wenty year-old Nigerian-born Diane Isibor, on Saturday, went home with two prestigious awards during the 223rd convocation ceremony of Valdosta State University, United States.
They are the Spring 2017 President’s/Vice Chancellor’s Award for Academic Excellence (for the Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration) and Annie Power Hopper Award.
The President’s award was bestowed on Isibor, a student from Abavo in the Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State, during the institution’s 223rd convocation held on Friday, May 5, and Saturday, May 6.
Isibor graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance with a first class and Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4 over 4, not dropping a point from her first to final year
The President’s Award for Academic Excellence is presented to the graduating student with the highest grade point average in each of VSU’s five Colleges – College of Arts and Sciences, College of the Arts, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration, and James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services.
The Chairman, Academic Honours and Awards Committee, VSU, Abigail Heuss, in a letter addressed to her, said people with highest levels of academic excellence were considered for Annie Power Hopper Award.
She said, “Only those few students who best exemplify the traditions of the university, the character, dignity, and charm associated with the memory of Annie P. Hopper, and who have achieved highest levels of academic excellence, are considered.
“I am happy to report that out of our finalists, you have been chosen as this year’s Annie Power Hopper Award winner, recognised by faculty from across Valdotsa State University as embodying the very best that the university seeks to cultivate in its students. On behalf of the rest of the committee, I congratulate you on this important achievement and look forward to seeing you at this year’s Honours Night dinner.”
Isibor served as the official banner carrier for the Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration during the undergraduate graduation ceremony on the VSU Front Lawn.
“I am highly honoured to be considered for this award. This honour is evidence that hard work pays. I am elated to lead my fellow graduates into the commencement area. My ultimate goal is to be a leader in business. The Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration has been instrumental in helping me prepare to achieve this goal,” said the daughter of Eyitemi and Desmond Isibor.
During her time as a student at VSU, Isibor regularly achieved the Dean’s List status, served as a university ambassador and a Wiley PLUS student partner, and earned a spot in the Beta Gamma Sigma Business Honours Society and the Mu Zeta chapter of Beta Alpha Psi Accounting and Finance Honours Society, where she served as the treasurer.
She was actively involved in the Society of International Students, where she served as the vice president and treasurer; the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, and the VSU chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants, where she served as the director of plant tours and events and was featured in the organisation’s Campus Connection newsletter.
According to the institution, Isibor’s commitment to academic and service excellence, resulted in her earning many laurels, including the 2016 VSU President’s Choice Scholarship, 2016 Georgia Gulf Sulfur Scholarship and 2016 Institute of Management Accountants Memorial Education Fund Award.
She plans to work as a financial analyst in Atlanta, while pursuing the professional designations typical of individuals working in the accounting and finance career fields.