Conner Knuckles Earns College of Business Administration Excellence Award at VSU

Conner Elizabeth Knuckles of Albany, Georgia, is the recipient of the Fall 2023 President’s Award for Academic Excellence for the Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration at Valdosta State University. She will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting during VSU’s 236th Commencement at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9.

VALDOSTA — Conner Elizabeth Knuckles of Albany, Georgia, is the recipient of the Fall 2023 President’s Award for Academic Excellence for the Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration at Valdosta State University.

The President’s Award for Academic Excellence is presented to a high-performing graduating student in each of VSU’s six colleges — College of Nursing and Health Sciences, College of the Arts, James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Science and Mathematics, and Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration.

Knuckles will be recognized during VSU’s 236^th Commencement at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9 on the Main Campus Front Lawn. She will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting.

“I am humbled to be awarded such an honor,” she shared. “I can clearly see God’s hand in my life, and I would not be where I am if it were not for His provision.

“I have had an amazing experience and that is due in part to the amazing faculty and staff here at VSU. Dr. Cheri Tillman has had a huge impact on my VSU experience; she was both my professor and honors advisor. Looking back on my time here, her influence and encouragement have impacted my undergraduate years in the best ways. Since having Dr. Tillman, I have had mentors and encouragers such as Dr. Cori Crews, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Dr. Nancy Swanson, Mrs. Lynn Crump, Dr. Candace Witherspoon, and many others. These people have helped to shape me into who I am today. I have been surrounded by an amazing community from the start, and I am so thankful. I am proud to be a VSU Blazer and even prouder to be a graduate of the Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration.”

As a student at VSU, Knuckles was an active member of Beta Gamma Sigma: The International Business Honor Society; Baptist Collegiate Ministries, where she served on the leadership team for two years; and the Institute of Management Accountants, where she served as director of plant tours and events followed by a term as president. She was a student ambassador for Becker Professional Education and a student representative for the Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration Strategic Planning Committee and Department of Accounting Strategic Planning Committee.  

Her commitment to academic, leadership, and service excellence resulted in her earning repeated Dean’s List honors, the First Bank Scholarship, the Institute of Management Accountants Scholarship, and several awards from the Georgia Society of CPAs, including the Valdosta Chapter Scholarship, Albany Chapter Scholarship, Coastal Georgia Chapter Scholarship, Bennett Thrasher PC Scholarship, and Collins/Moody + Company Scholarship.    

After graduation Knuckles plans to return to VSU to pursue a Master of Accountancy, pass the certified public accounting licensure exam, and then work in public accounting.

Her supportive family includes parents Stephen and Vickie Knuckles.