College of Liberal Arts and Communication Announces Top Graduates for 2024

JONESBORO – The top graduates of the College of Liberal Arts and Communication were recognized at Arkansas State University's Convocation of Scholars, according to Dr. Brad Rawlins, interim dean.

Autumn Davila of Paragould, an instrumental music major, received the Chancellor's Scholar award for having the highest grade point average in the college.

Davila and 10 other individuals are recipients of the 4.0 Scholar award. They are Caroline Averitt of Jonesboro, Cara Bowling of McCrory, James Davis of Jonesboro, Aubrey DeFries of Jonesboro, Emily Hagood of Tuckerman, Elizabeth Hofman of North Little Rock, Macie Lowery of Coppell, Texas, Kaylee Pence of Rector, An Phan of Hue, Vietnam and Angel Stacey of Brookland.

The Chancellor’s Scholar is the student with a 4.0 GPA who has earned the most credit hours at A-State.

The college's award recipients and their respective degree programs are (by department):

Art + Design

• Cara Bowling of McCrory, Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), graphic design.

Communication

• Aubrey Decker of Jonesboro, Bachelor of Science (BS), strategic communication;
• Aubrey DeFries of Jonesboro, Bachelor of Arts (BA), communication studies;
• Abigail Mock of Maumelle, Master of Arts (MA), communication studies;
• Heidi Koger of Burlingame, Kan., BS, strategic communication (A-State Online);
• Kaliegh Garris of Jersey City, N.J., BA, communication studies (A-State Online);
• Taylor Barberis of Blue Springs, Mo., MA, communication studies (A-State Online); and
• Shelly Tye-Wilson of Searcy, Master of Science (MS), strategic communication (A-State Online).

English, Philosophy and World Languages

• Kaylee Pence of Rector and Emily Hagood of Tuckerman, BA, English;
• Mary Isabel Fodor of Cabot, Bachelor of Science in Education (BSE), English;
• Nicholas Dixon of Jonesboro, BA, philosophy;
• Veronica Rivetti of Poplar Bluff, Mo., BSE, world languages;
• Emmaline Williams of Harrison, MA, English; and
• Abby Frisby of Trumann, MSE, English education.

History

• Richard Burt of Dyess, BA, history;
• Rory Walling of Salem, BSE, social science; and
• Zane Brown of Searcy, MA, history.

Media and Journalism

• Caroline Averitt of Jonesboro, BS, multimedia journalism;
• Easton John of Kansas City, Mo., and Kayla Lindsey of Ozark, Mo., BS, creative media production;
• Jacob Wicinski of Jonesboro, Master of Science in Mass Communications (MSMC); and
• Samantha Tussel of Coppell, Texas, MS, media management.

Music

• Autumn Davila of Paragould, Bachelor of Music Education (BME), instrumental music;
• Serena Bratten of Jonesboro, Bachelor of Music (BM), instrumental performance;
• Angel Stacey of Brookland, BME, vocal music;
• Matthew Dixon of Jonesboro, BA, music; and
• Jack Ezell of Maumelle, BM, composition.

Political Science

• Ann Marie Long of Jackson, Mo., BA, political science;
• Brandon Turnbull of Hot Springs and Nathaniel Reeves of Lawton, Okla., MA, political science;
• Dean MacDonald Jr. of Paragould, Master of Public Administration (MPA); and
• Belle Landry LeBlanc of Lafayette, La., MPA (A-State Online).

Sociology and Criminology

• Mykia Depriest of Jonesboro, BA, criminology;
• Destini Blankenship of Marion, BA, sociology;
• Kayla Thomas of Rolleston, New Zealand, MA, criminology and criminal justice; and
• Christopher Pitts of Newport, MA, sociology.

Theatre

• Kaito Ito of Tokyo, Japan, BA, theatre, acting emphasis;
• Alec Lazarini of Memphis, BA, theatre, design technology emphasis;
• Destiny Johnson of Searcy, BA, theatre, general emphasis; and
• Michael Joseph of Sikeston, Mo., BA, theatre, musical theatre emphasis.