Posted on Friday, March 13, 2020
It all started with senior Destinee Carlyle, president of the Black Student Union.
“She had a dream of spotlighting another side of LaGrange College during Black History Month,” said Ronald Youngblood, president of the Black Male Initiative. “We wanted some kind of showcase to honor our culture.”
That dream was realized Feb. 28 when a permanent display spotlighting the first African American students to attend the college was unveiled in Frank and Laura Lewis Library. The ceremony featured comments from four of the first eight scholars.
Alfreda Barrow Fannings ’71 said she was overwhelmed by the honor.
“Little did I know when I enrolled here that I would become part of the college’s history,” she said. “I am so thankful to be here today. I will never forget this moment.”
Bobbie Harris Burkes ’71 expressed her thanks to Felecia Moore, Archives Specialist at Frank and Laura Lewis Library.
“She is a trailblazer, and she doesn’t give up,” Burkes said. “She and Destinee followed through, and I’m here, and all of you (her classmates), are here because of their persistence.”
Longtime educator Doris Adamson Simpson ’80, M’82 also credits the college for her accomplishments.
“I know I wouldn’t be where I am today, and have accomplished what I have, without the college,” she said. “I even came back to get my master’s here.”
Verona Brown Hill ’69, the first African American to graduate from LaGrange, said there was a unique program at LaGrange.
“They had a social work curriculum that included a practicum in the community,” she said. “I had a job before I even completed my studies.”
Last year, Moore introduced Hill to Destinee.
“I was very moved and inspired by her story,” Destinee said. “That’s when I started telling other campus organizations about her.”
The members of the BSU joined forces with the Black Male Initiative to come up with a way to honor those first students. After weeks of throwing around ideas, they approached Brian Carlisle, Vice President for Student Engagement, with a plan to display a plaque featuring the names of the first African American students to enroll at the college, as well as their class photos.
“He suggested we display the photos in a frame and hang it in Lewis Library, which is named for the first African American head librarian and faculty member, Frank Lewis,” Destinee said. “He helped us all along the way to make this a reality.”
College President Dan McAlexander said he felt privileged to be part of the celebration.
“I am honored and humbled to stand before these honored guests today, and to hear the spirit of gratitude they bring,” he said.
He also expressed admiration for the students who headed the project.
“I want you to look at these young people,” he told the crowd. “You are looking at our future for the next 50 years.”
He said it was a real point of pride for him that the college is able to attract those students, but also voiced his remorse that the honor had been so long in coming.
“It is a source of shame that it took us so long to do this.”
When Destinee and Akeem Peterson, Vice President of BMI, unveiled the display, the honorees cheered.
“I was a part of a group of young people who had a dream, a vision to do something in their community – something to make the world a better place,” Hill said. “LaGrange College prepared us all to be those pioneers.”
The two organizations also sponsored the Ebony Ball that night to mark the occasion.
“It was amazing,” Destinee said. “We were excited to talk with those students who paved the way for us to come to LaGrange College.”
COVID-19 UPDATE: The college continues to monitor the threat level to our campus from COVID-19. There have been no reported cases of the virus in our area. All campus offices are working closely as we monitor COVID-19 developments, and we will communicate any concerns to you quickly. Visit here for the latest.
Several LaGrange College students presented at the Atlanta Symposium on Political Science, hosted by Georgia State University. Political Science majors Olivia Hanners, Alanna Martin and Payton Smith presented their research on March 7. Hanners’ paper “Guerrilla Warfare” focused on economics and the use of child soldiers. Martin presented “Affirmative Action in Higher Education” while Smith’s research paper “Overturning A Statewide Public Referendum” dealt with state legislatures and city councils undermining citizen initiatives passed by voters.
The West Georgia Choral Arts Festival scheduled for Saturday has been canceled.
Saturday
Tuesday
Thursday
Baseball
Senior Trey Pearce hit a home run and drove in four runs to lead the Panthers (12-5) to an 8-1 win over 23rd-ranked Emory on Tuesday at Cleaveland Field in Williamson Stadium. Four pitchers combined to hold Emory to four hits.
Men’s Lacrosse
Wentworth Institute of Technology beat LC (2-6) 19-3 on Wednesday at Callaway Stadium. Jackson Bonner had two goals, while Tareyon Delgado had his team-leading 19th goal.
Softball
Visiting Hiram beat the Panthers (7-5) 7-6 in 8 innings and 6-4 on Thursday at the LC Softball Complex. Abbey Gardner had a game-tying two-run home run in the first game. McKenzie Brunel and Hailey Jones each had three hits in the doubleheader.
Friday, March 13
Beach Volleyball vs. Huntingdon and Reinhardt at Huntingdon College, Montgomery, Alabama
Saturday, March 14
Men’s and Women’s Tennis at Covenant, Lookout Mountain, Georgia, 2 p.m.
Tuesday, March 17
Baseball vs. Berry, at Cleaveland Field in Williamson Stadium, 6 p.m.
Wednesday, March 18
Men’s Lacrosse at Huntingdon, Montgomery, Alabama, 8 p.m.
Spring Preview Day at LaGrange College is coming March 28. Once you’re here, you’ll do more than just tour our beautiful campus. You'll learn about study-abroad opportunities, our life-changing and community-changing Servant Scholars program … and why LaGrange is considered one of the most affordable, highly-rated schools in the Southeast. R.S.V.P. at kongtiao11.com.
LaGrange College stays hot – LaGrange Daily News, March 10, 2020
LaGrange picks up litter, plants trees at Jones Street Park – LaGrange Daily News, March 9, 2020
Beach volleyball team off and running – LaGrange Daily News, March 10, 2020
Azalea Storytelling Festival draws big crowd – LaGrange Daily News, March 9, 2020
Panthers sweep doubleheader – LaGrange Daily News, March 10, 2020
Category: College, Events, Academics
Keywords: African American students graduates honors
