Top freshmen recognized at class of 2025 convocation

The incoming freshman class of 2025 was welcomed to the university on Wednesday, Aug. 18 by Dr. Darren Timmons, Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost, Eva Slagle, President of the Student Government Association, and Dr. Daniel Heimmerman, the university’s 5th Chancellor.

The highest-ranking students of the incoming class were recognized alongside their parents during the freshman convocation held at the Convocation Center.

Joshua Sharp and his accompanying parents, Jim and Alecia Sharp, were commended. Sharp is an applied computer science major and is excited for what the upcoming semester holds both academically and in extracurricular activities.

He graduated from Brookwood High School in Lawrenceville, Georgia with a 4.0 GPA. Sharp is honored to be considered one of the top students of the freshman class and is eager to trade in his junior varsity baseball number 14 for his Pacer varsity baseball number 42.

Alina Tomko and her parents were also applauded at the freshman convocation. Tomko is an industrial processing engineering major. Although she’s never taken engineering classes before, she’s thrilled for them and thinks her skills in math and science will contribute to her success in the field.

Tomko graduated from Clover High School in Clover, South Carolina. She said that being top freshman meant, “Don’t screw this up!” While ready for classes to start, Tomko’s involvement in the Air Force Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (AFJROTC) led her to acquire her pilot’s license, which she anticipates finding a use for on campus.