Grace Ford and Sudarshan Narayanaswamy have earned the Wayne S. Kell Award for Academic Achievement from Georgia State University, presented to the students by Provost Nicolle Parsons-Pollard during Georgia State’s 110th commencement exercises in May.

The award is given to the senior (or seniors, in the event of a tie) achieving the highest scholastic average for all course work taken at Georgia State.

Learn more about the award recipients below.

Meet the Spring 2025 Kell Award Winners

Grace Ford

An Honors College biology student, researcher and dancer, Ford has pursued excellence in academic and artistic endeavors throughout her undergraduate career.

Ford has conducted research across several labs and universities, studying capuchin monkeys at Georgia State and pediatric hyperinflammatory conditions at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania.

Most recently, she studied stem cell engineering and immunotherapies at Georgia Tech as a Petit Scholar. Ford has presented her research at conferences around the country, published papers and won awards for her immunology research and academic writing.

In addition to her biology coursework and her English minor, Ford is a classically trained dancer and works professionally with the contemporary company AboutFace of Decatur City Dance.

In 2024, she founded the Ballet Company of Georgia State University, which has put on multiple successful shows. Outside the lab and dance studio, Ford works with the March of Dimes as co-chair of its National Collegiate Leadership Council and volunteers at Emory Healthcare. She has also been a tutor and mentor with the Georgia State Supplemental Instruction program for three years. After graduation, Ford will continue dancing and teaching as she applies for medical school, pursuing M.D.-Ph.D. programs.

Sudarshan Narayanaswamy

Narayanaswamy has demonstrated exceptional academic dedication, earning the Kell Award for achieving the highest scholastic average in his graduating class. He credits his parents’ unwavering support, and their hard work and determination, for fueling his work ethic and pushing him to be successful. He credits his sister Savitha Narayanaswamy (B.S. ’22), who was an Honors College student at Georgia State, for leading the way as he transitioned to college.

Outside the classroom, Narayanaswamy is actively involved in the Finance Development Society, the Fintech Organization at GSU and the American Marketing Association at GSU. He also served as a Robinson Ambassador, acting as a liaison between the J. Mack Robinson College of Business and incoming students, helping to foster engagement and support for first- and second-year students.

He is passionate about financial literacy and wealth management, and aims to help individuals better understand how to build and preserve their wealth for long-term financial security.

In his free time, Narayanaswamy enjoys working out and staying active. After graduation, he plans to pursue a career in private wealth management, where he hopes to make a meaningful impact by guiding others toward financial success.