Special to the Enquirer   

Calhoun Community College will recognize its Top 10 students for the 2020-21 academic year during a special Honors Day Program April 30. Among those being honored are two students from Hartselle.  

According to Carla Swinney, Calhoun’s coordinator for student advocacy, special projects and discipline, students who have a minimum grade point average of 3.7 and have completed at least 35 semester hours qualify to be considered for the Top 10 recognition.  

Calhoun’s Student Services Department hosts an annual self-nomination process, which allows those students who are deemed academically eligible to apply. Once those students have applied, a designated committee consisting of Calhoun’s faculty and staff reviews each nomination packet to determine those students to be considered as finalists for this distinctive honor. 

“Each year, we receive a large number of applications, which makes the judging process so competitive,” said Dr. Patricia Wilson, Calhoun’s vice president of student services. “We are excited to announce that this year’s Top 10 Students are not only made up of highly driven scholars, but they have already demonstrated their exceptional leadership qualities and academic excellence during their time at Calhoun, and for that, we are very proud.” 

Calhoun Community College’s Top 10 include Barry “McCall” Atchison and Easton Williamson.  

Atchison is an advanced manufacturing major. He and was chosen as the only dual enrollment student welder for the Department of Defense Project MFG Competition Team this past year.  

He is a member of both the Phi Theta Kappa and Sigma Kappa Delta honor societies. He has received many welding awards during his tenure at Calhoun through competitions like Skills USA.  

Atchison is active in his community through his volunteer work with various children’s programs at church. He also serves as a mentor to other welding students. His goal is to become a multi-craft aerospace manufacturing professional and oversee large manufacturing projects. His grade point average is a 4.0. 

Williamson is a general studies major. He serves as a Student Government Association senator and is a member of both the Phi Theta Kappa and Sigma Kappa Delta honor societies.  

Williamson serves his community by serving as a tutor and a coach with local athletic organizations.  

His goal is to obtain bachelor’s degrees in both finance and economics from the University of Alabama. He would like to complete an internship working for a large investment firm on Wall Street and eventually create his own Venture Capital Firm. His grade point average is 3.8.