Newton Chosen as 2018 CBT Distinguished Senior

EKU's College of Business and Technology is pleased to announce Ms. Christina Greer Newton as the 2018 Distinguished Senior. Each year, the College of Business and Technology selects a Distinguished Senior. This $1,000 award is given annually at the EKU Scholar's Assembly to the student judged by the Colleges’ department chairs to be the overall distinguished senior. This outstanding individual is also recognized at the CBT Spring Convocation Ceremonies.

The recipient is selected from among the five distinguished seniors recognized by faculty in various College departments and programs. The recipient is chosen for his or her superior academic achievement coupled with excellent leadership, citizenship, character, and service.

Newton, from McDonough, Ga., earned her Bachelor's Degree in Horticulture with a concentration in Landscape and Nursery, in December summa cum laude.

She chose EKU because of the horticulture program. "It has what I wanted from my horticultural education and more. Over the course of my time at EKU, Dr. Domenghini and Mrs. Hagan transformed the program; and instead of getting just a floral design education, I learned more about the industry and different aspects of horticulture overall. I came out of EKU with more knowledge than I intended on receiving," lauded Newton.

Dr. Cody Domenghini returned the compliment: "Christina is one of those students that I truly enjoy having in class because she is respectful, talented, energetic, and very determined to be successful. She became involved in the Horticulture Program during her first semester at EKU, in Fall 2014, and never let up on the brakes!" He continued, "She was involved in every function and activity the Hort Club hosted and often took the lead role – all the while maintaining excellent grades. Christina had completed the highly competitive Mosmiller Scholar internship program and did such an outstanding job that they hired her full time after graduation. I have no doubt Christina will be extremely successful in the horticulture profession."

Mrs. Carla Hagan echoed his words: "Christina was an outstanding student in the classroom often earning the highest grades in our classes. However, Christina’s leadership skills and creativity make her a stand-out. Christina served as an Agriculture Ambassador and was a Horticulture Club officer all the years of her degree. She was a master of social media—tweeting and facebooking our program’s activities into a whole new segment of the population. Her producing and publishing of John Duvall’s entertaining Red Barn Garden video segments grew the popularity of the Red Barn Garden immensely."

Newton's academic achievements were recognized and rewarded. Her internship with the American Floral Endowment has turned into a new career with Hall's Flower Shop and Garden Center in Stone Mountain, Georgia, where she is designing and working in the garden center.

She said, "Dr. Domenghini and Mrs. Hagan were absolutely phenomenal in helping me during my academic career. They made sure that we were aware of every opportunity that was available to us and are just amazing people in general. My greenhouse federal work-study supervisor, John Duvall, was also of exceptional help during my time working with him and I have translated many methods he taught me into my current job."

"EKU might be a small school and six hours away from my home, but I had many more opportunities and made lasting friendships with not only my peers but also my professors and advisors in the Agriculture Department than I would have at a big school closer to home."

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Published on March 14, 2018