Photo Feature provided by Steve Latham

Traditional Academic Excellence Awards Presented to Honorees
of JSU's Spring 2008 Class

Recipients of the traditional academic excellence awards presented to qualifying students in JSU's Spring 2008 Class pictured here, from left to right with JSU's President, are President Bill Meehan; Robert Brooks, recipient of the General John H. Forney Award; Hannah Rea, recipient of the Annie Forney Daugette Award; and David Michael Robbins, recipient of the Dr. Clarence William Daugette Award.  Not pictured here is Whittany A. Hodnett, recipient of the Mary C. Forney Award.

Corresponding with each graduating class, awards are presented to students graduating with the highest grade point average in selected fields of study as set up by the donors of this award who are members of the Forney-Daugette legacy linking this family intrinsically to the University's heritage. Annual perpetual scholarships for outstanding seniors were established by COL and Mrs. C.W. Daugette, Jr.  COL Daugette was a member of the original Jacksonville State University Board of Trustees, serving as chairman for a number of years. Accordingly, four awards are presented in the namesake of distinguished family members of this legacy to reward academic excellence. Recipients of these awards recently honored in JSU's Spring 2008 Class are cited below.

DR. CLARENCE WILLIAM DAUGETTE AWARD - Established in the namesake of a male member of this prominent family who served as the university's president from 1899 to 1942 (43 years) and was recognized for his leading role in the school’s eventual transformation to university status, this award is designated for the male graduate with the highest grade point average. This year's recipient is David Michael Robbins, of Boaz, AL who attained a perfect 4.0 GPA and graduated summa cum laude with Special Honors in Chemistry. Mr. Robbins was awarded the Bachelor of Science degree. As a recipient of this award, Mr. Robbins received a silver tray engraved in his honor and a certificate.

MARY C. FORNEY AWARD - Established in the namesake of a female member of this prominent family, this award is designated for the most outstanding female graduate in education. This year's recipient is Whittany A. Hodnett, of Lanett, AL who attained a perfect 4.0 GPA and graduated summa cum laude with Special Honors in Elementary Education. Ms. Hodnett was awarded the Bachelor of Science in Education degree. As a recipient of this award, Ms. Hodnett received a silver tray engraved in her honor and a certificate.

ANNIE FORNEY DAUGETTE AWARD - Established in the namesake of a female member of this prominent family who was the daughter of the famous Confederate General John H. Forney and who became the wife of Clarence William Daugette becoming affectionately known as “the mother of the institution” by virtue of her serving as the first lady of the school, this award is designated for the female graduate with the highest grade point average in Art. This year's recipient is Hannah Michele Rea, of Jacksonville, AL who graduated cum laude with Special Honors in Art. Ms. Rea was awarded the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. As a recipient of this award, Ms. Rea received a silver tray engraved in her honor and a certificate.

GENERAL JOHN H. FORNEY AWARD - Established in the namesake of a member of this prominent family who attained the rank of General in his distinguished military career, this award is designated for the student commissioned into the United States Army with the highest grade point average. This year's recipient is Robert E. Brooks, of Cedartown, GA who received the Bachelor of Science in Education degree with a major in Secondary Education. As a recipient of this award, Mr. Brooks received a silver pitcher engraved in his honor, two silver goblets, and a certificate.

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