Blazers Earn No. 1 Seed in NCAA Semifinals, Host Minnesota State Saturday at 12 p.m.
Fresh off a 49-14 victory over No. 25 Virginia Union, the No. 1 VSU Blazer football team earned the top seed in the NCAA Division II Semifinals and will host the Minnesota State University Mavericks at noon Saturday, Dec. 14, at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Fans can purchase tickets by phone at 229-333-SEAT (7328), in person at the VSU Athletic Ticket Office, or online by clicking here. Advance ticket sales will be available until 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13. Fans can purchase walk-up tickets beginning at 10:15 a.m. on game day at the stadium. National semifinals tickets are $20 for reserved seats, $12 for adult general admission, and $8 for senior citizens and youth 6 years of age and up. VSU students with a valid 1Card are admitted free of charge.
Edwards Named Finalist for Prestigious Harlon Hill Trophy
VSU senior quarterback Sammy Edwards was recently named a finalist for the 2024 Harlon Hill Trophy, which goes to the Division II College Football Player of the Year. He finished third in last year's national voting. The Harlon Hill Trophy is named for the late Harlon Hill, former University of North Alabama standout who excelled with the Lions from 1950 to 1953 before going on to fame in the National Football League with the Chicago Bears. This year's winner will be announced on Dec. 20.
Edwards, a native of Saint Augustine, Florida, was named Gulf South Conference Offensive Player of the Year this season. He graduates Saturday with a Bachelor of Science in Health Science.
The Blazers are currently the only undefeated team in NCAA Division II.
More than 1,000 undergraduate and graduate students will be recognized during Valdosta State University’s 238th commencement ceremonies on Friday, Dec. 13, and Saturday, Dec. 14.
Lindsay Strickland of McDonough, Georgia, is VSU's 2024 College of the Arts Distinguished Alumna of the Year.
Strickland earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Speech Communications in 2008.
She works at the Georgia World Congress Center Authority in Atlanta as vice president of government relations and spends much of her time at the Georgia State Capitol advocating for the convention, tradeshow, and entertainment industries, as well as supporting her alma mater.
James Powell of Maryland is VSU's 2024 Harley Landale Jr. College of Business Administration Distinguished Alumnus of the Year.
Powell earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Healthcare Administration in 2017.
He serves as the executive director of the mid-Atlantic states of Kaiser Permanente, where he oversees major clinical and nonclinical operations in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.
Erin McDill of Woodbine, Georgia, is VSU's 2024 College of Nursing and Health Sciences Distinguished Alumna of the Year.
McDill earned a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology in 2008.
She serves as client success director over the southeast region for CareATC, an employer-sponsored healthcare company.
Dr. Bronwyn Ragan-Martin of Bluffton, Georgia, is VSU's 2024 James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services Distinguished Alumna of the Year.
Ragan-Martin earned a Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction and Leadership Certification in 2006.
She has worked for the Georgia Department of Education for the past three years as the deputy superintendent of the Office of Rural Education and Innovation.
Dr. Candicee Childs of Boston, Massachusetts, is VSU's 2024 College of Science and Mathematics Distinguished Alumna of the Year.
Childs earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and a Minor in Spanish in 2017. She also earned a Certificate in Spanish for Medical Professionals during her study abroad experience at the University of Cadiz in Spain.
She is training as a resident physician in the Massachusetts General Hospital / McLean Hospital Psychiatry Residency Program affiliated with Harvard Medical School. Her aspiration is to become a child and adolescent psychiatrist.
Dr. Carolyn Allen of Valdosta, Georgia, is VSU’s 2024 College of Science and Mathematics Distinguished Alumna of the Year.
Allen earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Minor in Chemistry in 2012.
She works at North Valdosta Dental Care. She said it’s a rewarding role that allows her to connect with patients and contribute to their oral health.
DeAnnia Clements of Irwinville, Georgia, is VSU’s 2024 College of Humanities and Social Sciences Distinguished Alumna of the Year.
Clements earned a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1996.
She is president of Wiregrass Georgia Technical College.
Zach Blankenship of Savannah, Georgia, is VSU’s 2024 Graduate of the Last Decade.
Blankenship earned a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics and a Minor in Computer Science in 2021.
He plays professional baseball with the Party Animals.
Brittanye Blake of Valdosta, Georgia, is VSU’s 2024 Graduate of the Last Decade.
Blake earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Mass Media in 2019.
She is a reporter and anchor for WALB News 10 out of Albany. She primarily serves as the Valdosta Bureau reporter.
Caroline Johnson, a VSU alumna, is the new director of libraries for the six-branch, five-county Statesboro Regional Public Library System, where she began her career 11 years ago. She hopes to increase community engagement and work to ensure the libraries are meeting the needs of the people who use them.
Johnson earned a Master of Library and Information Science at VSU in 2017.
PSST Earns 50 Broadway World Award Nominations
Peach State Summer Theatre has earned a total of 50 nominations across 13 categories of the 2024 Broadway World Tallahassee Awards. Now it’s up to fans, friends, and family to decide who will win. Voting continues through Dec. 31. Winners will be announced January 2025.
Peach State Summer Theatre, or PSST, is Georgia’s premiere professional summer stock theatre. It started in 1990 as the Jekyll Island Musical Theatre Festival. In 2005, the summer theatre program relocated to the campus of VSU and was renamed PSST.
The Georgia Legislature designated Peach State Summer Theatre the Official Musical Theatre of the State of Georgia.
VSU’s Hank Rion serves as the artistic director of Peach State Summer Theatre. H. Duke Guthrie is the managing director.
The 2025 season will be announced soon.
VSU Celebrates Lighting of the Palms
VSU hosted its annual Holiday Celebration and Lighting of the Palms on Tuesday, Dec. 3. Hundreds of Blazer Nation friends and neighbors gathered on the Winter Wonderland-themed Front Lawn for the magical event. This heartwarming tradition marks the official start of the holiday season at VSU.
The Latest Blazer Sports Report
• Tremaine Jackson, head football coach, is the American Football Coaches Association Division II Region Two Coach of the Year. This is his first Region Coach of the Year honor.
• Coming off an ITA Cup National Championship in October, senior men's tennis standout Takeshi Taco is the top-ranked player in NCAA Division II heading into the spring season.
• Freshman women's soccer midfielder Maria Rojas was named Division II Conference Commissioners Association Second Team All-South Region.
• Men's basketball and women's basketball have several home games on the schedule through December and into the New Year.
• J.D. Hulse, assistant baseball coach, was named American Baseball Coaches Association / Marines Division II Coach of Year.
• Mike Helfer, men's basketball head coach, celebrates 20 years of Blazer pride.
• Cross country concluded the 2024 season at the NCAA DII South Region XC Championship. The women's team finished 13th while the men's team placed 18th.
• Senior quarterback Sammy Edwards was named Gulf South Conference Offensive Player of the Year, while head coach Tremaine Jackson was named Co-Coach of the Year and graduate defensive back Larry Elder was named Co-Defensive Player of the Year, highlighting 18 Blazer selections to all-conference teams.
• Women's soccer freshman midfielder Maria Rojas was named Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Year and earned Second Team All League honors. Junior forward Victoria Bahr also earned Second Team All Conference accolades.
• Volleyball seniors Kaia Baker and Christina Pettigrew were named to the 2024 All-GSC First Team with Baker being named the Gulf South Conference Libero of the Year. This marks the first season that a Valdosta State player has achieved a Libero of the Year award since the honor was created in 2018.
Meet Tristan Beckworth, Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration Graduate
Tristan Beckworth of Suwanee, Georgia, is the recipient of the Fall 2024 President’s Award for Academic Excellence for the Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration at VSU. He will graduate magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance during VSU’s 238th Commencement at 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14.
“After graduation, I aim to build my career in the finance industry, starting in financial analysis and progressing into asset management,” he said. “My objective within asset management is to make a meaningful impact by helping individuals achieve financial security and peace of mind as they plan for retirement.”
Meet Capri Persaud, College of Humanities and Social Sciences Graduate
Capri Persaud of Valdosta, Georgia, is the recipient of the Fall 2024 President’s Award for Academic Excellence for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at VSU. She will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Minor in Chemistry during VSU’s 238th Commencement at 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14.
Persaud plans to continue her education at the Florida State University College of Medicine in Summer 2025.
“I am excited to build upon the strong foundation I have obtained at VSU as I take the next steps toward a career in medicine,” she said.
Meet Julia Higdon, College of Science and Mathematics Graduate
Julia Rose Higdon of Orange Park, Florida, is the recipient of the Fall 2024 President’s Award for Academic Excellence for the College of Science and Mathematics at VSU. She will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Minor in Chemistry during VSU’s 238th Commencement at 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14.
Higdon plans to apply to medical school and continue with her research, as well as her volunteer and clinical work, after graduation. She hopes to become an orthopedic surgeon.
Meet Alexus Goodrum, College of Nursing and Health Sciences Graduate
Alexus Maria Goodrum of Lakeland, Georgia, is the recipient of the Fall 2024 President’s Award for Academic Excellence for the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at VSU. She will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing during VSU’s 238th Commencement at 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14.
After graduation Goodrum plans to work as an orthopedic-surgical nurse at Colquitt Regional Medical Center in Moultrie, Georgia. She hopes to eventually continue her education and become a wound care nurse practitioner.
Meet Kyle Hawthorne, College of the Arts Graduate
Kyle Thomas Hawthorne of Cairo, Georgia, is the recipient of the Fall 2024 President’s Award for Academic Excellence for the College of the Arts at VSU. He will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Mass Media and a Certificate in Sports Broadcasting during VSU’s 238th Commencement at 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14.
After graduation Hawthorne plans to move to Jacksonville, Florida, and pursue a career in sports broadcast production.
“A long-term career goal of mine is to aid in the broadcast production of various different sports throughout each year, interchanging between them all depending upon what time of year it is,” he said.
Meet Heather Craft, James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services Graduate
Heather Marie Craft of Lake Park, Georgia, is the recipient of the Fall 2024 President’s Award for Academic Excellence for the James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services at VSU. She will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Education in Workforce Education and Development during VSU’s 238th Commencement at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14.
Craft manages the Office of Procurement at VSU, a demanding role that requires her to work across all units to ensure the university receives the supplies, materials, equipment, and services needed to meet its goals and fulfill its mission. She also serves as a small business liaison for the Georgia Department of Administrative Services and manages a transport business for her husband and a welding business for her son.