By Suzy Alstrin
Reinhardt University’s annual Evening of Honors, held on April 14th, spotlighted the academic excellence, achievements, and contributions of students and professors. The first of many awards presented were the Reinhardt University Academic Scholars Awards, given to juniors and seniors with a GPA of 3.9 or higher, and the Hugh Peterson Jr. Academic Scholars Award, honoring those with a GPA between 3.6 and 3.89.
Praise and applause echoed through Flint Hall as faculty leaders of each academic degree program took to the stage to present their Academic Program Awards. Next, the Deans announced the recipients of the School Student Achievement Awards. University Chaplain Grant Perry presented Reese Wise (RU-2027) with the No Greater Love Award for exemplifying selfless service to others. Vincent Varsalona (RU-2025) earned the Engaged Learner Award for his leadership both in and beyond the classroom and for his engagement with high-impact practices.
Awards to faculty included Assistant Professor of Nursing Jessica Nicoletti received the Jane England Teaching Excellence Award, while Dr. Susana Solomon, assistant professor of psychology, received the Vulcan Outstanding Teaching Award. The student body chose Joe Mullins, dean of the McCamish School of Business, for the Elizabeth Moss Bailey Faculty Mentor Award, recognizing his unwavering support and guidance.
Adding to the night’s significance, Sachi Koto (RU-2004) received the Distinguished Alumna of the Year Award in recognition of her trailblazing career in broadcast journalism and communications.
The presentation of the prestigious Student of the Year awards celebrated both a traditional and a non-traditional student: Lilly Belcher (traditional) and Madison Peterson (non-traditional). Honored for their leadership, integrity, community involvement, and service to Reinhardt, both expressed heartfelt gratitude for the faculty who helped guide them along the way.
Belcher, adopted from China and diagnosed with a learning disability, proved that perseverance and compassion can pave the way to success. With support from Reinhardt’s Academic Support Office, she transformed into a thriving A/B student, a member of the women’s soccer team, a campus ministries leader, and chief of staff for the Student Government Association.
Peterson, who lives with a hearing impairment, faced her challenges with resilience and purpose. Her commitment to education and advocacy serves as a powerful reminder that disability does not define potential — character does. With plans to pursue a master’s and doctorate in education or special education, she is determined to continue inspiring future generations through compassion, kindness, and a belief in the power of education to change lives.
Special Awards
No Greater Love: Reese Wise (RU-2027)
Engaged Learner: Vincent Varsalona (RU-2025)
Student of the Year: Traditional: Lilly Belcher (RU-2025)
Student of the Year: Non-Traditional: Madison Peterson (RU-2025)
Alumna of the Year: Sachi Koto (RU-2004)
Faculty Awards
Elizabeth Moss Bailey Award: Dr. Joe Mullins, dean, McCamish School of Business and Professions
United Methodist Exemplary Teacher of the Year: Dr. Amy Cottrill, professor of religion
Faculty Research & Scholarship Award: Dr. Christopher Robinson, assistant professor of psychology
Faculty Artistic Award: Dr. Donna Little, professor of English
Jane England Teaching Excellence Award: Jessica Nicoletti, assistant professor of nursing
Vulcan Outstanding Teaching Award: Susana Soloman, visiting professor of psychology
CITEL Innovative Teaching Award: Debby Pinion, assistant professor of education
CITEL Innovative Adjunct Teaching Award: Dr. Barbara Bishop, Price School of Education adjunct professor
School Student Achievement Awards
School of Humanities, Sciences, and Technology: Jillian Martinet
McCamish School of Business & Professions: Zach Lyle
Nursing: Megan Kate Smith
School of the Arts: Jaqueline Alexis McCone
Academic Degree Program Awards
Art/Graphic Design: Ricardo Reyes
Art/Digital Media: Celestin Chung
Biology: Sarah Bruce and Tom Vincent
Business/Accounting: Daniela Herrera and Bruno Silva
Business/BBA Online: Nicole Wallace and Timothy Stover
Business/General: Elizabeth Hamilton and Luca Boscarino
Business/Management: Ethan Keung and Evan Venable
Business/Sport Studies: Taylor Wade and Kyra Lightner
Business/Marketing: Andrew Paolozzi and Emma Fitts
Communication Arts/Media Studies: Hunter Paulsen
Criminal Justice (CJUSP): Robert Weekley and Mason Yarbrough
Cybersecurity: Rayner Sarmiento (RU-2025) and Steven Shaff (RU-2025)
Education/Elementary: Madison Peterson and Sydney Harvey
Education/Secondary Math: Abbey Craig and Macain Pharr
Education/Secondary History: Gillian Sullivan and Collin Harris
Education/Secondary English Language Arts: Phoebe Hart
Education/Middle Grades: Lilly Belcher and Jillian Martinet
English/Creative Writing: Mason Dockrey
Healthcare Administration (BHA): Rebecca Amy Wilson
History: Isabella LoBue and Nathan Napolitano
Interdisciplinary Studies: Mattie Bryant
Music Performance: Vincent Varsalona and Toni Styles
Music Education: Samuel Kopeski and Hayden Laney
Musical Theater: Jenna Gonzales and Ciera Devane
Nursing: Elizabeth Harbeke and Fern Lea McEwen
Psychology: Nina Thomas and Joshua Shackelford
Reinhardt Academic Scholars
Seniors
Sarah Bambrick
Pilar Becerra
Luca Boscarino
Celestin Ruhong Chung
Emma Grace Fitts
Amberle Johnson Godfrey
Sydney G. Harvey
Daniela Alexa Herrera
Kayla Lynn Hester
Jaqueline Alexis McCone
Andrew Nicholas Paolozzi
David Joseph Sayles
Megan Kate Smith
Jacob Daniel Sollars
Thomas Ray Vincent
Nicole Renee Wallace
Juniors
Emma Grace Barnes
Sarah Ann Bell
Matthew B. Bowman
Caitlyn Marie Cain
Ciara Nicole Devane
Pride Dyer
Courtney Noelle Foster
Connor Joseph Gibson
Caroline Grayeski
Hailey Mae Gregorich
Adam Christopher Harris
Phoebe Hanson Hart
Meekah Alexander Howell
Abigail Merchant Knight
Hayden Bryce Laney
Isabella Maria LoBue
Zachary Ryan Lyle
Braniff Kayle Mahoney
Lois Kathryn Mattock
Zane Harper May
Emma Ponkova
John Tyler Scott
Molly Anne Stevens
Kaylee Rae Traverso
Taylor Ann Wade
Hugh Peterson, Jr. Scholars
Seniors
Lilly Jin-Ying Belcher
Cole Phillip Black
Sarah Elizabeth Bruce
Shelby Danielle Darrah
Evanee Ashanti Breyiel Cooper
Holli Nicole DeBord
Mason Dockrey
Ansley Grace Evans
Daniel Scot Fountain
Caroline Lucy Goddard
Elizabeth Ashton Hamilton
Collin Christopher Harris
Lidia Jorene Herrera
Clayton Mitchell Holland
Ethan Keung
Tiffany le Roux
Kyra Camille Lightner
Tucker Andrew Lowe
Jillian Rose Martinet
Fern Lea McEwen
Alexandria Kaitlyn McPherson
John Paul Mosier
Nathan Napolitano
Ivan Patta
Hunter Paulsen
Madison Porter Peterson
Macain Levi Pharr
Rayner Sarmiento
Bruno Cesar Dewes Silva
Brooke Anne Simon
Torrie Michelle Smith
Timothy Stover
Haley Sturla
Gillian Ann Sullivan
Casey Lance Thomas
Nina Thomet
Evan Joseph Venable
Robert Franklin Weekley
Jarod Ray Whitmore
Kerion A. Williams
Mason Rhett Yarbrough
Cameron Scott Yates
Juniors
Oluwatodimu Christopher Adesesan
Jake Andrew Baratka
Maislin Anatalie Bledsoe
Nicholas Alexander Brett
Madison Louise Burdette
Cameron James Cagle
Abbey Craig
Rachel Lydia Crittenden
Kennedy Grace Davis
Zachary Robert Dixon
Tyler Forester
Makena Raine Fosdic
Eva Evelyn-Marie Freeman
Kylie Marie Freije
Ashton McCae Gilbert
Nathaniel James Grisham
Gabriel Gutierrez Mendez
Bailey Sue Hancock
Elizabeth Harbeke
Kamron Harrington
Madison Jean Hasty
Lawna Henry
Samantha Christine Hillhouse
Hailey Johnson
Cooper D. Kelly
Samuel Alexander Kopeski
Eryn Makenzie lee
Weyman Mabuya
Ryan Casey Mahoney
Molly Katherine Maresca
Pol Masafret Hernandez
Austin Mawdesley
Juan Pablo Morales
Madeline Rue Myers
Francisco Nahr
Shelby Claire Nutter
Emmanuel Olaitan
Daniela Elizabeth Rangel
Charles G. Reisman
Alejandro Sanchez Sayes
Cayleigh B. Schwartz
Wesley Thomas Sever
Sydney Dianne Spinks
Sophia St. Clair
Ryan Alex Stephens
Toni Styles
Sarah Taylor
Chloe Elizabeth Waters
Marquia Simone White
Blane Wilson
