Motlow State Hosts 2025 Awards Ceremony
May 13, 2025
Motlow State recently hosted the Academic Honor Awards Ceremony on the Smyrna campus. Graduating students in the Honors Program, in Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), in Psi Beta, and on the Presidential Honors List received stoles or medallions to wear at the 2025 Commencement Ceremony to symbolize their commitment to academic excellence at Motlow.
Dr. Meagan McManus, Vice President for Academic Affairs, opened the ceremony by stating that the students being recognized made themselves the cream of the crop by going the distance to learn, achieve, inquire, and succeed. Their excellence inside and outside the classroom marks them as leaders, and the Academic Honor Awards Ceremony exists to celebrate their present achievements and the beginning of their bright futures.
The event was organized by the Academic Affairs department, including Dr. McManus; Leah Seier, Administrative Secretary; and Stacy Hearn, Manager of Academic Operations.
According to Dr. Verdin, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, “Our Honors celebration recognizes outstanding individuals who have demonstrated not only excellence in scholarship but a deep commitment to leadership, service, and personal growth. Their accomplishments reflect the values of our college and the strength of our academic community. On behalf of Academic Affairs and the whole Motlow community, we are proud of their hard work and inspired by their potential to shape the future. We congratulate them for their great achievement!”
The PTK and Psi Beta Honor Societies as well as the Honors Program exist to give students experiential learning and leadership opportunities that help them turn knowledge into wisdom and take learning beyond the classroom. These students maintained high grade point averages and applied themselves inside and outside the classroom to earn this recognition. Students on the Presidential Honors List received recognition for achieving a perfect 4.0 GPA on a four-point scale, which is evidence of their commitment to learning and success.
PTK Advisors Gregg Garrison, Dayron Deaton-Owens, Rob Wanamaker, Misty Griffith, and Dr. Dawn Copeland as well as Psi Beta Advisors Dr. Stephen Guerin and Kate Hayes fostered the growth and development of many of these students, helping them to apply their academic and leadership skills.
Three students received additional recognition for taking their achievements a step further. Emily Webber was presented the Honors Academic Achievement Award as she was enrolled in more Honors classes than any other graduating student. The Honors experience provides co-curricular and extracurricular learning opportunities, Honors Program and academic program advisement, and community responsibility through service projects. Webber’s dedication to the program is evidence of her desire to work hard, value of personal growth, and pursuit of knowledge.
Students Aslan Belk and Elizabeth Klemz were recognized for being selected for the PTK All-USA Academic Team Scholarship. Members of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society who receive this $5,000 scholarship must have a GPA of at least 3.5 and go above and beyond in their academic achievements and contributions to society. These students will be able to apply this scholarship to the next step in their educational journeys so that they can continue being academic and societal leaders in their communities.
View the full list of students honored as well as the awards they received by visiting Motlow.edu/belong/awards/. Browse through the ceremony photos by visiting our photo gallery at facebook.com/MotlowStateCC/.
Motlow is proud that so many students apply themselves inside and outside the classroom to make their communities and the College a better place. These students prioritize academic excellence in their studies and earned their awards through many hours of perseverance.