Chancellor's Scholars for 2009 presented at Student Honors Ceremony

April 23, 2009 -- At the Student Honors Awards ceremony on Monday, April 13, the Chancellor's Scholars for the 2008-09 academic year were announced. Each year during Convocation of Scholars Week, academic excellence is recognized by asking each college within the university to recommend students for Chancellor’s Scholars awards.


From left, Amy McKinney, Lacey Ray, Cecily Kennemore, Paulina Korobova, Kevin Keen, Jonathan McCord, Daniel Rickman, and Preston Campbell. Nikolas Alsup and Vanessa Williams are not pictured.

The Chancellor’s Scholar award is presented yearly to the graduating senior in each college who holds the highest overall grade point average and a minimum of 60 credit hours at ASU.  Those who graduated at the December 2008 Commencement were also eligible. This year's Chancellor’s Scholars are as follows:

Jonathan McCord from the College of Agriculture and Technology graduated in December 2008 with a major in plant science and an emphasis in agronomy, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture.  A native of Caraway in Craighead County, he was named to the President's List each semester throughout his college career, was named 2008-09 Outstanding Graduating Senior for Plant Science in the College of Agriculture and Technology, and graduated summa cum laude in December. He is the son of John and Bonnie McCord of Caraway.

Daniel Rickman from the College of Business graduated in December 2008 with a Bachelor of Science degree in management and logisitics.  He was selected to be the December graduation speaker, was a section leader for the ASU Marching Band, and was invited to speak at education and transportation conferences with his faculty advisor.  A native of Bono in Craighead County, Daniel is the son of David and Karen Rickman of Bono.

Cecily Kennemore from the College of Communications is a journalism major and will graduate at Commencement on May 9 with a Bachelor of Science degree. A native of Paragould in Greene County, she has played violin in the ASU Orchestra along with being an arts and features writer for the ASU student newspaper, The Herald. She was selected for induction into Kappa Tau Alpha, the journalism honor society. She is the daughter of Frank and Barbara Kennemore of Paragould.

Preston Campbell from the College of Engineering is a native of Des Arc in Prairie County, and will graduate on May 9 with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering.  While at ASU-Jonesboro, he was a member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, served as ASU student chapter vice president for the American Society of Civil Engineers and received the College of Engineering Outstanding Statics Student Award for Spring, 2007. He is the son of Keith and Paula Campbell of Des Arc. 

Nickolas Alsup from the College of Fine Arts graduated in December 2008 with a Bachelor of Music degree in keyboard performance.  He received honorable mention in the South Central Division of the 2007-08 Music Teachers National Association Senior Piano Competition, won second place in the senior piano division of the 2007 Beethoven Club Young Artist Competition, and was selected by the ASU College of Humanities & Social Sciences for the 2008 Outstanding Student of German award. A native of Harrisburg in Poinsett County, he is the son of Douglas and Lorey Alsup of Harrisburg.

Paulina Korobova from the College of Humanities & Social Sciences will graduate on May 9 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. In keeping with her major, she was a volunteer in the Iowa Caucuses during last year's election cycle. She was the 2008 president of Pi Sigma Alpha national political science honor society, and she serves as the official translator for the Russian Triathlon Foundation. She is the daughter of Anatoly Korobova of Moscow, Russia, and Tatiana Bell of Jonesboro.

Amy McKinney from the College of Nursing & Health Professions, a native of Jonesboro in Craighead County, will graduate on May 9 with a Bachelor of Science degree in communication disorders.  She was elected vice president of the ASU chapter of Phi Kappa Phi, the oldest and most prestigious multidisciplinary honor society at ASU, and was selected by Phi Kappa Phi to serve on the national Student Leadership Conference for 2009 and 2010. She has also been selected to be a Program Scholar in the Communication Disorders program during Convocation of Scholars Week. She is the daughter of Dave and Carla McKinney of Jonesboro.

Kevin Keen of Marmaduke in Greene County is one of two representatives of the College of Sciences & Mathematics. He will graduate on May 9 with a Bachelor of Science degree in wildlife ecology and management. He has been named to the president's list each semester since his freshman year in the Fall of 2005. He received the Delta Waterfowl Wyatt Smith Memorial Scholarship in 2008, and has served as vice-president of the ASU chapter of the Wildlife Society from 2008 to the present. Kevin is the son of Scott Keen of Brookland and Kim Keen of Walnut Ridge.

The College of Sciences & Mathematics also recognizes Lacey Ray from Jonesboro in Craighead County. She will graduate on May 9 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in chemistry. Lacey was named to the Chancellor's List each semester and served as president of the Pre-Pharmacy Club in 2007-08. She is the daughter of Timothy and Kathy Ray of Jonesboro.

Vanessa Williams from University College graduated in December 2008 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.  She is a first generation college student and graduated magna cum laude. She served as a senior advisory board member and will be an upcoming graduate advisor for the Circle of Trust. A native of Little Rock in Pulaski County, Vanessa is the daughter of Vicky Williams of Little Rock. 
 

###