Outstanding students recognized at Awards Day ceremony
By: Mike Gavin
Published: May 14, 2025
SPINDALE (May 1, 2025) – Dozens of Isothermal Community College’s finest students were praised for their exceptional academic efforts this week.
The annual Awards Day ceremony was held on Thursday, May 1, at the Performing Arts and Conference Center. Dr. Margaret Annunziata, the college’s President, welcomed the audience of students, friends, family, faculty and staff.
This year’s Academic Excellence Award went to Weston Smith. The award is the highest honor given to an Isothermal student each year.
Special recognition was also given to José Díaz Avilés, the student who was the college’s nominee for the Dallas Herring Award, a prestigious state-level honor. Lacey Arrowood was recognized as the nominee for the North Carolina Community College System’s Gov. Bob Scott Student Leadership Award. The William V. Lee Scholarship for a student in the field of criminal justice was awarded to Beth Sprouse. The Powers Merit Scholarship was presented to Daniela Byers.
Members of this year’s Student Government Association were also recognized and thanked. They are: Casey Lyda, William " Bryant" Thomas, Carter Baldwin, Delfina Sebastian Carrillo, Zoe Shehan, Francisco Chavez, Tony McKinney, Chloe Bloom, Janell Eyler, Brayden McPeters and Alex Cook.
Many other awards were given that evening, each to a student who has distinguished himself or herself in their academic endeavors. The Learning College Student of the Semester Awards were presented by Dr. Greg Thomas, vice president of Academic and Student Affairs. The program awards were presented by the faculty members who nominated the various students.
The awards were presented to:
Students of the Semester
Lily Ayers - Polk Early College High School
Tara Eckmann - Occupation Education, Certified Nursing Aide Program
Karen Gaffney - Basic Skills/College & Career Readiness
Ashlyn Lopez – College & Career Readiness
Addison Sophia Wilkie - Arts & Sciences, Career and College Promise, College Transfer Pathway
Kimberly Gibson - Occupational Education, Rutherford Campus
Skylar Crumpton – Applied Technologies, Career and College Promise, Career Technical Pathway Business Sciences
Kallie Brooks – Health and Public Services
Bill Hamby –Rutherford Early College High School
Thierry Wieland-Crowe – Arts & Sciences
Pryce A. Dellinger – Health and Public Services
Brittany Jones – Health and Public Services
Lily Gosnell – Health and Public Services, Career & College Promise, Career Technical Pathway
Lily Huffman – Applied Technologies
Jordan Keller – Arts & Sciences
Tyra Martin – Applied Technologies
Mitchell McCraw – Applied Technologies, Applied Sciences and Engineering Technology
Tyra Martin – Applied Technologies, Business Sciences
Joshua Vickers – Arts & Sciences
Departmental Outstanding Students
Arts and Sciences
Valerie Evans
Miriam Mills
Zoe Shehan
Applied Sciences and Engineering Technologies
Molly Mattox
Angela Miller
Health and Public Services
John Staley
Martha Wilson
Program Awards
Self-Enrichment Award: Natalia Zaikina
Astronomy - Emily Suhy
General Physics - Valerie Evans
College Physics - Abigail Fisher
Biology - Abigail Fisher
Pre-Allied Health - Kearah Carson
General Chemistry - Jordan Keller
Freshman English - Annabelle Nguyen
Sophomore English - Katie Mullet
Public Speaking - Charley R. Dusenbury
Humanities - Madison L. Arrowood
Mathematics - Dania Elkout
Sociology - Riley Williams
Spanish - José Díaz Avilés
Economics - Callista Bailey
Agribusiness Technology - Allie Justice
Business Administration - Lois Angyal
Equine Business - Wendy G. Kursch
Information Technology - June Webb Hardin
Medical Office Administration - Tina Moss
Associate Degree Nursing - Kathryn Smith
Practical Nursing - Carolyn Duncan
Associate of Arts Teacher Preparation - Cameran Wells
Early Childhood Education - Justin L. Davis
Cosmetology Program - Nicola Bridges
Esthetics - Stacey McMurry
Criminal Justice Technology - Savannah Morrison
Dental Assisting - Valerie Jackson
Human Services Technology: Animal-Assisted Interactions - Amanda Mastanduno
Advertising and Graphic Design - Railey Kay Vandyke
Computer-Aided Drafting Technology - Bethany Padgett
Audio & Video Production Technology - Annika Knudson
Building Construction - Pam Oaks
Computer Engineering Technology - Braden R. Smoak
Electronics Engineering Technology - Zuriel Ramirez Chavez
Welding Technology - Haley Lail
NCCCS Academic Excellence Honorable Mentions:
Cheyenne Byrd
June Hardin
Kailah Ruppe
Dallas Herring Achievement Honorable Mentions:
Neil Williams
Angela Miller
Sonja Moore
