Jayson Crum Honored by College of Nursing and Health Sciences at VSU

William Jayson Allen Crum of Valdosta, Georgia, is the recipient of Valdosta State University’s 2017 College of Nursing and Health Sciences Outstanding Senior Sciences Award. He is pictured with Dr. Richard A. Carvajal, president of VSU.

VALDOSTA — William Jayson Allen Crum of Valdosta, Georgia, is the recipient of Valdosta State University’s 2017 College of Nursing and Health Sciences Outstanding Senior Sciences Award.

“I am very thankful and excited to have received such a prestigious honor from Valdosta State University,” he said. “I want to thank the faculty and staff for recognizing the long hours of studying and hard work …. I would not be where I am today without God and both of my parents. My parents have always encouraged me to work hard, be humble, and pursue my dreams.”

The College of Nursing and Health Sciences Outstanding Senior Sciences Award is presented to a graduating student who excels academically, demonstrates leadership capabilities, takes initiative in clinical and classroom settings, and is active both on and off campus.

Crum graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology in May. He was recognized during VSU’s annual Academic Honors and Awards dinner, where he was honored by Dr. Sheri Noviello, dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

During his time as a student at VSU, Crum regularly achieved Dean’s List status and served his university as an ambassador. He was a member of the Christian Student Center; the College Republicans; Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society; the Blazer Football Team, where he played long snapper for two seasons, including the 2012 national championship season; the Exercise Physiology Club, where he served as vice president from 2015 to 2017; Ducks Unlimited, where he served as president of the VSU chapter from 2015 to 2016 and helped raise $20,000 for conservation efforts; and Relay for Life, where he served as sponsorship chairman and vice president for the VSU event from 2014 to 2016 and helped raise $23,000 for the American Cancer Society. His research, “Effect of Aging on Body Composition in Obese and Non-Obese Individuals,” was presented at VSU’s 2016 Undergraduate Research Symposium.

Crum’s commitment to academic, research, and service excellence on campus, in the community, and around the world resulted in him earning a $10,000 scholarship from the University of Nebraska Medical Center for Cardiovascular Perfusion School, a $1,000 scholarship from the VSU Foundation Inc. for demonstrating excellence at all events as a university ambassador, and a $3,000 scholarship from Colquitt EMC. He also earned the 2017 College of Nursing and Health Sciences President’s Award for Academic Excellence, which is presented to the graduating student with the highest grade point average in each of VSU’s five colleges, and the 2017 Academic Achievement Award from the Exercise Physiology Program. 

Crum spent the summer interning in the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program at South Georgia Medical Center’s Dasher Memorial Heart Center. He said he is thankful for the cardiovascular team at SGMC, especially those who wrote letters of recommendation for him and helped him get where he is today. He will attend the University of Nebraska Medical Center in the fall.

“My professional objective is to become a cardiovascular perfusionist,” said the son of John and Beth Crum and 2012 Lowndes High School alumnus. “I am very interested in the physiological and pathological aspects of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, and I believe that my attention to detail, technological aptitude, innate curiosity, and critical and analytical thinking skills will ideally suit me to a career in cardiovascular perfusion. As a member of the cardiovascular team, the perfusionist plays a vital role in keeping the patient alive during open heart surgery via the heart-lung machine.”

On the Web:

http://www.valdosta.edu/colleges/nursing-and-health-sciences/