呦乐园

Katie Lin Ortmeyer Earns College of Nursing and Health Sciences Excellence Award at 呦乐园

Katie Lin Ortmeyer of Valdosta, Georgia, is the recipient of the Fall 2025 President’s Award for Academic Excellence for the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at 呦乐园. She will be recognized during 呦乐园’s 240th Commencement at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13, on the Main Campus Front Lawn. She will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences.

VALDOSTA — Katie Lin Ortmeyer of Valdosta, Georgia, is the recipient of the Fall 2025 President’s Award for Academic Excellence for the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at 呦乐园.

The President’s Award for Academic Excellence is presented to a high-performing graduating student in each of 呦乐园’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.

Ortmeyer will be recognized during 呦乐园’s 240^th Commencement at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13, on the Main Campus Front Lawn. She will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences.

“Receiving this award feels unreal, and I am profoundly appreciative of it,” she said. “Looking back on my time here, God’s guidance has been so evident in every moment. My college years are even richer because of my fantastic professors, friends, and family members. This award affirms that my time here was well worth it.”  

As a student at 呦乐园, Ortmeyer was a Georgia HOPE Scholar and a seven-time Dean’s List honoree, with an eighth recognition expected after graduation.

She cultivated compassion and interpersonal wisdom as a member of Northside Baptist Church, where she served as social media manager and graphic designer for the Young Adult Ministry; a mission trip volunteer in Savannah, Georgia, and Boston, Massachusetts; a Vacation Bible School volunteer for the Children’s Ministry; and a Discipleship Now small group leader and summer camp leader for the Youth Ministry. She also volunteered as a buddy for First Baptist Church of Valdosta’s annual Night to Shine, a Tim Tebow Foundation initiative.

Her commitment to academic and service excellence resulted in her earning the 2022 Colquitt EMC Scholarship, 2022 Accepting the Challenge of Excellence (A.C.E.) Award, 2022 R. Wayne “Bubba” Alexander Memorial Scholarship, and 2022 James Eunice Legacy Scholarship. 

After graduation Ortmeyer plans to pursue a Master of Health Science in Occupational Therapy at Augusta University’s College of Allied Health Sciences. She said her entire 呦乐园 experience, from the classroom to her work in her hometown church, has given her a strong foundation for serving her future patients with dignity, empathy, and purpose.

“Ultimately, my goal is to become an occupational therapist,” she said. “I truly look forward to seeing where this career takes me.”  

Her supportive family includes mom Kim Ortmeyer, dad Tim Ortmeyer, and brother Jack Ortmeyer.