SOUTH FORSYTH -- The University of Georgia welcomed 2,757 students as the college’s newest alumni on Dec. 16, but one South Forsyth High School graduate was honored for something only three others did this year.

Brenden Michael Hull was recognized as a First Honor Graduate for maintaining a 4.0 cumulative grade point average in all work attempted at UGA and all college-level transfer work prior to or following enrollment at the university.

“Maintaining a 4.0 GPA required unending dedication to every class and every assignment,” Hull said. “I was constantly planning one or two weeks ahead to make sure that I had enough time to do a good job on all of my work and get prepared for every test.”

He said that strategy became difficult when he worked part-time for a few semesters and was involved in extracurricular activities like Beta Alpha Psi.

“However, I feel like maintaining a 4.0 GPA until graduation required a little bit of luck, as well, since one bad day on a test or one bad group project could have resulted in a grade less than an A,” he said. “During my last few years of college, I always felt like a particularly difficult class or bad day would come along that would end my hope of graduating with a 4.0, but it just never actually happened.”

Hull, who graduated from South in 2013 with an International Baccalaureate diploma, double-majored in accounting and international business.

He will start a five-month internship in January with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in Washington, D.C.

“This role will involve identifying and researching risks related to the audits of companies’ financial statements, in order to support the PCAOB’s regulation of public accounting firms,” he said. “After that, I will return to the University of Georgia for one more year to get my Master of Accountancy degree before going to work as an auditor for a public accounting firm.”