President’s Reception at PSC celebrates student leadership and academic achievement

From left: PSC President Ed Meadows with Presidential Scholarship recipients Greyson Sykes, Daniel Kyte and Braden Adams.

Front row, from left: Robinson Scholars Faith Gleim, Catherine Roberts and Jamie Robinson. Back row, from left: Interim Robinson Scholars Coordinator Melissa Sears; Robinson Scholars Ian Benton, James Jackson, Dominic Desporte and Amber Seanez; Jill and Grover Robinson IV.

The annual President’s Reception at Pensacola State College recognized outstanding PSC students for their academic achievements and campus leadership roles on Monday, April 13, in Broxson Hall on the PSC Pensacola Campus.

The student honorees were especially selected for being Presidential Scholarship recipients and for significant contributions as Robinson Scholars, Student Ambassadors or Student Government Association officers. The annual awards celebration was first introduced by PSC President Ed Meadows in 2019.

“All of these students were determined to be exceptional, distinguished and deserving of special recognition,” said Meadows during his opening remarks for the awards presentation. On behalf of the college’s Board of Trustees, Chair Gordon Sprague congratulated all students being recognized and thanked them for their respective roles as leaders at PSC.

Braden Adams, Daniel Kyte, Logan Stuckey and Greyson Sykes were recognized as Presidential Scholars, each receiving the full-ride Presidential Scholarship for academic excellence.

Student Ambassadors Gabriel Nees, Elisabeth Stowers, Nicole McWilson, Coretta McLaughlin, Hannah Flannigan, Hope Lashley and Caleb Wooden.

Student Government Association officers Elisabeth Stowers, Caden Savage and Hope Lashley.

The following Robinson Scholars were recognized for both academic achievement and their leadership roles in the Robinson Honors Program for academically gifted students: Ian Benton, Dominic Desporte, Ayla Foreman, Faith Gleim, James Jackson, Catherine Roberts, Jamie Robinson, Amber Seanez, Detra Simmons McDonald, Matthew Tiedemann and Dayanna Torres.

Jamie Robinson has served as president of the Robinson Honors Program this year. He now holds both a Radiography A.S. degree from PSC, graduating cum laude in 2024, and an A.A. degree, graduating cum laude last fall with a 3.66 grade point average. “I started with radiography and decided to keep going, inspired to become a doctor,” he said.

Honored for their volunteer leadership as Student Ambassadors were Hannah Flannigan, Hope Lashley, Coretta McLaughlin, Nicole McWilson, Gabriel Nees, Elisabeth Stowers and Caleb Wooden.

Student Government Association honorees included Dakota Barrientos, Victoria Holt, Landon Kelley, Hope Lashley, Melody Pham, Brody Rhodes, Caden Savage, Talia Soublet and Elisabeth Stowers.

“These students represent the hope that we have for our nation moving forward,” said PSC Academic Affairs Associate Vice President Brenda Kelly, Ed.D.

Each honoree was awarded a medallion or sash to wear with their commencement regalia, symbolizing their scholarly status, and introduced themself, sharing individual accomplishments and future academic and career goals. From dually-enrolled PSC Charter Academy high school student Dominic Desporte, with Ivy League intentions to attend Dartmouth College this fall, to U.S. Navy retiree James Jackson, pursuing a physics degree, the students announced their dreams of becoming doctors, nurses, architects, engineers and educators.

“Dominic’s my name, and medicine’s my game,” said Desporte, a Robinson Scholar with a 3.95 grade point average. “My goal for life is to become a doctor and find a cure for cancer.” Desporte will graduate this spring with both his high school diploma and college transfer A.A. degree.

In attendance were Jill and Grover Robinson IV, who established the Robinson Honors Program 25 years ago, in August 2000, to honor the memory of his parents, Sandra and Grover Robinson III, long-time supporters of the college.

To the Robinson Scholars, PSC Government Relations Associate Vice President Grover Robinson said, “You make me appreciate our investment in the college, and I’m excited that so many of you plan to come back here to be leaders in Northwest Florida.”