DECATUR, Ga.—Georgia State University Perimeter College honored 21 students during the annual Student Academic Recognition (STAR) Awards ceremony for their academic and service excellence, leadership and community involvement.
Also honored during the April 21 virtual ceremony were students receiving Perimeter’s top cocurricular awards, representatives of the Student Club or Organization of the Year, and faculty and staff members receiving the Academic Advisor of the Year and the Advisor of the Year awards.
“Each of our award recipients represents the 'best of the best,' and it is an honor to have the opportunity to recognize them, especially during these challenging times,” said Dr. Nancy Kropf, dean of Perimeter College, who participated in the STAR program.
Of the students receiving STAR accolades, 18 are in the Honors College at Perimeter.
The STAR awardees are:
Afnan Abu Sarar, a biology Honors College student on the Alpharetta Campus, received the college’s top honor, the Dean’s Award. The award recognizes a student who demonstrates attributes of a leader through actions and character, including leadership in campus organizations, programs and the Perimeter College community. Abu Sarar also received the STAR award in Life and Earth Sciences. She has a perfect grade point average, is involved in the Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) Club and is an officer in the Women in STEM Experience club. She is on the President’s List and is a semifinalist for the 2021 national Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. Abu Sarar will receive the Honors Scholar and Honors Research Scholar distinctions during Perimeter’s May 11 graduation.
Awa Cisse, a biology student on the Dunwoody Campus and a semifinalist for the national Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer scholarship, received the Student Leadership Excellence Award, which recognizes a student who has made significant contributions to the Perimeter College community. Cisse was nominated for her leadership, service and growth as a peer leader in the STEM program at Perimeter and in the Peach State Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation.
Tigsty Abraha, a biology student and State Farm Scholar on the Decatur Campus, received the Outstanding Honors College Student Award. The award recognizes a high-achieving, intellectually curious student in the Honors College who has demonstrated the highest commitment to academic achievement.
Pamela King, a health sciences Honors College student on the Newton Campus received the Service Excellence Award, which recognizes a student that has initiated and/or actively engaged in a community service project that offers direct service to a community external to Perimeter College. King, a mother of five, has volunteered more than 1,000 hours at Piedmont Hospital and local clinics.
Zeytun Yahaya Tobeyubo, a biology Honors College student on the Clarkston Campus, was named the Student Scholar for Outstanding Research. The award recognizes a student who has been engaged in a research project during his or her time at Perimeter, shows integrity in adhering to research protocol and has sought ways to share the findings of that research. Tobeyubo is collecting data on women’s preventative health in the Clarkston refugee community with the help of community partner Grace Village.
Paula Gil Corredor, an engineering Honors College student, received the “GRIT” Award. The award recognizes a student who faced numerous challenges during the academic year — challenges that may have prompted others to quit, to leave school or to fail.
Sharriette Finley was named Academic Advisor of the Year, given for providing outstanding service and advisement to students throughout the most recent academic year.
Dr. Salli Vargis was named Advisor of the Year for her work with Phi Theta Kappa. This award is given to someone who has provided outstanding service and advisement to a student organization.
The Panthers Activities Council (Alpharetta Campus) was named Student Club and/or Organization of the Year. Elias Brown is co-adviser of the council.
Those honored as the top student in a specific discipline are:
African-American Studies — Anita Walker
Business – Accounting — Karen Pena
Business – Business Administration — Jimmy Davis
Business – Computer Information Services — Reza Khodabakhshi
Business – Economics — Natalia Heras
Computer Science — April Breedlove
Cultural and Behavioral Sciences — Deven Millerick
Dental Hygiene — Monica Vargas
English — Erileinys Ovalles Reina
Engineering — Fardowsa Hassan
Fine Arts — Shana Jackson
History — Ezra Echols
Humanities — Terell Wright
Kinesiology and Health — Kanika “Nikki” Moorehead
Life and Earth Sciences — Afnan Abu Sarar
Mathematics — Cherine Fons
Nursing — Mary McElhannon
Physical Science — Vy Nguyen
Political Science — Gideon Melvin
Speech Communication — Theo Jackson
World Language — Ebi Poweigha
The STAR ceremony was hosted by Dr. Cynthia Lester, associate dean of academic affairs at Perimeter, and Dr. Lauri Goodling, associate dean of the Honors College at Perimeter. It was streamed live on Perimeter’s website and on Facebook.
Assisting in presenting the awards were members of Perimeter College’s Board of Advisors: Dr. Karen J. Head, Brian J. Lovell and Victoria N. Prevatt.
View a recording of the virtual event and read more about the awards and recipients.
Photo: Afnan Abu Sarar, a biology Honors College student on the Alpharetta Campus, received Perimeter College’s top honor, the Dean’s Award, during the April 21 Student Academic Recognition (STAR) Awards ceremony. Photo by Bill Roa