Black Belt natives recognized for academic achievements at universities

Black Belt natives who made academic strides in the summer sessions at their colleges and universities:

The following completed IMPACT orientation and enrolled in classes for the Fall 2024 semester at Troy University:

Maryn Bergeron of Selma

Benjamin Duran of Selma

Jack Johnson of Selma

Mackenzie King of Selma

Sariyah Shelton of Selma

Mary Carolyn Jones, of Selma is among an estimated 3,500 students graduating from Mississippi State University in spring 2025. She received the Bachelor of Science Magna Cum Laude from MSU's College of Education.

The following were named to the President's List for the Spring 2025 academic semester at the University of West Alabama:

Kaylee Jimenez of Selma, majoring in Accounting

Riyan Sewell of Selma, majoring in Integrated Marketing Communications

The following were named to the Provost's List for the Spring Semester at Troy University: 

Adrionna Powell of Selma

Alexis Martin of Selma

Knile Davis of Selma

These University of Alabama students were sworn into the 2024 Student Government Association: 

Frank Parsons of Montgomery

Jeffery Ford of Montgomery

Mia Johnston of Montgomery

Kalen Early of Demopolis, Aliah Hill of Montgomery, Atchison Hubbard of Montgomery, Anna Lonergan of Linden, and James Simpler of Montgomery were all named to the dean's list for the fall 2023 semester at Samford University's Cumberland School of Law.

The following were selected as Mississippi State University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences:

Caroline Parkman, a senior finance major from Montgomery.

Paxton Westbook, a senior animal and dairy science major from Pine Hill.

Helen Oglesby, a senior agricultural education, leadership and communication major from Lowndesboro.

The following were named to the dean's list at Samford University:

Julia Foley of Pike Road

Kaylee Gill of Pike Road

Ashton White of Pike Road

Addison Ratliff of Montgomery

Nykia Caldwell of Montgomery

Destiny MacCarthy of Montgomery

Molly Mitchell of Montgomery

Frances Weissend of Montgomery

Anna Renner of Montgomery

Emma Broach of Montgomery

Danielle James of Montgomery

Lilla Parkman of Montgomery

Elizabeth Hughes of Montgomery

Lauren Pace of Montgomery

Melissa Pace of Montgomery

Daniel Bettis of Montgomery

William Chittom of Selma

Taylor Moore Jones of Dixons Mills

The following graduated Mississippi State University in Fall 2023:

Sofia Nail, of Marion, AL, received a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts Summa Cum Laude from MSU's College of Arts and Sciences.

Bryant Gordon, of Furman, AL, received a Bachelor of Science from MSU's College of Education.

Carli Lewis, of Uniontown, AL, received a Bachelor of Science from MSU's College of Arts and Sciences.

Tavian Brown of Demopolis and Jada McCall of Montgomery were named to the Fall 2023 Dean's List at Georgia State University.

Linda Hill and Emma Randall, both of Montgomery, were named to the dean's honor roll list at the University of Mississippi. 

The following were named to the chancellor's honor roll list at the University of Mississippi:

Miller Williams, of Montgomery

Elizabeth Bender, of Camden

Sanders Pierce, of Montgomery

Anna Floyd, of Montgomery

Haley Brightwell, of Cecil

Phoebe Miller, of Montgomery

Laura Strickler, of Montgomery

These students have been named to the fall 2023 Deans' List at Mississippi State University: 

Erin Kennedy, of Pike Road, Dalton Washington, of Montgomery, Blakeney Tally, of Gallion, Kristen Killcreas, of Pike Road, and MaryCollin McDuffee, of Montgomery.

These students were named to the fall 2023 President's List at Mississippi State University:

Trevor Haney, of Hope Hull, AL

Gray Brendle, of Montgomery, AL

Mary Carolyn Jones, of Selma, AL

Karly Mims, of Demopolis, AL

Madison Smith, of Thomaston, AL

Jessie Blaine, of Pike Road, AL

Alexis MacCarthy, of Montgomery, AL

Rachel Johnson, of Selma, AL

Helen Oglesby, of Lowndesboro, AL

Riley Newton, of Magnolia, AL

Sarah Arnold, of Pine Hill, AL

Lilly Norris, of Sweet Water, AL

Kayli Walker, of Sweet Water, AL

Maggie Thompson, of Sweet Water, AL

The following graduated from the University of Alabama's fall 2023 commencement at Coleman Coliseum.

Tatyana Alexander of Thomaston. Alexander received the following degree(s): Bachelor of Arts.

Kenneth Bell of Montgomery. Bell received the following degree(s): Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering.

Megan Boswell of Montgomery. Boswell received the following degree(s): Bachelor of Science.

Simone Brown of Pike Road. Brown received the following degree(s): Bachelor of Science in Education.

Leonard Carpenter of Montgomery. Carpenter received the following degree(s): Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering.

Amelia Collins of Montgomery. Collins received the following degree(s): Bachelor of Science in Education.

Alexis Davis of Selma. Davis received the following degree(s): Bachelor of Social Work.

Destiny Davis of Selma. Davis received the following degree(s): Bachelor of Science in Education.

Carine Djuidje of Pike Road. Djuidje received the following degree(s): Doctor of Nursing Practice.

William Eagerton of Montgomery. Eagerton received the following degree(s): Bachelor of Science in Commerce & Business Administration.

Lucy Edwards of Montgomery. Edwards received the following degree(s): Bachelor of Science.

Sherreil Edwards of Valleygrande. Edwards received the following degree(s): Bachelor of Science.

Tyler Elliott of Selma. Elliott received the following degree(s): Bachelor of Arts in Communication & Information Sciences.

Austin Hanover of Pike Road. Hanover received the following degree(s): Bachelor of Science in Commerce & Business Administration.

Alyson Heath of Camden. Heath received the following degree(s): Bachelor of Science.

Patrick Ivey of Marion. Ivey received the following degree(s): Bachelor of Arts in Communication & Information Sciences.

Trinity Jackson of Montgomery. Jackson received the following degree(s): Bachelor of Arts.

Katherine Johnston of Montgomery. Johnston received the following degree(s): Bachelor of Arts in Communication & Information Sciences.

Pamela Kangelos of Pike Road. Kangelos received the following degree(s): Educational Specialist.

Opal Khotsombath of Montgomery. Khotsombath received the following degree(s): Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering.

Rachel Knight of Catherine. Knight received the following degree(s): Bachelor of Science.

Arden Lieux of Montgomery. Lieux received the following degree(s): Bachelor of Arts.

Luther Lindsay of Demopolis. Lindsay received the following degree(s): Bachelor of Science in Computer Science.

Makayla Moore of Gallion. Moore received the following degree(s): Bachelor of Social Work.

William Newton of Montgomery. Newton received the following degree(s): Bachelor of Science in Human Environmental Sciences.

Christopher Oxaal of Montgomery. Oxaal received the following degree(s): Bachelor of Science in Commerce & Business Administration.

Alex Perkins of Selma. Perkins received the following degree(s): Bachelor of Arts.

Samantha Phillips of Pike Road. Phillips received the following degree(s): Educational Specialist.

Indi Robinson of Montgomery. Robinson received the following degree(s): Bachelor of Arts.

Jordan Steele of Montgomery. Steele received the following degree(s): Bachelor of Arts.

Hunter Towns of Valley Grande. Towns received the following degree(s): Bachelor of Science in Commerce & Business Administration and Bachelor of Arts.

Catina Woods Sistrunk of Montgomery. Woods Sistrunk received the following degree(s): Master of Arts.

The following were were awarded degrees as part of Jacksonville State University's Fall 2023 commencement on Dec. 15: 

Ryan Carstarphen of Montgomery, BS, Management major

Taylor Cockrell of Selma, BS, Biology major

Laletia Hale of Montgomery, BA, Integrated Studies major

Dorene Miree of Selma, MSN, Population Health major

Musina Murray of Montgomery, MSE, Spec Ed Collaborative K-6/6-12 major

Jeanesia Pierre of Montgomery, BA, Biology major

Ellejae Reynolds of Montgomery, BA, Communication major

Latesha Woods of Selma, BSN, Nursing major

Emily Foley and Macy Owen, both of Montgomery, are finalists for the 2023 Mr. and Miss Trojan Pride at Troy University.

Elisabeth Bowman of Montgomery was recently awarded a Love of Learning Award worth $1,000 from The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. Bowman is one of 200 recipients to receive the award.

Love of Learning Awards are designed to help fund post-baccalaureate professional development for active Phi Kappa Phi members including graduate or professional studies, doctoral dissertations, continuing education, travel related to teaching and research, career development and more.

Bowman, graduate student at Villanova University, will use funds from the award to complete her Ph.D. in engineering at Villanova and to support her research in sustainable engineering.

Bowman was initiated into Phi Kappa Phi in 2023 at University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Miller Williams, of Montgomery, Alabama, was recently initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society. Williams was initiated at The University of Mississippi.

Shelton Fiore of Montgomery was named to the spring 2023 dean's list at the Citadel.

Anna Weaver of Pike Road earned a place on the Dean's List for the Summer 2023 semester at Wallace State Community College.

Joshua Allen of Montgomery was named to the President's List for the Summer 2023 semester at Georgia State University.

Michelle Mccants was named to The University of Alabama Presidents List for summer semester 2023.

Leonard Carpenter of Montgomery was named to the Presidents List at the University of Alabama.

Madison Davis of Montgomery was named to the Deans List at the University of Alabama.

William Hodges of Montgomery was named to the Deans List at the University of Alabama.

Opal Khotsombath of Montgomery was named to the Presidents List at the University of Alabama.

James Newsome of Montgomery was named to the Deans List at the University of Alabama.

Naomi Patterson of Montgomery was named to the Presidents List at the University of Alabama.

Sydney Warren of Montgomery was named to the Presidents List at the University of Alabama.

Nea Washington of Montgomery was named to the Deans List at the University of Alabama.

Katherine Yelverton of Montgomery was named to the Deans List at the University of Alabama.

Penelope Diaz of Pike Road was named to the Presidents List at the University of Alabama.

Michelle Mccants of Selma was named to the Presidents List at the University of Alabama.

The following recently graduated from the University of Alabama: 

Gabriel Adams of Montgomery (36124) received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication & Information Sciences

Tyala Bonner of Selma (36703) received a Master of Arts

Nicole Brown of Montgomery (36117) received a Bachelor of Science in Commerce & Business Administration

Brenee' Crawford of Montgomery (36117) received a Bachelor of Science in Commerce & Business Administration

Makevien Eaton of Selma (36701) received a Bachelor of Science

Shaniya England of Valley Grande (36703) received a Master of Social Work

Tonya Glass of Linden (36748) received a Master of Science in Nursing

Shahriar Habib of Demopolis (36732) received a Doctor of Philosophy

Gabriel Hale of Linden (36748) received a Bachelor of Science in Commerce & Business Administration

Keaudrea Henderson of Valley Grande (36701) received a Master of Social Work

William Hodges of Montgomery received a Bachelor of Arts

Kayla Horn of Montgomery received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Brittany Jetton of Montgomery received a Bachelor of Science

Jackson Little of Pike Road received a Bachelor of Science in Education

Anne Logan of Montgomery received a Master of Accountancy

Charles-Grant McElroy of Selma received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Ny'Nika McFadden of Montgomery received a Doctor of Philosophy

Joe Moody of Montgomery received a Master of Library & Information Studies

Jaszmine Morales of Montgomery received a Bachelor of Science

Deanna Smoke of Montgomery received a Master of Arts

Julia Walker of Linden received a Bachelor of Social Work

Pearson Whitaker of Selma received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication & Information Sciences

The following UA Early College program students were named to the director's list: 

Shaan Abraham of Montgomery attends Brewbaker Technology Magnet High School.

Jessica Brown of Pike Road attends Pike Road High School.

Kennedi Cargill of Montgomery attends Booker T. Washington Magnet High School.

Jenna Chandler of Montgomery attends Montgomery Academy.

Jaida Craig of Pike Road attends Pike Road High School.

Ella Dicks of Grady attends Alabama Christian Academy.

Koby Jefferson of Pike Road attends Pike Road High School.

Lelia Kelly of Valley Grande attends John T. Morgan Academy.

Thomas Main of Montgomery attends Montgomery Academy.

Houston Markham of Pike Road attends Pike Road High School.

Caroline Mastin of Montgomery attends Montgomery Academy.

Khora Osborne of Montgomery attends Booker T. Washington Magnet High School.

Naomi Patterson of Montgomery attends Loveless Academic Magnet High School.

Toni Porter of Montgomery attends Hooper Academy.

Madison Rudolph of Montgomery attends Loveless Academic Magnet High School.

Haylon Self of Lowndesboro attends Lowndes Academy.

Ayush Singh of Montgomery attends Loveless Academic Magnet High School.

Jack Walker of Montgomery attends Ezekiel Academy.

Morgan Washington of Montgomery attends Loveless Academic Magnet High School.