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With graduations taking place across the country over the last month, a number of college students from Prince Edward, Buckingham and Cumberland counties were all honored. Here’s a look at some of those recognized. In each case, we receive the material from the school.

Farmville resident enters honor society

A Farmville resident and Longwood University student has been inducted into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. The group is the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society, covering all academic disciplines. 

Farmville’s Holly Schilling was inducted after this semester, the group announced in a statement this week. They are among approximately 25,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors are eligible for membership. 

Local college students honored by JMU 

A number of students from around our region graduated with honors this semester from James Madison University. The school released its spring semester information this week. Farmville’s Hannah Cook graduated Cum Laude with a degree in Dietetics. Cum laude is Latin for “with praise” or “with honor”. It’s given to students in the Top 20% of their graduating class. Cook also made the president’s list for the spring semester. To do that, a student must complete at least 12 semester hours and earn a semester grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.9 or better. 

Also making the president’s list at JMU this spring was Prospect’s Naomi Becker. 

There was also one student who made the dean’s list in the 2024 graduating class at JMU. That’s reserved for students who earn a semester GPA of 3.5 or higher. Ashley Handy from Meherrin made that feat. Handy received a degree in English. 

Buckingham student earns honors

At the University of Alaska Fairbanks, one Buckingham County student was honored for achievements above everyone else. Arvonia’s Randi Wright graduated summa cum laude, with a bachelor of arts degree in social work. The school announced the honor this week, after its 102nd commencement in May. 

Summa cum laude means with highest honor and is given to those in the Top 5% of the graduating class. 

Cumberland student makes dean’s list 

And we have one more student to recognize this week. Shenandoah University has announced that 989 students made the Spring 2024 Dean’s List. Cumberland’s Elizabeth Matyus was one of that number. As we mentioned above, to qualify for the dean’s list, a student must be enrolled full time and earn a semester GPA of 3.5 or higher.