GGC students, faculty and staff honored at academic convocation

Outstanding students, faculty and staff were celebrated at Georgia Gwinnett College‘s annual academic convocation ceremony yesterday afternoon.
“Academic convocation recognizes individuals who embody GGC’s four core values of scholarship, leadership, service and creativity,” said Dr. Lois C. Richardson, interim senior vice president of Academic and Student Affairs and provost. “The ceremony also celebrates GGC’s mission and vision.”
The ceremony featured remarks by Dr. Dovile Budryte, professor of political science and recipient of the 2014 USG Board of Regents’ Teaching Excellence Award, in addition to GGC’s Outstanding Teaching Award. Speaking on behalf of students was Chase Goodwin, president of the Student Government Association.
The convocation ceremony also includes presentations of faculty professorships. A posthumous professor award was presented to Dr. Barry Biddlecomb, dean of the School of Transitional Studies, who passed away recently after a battle with cancer. His wife, Dr. Marty Carr, accepted the award on his behalf.
Award winners included:
Faculty awards
Outstanding Teaching Award – Dr. Dovile Budryte, professor of political science
Outstanding Scholarship and Creative Activities – Dr. Peter Meso, associate professor of information
technology
Outstanding Faculty Service – Dr. Kamal Kakish, assistant professor of information technology and
assistant dean, School of Science and Technology
Outstanding Part-time Faculty Teaching – Maria “Maribel” Fernandez, instructor of biology
Outstanding Student Engagement – Dr. Nannette Napier, associate professor of management information
systems and decision sciences
Staff awards
Outstanding Staff - Betty Wood, administrative assistant, School of Science and Technology
Outstanding Staff - Rod Reilly, photographer/videographer, Office of Public Affairs
Student awards
Outstanding Student, Service - Chris Lacroix, Lawrenceville
Outstanding Student, Leadership - Cindy Valenzuela, Suwanee
Outstanding First-Year Student - Joshua Bledsoe, Dacula
Outstanding Student, School of Transitional Studies - Christian Blas, Cumming
Outstanding Student, School of Liberal Arts - Grace Hicks, Buford
Outstanding Student, School of Business - Matthew Darrow, Lilburn
Outstanding Student, School of Education - Robin Frick, Lilburn
Outstanding Student, School of Science and Technology - Jessie Ashworth, Buford
Outstanding Student Employee - Gao Chia Vang, Lawrenceville