Students Honored for Their Achievements at Brightpoint Community College’s 2025 Awards Ceremony

Primary Media Contact:  Holly Walker, Director of Communications and Public Relations, 804-594-1530

Secondary Media Contact:  Heather Busch, Director of Marketing and Brand Strategy, 804-594-1532

CHESTER and MIDLOTHIAN, Va. – Academic excellence, leadership, perseverance, writing skills, artistic talents, and more were recognized during Brightpoint Community College’s annual Student Awards Ceremony. The ceremony, held April 23, 2025, at the college’s Chester Campus, honored more than 100 students for their achievements. The following awards were presented during the event (zip codes follow recipient names):

Foundation Art Award
Each year, the Brightpoint Community College Foundation sponsors an art award competition to spotlight the gifted artists within the college’s student body. The winner’s work is featured throughout the year on Foundation notecards and posters, and the winning artist receives a monetary award and a framed print of their work. The 2025 Foundation Art Award winner was Maya Berinhout (23223) for her drawing, Hello There! During the presentation, the contests’ finalists were also recognized: Renee Aldine Alegre (23805), Joshua Cloniger (23235), Elaine Harris (23225), Emily Jalbert (23192), Estefania Jiminez Rivero (23832), Beq Parker (23228) and Melissa White (23231).
 

Currents Art & Literary Review Awards
The college’s Currents Art & Literary Review highlights the creativity, writing and artistic talent of Brightpoint students. The publication includes four categories: fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry and art. Judges review and select first, second and third place winners in each category and may award honorable mentions. The winning entries are published in the Review.

Art
1st Place – Drew Fridley (23231)
2nd Place – Lily Hudson (23113)
3rd Place – Tara Caldwell (23120)
Honorable Mention – Estefania Rivero (23832)
Honorable Mention – Roni Kingsley (23229)

Poetry
1st Place – Fairouz Bsharat (23836)
2nd Place – Bella Fratarcangelo (23860)
3rd Place – Nia Ford (23838)
Honorable Mention – Lain Budu    (23236)
Honorable Mention – Ben Blankenship (23114)

Creative Nonfiction
1st Place – Karina Garcia (23230)
2nd Place – Fairouz Bsharat (23836)
3rd Place – Liz Leedy (24153)
Honorable Mention – Ben Blankenship (23114)
Honorable Mention – Angelita Lind (23831)

Fiction
1st Place – Ilse Izaguirre (23831)
2nd Place – Maria Kachmar (23236)
3rd Place – Charity Tynes (23112)
Honorable Mention – Nicole Mann (23236)
Honorable Mention – Jacqueline Hymel (23139)

Phi Theta Kappa Tau Rho Chapter Academic Awards
Phi Theta Kappa is the international honor society of two-year colleges. Each year, Brightpoint Community College’s Tau Rho chapter recognizes its graduating members who have the highest grade point averages in their associate degree programs.

Declan Barras (23221)
Holly Blevins (23112)
Dylan Brown (23236)
Spencer Canada (23860)
Marlon Carlson (23236)
Bailey Clark (23225)
Katherine Copi (23235)
Johannah Crowley (23236)
Liva Curtis (23002)
Joseph Dalane (23113)
Lillian Davis (23113)
Marissa Dickerson (23860)
Ciara Donlon (23831)
Sarah Etters (23237)
Brandon Feller (23112)
Harmony Goad (23075)
George Grant (23113)
Hailey Gudgel (23832)
Kalana Hair (23831)
Rachel Harris (23235)
Thomas Hendrick (23831)
Hailey Herbst (23234)
Lauren Hess (23805)
Tiffany Howard (23139)
Estefania Jimenez (23832)
Justin Kay (23114)
Elijah Kien (23237)
Cadence Koehler (23229)
Jakob Lepe (23834)
Nikolas Lepe (23831)
Avery Liuzza (23113)
Austin Loving (23114)
Melissa Lugo (23294)
Kimberly McNair (22485)
Kristina Natalini (23112)
Eric Nieman (23235)
Samuel Paiz (23237)
Samantha Robinson (23220)
Renee Scarlata (22968)
Coral Siegel (23238)
George White Jr. (23231)
Jeffrey White Jr. (23231)
Ceirra Worsham (23192)
 

Theresa Windham Service Award
This award was first presented in 1996 in honor of Theresa Hands Windham, who succumbed to a sudden illness in 1993 at the age of 37 while serving as the college’s coordinator of grants and development. During her short tenure at the institution, Windham’s kindness and selflessness touched the lives of countless students, faculty, and staff. Always smiling, always striving to help others, she was loved by all who had the good fortune to make her acquaintance. This award recognizes students who personify Windham’s dedication to service without regard for personal gain or adulation. This year’s recipient is Emma Jo Braun (23112), a health sciences major, who continually displays kindness, and compassion, outstanding leadership, and a spirit of service. 

Daniel Dalton Award
The Daniel Dalton Award is presented annually to an outstanding club or student organization that exhibits excellence in the areas of service to the college, commitment to community service, and dedication to academics. The award is named in honor of Daniel Dalton, one of the college’s founding faculty members, who during his long career as a professor of English, was actively involved in the extracurricular life of the institution, serving as an advisor for numerous student organizations. This year’s award was presented to Brightpoint’s eSports Club. Accepting the award on the club’s behalf were eSports Club advisor Jill Anderson as well as club members Kevin Meza (23860) and James Taccad (23113).

Marshall Denison Society
The Marshall Denison Society, named for the college’s second president, was established to recognize individuals who embody the college’s commitment to student success and who have made extraordinary contributions to the student activities program. Lisa Payne, student success and OER librarian, was this year’s inductee. Payne is a faculty advisor for the college’s Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society chapter, who helps guide the chapter and organize community service events, and is a student-centered librarian, who provides research supports and works with faculty on initiatives that make education accessible to all Brightpoint students.

Academic Resource Center Tutor Awards
The Academic Resource Center (ARC) Tutor Award is presented to outstanding professional and peer tutors for their efforts in supporting the success of Brightpoint’s students. These workers mentor, encourage, provide personalized support, and problem solve. This year’s Academic Resource Center Tutor Awards were presented to Richard Corp (23113), Estefania Jiminez Rivero (23832), David Kane (23231), Pablo Ortega (23237) and Sophie Williamson (23803).

CCWA Student Achievement Award
The Community College Workforce Alliance (CCWA) Student Achievement Award recognizes students who exceeded expectations or excelled in a workforce training program. This year’s awards were presented to Juan Soler-Davis (23237) and Clifton Jerome Watson (23225).

Student Ambassador Award 
Brightpoint’s Student Ambassador Program plays an essential role in helping create a friendly and welcoming environment at the college. It also gives current students the opportunity to represent the college and become student leaders. Student ambassadors lead tours, assist during special events, help their fellow students in a variety of ways, participate in outreach activities, and more. The Student Ambassador of the Year Award is given to the ambassador who goes above and beyond and who shows a tireless work ethic while volunteering to help students and representing the college at events. This year’s Ambassador of the Year award recipient was Lillian Davis (23113).

Performing Arts Achievement Awards
The college’s Performing Arts Achievement Award is given to students who have shown exceptional qualities not only with their talent but in other areas such as dedication, growth and persistence. Awards were given in the categories of theatre and music. This year’s award recipients were: 

Theatre – Samuel Kospinis (23235)
Theatre – Emma Rambo (23838)
Music – Mia Michelle Fisher (23875)
Music – Emma Joy Landrum (23227)

Trailblazing Student Award
The Trailblazing Student Award recognizes students who have put forth maximum effort inside and outside the classroom, as they balance multiple responsibilities, such as work and family, with their classwork. This year’s recipients were:

Jason Abrams (23831)
JoAnn Ashmore (23235)
Divine Barabara (23234)
Emma Jo Braun (23112)
Liena Chapman (23803)
Dylan Crouch (23831)
Erin Deloye (23113)
Demetria Dial (23801)
Ashley Freeman (23221)
George Grant (23113)
Willard Hicks (23124)
Russell Horne (23919)
Chenira Jackson (23231)
Nicole Jackson (23832)
Juliana Jennings (23113)
Estefania Jiminez Rivero (23832)
Alexis LaCosse (23112)
Carlyne Poni Lado (23875)
Hunter Lang (23112)
Saleh "Sal" Mohamed (14218)
LaShae Morris (23139)
Mubarick Musah (23235)
Kate Rathgeb (22401)
Aneeza Rehman (23836)
Madalyn Schmidt (23114)
Bonnie Soto (23885)
Donovan Thornock (23832)
Farrah Webb (23224)
Ruth Westmoreland (23235)
Townsend Wilburn (23002)
April Wright (23803)
 

Trailblazer of the Year Award
The Trailblazer of the Year Award is the highest honor bestowed upon a student. The award is presented annually to a student for outstanding academic performance and volunteer service to the college and who the faculty and staff believe will achieve great success. This year’s Trailblazer of the Year Award was presented to Anneza Rehman (23836).  Rehman was recognized for her commitment to volunteerism; her leadership and continuing engagement in student activities; her service to her peers as a tutor and a member of the Career Services Advisory Board; and her perseverance as she balances multiple jobs with her classes, her volunteer endeavors, and her student club work. 

Photographs taken during the Awards Ceremony may be found on the college’s Flickr account at www.flickr.com/photos/brightpointccva/albums. 

Brightpoint Community College, one of the largest institutions in the Virginia Community College System, envisions a success story for every student. Brightpoint offers students a high-quality, high-value education, with more than 80 majors that provide pathways to careers in in-demand fields; transfer opportunities to four-year colleges and universities; and industry credentials and licensures. The college, with campuses in Chester and Midlothian, online classes, and off-campus classrooms, served 12,097 students during the 2023-24 academic year. It also assisted 4,200 learners through Community College Workforce Alliance, the shared workforce division of Brightpoint and Reynolds community colleges.