Honors Convocation 2014 A Tradition of Exellence Sisters Chapel 11:00 a.m. April 17, 2013 Spelman College Spelman College Program Organ Prelude .............................................................................. Dr. Joyce Johnson College Organist Welcome and Occasion .............................................................. Rae’Johne Smith Political Science Major Phi Beta Kappa Class of 2014 Salutatorian Invocation ............................................................................................ Michelle Burris Political Science Major Phi Beta Kappa Class of 2014 Introduction of Speaker ...................................................... Whitney McCollum Sociology Major Phi Beta Kappa Class of 2014 Honors Convocation Speaker ........................................... JaDawnya C. Butler Chief Senior Assistant District Attorney Office of the Fulton County District Attorney Class of 2002 Recognition of Honor Students ...................................... The Mirror is Large Performed by Camille Henderson, Tabatha Holly, Class of 2016 Kabrillen Jones Written by Gloria Gayles Closing Remarks ..................................................................................... Tyler Ulmer International Studies and Anthropology and Sociology Double Major 2014 Truman Scholar Class of 2015 Spelman Hymn ........................................................ Eddye Money Shivery, C ’34 ― 1 ― SPELMAN HYMN Eddye Money Shivery, C‘34 Spelman, thy name we praise Standards and honor raise We’ll ever faithful be Throughout eternity May peace with thee abide And God forever guide Thy heights supreme and true, Blessings to you. Through years of toil and pain May thy dear walls remain Beacons of heavenly light, Undaunted by the fight; And when life’s race is won, Thy noble work is done Oh, God forever bind Our hearts to thine. ― 2 ― Honors Convocation Speaker JaDawnya C. Butler, a Chief Senior Assistant District Attorney, serves in the Public Integrity Unit in The Fulton County District Attorney’s Office. Prior to joining the unit, JaDawnya started her own boutique practice immediately following law school and served the greater Atlanta Community as a solo‐practitioner of The Butler Law Group, LLC for five years. She was the 2012 President of The Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys (“GABWA”) and is the founder of GABWA’s Judicial & Public Office Academy, Trial Masters Boot Camp and their T.H.I.N.K. Initiative. She serves as the 2014 Chair of the Judicial and Public Office Academy. JaDawnya is also a member of the Gate City Bar Association, an appointed member of the State Bar of Georgia’s Board of Governors and the Fulton County Board of Ethics. She serves as a guest legal analyst on HLN. She is the recipient of The University of Florida Levin College of Law Black Law Students Association’s 2006 Outstanding Alumni Award and a 2008 graduate of The State Bar of Georgia’s Young Lawyers Division’s Leadership Academy. In 2012, she was named one of Atlanta’s “Top 100 Black Women of Influence” by The Atlanta Business League; featured as the cover story for The Daily Report’s annual attorneys “On the Rise” edition; awarded the 2012 Special Commendation Award by the African Leadership magazine; named one of Atlanta’s “Top 100 Law Leaders” by the Atlanta Business Chronicle; and awarded “Community Prosecutor of the Year” by Georgia’s first African‐American District Attorney, Mr. Paul L. Howard, Jr. In 2013, JaDawnya was honored by the National Bar Association as one of the “Nation’s Best Advocates: 40 lawyers under 40.” She was also an inaugural honoree of Lawyers of Color’s “Hot List” which recognizes 100 lawyers under 40 who excel in the legal community. She’s a newly selected member of Outstanding Atlanta’s Class of 2013 and a 2013 graduate of LEAD Atlanta. In 2014, JaDawnya was named Who’s Who in Black Atlanta in their inaugural “Emerging Leaders” Class. She attended Spelman College where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and History in 2001. JaDawnya attended The University of Florida Levin College of Law where she earned the highest grades in several of her classes and was the speaker at her law school graduation. JaDawnya clerked for Judge Phipps of the Georgia Court of Appeals, Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears of the Georgia Supreme Court and Thomas, Kennedy, Sampson & Patterson (the oldest Black owned law firm in the Southeast). JaDawnya has served the community as the leader of the Perkerson Elementary Reading Program—a program founded by the Gate City Bar Association’s Judicial Section to mentor third grade boys through weekly lunchtime reading sessions in the spring. In the fall, JaDawnya participates in “Legal Lives,” where she volunteers weekly at a local elementary school to teach students about the fundamentals of the legal system and techniques of mock trial. ― 3 ― Top Ten Graduates of the Class of 2014 Amanda Alexander, Mathematics Ke’Andra Levingston, English Tasha A. Alexis, Economics Kendra Mells, English Cheyenne Boyce, International Studies Whitney McCollum, Sociology Michelle Burris, Political Science Kemi Oyewole, Economics and Tyler Clark, Dual Degree Engineering Mathematics Mathematics Rae’Johne Smith, Economics *** Perfect Records Full‐Time Students with 4.0 Grade Point Average Spring 2013 Janet Akayenzi Eman Hardaway Liliane Ntaganda Brianna Allen Camille Henderson‐ Maya Prentiss Maya Anderson Edwar Faith Reid Juila Bellotti Ashley Jones Shamera Robinson Sierra Blanchard Whitney Kennard Shanice Robinson Dacie Boyce Mekhakhem Kheperu Victoria Robson Brianna Brownlow Erica Lamberson Ayanna Runcie Kayden Bui Noah Levine Ceciley Scarbrough Kendyl Curry Ayana Lindsey Akea Shepard Nartezya Dykes Laila Lloyd Rae’Johne Smith Brandon Edmondson Jahira Longcrier Kenicia Walker Earyn Edwards Latecia McCauley Thandiwe Weza Kristen Ezeude Britney McCollum Bongeka Zuma Nadege Gitego Whitney McCollum Fall 2013 Idera Adagun Mariah Hudzick Liliane Ntaganda Annissa Asbill Kayla Jackson Joi Porter Kyal Bannister Faith Kirkland Ceciley Scarbrough Briana Brownlow Olivia LaFlamme Carlisa Simon Daleesha Cadore Andrea Livingstone Ayanna Spencer Shelley Cobb Laila Lloyd Kendall Wells Brandon Edmondson Katryna Mahoney Marica Wright Erin Ferguson Camille May Bongeka Zuma Tyler Halsey Monica McGee Eman Hardaway Ataesia Mickens ― 4 ― Dean’s List 3.6 or Higher Grade Point Average, 15 Semester Credit Hours, No Withdrawals, No Integrity Violations, No Grade Below “C” Spring 2013 Britney Abrahams Shaquetia Butler Angelica Evans Imani Hester Ed‐Petra Adarauah‐ Tamara Byrd Kristin Ezeude Nicola Hill Yiadom Mamasa Camara Nicole Ezeude McKenzie Hinton‐ Alexis Agredo Tiara Cambric Dorsa Fahami Hardin Janet Akayenzi Brenna Carpenter Chelsea Falcone Dorotea Hogans‐ Amanda Alexander Amanda Carrington Rokhaya Fall Blaylock Ola Alexander Audrianna Carrington Deborwah Faulk Ariannah Hood Roliza Alfred Christian Chambers Akilah Favors Janiiya Horton Brianna Allen Michele Chambers Christina Fennell Eunique Howell Brittanie Allen Tyler Chaney Monae’ Fennell Shannon Hughley Khalia Alleyne Bianca Charity Fedeline Fetiere Alyssa Hull Asia Allison Priya Charity Corinne Foley Micaela Hunter Shevan Alston Morgan Clark Jainaba Fye Taylor Hutt Stacie Alvarez Tyler Clark Danielle Gaitor Brittany Idusuyi Jared Anable Erin Cohee Emily Gallagher Ellen Ingebritsen Kristi Anderson Kandyce Collins Daniela Garcia India Irish Maya Anderson Jasmeka Colvin Ellesse Garvin Taylor Irons Fabienne Antoine Amanda Crawford‐ Candice Gaul Aisha Jackson D’Asia Bellamy Staub Cenisa Gavin Tanisha Jarvis Julia Bellotti Chelsea Crittle Hannah Gibson Erin Johnson Victoria Blackwell‐ Marli Crowe Precious Gibson Natazia Johnson Rivas Skylar Cruz Ada Gil Jimenez Rayshonda Johnson Sierra Blanchard Kendyl Curry Alexis Gilliam Syundaia Johnson Ella Bonah Taylor Curry Nadege Gitego Ashley Jones Chelsea Bonner Lauren Cutuli Megan Goldston Kabrillen Jones Kailyn‐Marie Bostic Seana Dark Stephanie Goodalle Rugiyatu Kane Brittani Bovell Kayla Davie Angel Gray Amber Kean Dacie Boyce Auriel Davis Courtney Green Samantha Kelly Maegen Bradley Julia Davis Anesia Greene Kia Kennebrew Sakile Braithwaite‐ Taylor Dawson Kyla Greenfield Whitney Kennard Hall Ashley Dean‐ Alanah Hall Mekhakhem Kheperu Khalia Braxton Weathersby Ashley Grisham Seongju Kim Ariana Brazier Ariel Dickens Amanda Hamilton Courtney King Kelsi Brett Brooke Douglas Ashley Hamilton‐ Nia King Courtnee Brinker Shade Douglas Johnson Raquel King Sarah Brokenborough Christiauna Draper Frednesha Hamm Faith Kirkland Abrianne Brooks Kameron Duncan Paige Hampton Lindsay Kuzara Naomi Brooks Shana Dunning Eman Hardaway Erica Lamberson Kayla Broughton Nartezya Dykes Marylyn Harrell Amiri Lampley Shayla Brown Jollane Eccleston Alexandria Harrison Renatta Landrau Briana Brownlow Justice Echols Lauren Harrison Keonte’ Lee Dynasty Bryan Kayla Echols Kirsten Hawk Mackenzie Leonard Taylor Buck Brandon Edmondson Ferleria Hemingway Courtney Lett Kayden Bui Alexis Edney Keishia Hemphill Ke’Andra Levingston Zindzi Burchall Earyn Edwards Bria Henderson Lauren Levinson Lindsey Burgess Ingrid Eicher Camille Henderson‐ Jasmine Levitt Alana Burnham Lucia Elledge Edwar Ayana Lindsey Michelle Burris Jasmine Ellis Melissa Herskowitz Laila Lloyd ― 5 ― Alaina Long Takasha Nutall Jacqueline Schmitt Shannon Usher Jahira Longcrier Taylor O’Neal Houston Scott Chelsea Vill Cayla Lowe Kemi Oyewole Keyana Scott Dene Voisin Asia Mack Bianca Parrish Sharnae Scott Ethan Voyles Katryna Mahoney Jasmine Payne Qadeerah Sharif Faith Waldron Brooke Martin