FMU recognizes its top students with annual academic awards
Francis Marion University has announced the winners of its annual academic awards.
The awards, a tradition at FMU, recognize the best students in various academic areas. The awards are selected by appointed committees and the faculty of each academic department, as appropriate. Many awards recognize graduating seniors but some recipients are underclassmen.
The awards are typically presented at special ceremony during the final week of classes, but because the campus is closed by the governor’s executive ordered related to the coronavirus outbreak, no ceremony was held this year.
FMU presented five awards recognizing overall academic performance across all disciplines. Payton Russo won the Pee Dee Electric Cooperative Scholar’s Award for overall excellence. Emma Driggers won the Duane P. Myers Award, given to the top student in FMU’s honors program. Carlie Fusco won the Honors Student Advisory Council Award. Jimmy Patel received the Phi Kappa Phi Award. And Jonathan Britt and Latia Harvin were co-recipients of the Scholastic Achievement Award.
The winners of FMU’s academic department awards are categorized below.
Biology
Biology Research Award — Markel McFadden, Kingstree; Luke Fennell, Olanta
Biology Senior Award — Deannah Neupert, Florence
Outstanding Sophomore Biology Award — Landon Hardee, Johnsonville
Chemistry
General Chemistry Award — Jaleesa Perry, Sumter
Organic Chemistry Award — Anthony Ibrahim, Latta
Analytical Chemistry Award — Darian Sansbury, Hartsville
S.C. Section American Chemical Society, Outstanding Chemistry Major — Rachel Kerr, Hartsville
W.H. Brezeale Chemistry Major Award — Phillip Mickel, Beaufort; Deannah Neupert, Florence
English
English Award — Brianna Coker, Turbeville; Adara Cox, Charleston
McCrimmon Writing Award — Ethan Wasche, Florence
Playwriting/Screenwriting Award — Sha’Angel Chandler, Kingstree
Katherine S. Boling Memorial Award in Fiction — Cassidy Johnson, Columbia
Richard B. Larsen Memorial Award — Felisha Norton, Spartanburg
Robert R. Parham Poetry Award — Adeleigh Harrington, Florence
Modern Language Award — Emma Driggers, Mauldin; Jessica Haines, Lake City
Fine Arts
Peggy Love McLaughlin Art Award — Patricia Witherington, Florence
Jack W. Baker Memorial Award — Andrew Pellegri, Mount Pleasant
Theatre Arts Award — Lorna Young, Florence
Music Industry Award — Philip Sowell, Hartsville
History
History Award — Emma Driggers, Mauldin
Mass Communication
Mass Communication Award — Kaitlyn Luna, Lake City
Mathematics
Mathematics Award — Sierra Cartano, Raleigh, N.C.
Engineering & Physics
Engineering Technology Award — James Griggs, Florence
Health Physics Award — Dylan Hall, Hartsville
Computational Physics Award — Thomas Dixon, Florence
Industrial Engineering Award — McCrae Jones, Hartsville
Political Science
Eileen Kirley-Tallon Political Science Award — Austin Moody, Dillon
Neal D. Thigpen Award in S.C. Politics and Government — Mark Buyck, Florence
Dr. Jesse A. Coles Jr. Public Service Award — Hailey D. Reed, Holly Hill
Psychology
Douglas A. Mandra Memorial Award in Applied Psychology — Blake Yoder
L.A. Hoff Psychology Research Award — Kaitlyn Harndon, Conway
Mike Jordan Psychology Award — Joshua Smith, Hartsville
Sociology
Linda M. Summer Social Work Award — Kaitlyn Harndon, Conway
Sociology Award — Rhyli Burke, Florence
School of Education
Thomas W. Sills Memorial Award in Early Childhood Education — Loni Picariello, Florence
James E. Potterfield Award in Elementary Education — Emily Blackburn, Florence
School of Business
Accounting Award — Milam Chandler, Florence; Jessica Cassidy, Darlington
Computer Science Award — Aaron Fulmer, Marion
Economics Award — William Mitchum, Florence
Management Award — James Parra, Scranton
Management Information Systems Award — Ashton Kirby, Timmonsville
Marketing Award — James Parra, Scranton
Finance Award — Sierra Cartano, Raleigh, N.C.
School of Health Science
Healthcare Administration Award — Margerita Abuaita, Lake City
Undergraduate Nursing Award — Savannah Wright, Bennettsville
Graduate Nursing Award — Ryan Wilson, Myrtle Beach
Physician Assistant Award — Heather Sanders, Florence
Speech-Language Pathology Award — Alexis Coe, Florence.
