Grambling State News

Event proceeds to benefit StrengthsFinder assessment for Grambling State students

The Center for Career and Professional Development at Grambling State University celebrated the “best of the best” at its second annual Distinguished 10 (D10) awards ceremony, held in the Black and Gold Room of the Favrot Student Union.

The Distinguished 10 (D10) award was created to honor ten alumni who have demonstrated excellence in their industry and ​community. Through their personal and professional achievements, these ​remarkable individuals exemplify outstanding leadership in business, research, ​public service, and/or philanthropic endeavors.

A key highlight of the ceremony was the establishment of a $10,000 endowment in the name of the Distinguished 10. Vice President of University Advancement and Innovation Brandon A. Logan announced that this endowment will serve as a foundation for future classes to contribute, ensuring ongoing support for Grambling State students.

“What this novel class did was establish a $10,000 endowment in the name of the Distinguished 10. The expectation is for every subsequent class to contribute to this endowment so that we can continue to fund the futures of our students.

“So next year when we return, one added element will be recognizing our first honoree of the Distinguished 10 endowment.”

The 2024 class included James Bradford (1965), Dr. Cynthia Jackson-Hammond (’72), Wayne McConnell (‘72), Boris Oglesby (’84), Dr. Stephanie Miles-Richardson (’88), Dr. Quintrella Cahee (’91), Shlondra Amacker (’96), Jesse Jackson (’97), LaQuieta LaFaye Huey (’00), and Lt. Col. Levicy F. Crawford (’06).

Grambling State President Dr. Martin Lemelle, Jr. expressed his pride in honoring this year’s D10 class.

“We are an institution born of leaders who were born of leaders,” Lemelle said. “And we continue to build. We’re building capacity, we’re building futures and we’re certainly building on the legacy that is Grambling State University.

“From Mr. James Bradford to my classmate Levicy Crawford, this Distinguished 10 class is phenomenal.”

Bradford, who earned his bachelor’s degree in industrial arts in 1965 dedicated his life to serving his alma mater and community in Jonesboro, Louisiana, where he served as mayor from 2014 to 2022.

After a successful 40-year career in governmental affairs and at Smurfit-Stone, Bradford continues to work as a lobbyist for WestRock.

“I don’t think it’s a secret, I’ve got a passion for Grambling,” Bradford said. “As I was driving up here it occurred to me that what you don’t realize, when you take a stand for an HBCU, during my time, you ruffle some feathers. And they don’t like it — people in high places, I’ve been threatened, they tried to get me fired from my job, but that didn’t bother me. I still had a debt to work on.

“And that debt was to keep giving back to Grambling as long as I live. That doesn’t bother me because I bleed black and gold. And if you bleed black and gold, you need to give back so that GSU can survive.”

Jackson-Hammond, a 1972 education graduate, was selected in 2012 to be the first female president of Central State University in Ohio. She led CSU to successfully gaining 1890 Land Grant status, which elevated the teaching, service and research components of the institution. At the time of her departure in 2020, the University was receiving more than $15 million annually in federal and state allocations.

Soon after her presidency, Jackson Hammond became President of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) in 2020, which serves its members, students and society through advocacy for the value and independence of accreditation, recognition of accrediting organizations, and commitment to quality in higher education.

Jackson-Hammond thanked all those before her who led her to become a loyal Gramblinite.

“My parents always said that the place to be is a place where there is kindness, and where there is truth,” she said. “I was blessed to have parents who graduated from Grambling State University and who surrounded us with every ounce of energy about scholarship, about integrity, about honor, about commitment. And the best part of my childhood was when they said we were going to Grambling.

“Now we just lived in Monroe, but coming to Grambling was like coming to a new Wakanda. It was somewhere where you saw Black excellence, where you saw commitment, where you saw the legacy of doing the right thing for our people. I learned a lot about kindness, about integrity and about truth. And I can tell you that the professors here at Grambling State University always told you the truth.”

A 1988 biology graduate, Miles-Richardson currently serves as Associate Dean of Graduate Education in Public Health and Director of the Master of Public Health (MPH) program at Morehouse School of Medicine.

That program was established in 1995 to address the increasing shortage of underrepresented minorities in leadership positions in the field of public health. In 1999, it became the first accredited MPH program at an HBCU.

“This is a lot for me because I grew up in this place,” Miles-Richardson said. “And not only in this city, but in this room (GSU’s Black and Gold Room). And there’s somebody in here who knows what I’m talking about when I say this. I remember being in here for NYSP, so being, 8, 9, 10 and being in this Black and Gold Room, is empowering.”

Miles-Richardson also gave a message to the students in attendance about the importance of GramFam.

“Because I have such a strong family, the Grambling family, and GramFam, I can do whatever,” Miles-Richardson said. “The thing I wasn’t taught at Grambling was anything I can’t do. And so, I just do whatever I decide. And it’s worked out.”

She then announced the establishment of the Dr. Benny M. Miles endowed scholarship.

“It’s an endowed scholarship here at Grambling State University,” Miles-Richardson said. “It’s a $10,000 endowed scholarship for undergraduate students, and it recognizes students who have had a trajectory of success.

“This isn’t for students coming out of high school who already have scholarships. This is for a junior student who has demonstrated their ability to persevere, so this scholarship will be set up in perpetuity.”

 

McConnell, a 1972 accounting graduate, is a managing partner for Houston’s McConnell and Jones.

As Partner-In-Charge of the firm’s assurance practice, McConnell is primarily responsible for guiding the firm’s strategic direction and has overall responsibility for management of administrative functions, including human resources, accounting, marketing and information technology.

McConnell quoted Jesus in scripture from Matthew 16:18 to describe part of his GSU experience.

 

“‘For on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall never prevail against it,” McConnell said. “There are several rocks that have served as the foundation — building blocks — to get me to where I am today. And that first rock is the great I am, the maker and creator of the universe. I have daily interaction with my maker. I spend time in prayer and meditation every day. I speak to Him, and he speaks to me.

“The second rock is my mom and my dad, my parents. My mom, who is now 96 years old, graduated from Grambling State University. When I graduated from high school she said I was going to Grambling. I had other ideas, but I followed the money.”

A 1984 marketing graduate, Oglesby is an executive vice president and practice leader at Circana, a market research and technology company that provides consumer insights to help businesses grow.

In his role, Oglesby is responsible for leading high-performance analytics, data development, delivery, and client services organization in developing and using Circana’s tools to identify and address a broad spectrum of key marketing issues, including new product launches, line extensions, trade spending, pricing, and retail execution within the beer, wine, spirits, and tobacco industries.

During his acceptance speech, he spoke of the lasting effect attending GSU had on him.

“We all have stories to tell, with chapters filled with characters and stars of those stories that flow in and out of our lives during that time,” Oglesby said. “In my story, Grambling is ever-present. Without GSU, I’m not sure I would have realized the dream or the accomplishments achieved during my life. Grambling was more than an education for me. It was a finishing school.

“For those of you who remember, Lyceum credits, art appreciation, public speaking. When we were in school back then, we asked why do we have to dress up and go see the Chinese ballet? But when I left and was out there in the business world, all of those experiences and learning just flooded back to me, because I knew what a Monet painting was when I went into a museum. So, to all the students here, those kinds of classes and experiences are going to be with you forever.

Cahee, who earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting from GSU in 1991, serves as deputy director of the Central Intelligence Agency’s Open Source Enterprise.

Although she majored in accounting, an internship led her to join the CIA and base her career in human resources.

“I’m honored, but I’m also humbled to be sitting among such people who operate in the spirit of excellence,” Cahee said. “And that’s something I can say I learned here at Grambling State University. Grambling didn’t teach us what we cannot do. Grambling taught us what we are capable of doing.

“And one thing I’ve learned is that the sky is absolutely the limit. And when you put your heart into it and take advantage of your God-given talent, understand your purpose and understand what the spirit of excellence is, there is nothing that you cannot do.”

A 1996 computer information systems graduate, Amacker currently serves as international cybersecurity director for Chase Bank and also serves on the Grambling State University College of Business Advisory Board.

In addition to her longtime corporate career, Amacker also has for more the 20 years served as owner/operator of Shlampat Events and Event2Plan as well as owner/operator of Geaux Savvy Designs, LLC, which creates custom embroidery, sublimation, and vinyl apparel, kitchen, home, and pet items, specializing in designs representing and promoting Grambling State University.

Amacker was another new D10 inductee who credited being part of GramFam for her success in life.

“I only applied to one college, it was Grambling State University,” Amacker said. “After my time here in high ability, as an honors student, I could go to any school in Louisiana for absolutely free. I still chose Grambling State University.

“This is home to me and I feel as though it was a community that I needed and a community that I continue to need because of the fact that we all have time that we take for each other. As we give back to each other it is important that we share with students the things that have made us the people we are today.”

Jackson, a 1997 marketing graduate, is executive vice president and managing director of b1BANK and leads the bank’s Financial Institutions Group and will join the executive leadership team.

Possessing more than 30 years’ experience in the banking industry, Jackson previously served as executive vice president of Texas Capital Bank’s Dallas Commercial Banking Practice.

“I stand before you today with immense gratitude and a deep sense of pride as I accept this Distinguished Alumni award from Grambling State University,” Jackson said. “It’s an honor that I share with all of you that played a part in this crazy, beautiful journey that I’ve been on.”

Jackson graduated from nearby Ruston High School and spoke of how early experiences at GSU made him an early member of GramFam.

“Growing up on ‘The Yard,’ it’s different,” Jackson said. “You (Miles-Richardson) mentioned NYSP. I was here for NYSP. I was on ‘The Yard’ for Upper Bound. I wasn’t in Upper Bound, I was on ‘The Yard’ for Upper Bound. Some of my closest friends were in High Ability. So growing up here in Grambling, we were on ‘The Yard’ before we were on ‘The Yard’ (as GSU students).

“There are so many memories, from Homecoming to Spring Fest and then my first Bayou Classic as a student here at Grambling. I don’t know how I convinced my mother to let me drive at 17-years-old to New Orleans for the Bayou Classic by myself. My Uncle Ray convinced her.”

Huey, a 2000 physics graduate, has been an aerospace systems engineer/physicist for NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center since 2008.

She also holds a Master’s degree in Materials Science, an MBA from Florida A&M, and a PhD in Physics from Alabama A&M.

“Grambling means so much to me, and to be recognized by your home — this is my foundation,” Huey said. “I started here at Alma J. Brown (Elementary School). I went on to the middle school and high school and then I came to this university, and they poured into me, built me up and sent me out into the world to excel.”

 

“So, Grambling is home and it always will be home for me. And as I traveled and finished my education, I’m a rocket scientist, y’all. I didn’t know there was anybody before I went to NASA who looked like me and was a rocket scientist. So I encourage everybody, go to Grambling and you can be a rocket scientist just like me.”

A 2006 criminal justice graduate, Lt. Col. Crawford has been assigned to the Pentagon since 2022.

Crawford received her commission through the Direct Appointment Program in February 2012. Since entering active duty, she has served as assistant chief and chief of civil law, as adverse actions chief, and as special victims’ counsel at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

She is certified to practice law before the Louisiana Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, and the U.S. Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals. Crawford received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Grambling State University, Grambling, Louisiana, in 2006. In 2010, she went on to earn her Juris Doctor from Southern University Law Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Crawford was unable to attend due to military service duties but had longtime friend Quanisha Hamms, GSU’s Senior Associate Vice President for Finance accept her award.

In his closing remarks, Logan referenced Grambling State’s partnership with Gallup® and announced that the proceeds from theevent would be used to cover the cost of their StrengthsFinder assessment for students.

“Through this strategic partnership, we’ve been able to grant every student the opportunity to take a comprehensive assessment of their strengths so that they have a better understanding of who they are and how they can contribute in industry.

“And so, all of today’s proceeds are going toward this partnership that we can invest singly to every student at Grambling State University. This partnership yields a $15 dollar investment in every student but a lifetime of opportunity to realize their potential.”