Oglethorpe University

The following people recently were initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines.

Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society, welcomed 626 new initiates from 23 universities during December 2021. Students initiated into the Society must be sophomores, juniors, seniors, or graduate/professional students in the top 35% of their class, demonstrate leadership experience in at least one of the five pillars, and embrace the ODK ideals. Fewer than five percent of students on a campus are invited to join each year.

Every year as part of commencement, three awards are presented to exceptional students in the graduating class. Congratulations to this year's honorees! Syeda Bano '20, a Politics and Sociology double major, and Erin Raquel Battaglia '20, a Psychology major, received the esteemed James Edward Oglethorpe Awards. This award is presented annually to two individuals in the graduating class who, in the opinion of the faculty, have excelled in scholarship, leadership, and character. Mathematics major Zoe Nelson '20 earned the 2020 Sally Hull Weltner Award for Scholarship, which recognizes the student in the graduating class who has attained the highest grade-point average with the greatest number of hours in course work completed at the university. This award is given annually in loving memory of Sally Hull Weltner, wife of Dr. Philip Weltner, who was president of Oglethorpe University from 1944-1953.

The College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) named Oglethorpe University graduating senior cross-country star Mateo Villa to their 2020 Academic All-District Men's Track and Field/Cross Country Team on Friday. It marked his first time receiving the honor, which goes to the student-athletes who show the best combination of academic and athletic performance in each district. Villa finished 31st at the NCAA Division III South/Southeast Regional meet in the fall, earning All-Region honors from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) in the process. He also earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors for the 2019 season, finishing in the top 25 percent of participants at the regional meet and earning a cumulative GPA of 3.88 at Oglethorpe while studying engineering. The Stormy Petrel runner was named to the SAA Fall Academic Honor Roll three times over the course of his career and earned spots on the SAA Winter/Spring Academic Honor Roll twice as a member of the track and field squad. Villa garnered five Dean's List honors during his time at Oglethorpe. The CoSIDA Academic All-District team for NCAA Division III District 5 was voted on by sports information directors at schools in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Villa joined a group of 11 cross country/track and field athletes from the district to earn a spot on the team, four of which hailed from SAA institutions. Student-athletes are nominated for Academic All-District consideration by the sports information directors at their respective schools and must accrue a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.3 while being either at least a sophomore or in their second year at their current institution. Nominees must also serve as major contributors to their respective teams on the field and have participated in at least half of their team's official competitions during the season. By earning a spot on the Academic All-District team, Villa automatically advanced to the CoSIDA Academic All-America ballot.

The end-of-semester finale of the Oglethorpe Idea Incubator program, sponsored by the Oglethorpe Entrepreneur Club and supported by the Hammack School of Business, featured student entrepreneurs pitching their business proposals, similar to TV's "Shark Tank". Congratulations to the five student teams who split $4,000 in grant money to fund their business ideas: $1,500 to Travaly (Yasmina Travaly): Apparel and accessories inspired by national flags $700 to Lokal Markt (Folabomi Oyewo): Unique, limited products sourced primarily from Asia and Africa to US customers $700 to A Night Out (Roi Levi, Danny Ocampo, David Povolotsky): An app to provide real-time updates on bars/restaurants where identified friends are currently congregating $600 to Encore (Drew Luzzatti, Will Ransom): A website to assist job seekers 50-65 in finding part-time, volunteer, or salaried positions $500 to Valdi (Funlola Oyewo): Handcrafted fragrances from natural sources in Asia and Africa Judges were Dr. David Nasser, Hammack School of Business professor; Hammack School of Business Dean Dennis Kelly; and Anita Patterson '97, an Oglethorpe trustee and alumna.

Oglethorpe Athletics rounded out the 2019-2020 season on Saturday with the 8th Annual Petey Awards-announced virtually this year. The event, produced by the Oglethorpe Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), allows Oglethorpe student-athletes to honor the best and brightest performances of the year while reflecting on the athletic year as a whole. Included in the awards presented were the SAA Man and Woman of the Year. This award is given to the male and female student-athlete who best exemplifies the traits of leadership, character, and athletic and academic success. In order to be eligible, a student-athlete must have achieved at least junior academic status, qualified for the SAA Academic Honor Roll during their tenure as a student-athlete, and have earned either first or second-team All-SAA status at some point during their career. The SAA Woman of the Year Nominee was awarded to Dreshona Mapps-Whitmore '20 of the Women's Lacrosse Team. "Dre has turned into one of the best players in the history of the Oglethorpe women's lacrosse program, earning All-SAA honors in each of her three completed seasons. She became the first player in program history to garner All-SAA first-team honors, accomplishing that feat in 2019. She also took All-SAA second-team honors in 2018 and honorable mention after her freshman year of 2017. In addition, Dre is a three-time recipient of the SAA Academic Honor Roll, and earned a spot on the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association Academic Honor Roll in 2019." The SAA Man of the Year Nominee was awarded to Andrew Grodhaus '20 of the Men's Soccer Team. "Andrew has been the backbone of the Oglethorpe midfield for the last four years, turning into potentially the best defensive midfielder in the league over the last two years. Not only has he earned All-SAA honors in each of his four years and first-team accolades in each of the last two, but he's also earned regional and national recognition. He earned a spot on the United Soccer Coaches All-South Atlantic Region first-team midfield in 2019 and garnered a spot on the second-team list for that award in 2018. He also earned recognition as a member of the Scholar All-America first team from the same organization in 2019 after garnering Scholar All-South Region first-team honors, as well. As a team leader, Andrew led the Stormy Petrels to four straight SAA regular-season titles during his tenure, as well as two NCAA tournament appearances and the 2018 SAA championship." For more information on Oglethorpe Athletics, visit gopetrels.com.

Oglethorpe Athletics rounded out the 2019-2020 season in May with the 8th Annual Petey Awards, announced virtually this year. The event, produced by the Oglethorpe Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), allows Oglethorpe student-athletes to honor the best and brightest performances of the year while reflecting on the athletic year as a whole. Included in the awards presented were the Male and Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year. This award is given to the female and male student-athlete with the highest grade point average over a minimum of 33 Oglethorpe credit hours. The winner must also have played in at least 50 percent of their team's contests and have been a significant contributor to their team on the field or court. The Female Scholar Athlete of the Year was awarded to Morgan Grindle '20 with a grade point average of 3.92. Grindle is a member of the Oglethorpe Women's Basketball Team. The Male Scholar Athlete of the Year was awarded to Carlos Sone '22 with a grade point average of 3.97. Sone is a member of the Oglethorpe Men's Basketball Team. For more information on Oglethorpe Athletics, visit gopetrels.com.

The results for the 2020-2021 Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) election have been announced. Congratulations to the following student leaders, who will represent all Oglethorpe University student-athletes during the next academic year! President: Tyler Rover '21, Golf Vice-President: Alexis Hutson-Hamric '22, Soccer Secretary: Hayden Neal '21, Women's Basketball Co-Historians: Sarah Hsu '23, Golf and Hailee Bugg '21, Volleyball The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is comprised of at least two student-athletes from each athletic team that will represent and voice the opinions of all Oglethorpe student-athletes. The SAAC also offers input on the rules, regulations, and policies that affect the lives of student-athletes on the Oglethorpe campus. The mission of SAAC is to enhance the total student-athlete experience by promoting leadership opportunities, protecting student-athlete welfare, and fostering a positive student-athlete image.

Sophomore Hayleigh Stonham '22 is among only 15 undergraduates selected for the Mellon Summer Academy, held annually at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta. This is the third consecutive year an Oglethorpe student has been selected. During the week-long immersive experience, the students will learn about curatorial practices from Atlanta-area curators, participate in team exhibition workshops, research and present on a favorite collection object, study art museum audiences, and visit local art museums, artists' studios, private collections, and galleries. Due to the pandemic, the program is postponed until next year. "I applied to the program to try to broaden my opportunities and experience the creative atmosphere that working with 14 other students from around the nation will allow," said Stonham, an Art History major. "The opportunity is one of a kind, and having the chance to network with curators and artists is crucial for advancing my career." Stonham currently interns at the Oglethorpe University Museum of Art (OUMA), where she helps to organize OUMA Nights, an evening program for students in the museum. Recently, she was awarded a scholarship from the Southeastern Pastel Society. Stonham is also active in the Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity and the Oglethorpe History Club. Students invited to the Mellon Summer Academy are eligible for consideration for the Mellon Undergraduate Curatorial Fellowship, a highly selective, intensive two-year paid program that offers hands-on experience, specialized training, and mentoring in the curatorial profession for students from communities that are historically underrepresented in the museum field. Stonham has now passed the first hurdle to qualify for the fellowship. Opportunities like the Mellon Academy and Fellowship are typically offered to graduate-level students, making the Mellon Foundation program a unique learning experience for freshman and sophomore undergrads in the growing field of museum studies. The rising junior credited her firsthand experience to her work with OUMA's Curator of Collections John Tilford and Museum Director Elizabeth Peterson for giving her the foundational knowledge needed to be a successful candidate for the program. Professor Dr. Jeffrey Collins offered Stonham valuable guidance and encouragement during her application process, as well. With her Oglethorpe degree, Stonham hopes to one day open a non-profit art gallery in Atlanta. "The idea was inspired by an amalgamation of Jean-Michel Basquiat knowledge and the struggling artists that practically line the streets at Little Five Points," she explained. "A non-profit art gallery in that area could give struggling artists an opportunity to work and display their artwork to possible buyers. Because how many possible Basquiats exist that haven't been given that one opportunity like he was given?"

Oglethorpe Athletics rounded out the 2019-2020 season in May with the 8th Annual Petey Awards, announced virtually this year. The event, produced by the Oglethorpe Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), allows Oglethorpe student-athletes to honor the best and brightest performances of the year while reflecting on the athletic year as a whole. Of the awards presented, two teams received the Scholarly Petrel Team Award. This award is given to the men's and women's team with the highest cumulative grade point average based on total team credit hours. The Men's Scholarly Petrel Team was awarded to Track and Field with a 3.24 grade point average. The Women's Scholarly Petrel Team was awarded to Basketball with a 3.42 grade point average. For more information on Oglethorpe Athletics, visit gopetrels.com.

Freshman Nya Davis '23 has been selected to serve on the College Democrats of Georgia (CDG) Executive Board leadership as Director of Membership. Davis is among three new executive board leaders chosen from a large, competitive applicant pool of college students from across Georgia. An organization of student activists, CDG advocates at all levels of government for policies that support students and young people. The group provides resources, training and advocacy opportunities, with an overall objective of ensuring that young people are involved in Democratic politics now in order to prepare the party's future leaders. "I knew I wanted to become more involved with politics and organizations that focus on government and law practices," said Davis. "College Democrats of Georgia had everything I was looking for!" Davis, a Politics major with a focus in Pre-law Studies, credits Professor of Politics Joe Knippenberg for introducing her to the opportunity. Prior to Oglethorpe, Davis was politically active and heavily involved at her high school in Memphis. Among her many previous endeavors, and with the help of LITE Memphis, she started the nonprofit Helping Uplift Girls (HUG), which focuses on empowering and encouraging young women. LITE Memphis equips African American and Latinx students with 21st-century skills to become entrepreneurs. During her first year on campus, Davis has been involved in Black Student Caucus. "I loved their mission to advocate for the minority community by taking minor and major steps to solve unjust issues," she said. After graduating from Oglethorpe, the rising sophomore plans to pursue a career as a corporate lawyer or criminal attorney.

Oglethorpe Athletics rounded out the 2019-2020 season on Saturday with the 8th Annual Petey Awards, announced virtually this year. The event, produced by the Oglethorpe Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), allows Oglethorpe student-athletes to honor the best and brightest performances of the year while reflecting on the athletic year as a whole. Included in the awards presented was the 2020 Stormiest Petrel. This award is given to the male and female that consistently practiced the traits of leadership, perseverance, and respect both on and off the field. These athletes are seen as the face of what an Oglethorpe student-athlete should be. The Male Stormiest Petrel of the Year was awarded to junior Calvin Schneider '21 of the Men's Tennis Team. Schneider is a graduate of Oregon High School in Oregon, Wisconsin. The Female Stormiest Petrel of the Year was awarded to senior Morgan Grindle '20 of the Women's Basketball Team. Grindle is a graduate of North Forsyth High School in Cumming, Georgia. For more information on Oglethorpe Athletics, visit gopetrels.com.

Rising senior Fatima-Ezzahra Boumahdi '21 has been accepted into the highly competitive American Economic Association's Summer Scholars Program (AEASP), marking the third consecutive year that an Oglethorpe student has been selected. AEASP is an eight-week program hosted at Michigan State University. The fellowship provides summer development programs to women and minorities majoring in economics, with the goal of increasing participation of underrepresented groups in economics PhD programs. As many as 20% of the PhDs awarded to minorities in economics over the past 20 years are graduates of the program. The AEASP is an all-inclusive package covering tuition, fees, living expenses, transportation, books, and program excursion costs, and includes a stipend. "Fatima is a great choice for this program based on her strong academic background, her work ethic, and commitment to pursuing a PhD in Economics," said Dr. Cassandra Copeland, professor of economics. "She is a hardworking student and a leader in our Economics program. She has a desire to investigate issues in economics on a deeper level." An Economics major, Boumahdi was first introduced to the program by Dr. Copeland, and credits both her and economics professor Dr. Peter Kower for their guidance, preparation for life after graduation, and encouragement to pursue a PhD. "Oglethorpe and my classes have given me a fundamental understanding of economics as well as skills that have made me a better student and scholar," Boumahdi said. "Oglethorpe has also helped me develop my interpersonal skills through its active campus community." As the first junior among the Oglethorpe students selected for the program, Boumahdi will have the benefit of returning for her senior year with a greater depth of understanding of topics in the discipline, including a "more advanced look into mathematics behind economic theory." She also will be uniquely positioned to serve as an onsite resource for future program candidates at Oglethorpe. An Honors student who consistently earns Dean's List, Boumahdi is currently developing her Honors thesis on the representation of women and minorities in voter turnout. She also works as an economics tutor in Oglethorpe's A_LAB, has served as the President of the Oglethorpe University Economics Club for the past two years and Vice President of the Data Analytics Club, and was inducted into the Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honor society in 2019. In 2018, she interned at Ecolink, a metro Atlanta company. After her time at Oglethorpe, Boumahdi plans to pursue a PhD in Economics and enter a career in academia, where she wants to teach and conduct research. "I am beyond grateful for this opportunity and what it has in store for me!" Boumhadi said. "It will help prepare me for graduate school and will show me what to expect when it comes to coursework and research."

The results for the 2020-2021 Student Government Association and Programming Board election have been announced. Congratulations to the following student leaders, who will represent the student body during the next academic year! Student Body President: Taylor Roberts VP of the Senate: Makayla Adams Secretary: Jazmine Faircloth Parliamentarian: Bryce McNealey Treasurer: Justin Bennett VP of Programming Board: Michael Woods Senior Class President: Kiana Perkins Junior Class President: Brandon Jackson Sophomore Class President: Marc Collins Senior Class Senators: Michael Morgan, Vivan Manso, D'Zerrea Richarte, Lola Oyinloye Junior Class Senators: Courtney Davis, Coja Jones, Nnaemeka Nwosisi, Olivia El Ramlawy Sophomore Class Senators: Tyler Benson, Jen Ramirez Soto, Jakeb Sanders, Elva Diaz Posades Senior Class Programming Board: Tivionte Russell, Vivian Manso, D'Zerrea Richarte, Lauren Adams Junior Class Programming Board: Rebecca Castro, Beca Westin, Lola Oyewo, Jill Heatly Sophomore Class Programming Board: Karah Lindsey, Ashley Clark, Erica Gerez, Rachelle Chery

The Southeastern Pastel Society has awarded scholarships to two aspiring Oglethorpe art students. Art History majors Hayleigh Stonham '22 and Julia Preston '22 were selected by the Oglethorpe University Museum of Art (OUMA) to receive the awards. Both budding museum professionals, Stonham and Preston were recommended by art faculty Alan Loehle and Jeffrey Collins. Stonham is currently interning at OUMA, and Preston is enrolled in Museum Studies classes. "I'm really grateful to have the chance to work one-on-one with my professors and especially the curators of the museum," said Preston. "The fact that the school is small enough to allow that kind of experience to be possible is really special and so educational. It definitely offers opportunities to students that they couldn't imagine beforehand and gives them the chance to experience something new, and (to) do so hands-on. I'm really excited to see what else is in store for me at Oglethorpe and in the museum." The Southeastern Pastel Society (SPS) was established in 1988 as a nonprofit dedicated to promoting pastel painting in the Southeast. With members across the U.S., SPS seeks to provide an environment in which pastel artists may flourish. The two student scholarships are an important part of their community involvement and supporting inspiring artists. Previous Oglethorpe SPS scholars include Sidney Lang '14, Ivy Kilpatrick '15, Larissa Randall '18, Rachel Farrington '18, Kim Phan '20, and Caroline Phipps '20. SPS was set to open its 19th International Juried Exhibition, featuring works selected out of hundreds submitted, on May 8 in the university's museum. While the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has forced the museum to close its doors, the exhibition will still be made available digitally. The exhibition will be juried by Debora Stewart, a Signature Member and a Master Pastellist of the Pastel Society of America and a member of the Master's Circle of the International Association of Pastel Societies. Learn more about SPS at southeasternpastel.org.

D3hoops.com has placed Oglethorpe University's Women's Basketball junior center Savannah LeGate on its All-South Region second team. It marked the second career all-region honor for the Stormy Petrel. She earned her second career All-South Region honor from D3hoops.com after nabbing first-team honors and winning the region's Rookie of the Year award in 2018. Legate garnered All-SAA (Southern Athletic Association) first-team honors in early March, marking the third all-conference distinction of her career. She earned SAA Tournament MVP honors, doubling up with back-to-back performances of 24 points and at least 12 rebounds over the final two rounds of the event. LeGate continued that run into the NCAA tournament, recording double-doubles in each of the Petrels' two games. She served as the top offensive rebounder in the region, finishing 20th in the nation in the category with 4.7 per game. She also finished third regionally in double-doubles (14), fourth in total rebounds (279), sixth in rebounds per game (9.3) and ninth in field goal percentage (49.1).

The Oglethorpe University Women's Basketball team saw another accolade roll in for their outstanding Spring 2020 season. The Stormy Petrels saw junior guard Taylor Smith receive a Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-America honorable mention. Smith proved to be one of the SAA's breakout stars prior to sustaining a season-ending injury during the final game of the regular season. She finished the season in the top 150 in offensive rebounding in Division III, posting 3.1 per game. She also finished in the top 200 in field goal percentage, tallying a 42.9 percent success rate. Those numbers put her second and sixth in the conference, respectively. In addition, Smith averaged 13.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. Smith, also, earned All-SAA second-team honors in early March for her efforts.

The Oglethorpe women's basketball team saw a windfall of postseason honors following their successful Spring 2020 season, earning the SAA championship. Sophomore guard Nikki Reed earned SAA Defensive Player of the Year and All-SAA second-team honors, freshman guard Amy Vazquez nabbed the SAA Newcomer of the Year accolade, and Coach Alex Richey secured his second SAA Coach of the Year award. Additionally, junior center Savannah LeGate doubled up on her SAA Tournament MVP honor by earning a spot on the All-SAA first team, while junior guard Taylor Smith joined Reed on the All-SAA second team, and junior center Sydni Donovan grabbed All-SAA honorable mention. Reed earned her first career conference postseason award, as well as her first career All-SAA honor. She served as a stalwart on the defensive end all season for the Stormy Petrels, making 57 steals to place her third in the conference. She's averaging two steals per game out of the point guard position. In addition, she's fourth in the SAA in free throw percentage at 76.4 percent and third in made free throws with 84. Vazquez enjoyed an outstanding rookie campaign for the Petrels, joining teammate LeGate as players from the 2019-20 squad to have earned the conference's award for top newcomer. She has compiled an outstanding rookie season, recording an impressive 1.9 assist-to-turnover ratio while averaging 1.5 assists per game. She's also shooting 79.3 percent from the charity stripe and averaging 6.8 points per game. Richey garnered his second SAA Coach of the Year accolade in the past three seasons after having directed his team to both the SAA regular season and tournament titles for the second time. His team sits at 27-1 on the season, putting them at No. 8 in the newest coaches poll and No. 13 in D3hoops.com's late February poll. Their 84-67 victory over Rhodes College tied the program record for most wins in a season, equaling the marks of the 2007-08 and 2008-09 squads. It also secured a clean sweep of SAA regular season and tournament play for the first time in conference history. He passed 100 wins for his career with the team's 75-72 win over Birmingham-Southern College on January 19. LeGate earned her third career All-SAA accolade and her second career first-team honor. She saved her best weekend of the year for the SAA Tournament, where she earned MVP honors with a 24-point, 12-rebound performance in the championship game and a 24-point, 16-rebound effort against Millsaps College in the semifinals. She currently leads the league in offensive rebounding by 1.7 rebounds per game, averaging 4.8 for the season to place herself 16th in the nation. She leads the league in overall rebounding, as well, averaging 9.2 per contest, grabbing 258 total boards. LeGate is first in the league in double-doubles (12), second in shooting percentage among NCAA qualifiers (48.2), third in free throw attempts (121) and fifth in field goals made (145). Smith proved to be one of the league's breakout stars prior to her injury in late February. Still sitting second in the league in offensive rebounding (3.1) and sixth in shooting percentage among NCAA qualifiers (42.9) despite not playing in the last three games, Smith also sits fifth in the league in overall rebounding (7.4). She averaged 13.6 points per contest in her first season as a Petrel. Donovan also transferred into the team for the 2019-20 season and made an immediate impact. She's currently third in the conference in blocks per game (1.89) and second in total blocks (53). This came despite averaging just 15.9 minutes per game. She also shot 52.9 percent from the field for the season.

The Oglethorpe men's basketball teams saw four players earn All-SAA spots for the Fall 2020 season, as voted on by the Southern Athletic Association's coaches. In addition, freshman guard Justin Day garnered SAA Newcomer of the Year honors, marking the first time that a member of the squad has taken the honor since 2015. Junior guard Dimetri Chambers notched an All-SAA first team spot, and three Stormy Petrels took home All-SAA honorable mention: junior forward Josh Cammon, junior guard Lane Foster, and sophomore guard Carlos Sone. Day enjoyed an excellent rookie campaign that progressed throughout the season, proving him to be one of the best guards in the league. He averaged 9.5 points per game for the season but dialed that up to 12.6 per contest in league play. The Petrel guard was an outstanding free throw shooter all year long, compiling an 83.6 percent average for the season and finishing fourth in the league with an 81.8 percent mark in SAA play. Day also tallied the game-winning points in one of Oglethorpe's biggest wins of the year. He laid the ball in at the buzzer to beat nationally-ranked Centre 81-79 on February 9 at Dorough Field House. Chambers transferred into the squad for the 2019-20 season and became one of the best players in the league. He finished second in the league in scoring, averaging 21.3 points per game. That mark made him the first Petrel to average over 20 points a game over a season since Chris Wall in 1997-98. Chambers also finished first in the league and 24th in the nation in steals with 2.4 per game, and he finished third in 3-point percentage among national qualifiers, converting at a 35 percent clip. He also finished fourth in the SAA in free throw percentage among national qualifiers, posting a 75.7 percent mark in that category. His 2.52 made 3-pointers per game places him fourth in the league, and he finished in the top five in 3-pointers made and attempted, free throws made and attempted, field goals made and attempted, and total points. Cammon also transferred into the Petrel squad for this season, and immediately made an impact. He recorded six double-doubles on the year, placing him second in SAA in that category. He finished fifth in the league in rebounding with 7.0 per game, while also grabbing 1.9 offensive boards per game to place him sixth in that category. His 1.5 steals per game placed him fifth in the conference. Cammon averaged 9.3 points per game and converted on 45.5 percent of his field-goal attempts. Foster continued to serve as one of the best point guards in the league, earning his first career All-SAA honor as a result. His 1.58 assist-to-turnover ratio places him second in the league among NCAA qualifiers. He also averaged 1.96 steals and accrued 51 total swipes, putting him at second in SAA for both statistics. His 3.2 assists per contest place him at fifth in the conference. Sone earned his first career All-SAA accolade, as well. He averaged just over 35.5 minutes per game, tying him for first in the league in that category. He played all 55 minutes in the Petrels' 114-107 triple-overtime victory over Millsaps on January 17. Sone is also third in the league in steals per game (1.92) and is in the top five in both total minutes and total steals. The Petrels finished the season 14-12 overall and 8-6 in league play, tying for third place. They saw their season come to a close with a 93-68 loss to Millsaps on February 23 in the first round of the SAA Tournament.

D3hoops.com has named junior guard Dimetri Chambers of the Oglethorpe University Men's Basketball team to their All-South Region second team. It marked the first such award of his career and the first time a member of the Stormy Petrels earned the honor since 2011. A Business Administration major, Chambers is a graduate of Herschel V. Jenkins High School. Chambers transferred into the program for the 2019-20 season and immediately became one of the best players in the league. He earned All-SAA first-team honors for his efforts and finished the season second in the region in steals per game (2.4), third in total steals (60), fourth in points per game (21.3), fifth in field goal attempts (426), sixth in total points (533), ninth in free throw attempts (148), and 10th in free throws made (112) and field goals made (179). He and the rest of the Petrels accrued a 14-12 record over the course of the season and finished tied for third in the Southern Athletic Association with an 8-6 conference mark.

On February 22, Oglethorpe University students participated in a beautification project at Piedmont Park in Atlanta, as a part of Oglethorpe's civic engagement Service Saturday program. The program is designed to expose students to diverse communities around Atlanta and their service needs. When reflecting on the experience, student volunteer Justin Bennett said, "I was really happy when Erica [a horticulturalist who led the project] said that she really appreciated our work and that we were the best group she has had." The Service Saturday volunteers included the following Oglethorpe students: Victor Navarrete Skylar Buggs Andrea Carlos Natalia (Taly) Torrens-Soto Jazmyne Everett Justin Bennett Kaniya Bates Lillian Coleman

Sophomore Jalina Rodriguez of the Oglethorpe women's lacrosse team has been named the OU Female Athlete of the Week. Rodriguez led Oglethorpe to a 14-11 win over Truett McConnell University. The Stormy Petrel midfielder finished with five ground balls, six caused turnovers, and totaled two goals on four shots. She currently holds the early SAA lead in caused turnovers with those six, while also placing herself in the top three in ground balls. Rodriguez also earned Southern Athletic Association Women's Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week honors for her performance.

Sophomore John (Addison) Irwin of the Oglethorpe men's lacrosse team has been named the OU Male Athlete of the Week. A Business Administration major, Irwin is from Lookout Mountain, Tenn. and Baylor School graduate. In two wins against Averett University and Shorter University, Irwin earned a combined 30 saves and stopped 68.2 percent of opponents' shots. Against Averett, Irwin made 12 saves and had a 5.00 goals-against average. Then against Shorter, Irwin made 18 saves in a one-goal win, allowing only nine goals. He holds the early lead in the conference in saves (30), and third in goals against average (7.00) and save percentage (.682). For his efforts, Irwin also earned SAA Men's Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week.

Oglethorpe University sophomore midfielder Jalina Rodriguez earned Southern Athletic Association Women's Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week honors from the league office on Monday, marking her first career SAA weekly award. Rodriguez led Oglethorpe to a 14-11 win over Truett McConnell University. The Stormy Petrel midfielder finished with five ground balls and six caused turnovers. She also totaled two goals on four shots. Rodriguez currently holds the early SAA lead in caused turnovers with those six, while also placing herself in the top three in ground balls.

Sophomore goalie John (Addison) Irwin of the Oglethorpe Men's Lacrosse team was named the Southern Athletic Association Men's Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week In two wins against Averett University and Shorter University, Irwin earned a combined 30 saves and stopped 68.2 percent of opponents' shots. Against Averett, Irwin made 12 saves and had a 5.00 goals-against average. Then against Shorter, Irwin made 18 saves in a one-goal win, allowing only nine goals. He holds the early lead in the conference in saves (30), and is third in goals against average (7.00) and save percentage (.682).

The Oglethorpe athletic department saw 64 student-athletes named to the 2019 fall Southern Athletic Association (SAA) Academic Honor Roll on Thursday. In order to qualify to be on an SAA Academic Honor Roll, a student-athlete must maintain a 3.25 GPA for the term(s) during which they're engaged in athletic competition. They must also be a regular member of a varsity athletic team in a sport sponsored by the conference. The Oglethorpe Academic Honor Roll recipients are as follows: MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY Brett Amazon Andrew Aycock Harrison Banks Nick Berardi Parker Campbell Nick Evans Stephen Graffius Bill Lester Rodrigo Meade Patrick Smith WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY Kelly Connerley Reagan Goodwin Robin Stein Courtney Stuart MEN'S SOCCER Ben Agnew Jack Butler Alec Camero Jimmy Creamer Jace Evans Hudson Fennell Fernando Guevara Christian Guzman Tim Huff Alberto Jasso Aly Kassam Josh Labus Alec Leake Roi Levi Logan Llano Abraham Lopez Drew Luzzatti Jordan Madison Tuli Mwarumba Danny Ocampo Patrick O'Sullivan Thomas Powers Rune Schmidt Qvist Will Ransom Ben Schick Zachary Smith Chris Tadros Omar Toubassy Render Vignos WOMEN'S SOCCER Sarah Berg Medina Besic Kirsten Brown Kieran Burkey Kaitlyn James Jalisa Kassam Lauren Kirby Eve Martin Marissa Romaine Julia Snyder Tress Southard Grace Turpin VOLLEYBALL Bethany Cudnik Melanie Davis Daryana Diaz Addison Furst Mary Hill Alex Prots Malisa Reichard Jackie Schner Emelia Sengstock

Congratulations to the 428 students named to Oglethorpe University's Fall 2019 Dean's List, honoring those who achieved at least a 3.50 term grade-point average while earning 12 or more semester hours.

English and Comparative Literature major Lexi Covalsen '20 was recently awarded the Davies-Jackson Scholarship to pursue a second Bachelor of Arts degree in English at St. John's College at the University of Cambridge. Her studies will begin in October following her graduation from Oglethorpe in May 2020. Covalsen is one of only two students in the U.S. who were awarded the Davies-Jackson Scholarship. This award, which covers the full cost of the program, presents a unique opportunity for first-generation recent college graduates with exceptional academic records. Scholarship recipients have the opportunity to take the more advanced courses of study of a Cambridge degree course and qualify for a Cambridge B.A. in two years instead of the usual three. The degree is usually considered the equivalent of a U.S. master's degree due to its academic rigor, the international travel opportunities available, and the career preparation provided during the course of study. The Council of Independent Colleges, of which Oglethorpe is a member, assists the scholarship's U.S. Selection Committee in administering the program. Oglethorpe students are eligible via the university's CIC membership. Previously, Covalsen was the recipient of the 2018 Summer ESU Dr. Manning Pattillo, Jr. Travel Scholarship. This award covered tuition, program costs, and airfare expenses in the U.K. while Covalsen studied at Oxford University in London for two weeks. In this program, her course focused on Shakespeare studies led by Dr. Robert Hornback, professor of English. "I know I would not be where I am today without all the support I've received from Oglethorpe," said Covalsen. "I would also not have been able to achieve this opportunity to study at Cambridge without the guidance and community my professors and fellow Ogles have given me these past four years."

The Oglethorpe University cross country teams received multiple academic awards from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) this week, as both teams were named all-academic squads, and senior Mateo Villa of the men's team earned individual all-academic honors. It marked the first such award of Villa's career. Both the Petrel women's and men's teams garnered all-academic accolades from the USTFCCCA. The women's team accrued a 3.46 GPA over the course of the fall semester, while the men's team came in at 3.14. To qualify for the award, a team had to earn at least a 3.1 GPA over the course of their semester of competition. The Petrel women's team served as one of 212 Division III teams to earn the award, while the men's team joined 171 other men's Division III squads to earn the honor.

Oglethorpe University's Atlanta Laboratory for Learning hosted a Service Saturday event on Saturday, February 1 at Friends of Disabled Adults and Children (FODAC). FODAC's mission is to provide durable medical equipment, such as wheelchairs and hospital beds, at little or no cost to individuals with disabilities and their families. The following students volunteered at Friends of Disabled Adults and Children by cleaning and sorting medical supplies, equipment, and home health care supplies: Michael Morgan Deedee Boney Gabby Huff-Streiter Syeda Bano Jamie Aiken Andi Kezh Fernanda Stelzer Rodrigues Amber Phillips Eva Barineau Hannah Roberts Olivia El-Ramlawy