575 receive degrees at Southern University

Baton Rouge, La. – Southern University conducted its spring commencement today in the F. G. Clark Activity Center, graduating 575 students who completed graduate and undergraduate coursework this semester. Five Southern University Laboratory School students received their high school diplomas after they missed their commencement ceremony to attend a state track meet in which they received first place. United States Representative James E. Clyburn of South Carolina delivered the keynote address. Clyburn was elected Majority Whip for the 110th Congress by the House Democratic Caucus in 2006. He is the first South Carolinian and second African American to ascend to the third ranking position in the U. S. House of Representatives. Clyburn encouraged the graduates by saying, “Life does not follow the rules of baseball. In baseball three strikes and you’re out. That’s not true in life. No matter how many times you try and fail, never ever, ever give up.” Degrees were presented by the vice chancellor for academic affairs, Dr. Johnny Tolliver, and conferred by Interim Chancellor Margaret S. Ambrose. LaToya LaTasha Johnson of Gibson, Louisiana was named Chief Student Marshal, the student with highest cumulative grade point average in the entire class. Johnson, graduating with 3.938 grade point average, received a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice.
The Southern University Department of Athletics announced the following 37 student-athletes as spring graduates from Southern University and A&M College on May 11, 2007.
BaseballJason ErnestGerard GauseMatthew Scott
Men’s BasketballChristopher AlexanderTimothy JohnsonAlvin Mott
Women’s BasketballTiffany Jones
Cross-Country/Indoor and Outdoor Track
Women’sJoy Kamani**Kaisha Weeks
Men’sKelvin BuckleyRashad CaveJeremy NoahVictor Onuoha*Jonathan Williams*
FootballMontie Ackley**Devin HerbertJC LewisKevin MackJoemaine Spears*Mark FrederickLyman DavisLarry Harold (Master’s)Tenel Curtis (Master’s)John Jackson (Master’s)Danny Morris (JD)
Women’s GolfKasarhri Franklin
SoccerErika Broussard*Latoya Harvey*Lakeisha HughesEboni Mayberry*Ashley Stevenson
Tennis
Women’sSarah Johnson
Men’sChristopher Williams***
Student TrainersAdrian FontenetteVictoria Palm

Gallery • 1 Photos

Photo courtesy of John Oubre / SU Publications

U.S. Representative James E. Clyburn delivered the keynote address for the 2007 spring commencement.