Recognizing Excellence with Purpose: 2025–2026 Academic Awards
March 26, 2026 | 4 min read
At Florida College, the Academic Awards recognize students who have distinguished themselves through exceptional achievement in the classroom and a commitment to honoring God through their studies. Presented before the college and its community, these awards celebrate individuals who embody the ideals of a Christ-centered education—one shaped by faith, purpose, and a desire to use knowledge well.
As Dr. Tom Hamilton shared during the ceremony, “Academic excellence is, at its root, a matter of faithful stewardship,” reminding those in attendance that true achievement is not simply measured by performance, but by how faithfully each student uses the gifts God has given.
Each recipient reflects this perspective, demonstrating diligence, curiosity, and discipline while recognizing that their success is not achieved in isolation. Their growth has been shaped by the support of family, the investment of professors, and the encouragement of peers. These awards also carry forward a legacy of excellence at Florida College, placing each honoree among those who have pursued knowledge to the glory of God. At the same time, they serve as a reminder that this calling extends to every student—to develop their gifts, engage their studies with purpose, and prepare for lives of meaningful service.
Behavioral Science Award — Emeline Sink
Intent, perhaps even intense, best described Emeline Sink’s demeanor in class. She was determined to gain as much as possible from every lecture, and her engagement made her a joy to teach. She regularly asked thoughtful questions, offered insightful answers, and demonstrated a genuine curiosity about the material. Her enthusiasm for learning was evident to both peers and professors. Emeline Sink was selected as the recipient of the Behavioral Science Award for 2025–2026.
D. Phillip Roberts Award in Biblical Studies — Logan Gregory
Logan proved himself to be a conscientious Bible student, eager to take on the challenge of learning Biblical Greek and to explore the multiple contexts of the biblical texts. He consistently earned top grades and gained the respect of his peers for the seriousness with which he approached his studies. These same qualities characterized Dr. Roberts. Logan Gregory was selected as the recipient of the D. Phillip Roberts Award in Biblical Studies for 2025–2026.
Biology Award — Joshua Maxey
Joshua Maxey was selected as the recipient of the 2025–2026 Biology Award. This award recognized lower-division biology students who achieved exceptional academic performance while demonstrating a strong aptitude for understanding complex material. He proved to be insightful, bright, and highly engaged in the classroom. Having excelled in all of his biology coursework, he demonstrated both an appreciation for the field and a desire to deepen his understanding beyond that of a typical undergraduate student. Joshua Maxey was selected as the recipient of the Biology Award for 2025–2026.
Business Administration Award — Darcy Johnson
Darcy Johnson was recognized in the Business Administration program for her academic achievement, spiritual example, and demonstrated leadership among her peers. She earned a 4.0 GPA while majoring in Business and minoring in Music. Darcy exemplified a quiet, gentle, and modest spirit, pursuing her goals with determination, persistence, and confidence. She led others by example with vision, clarity, and selflessness, consistently serving others while excelling in all she did. Darcy embodied the intellectual, spiritual, and social characteristics promoted by the Florida College Business programs. Darcy Johnson was selected as the recipient of the Business Administration Award for 2025–2026.
Chemistry Award — Emily Giles
This award was presented to a second-year student who demonstrated excellence in both General and Organic Chemistry. Emily Giles showed a genuine desire to learn and actively engaged in the classroom. She answered questions with evidence of retained knowledge and asked thoughtful questions to deepen her understanding. Her positive attitude and sense of humor enriched the classroom environment. In addition to her academic excellence, Emily contributed as both a performer and a member of the FC Chorus. Emily Giles was selected as the recipient of the Chemistry Award for 2025–2026.
Communication Award — Joshua Haub
Joshua Haub excelled as a double major in Biblical Studies and Communication. He demonstrated diligence and a consistent desire to perform at a high level in all areas of study. He showed strong aptitude in oratory, rhetoric, and writing, while also excelling in both theoretical understanding and practical communication. His work was grounded in a strong knowledge of Scripture. Joshua Haub was selected as the recipient of the Communication Award for 2025–2026.
Education Award — Katherine Griffith
Katherine Griffith received the Education Award in recognition of her outstanding academic achievement and character in preparation for the teaching profession. She consistently demonstrated excellence in her coursework and a commitment to exceeding expectations in both academics and teaching internships. She approached her responsibilities with discipline, thoughtfulness, and a strong work ethic. During her internships, she demonstrated a growth mindset by seeking feedback, refining her teaching, and developing high-quality lessons. Known for her kindness and Christ-like attitude, she modeled the values essential to the teaching profession. Katherine Griffith was selected as the recipient of the Education Award for 2025–2026.
English Award — Erick Palacios
Erick Palacios demonstrated scholarly excellence and meaningful contribution to the English program and campus community. He actively participated in the spiritual life of campus, served as a tutor in the Writing Lab, and contributed as a member of the Improv Club. As a participant in the Honors program, he consistently presented thoughtful research. He also served as President of Alpha Psi Xi and preached for a Spanish-speaking congregation. His deep analysis of literature and strong devotion to Scripture distinguished his work. Erick Palacios was selected as the recipient of the English Award for 2025–2026.
Finance Award — Luke Eichhorn
Luke Eichhorn was recognized in the Finance program for his academic achievement, character, and pursuit of honorable goals. He earned a 4.0 GPA while majoring in both Finance and Business Administration. He demonstrated intellectual curiosity, academic rigor, and spiritual integrity at the highest level. Luke pursued his goals with determination, discipline, and focus, consistently exemplifying excellence in his academic, spiritual, and social commitments. He embodied the characteristics promoted by the Florida College Business programs. Luke Eichhorn was selected as the recipient of the Finance Award for 2025–2026.
Kinesiology Award — Brenin Wert
Brenin Wert distinguished himself in Kinesiology through both academic excellence and applied understanding. He demonstrated the ability to quickly grasp complex material and effectively apply it in practical and clinical settings. His intellectual curiosity and desire to deepen his knowledge allowed him to engage meaningfully with the content. His ability to translate academic learning into real-world application prepared him well for a future career in physical therapy. Brenin Wert was selected as the recipient of the Kinesiology Award for 2025–2026.
Liberal Studies Award — Mary Gainer
Mary Gainer approached learning with humility, engagement, and a consistently positive outlook. She asked perceptive questions while remaining confident and aware of the limits of her knowledge. Though quiet, she contributed thoughtfully and consistently produced high-quality work. Her academic curiosity and enthusiasm across Behavioral Science, Health Science, and Biblical Literature aligned well with the Liberal Studies path. She carried herself with dignity and strong spiritual focus. Mary Gainer was selected as the recipient of the Liberal Studies Award for 2025–2026.
Liberal Studies Award — Ella Sebree
Ella Sebree was recognized as a thoughtful, attentive, and hardworking student who consistently demonstrated excellence in her studies. She approached her coursework with intention and took initiative in selecting and investing in her academic path. She excelled in Religious Thought, Education, and Biblical Literature, while contributing positively to the learning environment through both her ability and character. Her dedication and godly example distinguished her as a recipient of the Liberal Studies Award. Ella Sebree was selected as the recipient of the Liberal Studies Award for 2025–2026.
Marketing Award — Leah Johnson
Leah Johnson was recognized in the Marketing program for her academic achievement, spiritual character, and leadership. She earned a 4.0 GPA while actively serving in leadership roles within FCBA, AMA-FC, and other student organizations. She demonstrated creativity, adaptability, and effectiveness in a variety of settings. Leah led with a quiet confidence, accomplishing complex goals with consistency and poise. She embodied the intellectual, spiritual, and social characteristics promoted by the Florida College Business programs. Leah Johnson was selected as the recipient of the Marketing Award for 2025–2026.
Mass Media Award — Reegan Burt
Reegan Burt demonstrated excellence across all aspects of her Mass Media studies. She developed strong skills in speaking, writing, audio production, video production, and social media. She consistently approached both group and individual projects with leadership, creativity, and attention to detail. She also represented the college with professionalism during two off-campus internships. Reegan Burt was selected as the recipient of the Mass Media Award for 2025–2026.
Mathematics Award — Emma Wickerham
Emma Wickerham was selected as the recipient of this year’s Mathematics Award. She earned the highest grade in Calculus I and demonstrated exceptional dependability and organization. She consistently prepared for coursework and contributed meaningfully to class discussions. Her attention to detail and commitment to excellence distinguished her performance. Emma Wickerham was selected as the recipient of the Mathematics Award for 2025–2026.
Music Award — Jacob Hart
Jacob Hart distinguished himself as one of the first graduates in the Music Industry Emphasis within the Bachelor of Arts in Music. He demonstrated academic excellence and strong performance skills, particularly in keyboard and jazz studies. He contributed to multiple ensembles, including Jazz, Unplugged, and Friends, and performed in solo recitals. He also recorded original compositions and represented the college through national tours. His dedication and talent made him a valuable contributor to the music program. Jacob Hart was selected as the recipient of the Music Award for 2025–2026.
Music Education Award — Briana Ayres
Briana Ayres demonstrated strong academic performance and teaching ability within the Music Education program. She developed a solid understanding of musical concepts and applied them effectively during her teaching internship. She showed a natural ability to connect with students and demonstrated strong interpersonal skills. Her dedication to learning and ability to meet academic challenges prepared her well for a career in education. Briana Ayres was selected as the recipient of the Music Education Award for 2025–2026.
Nursing Award — Jillian Francis
Jillian Francis demonstrated sustained academic excellence and professionalism in clinical settings. Her performance reflected strong engagement in patient care, respectful collaboration, and consistent reliability. She produced high-quality work and served as a student ambassador with maturity and leadership. Her experience as a student-athlete further demonstrated discipline and effective time management. Her commitment to serving others was evident in both academic and extracurricular involvement. Jillian Francis was selected as the recipient of the Nursing Award for 2025–2026.
Organizational Communication Award — Charlotte Wessel
Charlotte Wessel demonstrated strong character, faith, and communication ability. She excelled across the multidisciplinary demands of the Organizational Communication program, including statistics, public relations, writing, media production, and management. She also showed dedication to the study of Scripture and contributed musically through participation in chorus. Her professionalism, intelligence, and positive spirit distinguished her work. Charlotte Wessel was selected as the recipient of the Organizational Communication Award for 2025–2026.
Psychology Award — Allison Price Harvison
Allison Price Harvison demonstrated exceptional academic performance and analytical ability in psychology. Her writing and class contributions reflected depth of thought and genuine interest in the field. She grasped complex concepts quickly and communicated them clearly to others. She approached feedback with maturity and used it for growth, consistently demonstrating integrity and professionalism. Allison Price Harvison was selected as the recipient of the Psychology Award for 2025–2026.
Social Science/History Award — Matt Jensen
Matt Jensen demonstrated exemplary work in upper-division history courses. He developed a deep understanding of course material by connecting new concepts with prior knowledge. He consistently pushed beyond surface-level learning to pursue meaningful understanding of the topics he studied. Matt Jensen was selected as the recipient of the Social Science/History Award for 2025–2026.
Sport Management Award — Kyler Fox
Kyler Fox was recognized in the Sport Management program for his academic achievement, integrity, and leadership. He earned a 4.0 GPA while demonstrating excellence across spiritual, academic, and social commitments. He led with humility and consistently pursued excellence in all areas. His integrity was evident in research, communication, and service to others. Kyler Fox was selected as the recipient of the Sport Management Award for 2025–2026.
Mechanical Engineering Award — Benjamin Christian
Benjamin Christian was selected as the recipient of the Mechanical Engineering Award for excellence. He demonstrated professionalism and balance in managing responsibilities as a student, leader, and engineering intern. He maintained strong academic performance while contributing meaningfully in class discussions, often drawing from real-world experience. His positive attitude and thoughtful engagement distinguished his work. Benjamin Christian was selected as the recipient of the Mechanical Engineering Award for 2025–2026.