Angie Taylor-Lasiter is the recipient of the 2018 Jim Ed McGee Award as the most outstanding graduate student at Arkansas Tech University.
Taylor-Lasiter was presented with her award during the Arkansas Tech Graduate Council meeting at Tomlinson Hall on Tuesday, April 17.
A graduate of Atkins High School, Taylor-Lasiter attended Arkansas Tech as an undergraduate student and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and political science in 1998.
While serving as an academic affairs specialist at the Arkansas Department of Higher Education (ADHE), Taylor-Lasiter pursued a Master of Science degree in college student personnel from Arkansas Tech. She earned that degree in December 2017 with a 4.0 grade point average.
“This is an incredible honor,” said Taylor-Lasiter, who has served as director of corporate and foundation relations at ATU since October 2017. “It was very much unexpected. I wasn’t able to attend my commencement ceremony in December, so today was my graduation. My colleagues at ADHE always said I was an ambassador for Arkansas Tech, and I wore that proudly. The faculty and staff in the Department of College Student Personnel and the Graduate College got me here today. Dr. (Alaric) Williams, Dr. (Rene) Couture and Dr. (Christine) Austin…I don’t have words for what they mean to me. I consider them part of my family. This award means more than anyone could understand.”
Dr. Mary B. Gunter, interim chief of staff in the ATU Office of the President, presented Taylor-Lasiter with her award.
“I had the pleasure of working with Angela when she was at the ADHE,” said Gunter. “She did a great piece of work there. She was always that person who was interested in student success and willing to go the extra mile to make it happen.”
Nominees for the Jim Ed McGee Award must have completed their graduate course work with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.75.
The award’s namesake — Dr. Jim Ed McGee — served as vice president for academic affairs at Arkansas Tech from 1973 until the time of his passing in fall 1992.
His service to Arkansas Tech before attaining the rank of vice president included time as associate professor of education, director of institutional research, director of institutional services and director of development and public relations.
McGee’s wife, Carolyn, assisted in the presentation of the award on Tuesday.
For more information about educational opportunities available through the Arkansas Tech Graduate College, visit www.atu.edu/gradcollege or call (479) 968-0398.
Photographed (from left-to-right): Dr. Mary B. Gunter, Angie Taylor-Lasiter and Carolyn McGee.
