Channing Mathews, a 2005 Valwood graduate, recently received two prestigious awards at Duke University.  Ms. Mathews was chosen as the Undergraduate Student Leader of the Year, an award named in honor of Julian Abele, an African American who designed the architecture for the West Campus at Duke University. Ms. Mathews was recognized at an awards dinner honoring the significant achievements of black community members and their supporters.

In addition to the Abele honor, Ms. Mathews was chosen to deliver the graduation speech at the Final Honors Ceremony for students of African-American descent and their friends and families. The Final Honors Ceremony is held annually to honor the accomplishments of members and to present the graduates with Kente cloth stoles to be worn at commencement.   

Ms. Mathews received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, a certificate in Human Development and a minor in Spanish from Duke University in May. She is traveling to the Dominican Republic this fall where she will teach English Language Arts to eighth graders at the New Horizons Bi-lingual school in Santo Domingo.  Ms. Mathews is the daughter of Jessica Mathews of Valdosta.