Columbus State University senior Samantha Thompson will be recognized at the University System of Georgia’s Board of Regents Meeting. Thompson, a nursing major and Columbus-native, was selected as CSU’s 2020 Academic Recognition Day representative. Each university within the system selects an honoree to represent the university on Academic Recognition Day.

Thompson, who has maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout her college career, has received many academic honors including the Zell Miller HOPE scholarship, the Griffin Scholarship for her top GPA in the nursing program, the Christophil Scholarship, and the Art of Nursing Award. During her freshman year, she received a scholarship to be on CSU’s competition cheerleading team, which she was involved in for a year. During her first year of the nursing program at CSU, she was elected as the Legislative Director of the Student Nurses’ Association and participated in many volunteer programs such as Habitat for Humanity, Walk for Alzheimer’s, Soldier Marathon, STEAM Youth Expo, and events held on campus. In May 2019, she accepted a job at Piedmont Columbus Regional Hospital working in the Student Nurse Apprentice Program (SNAP), where she is gaining experience as a medical assistant in the field before finishing her nursing degree. Later this spring, she will study abroad with CSU’s School of Nursing in Ireland. She received the Katherine and LeGrand Elebash Scholarship to attend the study abroad program, where she will be exposed to nursing in hospitals as well as nursing homes in Ireland.

As CSU’s Academic Recognition Day representative, Thompson will receive a letter of commendation from the Chancellor and signed resolutions from the Georgia Senate and House of Representatives. She and two guests were also invited to the February 11 Board of Regents meeting and lunch.