding Western Civilization Student: Benjamin Pack

Outstanding World Literature Student: Amber Neault

Career Technical programs

Outstanding Automotive Student: Chris Hagler

Outstanding Automotive Student: Esteban Garcia

Outstanding Baking and Pastry Student: Esmeon Saul

Outstanding Barbering Student: Jirtavius S. Cox

Outstanding Barbering Student: Yuritzi Talavera

Outstanding Business Technology Student: Charlena Tell

Outstanding Computer Networking Technology Student: Johnathan Martinez

Outstanding Computer Networking Technology Student: Ethan Reed

Outstanding Computer Programming Technology Student: Nicholas Woody

Outstanding Computer Programming Technology Student: Nicholas Warnick

Outstanding Cosmetology Student: R’landria Hendrix

Outstanding Cosmetology Student:: Brooke S. Powers

Outstanding Culinary Arts Student: Kathryn Britt

Outstanding Culinary Arts Student: Shaquana Chandler

Outstanding Diesel Student: Maxwell Brooks

Outstanding Drafting and Design Student: James “JT” Shackelford

Outstanding Electrical Student: Kelvin D. Ross

Outstanding Golf/Recreational Turf Management Student: Jackson Aldridge

Outstanding Hotel and Restaurant Management Student: Sirbrano Dixon

Outstanding Landscape Management Technology Student: Logan Medlock

Outstanding Marketing Management Technology Student: Abigail Hardy

Outstanding Network Security Technology Student: Jada Lark

Nursing and Health Sciences programs

Outstanding Associate Degree Nursing Student: Nyla Green

Outstanding Associate Degree Student: Caralyne Adair

Outstanding Associate Degree Nursing Student: Santeuana Miller

Outstanding Associate Degree Nursing Student: Anna Dowdy

Outstanding Associate Degree Nursing Student: Bridgette Moen

Outstanding Emergency Medical Technician Student: Earlie Davis

Mississippi Nurses Foundation Scholarship recipient: Zabasjia Prices

Outstanding Practical Nursing Student: Jasmine Woods

Outstanding Practical Nursing Student: Jalesiya Harris

Outstanding Surgical Technology Student: Veronica Mullins

Student ambassadors

Student Ambassadors on the Golden Triangle campus were also recognized. They are Ada Anderson, Ashlin Free, Austin Avent, Charles “Levi” Cantrell, Chole Latham, Fabian Fuentes, Jack Orgeron, Jenna Ballard, Johnathan James, Kailey Turner, Karmin Madison, Kennedy Bell, Korie Stallings, Madison Petty, Matthew Davis, Matthew White, Ruben Flowers, Shakyrah Mullen, Terrance Lodan, Xavier Bacallao, and Zariah Lee.

Phi Theta Kappa

Dr. Brian Tesch also recognized Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society All Mississippi Academic Team members Emma Morgan (first team) and Linden Stelioes-Wills (second team). Morgan is also the recipient of the Phi Theta Kappa Guistwhite Scholarship.

Student Government Association

Officers of the Student Government Association on EMCC’s Golden Triangle campus were also recognized during Awards Day. They are Shakyrah Mullen, president; Emma Morgan, vice president; Katherine Allen, historian; William Sanders, representative; Mikaela Carpenter, representative; and Ashton Williams, representative.