Pre-law student receives award for highest GPA in Lamar's graduating class

A criminal justice major is among three students honored by Lamar with the Plummer Award, recognizing the top male and female graduates in Lamar’s class of August 2013.

They attained the highest grade-point averages in their class.

According to a press release, Lamar University’s 15th president, Kenneth Evans, presented the awards during commencement ceremonies Saturday, Aug. 17, in the Montagne Center, where Evans delivered the commencement address for the 10 a.m. ceremony.

Plummer Awards honor the late Otho Plummer, who was chairman emeritus of the Lamar board of regents and a longtime board member.

Brianna Alicia Tamayo, a Vidor High School graduate, earned the Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice with a 4.0 GPA.

She is the daughter of Jesus and Renee Tamayo and the late Barbara Tamayo.

Tamayo was the recipient of the Heartbeats of Hope Scholarship and was included on the President’s List.  She was a member of the Pre-Law Society, Criminal Justice Student Association and served as secretary for Lambda Alpha Epsilon.

Her hobbies include playing soccer, spending time with friends and family and watching movies.

Tamayo’s future plan is to earn the Master of Science in criminal justice at Lamar.

Other Plummer Award winners were Amber Nichole Taylor and Douglas Barclay Shows.

Taylor, a graduate of Hardin-Jefferson High School, earned the Bachelor of Science degree in biology with a 4.0 GPA.  She is the daughter of Sandy and Scott Higginbothom from Sour Lake.

Shows, from Woodville, earned the Bachelor of General Studies degree with a 3.913 GPA.  He is the husband of Amy Shows and a graduate of Silsbee High School.  He is the son of David and Frances Shows.