Upshaw receives alumni award

The Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund recently named Cedric Upshaw, executive director of alumni affairs at Southern University, as the recipient of an award for outstanding management and performance in alumni affairs.
The award is presented annually to faculty and staff members from its 47 member schools that have demonstrated outstanding performance in their area of expertise during the past year. Upshaw was honored during a luncheon March 13, in Las Vegas.
“It is a reflection of the university and the staff of the Southern University Alumni Federation. It (the award) really belongs to the university,” Upshaw said. “I may have been singled out, but the whole campus and the people who are involved — the students, faculty, staff and alumni chapters and members — make up the collective effort that makes Southern and all it encompasses a winning team. So this award is for them also.”
Upshaw became executive director of Southern’s alumni federation in 1999. He is a 1988 alumnus of Southern and he graduated from the Southern University Law Center in 1993.
Upshaw said he believes the reason why he received the award was because of the giving nature of Southern’s alumni federation.
“We try to help any and all persons we can,” Upshaw said. “We reach out to people across the nation get here, then stay here. That’s why we have alumni such as (American Idol’s) Randy Jackson, (San Antonio Spurs coach) Avery Johnson and (Lt. Gen.) Russel Honore, all who have become household names.
“We are truly an extended family and that’s why I think the award was given,” Upshaw said. “Because Southern is the best.”