Jonesboro, AR — (Contributed) — May 5, 2025 — The most outstanding graduating students in the College of Liberal Arts and Communication were recognized during Arkansas State University’s Convocation of Scholars, according to Dr. Cherisse Jones-Branch, dean of the college.

Andrew Williams of Jonesboro received the Chancellor’s Scholar award for the highest GPA in the college.

Williams and nine other individuals are recipients of the 4.0 Scholar award. They are Emily Brannon of Brookland, Katelyn Farish of Jonesboro, Savanna Harvey of McRae, Rachel Mooneyham of Jonesboro, Liam van Putten of Netherlands, Rachel Rudd of Beebe, Savannah Sandage of Batesville, Taylor Abernathy of Jonesboro and Montana Shelley of Fisher.

The Chancellor’s Scholar is the 4.0 student with the most credit hours at A-State.

The departmental award recipients and their respective degree programs are (by department):

Art + Design

  • Charlotte Mobley of Memphis, Bachelor of Arts (BA), art history;
  • Sarah Purcell of Paragould, Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), emphasis in studio art;
  • My Huyhn of Vietnam, BFA, graphic design; and
  • Eugene R. Ford of Wilson, Bachelor of Science in Digital Technology (BSDT), emphasis in game design.

Communication

  • Rachel Mooneyham of Jonesboro and Olivia Farish of Jonesboro, Bachelor of Science (BS), strategic communication;
  • Amber Yates of Salem and Christina Smith of Cabot, BA, communication studies;
  • Victoria Agbo of Nigeria, Master of Arts (MA), communication studies;
  • Emma Sue Anderson of Benton, BS, strategic communication (A-State Online);
  • Shira M. Kelley of Rockport, BA, communication studies (A-State Online);
  • Raine Leigh Holly of Benton, Master of Science (MS), strategic communication (A-State Online); and
  • Gia Antoinette Eason of Richmond, Texas, MA, communication studies (A-State Online).

English, Philosophy and World Languages

  • Montana Shelley of Fisher and Taylor Abernathy of Jonesboro, BA, English;
  • Joshua Thomas of Paragould, Bachelor of Science in Education (BSE), English;
  • Gavin Jimenez of Jonesboro, BA, philosophy;
  • Savannah Sandage of Batesville, BA, world languages-global studies;
  • Avani Reynolds of Maumelle, BA, world languages-Spanish;
  • Cameron Simmermon of Jonesboro, MA, English; and
  • Mikayla Jones of Tuckerman, MSE, English education.

Government, Law and Policy

  • Elizabeth England of Piedmont, Mo., BA, political science;
  • Jacob Strawn of North Little Rock, MA, political science; and
  • Christopher Kennon of Greenwood, Master of Public Administration (MPA);

History

  • Liam van Putten of Netherlands, BA, history;
  • Emily Brannon-Fletcher of Brookland, BSE, social science; and
  • Jared Allinson of Bryant, MA, history.

Media and Journalism

  • Shelby Russom of Paragould, BS, multimedia journalism;
  • Rachel Rudd of Beebe, BS, creative media production;
  • Sujita Karki of Nepal, Master of Science in Mass Communications (MSMC); and
  • Karlee Swartz of Hartman, MS, media management.

Sociology and Criminology

  • Jacob Bayer of Grandview, Texas, BA, criminology; and
  • Rachel Tolbert of Arlington, Tenn., BA, sociology.

Theatre

  • Emily Provence of Searcy, BA, theatre, musical theatre emphasis;
  • Baylor McElhaney of Benton, BA, theatre, general emphasis; and
  • Skylar Craig of Bay, BA, theatre, design technology emphasis.