Student Awards 2020

Mariam Atobiloye

Mariam Atobiloye is an Honors College Scholar majoring in Biological Sciences with a double minor in Women's & Gender Studies and Chemistry. Mariam is from Kwara State in Nigeria . Throughout her time at Southern Miss, she has worked with Eagle Dining, the International Office, and the Department of Housing and Residence Life as a resident assistant and a senior resident assistant. In addition to this, Mariam has also been involved with different organizations ranging from the Student Government Association, to the Women in Science and Engineering Club, the Honors College, the Muslim Students Association. She co-founded the African Caribbean Society at Southern Miss. During her freshman year, she was awarded the Most Outstanding Female Freshman of the Year Award. She is a strong believer in making an impact, no matter how small, wherever one goes, and this has inspired her past and future intentions. Her long term goal is to become a physician as she would like to be a part of the force that tackles the problem of health disparities and inequities in developing countries. After graduation, she is planning on completing her Master's degree in Public Health first. She is passionate about educating and empowering people on health issues. Mariam is the daughter of Tinuke Atobiloye.

Madison Crimm

Madison Crimm is a Communication Studies major from Marietta, GA. She proudly demonstrates her dedication to the service and leadership of the students at Southern Miss, having spent four years working with the Student Government Association. Originally appointed as an Election Commission member, she continued to serve as the Director of Homecoming Court in 2017 and the 2018 Cabinet Secretary before being elected as the 2019 Election Commissioner. Madison is a member of the Alpha Delta Pi Sorority where she has served in multiple roles including the Leadership Engagement Specialist, Vice President of Panhellenic Relations, and Vice President of Operations. She was elected and served as the Chapter President for the 2018-19 school year. Drawing on this experience, she was chosen to serve on the College Panhellenic Council Executive Board as Vice President of Member Development and as a Gamma Rho Chi recruitment counselor. Based on her dedicated service, Madison was selected to be a member of the Order of Omega Greek Honor Society in 2018. In other areas, Madison served as a member of the 2018 Southern Style team and currently serves the 2019 team as an Orientation Team Leader. Expressing a desire for work in Student Services, she is a member of Eagle Connection and works in the Office of Admissions. She was a finalist for the 2020 Southern Regional Orientation Workshop Regional Outstanding Undergraduate Leadership Award. Recognizing her contributions to the University, Madison is honored to have been selected as a member of the Black Eyed Susans Leadership Honorary. In the future, Madison hopes to pursue a career in student affairs and largely attributes her involvement at Southern Miss to this goal. Madison is the daughter of Jeff and Kristi Crimm.

Sudiksha Rathan Kumar

Sudiksha Rathan Kumar is a senior with a double major in Biological Sciences and Forensic Science and a minor in Chemistry from Bangalore, India. She a high-achieving student with multiple scholarships, who is committed to her academic goals. Sudiksha currently serves as the President of the Forensic Science Society and an Honors College Ambassador as well as a Senior Resident Assistant with The Department of Housing and Residence Life. She has previously worked as a Resident Assistant and an International Student Ambassador and participated in the Southern Miss Activities Council, Resident Assistant Advisory Board, and USM Quidditch. She also had the opportunity to work as a research intern at the Baylor College of Medicine. She has volunteered with organizations such as the Institute of Disability Services and participated in multiple community service events. As an International student, she has strived to encourage diversity and acceptance, serving in programs and on panels on inclusion and diversity. Her hobbies include traveling, trying new food, and gardening. Sudiksha plans to obtain a PhD in the biomedical sciences and have a career in translational medicine, developing therapeutics such as gene therapy and regenerative medicine. Sudiksha is the daughter of Rathan and Beena Kumar.

Michael Matrick

Michael Matrick is a Sociology major, Communication Studies minor and will also be receiving a certificate in Leadership Studies. He is from Brandon, MS. He has a rich history with the Student Government Association, although he was not a member of the organization until the end of his sophomore year of college. Michael was honored to first serve the organization and student body in the role of Executive Director of Communications, acting as the organization’s chief communications officer. He was also honored with being the 2018 Student Body Beau on the Homecoming Court. Finally, Michael was able to fulfil a long-term dream of serving as the Student Body President of his beloved university. While in this role, he was also elected as an officer, serving as Secretary of the Student Body President’s Council of Mississippi, representing all college students at public universities at the state level. Michael is a member of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity where he has served in multiple capacities in the organization over his years. He has served on the executive council as secretary, and the administrative council as chairman of the honor board, alumni and campus relations chair, philanthropy chair and has been on numerous committees. He will continue to serve his fraternity by returning in the fall as an advisor to the chapter. Michael has also been seen by many new golden eagles as he served on the 2018 Southern Style team as an orientation leader and then returned the following year for the 2019 Southern Style team to serve as an orientation team leader. Michael has strong roots with areas of the Hattiesburg faith community serving as an officer and multiyear member of the Episcopal Church at USM student organization as well as being connected with Trinity Episcopal Church and the Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Hattiesburg. He has received some awards and recognitions for his service to community and his university such as the Hub City Leadership Award, the Mr. Delta Tau Delta award, and others. He has also dedicated countless hours of service to the community that he cares so deeply about. Organizations include Edwards Street Fellowship Center, the Boys and Girls Club, Hattiesburg Hospice Care, Adopt-a-Highway Cleanup, Eagles’ Nest Food Pantry, and of course The Big Event. Michael will be pursuing a Master of Science in Economic Development from the Trent Lott National Center for Economic Development at The University of Southern Mississippi. His dream is to work for the betterment of others and to devote his time and energy to helping those who need it the most. He accredits his success and achievements to the endless support and constant love from his family and the encouragement and empowerment from his friends who have allowed him to become a better man every day and to never be afraid to be proud of who he is. Michael is the son of Jake and Pamela Matrick.

Ahmed Mohamed

Ahmed Mohamed, a first-generation U.S. college student, was born in Saudi Arabia. Coming to Southern Miss, he was determined to make his mark. His major at Southern Miss is Microbiology with a Chemistry minor. During his tenure at Southern Miss, he has been awarded President’s List six times, Dean’s List once, and earned travel funding awards to present his research in Dr. Shahid Karim’s lab at various conferences in St. Louis, MO and Washington D.C. He has disseminated his research at a total of 11 conferences, winning 6 awards and was inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. He has been involved on campus through various organizations, including Student Government Association, Honors College Association, Honors College Leadership Council, Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society, TRIO-Student Support Services and more. This fall, he will be attending the University of Mississippi School of Medicine in hopes of realizing his dream of becoming a doctor. When Ahmed is not studying, he enjoys volunteering in his community, meeting new people, playing basketball and hanging out with family and friends. He is the son of Sudanese parents, Huda and Abdelmoniem, and is the youngest of 3, with 2 older sisters.

Kate Phelps

Kate Phelps will be graduating in May with a degree in Public Health: Health Policy and Administration. Next year, she will be serving as a Catholic missionary on a college campus with the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS). During her time at Southern Miss, Kate served as the New Member Educator and President of Chi Omega. Through her role as a FOCUS missionary, Kate will continue to work with Greek student through sharing the hope and joy of the Gospel. One of Kate's favorite Southern Miss experiences is being a member of Southern Style where she was able to form life long friendships with some of her orientation students. Kate's personal favorites are good Sunday brunches and coffee dates with friends. Kate loves to visit her parents and siblings in their hometown of Fairhope, Alabama. Their reunions usually consist of family runs and ice cream trips. Kate is the daughter of Scott and Renee Phelps and has three siblings.

Tony Reimonenq III

Tony Reimonenq III is a senior, theatre major, from Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He is a scholar and a servant-leader on campus and in the community. He is passionate about impacting others by leaving his mark on campus. He is a Luckyday Citizenship Scholar with a 3.4 GPA. Tony gives back to his campus by being a tour guide in Eagle Connection, Keeper of the Exchequer for the Kappa Iota Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc, Arts Liaison for the Student Government Association, and a 2018-2019 Southern Style team member where he served as an orientation leader and official campus ambassador. During Tony’s time here at USM, he has been named one of ten Most Outstanding Freshmen, Sophomore Beau, Most Valuable Member of the Focus branch for SGA, the Mu Nu Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta’s Inaugural Man of DSTinction, the Mu Xi Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha’s 2018 Kennard-Washington Young Man of Distinction, and Mr. Southern Miss! He also has served as a 2017-2018 Golden Eagle Welcome Week Crew Member, a mentor for the 2021 class of Luckyday Scholars, and as an ACES Resident Assistant. In May, Tony will receive his Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree with an emphasis in Performance. He plans to travel around the world with different theatres as a professional actor. He eventually plans to be on Broadway, but mainly just wants to do what he loves for the rest of his life. In his free time, Tony volunteers at West Point Church by being a youth leader, recording the church news, and singing in the choir. He is also a mentor at Aldersgate Mission where he mentors young males. Tony is grateful for the many opportunities he has had to impact his campus by serving others. He is the son of Tony and Elizabeth Reimonenq. He has two younger brothers, Jarius and Julius, and two family dogs, Bella and Zoey. Tony loves spending time, laughing, and singing with his family.

Kayley Safley

Kayley Safley is a communication studies major with a minor in music from Tutwiler, Mississippi and is a graduate of Lee Academy. She is a Luckyday Citizenship Scholar. She served on the 2018 Southern Style Team and then returned the following year to serve as an Orientation Team Leader for the 2019 team. Kayley also served as Vice President of Programming for Delta Gamma, Vice President of Campus Outreach and Vice President of Fundraising for EagleTHON, and Executive Director of Communications for Student Government Association.  She has been a part of Black Eyed Susans Women’s Honorary, Order of Omega, GEWW Crew, and has served as a Gamma Rho Chi. She was a member of Southern Miss’s Concert Choir and Women’s Choir. During her time in Hattiesburg, Kayley has put in many service hours with Extra Table, HubCity YoungLife, and Wesley Manor. She is a recipient of the 2019 Delta Gamma Pam Shields Outstanding Campus Involvement Award and has been on the Dean’s list. Kayley was elected onto 2019 Southern Miss Homecoming Court as the Student Body Maid. In the fall, Kayley plans to attend Texas A&M to complete a Masters in Student Affairs Administration and Higher Education. She is the daughter of Jim and Lilly Safley.

Eric "Ramsey" Thrasher

Eric “Ramsey” Thrasher was born in Destin, Florida and raised in Sumrall, Mississippi. After high school, he attended JCJC, where he was a member of the men’s soccer team. After his freshman year, he transferred to Southern Miss both excited to get involved and eager to leave his mark. During his first semester on campus, he joined Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and Eagle Connection. Multiple members of these organizations invested in him and encouraged him to run for leadership positions and other organizations on campus. He has served our noble institution as both the Vice Archon and Archon of Pi Kappa Phi, the Vice President of New Members for Eagle Connection, a student tour guide in the Office of Admissions, a member of the Order of Omega, and a member of Southern Style 2019. He currently serves as the President of the Interfraternity Council. For his leadership and involvement in fraternity and sorority life and other student organizations, he was awarded the Joe Paul 1910 Scholarship Award in the Spring of 2019. He hopes to continue his education and pursue a career in Public Policy and Administration. Ramsey is the son of Eric and Jolie Thrasher.

Ian Vowell

Ian Vowell is from Purvis, Mississippi. He will be receiving his BSBA in Accounting in May and believes he has been fortunate to be involved in numerous aspects of campus along the way. He joined Sigma Phi Epsilon after getting to campus, where he served as Vice President of Recruitment for his fraternity. He traveled to Richmond, VA and Houston, TX to meet many other SigEp’s across the country. Within the Fraternity and Sorority Life community, he has served as Vice President of Administrative Affairs for IFC. He belongs to Eagle Connection, where he served as President and Vice President of Communications for the organization and was able to help organize recruiting events for the University. He also worked as a Tour Guide for the Office of Admissions. Ian was selected to receive the Citizen Scholar Award for the College of Business and Economic Development, a Joe Paul 1910 Scholarship Recipient, and a finalist for Freshman of the Year 2016. He recently completed an audit internship with KPMG out of Jackson, MS where he accepted a full time offer to start in September 2021 upon completion of the MPA program at Southern Miss. Ian is the son of Bryan and Wendy Vowell.

Thuy-Vy “Lillian” Pham

Lillian Pham is a biological sciences major from D’Iberville. She holds a 4.0 GPA and is a member of the Honors College. In her first semester, Lillian became involved in the Student Government Association as a member of Freshmen Associates, the Honors College Leadership Council, Sexual Assault Prevention Ambassadors and the Vietnamese Student Association. In her spare time, Lillian volunteers with the Aldersgate Mission in Hattiesburg. Her future plans are to be a physician. Lillian is the daughter of Hung Pham.

Adrian “Emmanuel” Carney

Emmanuel Carney is an instrumental and choral music education major from Ripley, Tennessee. A member of the Honors College, he finished his first semester with a 4.0. Emmanuel is a member of the Pride of Mississippi Marching Band, the Office of Sustainability Ecoambassadors, The Southern Chorale vocal ensemble and the Saxophone Chamber Orchestra. His future plans are to achieve a doctoral degree in conducting. Emmanual is the son of Tyrone and Lana Carney.