Last night, 12 students were honored for their achievements at Demopolis’ Alabama Southern College first-ever awards ceremony.

The recognition event was the first to occur on the two-year-old campus although the school’s students have been credited at the college’s other campuses.

“This is our first opportunity to do this because this is the first round a of a full course load for our students,” Demopolis campus director Dr. Arthur Ogden, “but I am honored to be part of the growth of this institution. This college represents the opportunity for real academic achievement in the Black Belt. This is a good city with good city and county leaders.”

In the college of business technology, Monica Rowser was named most improved, Mattie M. Killings was most outstanding, Jamie Spruell was the top student in accounting I, and Marilyn Jones was named top student in accounting II. The top student in microeconomics was Johnathan Boyette and in macroeconomics, it was Paul Young, while Billie Jo Eatmon was named top student in computer applications.

Jake Oakes received the title as most outstanding in math and Alicia Ward was named most outstanding in science.

In the English department, Tracy Stacy and Jamie Spruell were named most outstanding. Kimberly Hudson, Alicia Ward, and Tracy Stacy were all named most outstanding in history.

In the psychology department, Felecia Ravizee and Billie Jo Eatmon were named the class’ top students.

Bringing national recognition to what Ogden called “Demopolis’ college” were Killings an Stacy, who were both named on the list for “Who’s Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges.”

“What happened here is nothing short of phenomenal. Two years ago, this used to be a pit,” Ogden said about the school. “Through the efforts of the good people of Demopolis, our president Dr. Johnson, and the community, we’re here and we’re here to stay.”