Meet JSU's Elite Eight

08/11/2015

By Katie Cline

Imagine going to college for free. For many high school students, that is the ultimate dream, but for eight outstanding seniors, that dream is about to become a reality thanks to Jacksonville State University and the Elite Honors Scholarship.

As JSU’s most prestigious academic scholarship program, Elite Honors covers all of a student’s basic necessities for four years: 16 hours of tuition each semester, books, housing, a meal plan, and a personal laptop. JSU is one of the few universities in the state that still offers such a comprehensive scholarship package, making the Elite Honors program a major recruiting tool for the university.

Since 2009, JSU has awarded eight of these scholarships a year to exceptional high school seniors in Alabama and Georgia. To be eligible, applicants must have at least a 30 on the ACT or a 1340 on the SAT and a 3.5 cumulative GPA through the 11^th grade. The 2015-2016 Elite Honors Scholarship recipients were selected in April by the Jacksonville State University Honors Board out of more than 30 outstanding applicants.

JSU would like to introduce the Jacksonville community to the seventh class of Elite Honors Scholars:

Ashley Adamson: Ashley graduated as the salutatorian of Haleyville High School’s Class of 2015 in Haleyville, Alabama. A flutist, she marched with the Haleyville Roaring Lion band and was selected for the Alabama All-State honor band four times. She intends to major in biology at JSU beginning this fall and would one day like to be a researcher working on a cure for Alzheimer’s Disease.

Sarah Dickey: Sarah graduated from Spain Park High School in Birmingham, Alabama. A percussionist, she served as drum major of the Pride of the Park marching band her senior year. She has played synth for the indoor drumline Music City Mystique and marimba for the Drum Corps International group the Sacramento Mandarins. This fall, she will play marimba with the JSU Marching Southerners. She plans to major in music education and hopes to become an elementary school music teacher.

Maxwell Erb: Maxwell, or “Max” for short, graduated as valedictorian of the Class of 2015 at Winfield City High School. He ran track and cross-country and served as a Future Farmers of America land judge for four years. He plans to major in nursing at JSU and aspires to become a nurse practitioner.

Ja’Nasia Fort: Ja’Nasia graduated as the valedictorian of the Colbert County High School Class of 2015, where she served as president of Student Council and the Future Business Leaders of America and vice president of the school’s Senior Executive Council. She was also captain of the Math Scholars Bowl team and a member of Upward Bound and the National Honor Society. She played on the Lady Indians volleyball team for five years. At JSU, she plans to major in communications and is considering a career in human rights

Jordan Lucas: Jordan graduated as valedictorian of the Childersburg High School Class of 2015, where she was a member of the Student Leadership Team, Future Business Leaders of America, Beta Club and Key Club. She served as Key Club president and as a Chamber of Commerce Ambassador her senior year. She plans to major in accounting at JSU and would like to be a forensic accountant one day.

Daniel Mayes: Daniel graduated as the salutatorian of the Fyffe High School Class of 2015, where he was a member of the Future Business Leaders of America, Robotics Team and Beta Club. He also played on the Fyffe Red Devils varsity boys’ basketball team. He said he does not know what he wants to major in, but he would like to make a difference in his community. His dream is to be the head of a professional sports franchise.

Julia McCormick: Julia graduated as valedictorian of the Bowdon High School Class of 2015 in Bowdon, Georgia. She played clarinet in the Bowdon High School Red Devil Band of Pride marching band for five years and was a member of the theatre department, National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, Future Business Leaders of America, and the math team. She intends to major in accounting or math at JSU beginning this fall and aspires to be a financial planner.

Katie Peyton: Katie graduated as valedictorian of the Cullman High School Class of 2015, where she was manager of the Cullman High School Bearcat Band for two years. Her hobbies include writing, drawing and playing piano. She plans to major in English or Spanish at JSU and would love to teach art or English to children in developing countries.

Jacksonville State University welcomes the next Elite Honors Scholars and all other students as we prepare for the 2015-2016 school year just around the corner.

Learn More About the JSU Honors Program

Editor's Note: PR writing intern Katie Cline, a JSU communication major and Jacksonville native, happens to be an Elite Honors Scholar.