Southern University Graduates 270 at Summer Commencement

Southern University conducted its summer commencement exercises Friday in the F. G. Clark Activity Center, graduating 270 students who completed graduate and undergraduate coursework during the summer semester.

Bishop Joseph Walker III, pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church of Nashville, Tenn., delivered the keynote address. The Louisiana native urged students not to settle for being average.

He said once students graduate, they are often tempted to become complacent. He noted that he received his bachelor’s degree from Southern in three years before going on to graduate work.

Walker is also president and chief operating officer of Exodus Productions Inc. and a professor of religion at Tennessee State University.

He is the author of four books titled “From Tragedy to Triumph,”"Before You Say, ‘I Do,’”"Too Blessed to Be Broke,” and “In Pursuit of Purpose.”

Degrees were presented by the vice chancellor for academic affairs, Johnny Tolliver, and conferred b Chancellor Ed Jackson.

Albanye Miranda Randall of Plaquemine was named chief student marshal, the student with the highest cumulative grade-point average in the entire class. Randall, graduating with 3.8, received a bachelor of science degree.

Jackson also recognized 22 students from the Universidad del Valle de Orizaba of Orizaba, Veracruz in Mexico. Among the group are 10 business students who came as part of a program designed to introduce them to international business practices in Louisiana. The other 12 students came to study English and to learn more about Louisiana culture.

The environmental toxicology Ph.D program graduated its first student, Sridevi Yadavilli. Yadavilli enrolled in the program in fall of 2001, when the doctorate was first offered.