Georgia Southern University

While most people tend to avoid ticks, Jackson Tomlinson, a graduate student in the Department of Biology finds them fascinating and beautiful. His interest in the parasites was recently rewarded with the discovery of two species of ticks that are entirely new to science.

Lauren Wilson, a graduate student in the Georgia Southern University Department of Biology, spent the summer working as a snake specialist in Central America. Wilson joined a research team tasked with quantifying and protecting biodiversity in the forests of Cusuco National Park, Honduras. The team was organized by the conservation research organization, Operation Wallacea.

Georgia Southern civil engineering graduate student Mariah Peart has been selected by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) as one of 10 New Faces Of Civil Engineering for 2019 - Professional Edition. Engineering professor Gustavo Maldonado, Ph.D., said it's the first time a Georgia Southern student has received this recognition.

Seven Georgia Southern University Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) faculty members and 16 students in the Waters College of Health Professions recently attended and presented research at the American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana. "With more than 17,000 attendees, the conference provided exposure for the program," noted Elizabeth Varner, clinical education assistant in the University's Department of Rehabilitation Sciences. "It also offered the opportunity for continuing education about current research and best clinical practices."

Senior psychology student Staci Robinson was recently awarded the 2018 Jordan Smith Undergraduate Fellowship and represented Georgia Southern University at the 37th Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience in February. Robinson, a Reidsville, Georgia, native, is one of just five award recipients across the nation. She accepted the award in San Antonio, Texas, on Feb. 10. The conference highlighted keynote and plenary speakers focused on critical issues in higher education, colleague clusters for networking opportunities, and commercial and nonprofit exhibits offering strategies and resources to support college transitions.

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.

More than 150 outstanding high school seniors were recently invited to attend Georgia Southern University's Scholars Day in Statesboro, Georgia.

Georgia Southern University has announced its 2014 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 by serving as role models for new students, helping them register for classes, preparing them for college level academics, and informing parents about Georgia Southern services. One-hundred and thirty-nine students applied for the coveted SOAR Leader position and twenty-four were selected based on their leadership potential, work ethic,and ability to represent the university.

On Friday, October 21, Georgia Southern M.F.A. student Cyndy Epps, presented her paper, "Life Lessons in Art," at the Southeastern College Art Conference (SECAC) in Roanoke, Virginia. Cyndy was part of a panel that discussed Creating Outside the Lines: The Myths, Reality and Fantasy of Art After Children.

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:

Georgia Southern University welcomed more than 250 outstanding high school seniors from Georgia and across the U.S. for the 11th annual Scholars' Day last month. The event provided top high school students with the opportunities to interview for academic and leadership scholarships along with positions in the University Honors Program. The students are among the best and brightest at their high schools with outstanding SAT or ACT scores and GPA. Those seniors and their parents also attended information sessions to learn about engineering, nursing and education degrees along with other majors offered at Georgia Southern. Local students who participated in the event included:

Georgia Southern University's Office of Admissions has named 23 students to serve on the 2013 SOAR (Southern Orientation, Advisement, and Registration) Team. SOAR Leaders help orient new students and their families to Georgia Southern by serving as role models, helping new students register for classes, providing information to prepare them for college level academics and informing parents about University services. They were selected based on their leadership potential, work ethic and ability to represent the University. One hundred and twenty one students applied for the coveted SOAR Leader position. James Kelly, a junior marketing major from Monticello, Ga., Precious Lango, a junior exercise science major from Milledgeville, Ga., and Colleen McNally, a junior journalism major from Alpharetta, Ga., are returning for their second year as SOAR Leaders. They helped select the 2013 SOAR Team, which represents over 35 campus organizations. The following students from your area earned a spot on the 2013 SOAR Team:

Thirty-five 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:

More than 230 outstanding high school seniors were recently invited to attend Georgia Southern University's Scholars' Day in Statesboro, Ga. The University's Scholars' Day is a unique invitation-only event providing incoming students the opportunity to meet Georgia Southern President, Brooks Keel, learn more about student organizations, participate in campus and residence hall tours and interview for a variety of academic scholarships and the University Honors Program.To receive an invitation, students must score a minimum of 1200 on the SAT, or 27 on the ACT, with a strong academic average in high school courses. To receive an invitation, students must score a minimum of 1300 on the SAT, or 28 on the ACT, with a strong academic average in high school courses. Local students who participated in the event included:

Fifty-three outstanding high school seniors recently attended Georgia Southern University's second annual Southern Leadership Excellence Academics and Dedication (LEAD) Conference at its main campus in Statesboro, Ga. To be invited to the Southern LEAD Conference, students must score a minimum of 1100 on the SAT, earn a 3.0 grade point average in high school and have experience in leadership and involvement through extracurricular and volunteer experience. The participants examined student organizations, academic and student services offerings and interviewed for the Southern LEAD Scholarship. Throughout the day they attended leadership workshops, as well as toured the campus, residence halls and the Recreation Activity Center. The Southern LEAD Scholarship was established in 1999 and awards a $1,000 one-time award to 40 incoming students. LEAD scholarships are awarded to 40 students who meet the listed criteria, have experience in leadership and volunteerism, and have enthusiasm to become University leaders. The following students from your area attended the conference:

The Office of Admissions hosted Scholars' Day on April 1st. This event brought to campus around 127 of the brightest high school seniors from within Georgia as well as across the nation. The purpose of this event was for the invited students to interview for many academic scholarships, leadership scholarships and an envied spot in the University Honors Program. To be invited to the event students must have earned at least a 1200 SAT score (Math + Critical Reading only) or a 27 ACT score, and have demonstrated academic ability in the classroom. In addition to interviewing for scholarships, the students and their parents had a chance to attend many informative sessions about Georgia Southern University ranging from engineering to study abroad. The students also had the opportunity to take a picture with the University President, Brooks Keel. The following students from your area attended Scholar's Day:

Georgia Southern University has announced its 2011 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 by serving as role models for new students, helping them register for classes, preparing them for college level academics, and informing parents about Georgia Southern services. One-hundred and eight students applied for the coveted SOAR Leader position and twenty-four were selected based on their leadership potential, work ethic, and ability to represent the university.

Southern Ambassadors are enthusiastic, responsible students who proudly represent Georgia Southern University to the public by giving campus tours for prospective students and guests, hosting special recruiting events like Open House and Scholarship Weekends, attending high school college day programs and receptions, as well as assisting with various Alumni programs. The new team is made up of 50 outstanding student leaders from across the Georgia Southern Campus.