Honors Day Convocation Celebrates Student Achievement, Professor of the Year

April 6, 2015

More than 200 students from a wide range of colleges and disciplines were honored at the annual Honors Day Convocation, held at the Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, April 1. [caption id="attachment_4586" align="alignright" width="315"] Hillary Bird, University System Academic Recognition Award[/caption] Honorees included outstanding scholars with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.9 or above, new inductees of academic honor societies and the recipients of special awards from departments and colleges. Hillary Brooke Bird, a senior chemistry and biology major from Register, Georgia, won the University System Academic Recognition Award. The award is given by each of Georgia’s 31 University System institutions to an outstanding student who is then honored on Academic Recognition Day by the House of Representatives and Georgia State Senate. Bird also won the American Institute of Chemists Foundation Outstanding Senior Award. “I am extremely honored and blessed to receive the award,” said Bird. “I always strive to do my best in everything I become involved with, whether it is school, work, volunteer opportunities, research, various organizations, etc. This award couldn't have been a better gift of showing that all my hard work was noticed and did matter from the university that I have been part of and loved for the past four years.” [caption id="attachment_4584" align="alignright" width="315"] Stacia Ann Fritz, Georgia Southern University Alumni Association Award[/caption] Stacia Ann Fritz, a psychology major from Augusta, Georgia, won the Georgia Southern University Alumni Association Award. This award is annually presented to the graduating senior who has completed all work in residence, has the greatest number of hours and has attained the highest cumulative GPA. Fritz’ GPA also earned her the Psychology Award. "It was such an honor and blessing to win this award," said Fritz. "It was nice to know my hard work and dedication truly paid off, and I couldn't have asked for a better four years at Georgia Southern!" Dylan John, a senior construction management major and president of the Mock Mediation Club, delivered the Honors Day Convocation address. [caption id="attachment_4585" align="alignright" width="315"] Edward Mondor, Ph.D., Professor of the Year[/caption] The Honors Day ceremony also celebrated faculty achievement with the Wells-Warren Professor of the Year Award, a student-elected award. This year’s recipient is Edward Mondor, Ph.D., associate professor of insect ecology. “I was incredibly surprised, but also overjoyed to win ‘Professor of the Year,’” said Mondor. “As it is an award in which you are directly nominated by students, and selected by students, it means a great deal to me. As educators, we often don't realize that we have such a large impact on the lives of our students. “Thank you to Gamma Beta Phi for selecting me for this award.  And, a huge thank you to all of the students that voted for me as their favorite professor. To borrow a phrase my students taught me awhile ago, ‘Georgia Southern students are the real MVPs!’” Honors Day is held each spring, on the first Wednesday in April, to celebrate outstanding students from all disciplines and areas of college life