Payton Merritt, a South Georgia State College (SGSC) junior from Waycross, Georgia, was honored with the 2022 Academic Recognition Day Award by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia.
Merritt, a Phi Theta Kappa honor student, is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Elementary and Special Education. She received her Associate of Science in Education from SGSC in May, 2021. She has maintained a perfect 4.0 grade point average throughout her time at SGSC and made the President’s List. At the 2021 Honors Ceremony, she received the Sophomore Academic Achievement Award.
“As of right now, I am currently concentrating on my studies and field experience in the Elementary and Special Education program at SGSC,” she says. “I will be graduating from the ELE/SPED bachelor’s program in May, 2023. After completing the program, I plan to pursue my master’s degree in education.”
Academic Recognition Day began 34 years ago as a celebration of Georgia students’ academic achievement. The honorees receive a resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives, along with a letter of commendation from USG Acting Chancellor Teresa MacCartney. Each student best represents the system’s highest scholastic ideals, as selected by their individual institutions. These students have a high GPA, strive for excellence and have the ability to share knowledge in various areas of expertise.
“Payton is one of the bright and talented students in our teacher education program working toward a degree that will make a difference in the lives of children,” says SGSC President Dr. Ingrid Thompson-Sellers. “I congratulate her on this recognition. She is an excellent representative of SGSC and will be an outstanding asset to our educational system upon graduation.”
Academic Recognition Day was held on February 8, 2022 in Atlanta. Her parents, Shane and Wendy Merritt, attended the ceremony, along with SGSC President Dr. Ingrid Thompson-Sellers.