A Georgia Southern University student will be awarded the Student of the Year Award from Georgia Association for the Education of Young Children Friday.

Julissa Ortiz, senior child and family development major, will receive this award at Alpharetta on Oct. 5.

In order to receive student of the year award, the recipient must be:

• An outstanding student in a bachelor’s degree program, associate’s degree program or technical school diploma
• Nominated by a professor
• Studying either child development, early childhood education, special education or a related field.

Ortiz said that her professor, Alice Hall, Ph.D., who has had a deep impact on her stay at GS, was the one who nominated her for the award.

Ortiz said that she first started volunteering for the purpose of being involved in the community but it later had an impact on her decision when deciding her major.

“When I first started to volunteer my main purpose was to be more involved within the community, but to gain knowledge and experience, I decided to attend the after-school program Serve 912 trips offered by the Office of Leadership and Community Engagement,” Ortiz said. “And by volunteering, I would say it had an impact on my decision to become a child and family development major.”

According to a GS press release, Ortiz is not yet sure what she’s going to do after she graduates but she’s certain she wants to make positive impacts in the lives of individuals.

“Winning the award reminds me that my ideas and what I do can impact other people,” Ortiz said. “I can make a positive change in people’s lives, and that is what I love about my major.”

Ortiz further advises students who aspire to receive an award to continue working hard no matter what.

“Winning an award is an honor, but it definitely doesn’t define you or your character. There are so many people who don’t receive public recognition, but it doesn’t mean their work, time and effort weren’t appreciated,” Ortiz said.

Bisola Oke, The George-Anne Daily Reporter, ganewsed@georgiasouthern.edu