The Betty Foy Sanders Department of Art (BFSDoArt) presented its annual Juried Undergraduate Exhibition, a showcase of artwork from undergraduate students, in the Center for Art & Theatre's Contemporary Gallery from March 31 - April 7. The show offers students an opportunity to highlight their work and gain professional experience in a formal setting. Winners, selected by Augusta University's Department of Art Chairman Scott Thorp, were announced at the opening reception in March. This year's winners included: Best in Show: Katie "Xed" Blankenship, "Roach Motel" Juror's Choice: Emily Oren, "Borderline" Honorable Mention: Marian Trainor, "Fibula" Honorable Mention: Chloe Coulibaly, "Meditation" Blankenship and Oren will each receive a solo exhibition at the Averitt Center for the Art, Legends Gallery during the 2017-2018 school year. Other students with work selected for Juried 2017 were Soleil Collins, Charlynne Crutcher, Anna Currence, Allison Exley, Alex Furlough, Rikki Hagerty, Jessie Hamner, Tanner Higgs, Carter Jackson, Jennie Klabnik, Savannah Knauss, Denson McLain, Kimberly Powell Page, Keyanna Palmer, Ray Pettit, Kasey Roberts, Raegan Rowland, Allyson Schuman, Madeline Shelor, Sarah Shepherd, Virginia Skinner, Dylan Stembridge, Tanner Tracey, Stefani Waters, Shelby Whitaker, MacKenzie Willard. "The BFSDoArt is an interdisciplinary program, a fact readily apparent through the great diversity of styles, media and disciplines on display in this year's 'Juried Undergraduate Exhibition,'" said Jason Hoelscher, BFSDoArt gallery director and assistant professor. "The compelling quality of our students' work, along with the discerning eye of our visiting juror, artist and scholar Scott Thorp, combined to make this dynamite exhibition."

Senior child and family development major Salena Neuwar was named the 2016 Georgia Association on Young Children (GAYC) Student of the Year at the Together for Children Conference for her outstanding work as a student and the positive impact she has made in her field of study. To be considered for the award, Neuwar had to be a GAYC member, a student studying child development or a related field, considered an outstanding student in her program and be nominated by an instructor in higher education. In addition to the GAYC Student of the Year Award, Neuwar has been honored with the Betty Lane Family and Consumer Science Award, the Georgia Southern Honors Program scholarship and the Susie Frances Whitener scholarship.

The executive members of Georgia Southern's Interfraternity Council (IFC) recently attended the Southeastern Interfraternity Conference (SEIFC), held to provide IFC executive members from all over the U.S. with resources to enhance and improve their councils. Georgia Southern's Fraternity and Sorority Life was recognized in the top tier of Greeks nationwide for having an all Greek GPA that is higher than the all campus average GPA.

Georgia Southern University's Eagle Battalion Ranger Challenge team placed second overall at the 6th Brigade Army ROTC Ranger Challenge competition held at Camp Blanding, Florida on Jan. 21-22. Georgia Southern finished first in both the weapons assembly and night land navigation.

The 25th annual Georgia Southern Fall 2016 Commencement Ceremony represented a momentous day as approximately 1,700 of Georgia's best and brightest undergraduate and graduate students received degrees from the University's eight colleges. Approximately 400 graduate degrees were conferred, while around 1,300 undergraduate students received degrees.

Georgia Southern University recently recognized more than 2,700 students for excellence in academics on the Fall 2016 semester Dean's List. To be eligible for the Dean's List, a student must have at least a 3.5 grade point average and carry a minimum of 12 hours for the semester.

Georgia Southern University recently recognized more than 1,350 students for excellence in academics on the Fall 2016 semester President's List. To be eligible for the President's List, a student must have at least a 4.0 grade point average and carry a minimum of 12 hours for the semester.

Melissa Stack (`15), graduate student in the School of Health and Kinesiology, has been awarded a grant in the amount of $844.06 from the Graduate Student Professional Development Fund (GSPDF) at Georgia Southern University for her research, "The effect of chronic L-carnitine and carbohydrate supplementation on body composition, perceived exertion and athletic performance in female endurance athletes."

Students in the School of Human Ecology's Adventure Education class took the trip of a lifetime Oct. 21-23 when they hiked through the Great Smoky Mountains.

Nursing students from Georgia Southern's School of Nursing spent two weeks over the summer in Costa Rica participating in a yearly study abroad trip. Led by Marian Tabi, Ph.D., professor in the School of Nursing, students learned about the culture of Costa Rica through lectures, host families, site visits and service learning activities.

This August, thirteen Georgia Southern University students and faculty member, Lisa Abbott, took their production of "Do Not Open," a student devised piece, to the International Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. The show was nominated for the Fringe Sustainable Practice Award based on a review of the content of the show and responses to a questionnaire.

The Georgia Southern University Betty Foy Sanders Department of Art (BFSDoArt) recently collaborated with the Augusta University Department of Art to present "Trifecta," an exhibition juried and curated by Georgia Southern M.F.A. students Jessamy McManus and Courtney Ryan, on display at Augusta University's Mary S. Byrd Gallery of Art.

The following people recently were initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines.

Georgia Southern University has chosen its 2016 Southern's Orientation, Advisement, and Registration (SOAR) Team. SOAR Leaders help orient new students and their families to Georgia Southern during the summer SOAR sessions. Out of 122 students who applied for the coveted SOAR Leader position, 25 were selected based on their leadership potential, work ethic and ability to represent the University.

Eighteen Georgia Southern University students have been named to Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. Selected for grade point average, campus or community leadership and service, and achievement or recognition in their area of study, the students are also required to be a junior or senior. Students are nominated by the faculty, staff and student body of Georgia Southern. Local students named include:

The Georgia Southern University chapter of Phi Eta Sigma, a national honor society for college freshmen, has initiated 404 new students. To be eligible, initiates earn a minimum GPA of 3.6 while enrolled full-time. The University is proud of these high achieving students and the outstanding freshman class. Phi Eta Sigma recognizes and promotes academic and service excellence among first-year students. The oldest and largest freshman honor society, Phi Eta Sigma was founded at the University of Illinois in 1923. The honor society now has 371 chartered chapters throughout the United States. In 2010, it inducted its 1,000,000th initiate. For more information on Georgia Southern's chapter, visit http://academics.georgiasouthern.edu/fye/PhiEtaSigma.htm. The following students from your area were initiated into Phi Eta Sigma:

Georgia Southern University recently recognized 125 students for excellence in academics on the 2011 Summer Semester President's List. To be eligible for the President's List, a student must have at least a 4.0 grade point average and carry a minimum of 12 hours for the semester. The University is proud of these high-achieving students from your area: