Hartwell Emmanuel Ag Graduate Honored by Department
From L to R back row — Owen Thomason (program chair), Kody Varner, John Dean Daniels, Max Owen, Kollin Smith, Wayne Randell (Ag professor) Front Row – Zoe Walraven, Mary Keener, Hope Smith, Kimberly McCall, Jaylyne Ward
Photo: Courtesy Emmanuel College
A Hartwell Agriculture student at Emmanuel College has been recognized as the Department’s Outstanding Agriculture Student.
Graduating Senior Zoe Walraven was selected by the Agriculture instructors and presented with the award at Emmanuel’s 7th Annual Founding Farmer’s Gala.
The award recognizes a student who has shown leadership, personal growth, and dedication to the Agriculture Department.
The Emmanuel College Agriculture Department graduating class of 2023 was celebrated and local farm families were honored at the Gala on Tuesday, April 25 in the Shaw Athletic Center.
Zoe has been the Colligate FFA President for three years, recruited for Emmanuel College at the National and State FFA Convention, and has participated in community service events.
More than 250 members of the local community attended the event which serves as a thank you to the members of the Northeast Georgia community who have been instrumental in the early success of Emmanuel’s Agriculture program.
Event sponsors included Springer Mountain Farms, Pinnacle Bank, and Bar-H BBQ.
Emmanuel President, Dr. Ron White presented Springer Mountain Farms with the Excellence in Agriculture award.
Agriculture Program Chair, Owen Thomason, Wayne Randall, John Shealy and Melissa Webb then recognized the 2023 graduates of the program.
They include:
Hope Smith of Toccoa
John Dean Daniels of Camilla, Ga
Jaylyne Ward, Stoneville, NC
Kimberly McCall, Lavonia, Ga
Kollin Smith, Bowersville, Ga
Kody Varner, Bold Springs, Ga
Max Owen, Newnan, Ga
Mary Keener, Elijay, GA
Zoe Walraven, Hartwell, Ga
Additionally, Ag student Madison Nimmons received the inaugural Dr. Leslie Hart Fordham Scholarship.
A silent and live auction also took place at the Gala to raise money for the scholarship fund and provide more opportunities for students to study agriculture at Emmanuel.
For more information on the Agriculture program or on how you can partner with us by making a contribution to this worthy program, visit www.ec.edu/ag.