VALDOSTA, Ga. – With graduation this weekend, the Valdosta State athletic department added to its strong history with its ninth student-athlete earning the VSU President's Award for Academic Excellence and serve as banner carrier for their respective college over the last ten years.  This spring, Kassidy Hernandez, a member of the 11-time National Champion Red Hots, will carry the banner for the Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration.  
 
Hernandez, a native of Miami, Fla., has helped lead VSU to three national titles for the Red Hots over the last two years, including winning both the Hip Hop and Jazz championships last month, marking the first time in program history winning both titles in the same year.  
 
The President's Award for Academic Excellence is presented to a high-performing graduating student in each of VSU's six colleges — Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, College of the Arts, James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services, College of Science and Mathematics, and College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
 
Beginning in fall of 2016, former Blazer football standout Thomas Wright earned the honor for the College of Arts as the banner carrier for the fall commencement that year.  Then in the fall of 2018, former Blazer women's soccer standout Suvi Savolainen carried the banner for the Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration, while former women's tennis standout Daniella Barta earned the prestigious honor in the Spring of 2019 for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.  
 
Blazer men's golfer Thomas Jespersen became the second student-athlete to carry the banner for the Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration in the Spring of 2020, while teammate Wesley Hanson also carried the banner for the college in Spring 2021.
 
Women's cross country standout Olivia Rosener earned the honor for College of the Arts in fall 2020 and former women's soccer student-athlete Kyleigh Reedy also carried the banner for the College of Nursing and Health Sciences in the Fall of 2021.  Former Blazer standout softball player Morgan Hill earned the prestigious honor in Spring of 2023, and carried the banner for the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. 

Hernandez will be recognized during VSU's 241^st Commencement at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 9, on the Main Campus Front Lawn. She will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance, a Bachelor of Business Administration in Applied Economics, a Minor in Applied Mathematics, and a Certificate in Data Science.

"It is an amazing accomplishment and a fulfilling feeling to be recognized as a top student from the Langdale College of Business Administration," she said. "I came to VSU eager to learn, but unsure of what I wanted to study and what career I wanted to pursue. I never thought that I would receive this award. I came to VSU on my own, with the support of my family, to become independent, learn about myself, and challenge myself to make friends. Knowing that I made lifelong friends and that I had the support from my professors to succeed is an accomplishment in itself. This culminating honor is one that I will always cherish and will be my motivation to continue to work hard and excel."

As a student at VSU, Hernandez was inducted into The National Society of Leadership and Success, where she served as secretary, and Beta Gamma Sigma: The International Business Honor Society. She volunteered at local elementary schools and represented the Data Science program at Open House events as a student ambassador. She also presented mathematical modeling research at the university's 2024 Undergraduate Research Symposium.   

Hernandez joined VSU's Red Hots dance team three years ago. That decision proved to be one of the most defining parts of her college journey, giving her a sense of belonging and becoming a source of discipline, confidence, and connection.

She earned All-American honors at the 2024 National Dance Alliance College Camp and was later recruited to be part of the NDA staff in 2025.  She will continue her dance career this summer as a member of the NDA staff.  

Hernandez's commitment to academic, athletic, leadership, research, and service excellence resulted in her earning Dean's List honors every semester, the 2024-2025 Clare Philips Martin Scholarship, and the 2025-2026 Division of Athletics Student-Athlete Academic Award. She was also honored by VSU Athletics with a Student Athlete Academic Spotlight recognition in Fall 2023, Spring 2024, and Spring 2025.  

After graduation she will begin her career with the Marriott International Voyage Program, on the accounting and finance track. This is a 12- 18-month paid leadership program for recent graduates to develop skills in managerial accounting within a hotel setting. She will also begin preparing for her actuarial exams and work towards becoming a credentialed actuary. 

When asked about her family and how they have contributed to her success, Hernandez said, "My biggest supporters are my parents, Victor O. Hernandez and Wendy Hernandez; my brother, Victor M. Hernandez; and my boyfriend, Henry Garces. Receiving this award wouldn't be possible without my amazing support system. I rely on my family, and I know that they will always be there for me. Although my family is seven hours away, they never miss a phone call and drive up to watch every performance. I love them with all my heart, and I am thankful to have them in my life as my personal cheerleaders."