Landis Johnson Earns Mac Award at VSU

Pictured, from left to right, are Landis Johnson and Dr. Brian Gerber, interim provost and vice president for the Division of Academic Affairs.

VALDOSTA — Landis Johnson of Hinesville is the recipient of Valdosta State University’s 2016 Sigma Alpha Chi Mac Award.

“I am truly honored and humbled by this prestigious opportunity to represent my parents, my professors, and my organizations by being selected to receive the Mac Award,” he said. “Receiving this award encourages me to continue to work diligently in the continuous strive for excellence in scholarship as well as service to my community and to my organizations.”

Sigma Alpha Chi is the oldest honor society at VSU. To be considered for the Mac Award, Johnson had to demonstrate academic superiority and an active participation in campus organizations. He was recognized during VSU’s annual Academic Honors and Awards Dinner.

Johnson, 22, graduated magna cum laude from VSU on May 7 with a Bachelor of Arts in music education. A regular on the Dean’s List, he held the principal euphonium chair in the VSU Wind Ensemble for three semesters and was inducted into Pi Kappa Lambda: National Music Honor Society, Order of Omega, Golden Key International Honor Society, Sigma Alpha Chi, and Sigma Alpha Pi: The National Society of Leadership and Success. He performed with VSU’s Blazin’ Brigade marching band and Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble and played piano and organ at Macedonia First Baptist Church. He was a member of the Mu Omicron Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., where he served as financial secretary from 2014 to 2015 and parliamentarian/chaplain from 2015 to 2016; the Black Student League, where he served as parliamentarian from 2013 to 2014; and Kappa Kappa Psi, where he served as historian of the service and leadership recognition society for band students in 2013.

Johnson will spend the summer working as a resident assistant with the University of Michigan’s Summer Discovery, a program that combines academics, athletics, and activities to give high school students a taste of college life. His dream is to work as a music educator in a middle school or high school, earn a master’s degree, and eventually advance to a college or university level teaching position.

“I believe being a great music musician is an exciting and fulfilling accomplishment; however, teaching music encourages and ensures the continuation of the art for the future,” he said. This is why I decided to teach — to be able to be a part of the continuation of the art of music.”

Johnson has played euphonium, primarily, for seven years and trombone, secondarily, for five years. He also plays trumpet, which he learned two years ago. He is the son of Barbara Johnson and Donald Johnson.

On the Web:

http://www.valdosta.edu/colleges/arts/music/

Valdosta State University’s 2013-2019 Strategic Plan represents a renewal of energy and commitment to the foundational principles for comprehensive institutions.

Implementation of the plan’s five goals, along with their accompanying objectives and strategies, supports VSU’s institutional mission and the University System of Georgia’s mission for comprehensive universities. 

The story above demonstrates VSU's commitment to meeting the following goals: 

Goal 1: Recruit, retain, and graduate a quality, diverse student population and prepare students for roles as leaders in a global society.

Goal 3: Promote student, employee, alumni, retiree, and community engagement in our mission.

Goal 4: Foster an environment of creativity and scholarship.

Visit http://www.valdosta.edu/administration/planning/strategic-plan.php to learn more.