By Steve Esser
YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. — Young Harris College is pleased to announce three students have been awarded Ledford Scholarships from the Appalachian College Association.
All six nominees nominated by Young Harris College since 2023 have been selected for this scholarship.
The following students are the 2026 recipients:
- Callie Atkinson
- Michael Sorenson
- Justin Wheeler
The ACA’s Ledford Scholars Program offers financial assistance for intensive research projects to undergraduate students enrolled at ACA member institutions. YHC has nominated students since 2023, the first year its students were eligible to participate in the program.
“It’s quite an honor for these students to be selected for this scholarship,” said Dr. Keith DeFoor, interim vice president of Academic Affairs. “And, it’s also an honor for Young Harris College, as all our nominees have been awarded scholarships, dating back to 2023.”
Wheeler, a psychology major, was awarded the Ledford Scholarship to research how certain common daily behaviors may affect experimental pain response among emerging adults. His findings have the potential to inform public health recommendations to reduce future risk of chronic pain development and opioid dependence, thereby reducing healthcare costs and disease burden.
“I am proud to serve as Justin’s mentor for his Ledford Scholarship research,” said Dr. Benjamin Van Dyke, YHC psychology professor. “His cleverly designed project will provide insight into everyday behaviors that might increase sensitivity to pain and impact long-term chronic pain risk, which is especially important in the context of the ongoing opioid crisis that disproportionately affects Appalachia. Justin’s findings have the potential to inform recommendations to reduce the risk of future onset of chronic pain, especially for current adolescents and emerging adults, through small changes in daily behavior.”
Atkinson is working with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to acquire Alabama and Spotted Bass from Lake Lanier and Lake Chatuge to understand the prevalence of microplastic contamination in a popular sport fish. By sampling the two reservoirs, she will compare a waterbody that is more disturbed from human activity with a watershed with less disturbance to see if there are differences in the probability of encountering a bass with microplastic contamination.
“I am very grateful for this opportunity, not only to further my research experience but for the opportunity to give back to the Appalachian community,” shares Atkinson. “This research will allow me to work with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to improve our understanding of local ecosystems and anthropogenic influences on them. Through this project, I have gained more confidence in my research abilities, and I look forward to continuing my research interests in graduate school. I am extremely thankful for the support from YHC faculty and staff, especially Dr. Davis, in designing and making this research possible.”
Atkinson expressed interest in doing a research-based senior capstone during Professor Davis’ Biological Research Methods class. She identified during a literature review that microplastic contamination in freshwater systems is understudied compared to marine environments.
“Given my background in environmental contamination,” Davis said, “I decided to work with her on developing a project centered around understanding microplastic contamination in fish in Northern Georgia. We identified the Ledford Scholarship as a potential avenue to accomplish our research goals, and Callie did a great job developing the proposal. Callie is a highly motivated student and one of Young Harris’ most visible students on campus.”
Sorenson, as a resident of the local area, has hands-on knowledge of the region. One of Davis’ students in last semester’s Conservation Biology, Sorenson brings previous experience and passion for natural resources. He will be collecting Redeye Bass from the parts of the Upper Conasauga watershed near Alaculsy, Tenn. Redeye Bass are an endemic species that is only native to the Coosa River drainage, and despite gaining popularity as a sport fish, there is relatively little information about their basic life history, including how fast they grow or how long they live. With the individuals Sorensen will collect, he plans to harvest their otoliths, which are small bones that serve as inner ears for fish, to determine their age. This information can be used to manage Redeye populations in a sustainable way.
“Michael is truly a uniquely qualified individual for this project,” Davis said. “He has familiarity with the sampling sites and the region overall. He has extensive experience in backcountry situations, including backpacking and whitewater guiding in the western United States and in the Smoky Mountains. Not every student is ready or should undertake this project, but Michael’s vast real-world experience in the outdoor industry is an asset in this case. I am excited to be working with Michael on this project this summer.”
“I would like to sincerely thank the committee for accepting my research proposal,” Sorensen said. “I am honored to have been selected as a recipient of the Ledford Scholarship and look forward to conducting my research this summer with Dr. Davis on the native Redeye Bass.”
About Young Harris College
Young Harris College is a private baccalaureate and master’s degree-granting institution located in the beautiful mountains of Northeast Georgia. Founded in 1886 and historically affiliated with The United Methodist Church, Young Harris College educates, inspires, and empowers students through an education that purposefully integrates the liberal arts and professional studies. The College offers 34 majors and 23 minors, ranging from biology or outdoor studies to business administration or kinesiology. Approximately 1,400 students are enrolled in its residential and Early College programs. The College is an active member of the NCAA Division II and remains a fierce competitor in the Conference Carolinas. For more information, visit yhc.edu.
