Sankofa Awards 2013

Valdosta State University’s African American Studies Program celebrated the Twelfth Annual Multicultural Sankofa on
Thursday, May 2, 2013, at 7:00 P.M. in the Student Union Theater. 

Graduates, their families and friends, VSU administrators, faculty and staff were in attendance to celebrate the individual achievements and collective triumphs of those students whose academic achievements may not be acknowledged in the traditional commencement ceremony called "Sankofa". Sankofa is a West African word that means “looking back in order to move forward.” According to African proverbs, the Sankofa bird symbol symbolizes going back in time to remember what has been forgotten so that progress can be made. Sankofa celebrations are held in various settings as a way of highlighting spiritual consciousness and experiences within African and African American cultures that have helped to shape them.

The theme for the celebration was “Integration at Valdosta State: Honoring Trailblazers of the Past and Present.” Hosted by VSU’s African American Studies (AFAM) program, the celebration will include a presentation of the Spring 2013, Summer 2013 and Fall 2013 VSU graduates. The AFAM program will then recognize the AFAM Teacher of the Year, AFAM Student of the Year, AFAM Mentor of the Year and Sankofa Award recipient.

Other program participants included:

• Ms. Felicia A. Hilson – AFAM Teacher of the Year – 2013 (Excellent professor & doctoral student)
• Mr. Kameron J. Copeland – AFAM Student of the Year – 2013 (3.87 GPA)
• Mr. Casey J. Williams – AFAM Student Mentor of the Year – 2013 (Mentored middle grade students for at least four years/served as their student mentor on a trip to Ghana in 2011
• Dr. Okete Shiroya – VSU Retiree (18 Years) AFAM & History Professor
• Ms. Yasmin K. Harrell – AFAM Community Servant  of the Year – 31 Community Service Projects Completed at VSU and in the community during her tenure here
• Ms. Kelli Williams --  The Coveted “Sankofa” Award (For her awesome research on VSU** Integration)
• Mr. Ryan Brinson (Claydon H. Barron Scholarship Recipient -- 2013
• Mr. Louis Cureton  -- AFAM Sankofa Drummers
•  Shaleah – AFAM Sankofa Drummers
• Mr. James P. Robinson – VSU Graduate & AFAM Minor; Guest Soloist
• Mr.  DeMario Jones – AFAM Trailblazer (Former VSU SGA President)
• Elder John Isom – AFAM Minor & Motivational Leader
• Mr. Kendrick Dyer – AFAM Professor & Trailblazer (Former Advisor to APA)
• Ms. Caterina Orr – AFAM Professor & Trailblazer
• Ms. Jacquinne Robinson – AFAM Student Worker (Helped to coordinate Sankofa)
• Ms. Candace Myrick – AFAM Graduate Assistant (Helped to coordinate Sankofa)

The African American Studies Program also recognized the 2013 recipients of the Claydon Hayward Barron Scholarship. Officially endowed at VSU in 2011, the scholarship honors the memory of the late Barron, a humanitarian and business entrepreneur who was the first African American appointed to the Valdosta Board of Education, on which he served ten years. Established by Mary Barron, wife of the late Barron, and Lawanna Barron, daughter of Claydon Barron, the scholarship is awarded once annually to  sophomore, junior or first semester senior AFAM minors who have demonstrated academic excellence at VSU. Dr. Shirley Hardin, Director of African American Studies, presided over the program and presented the following Sankofa Awards for 2012:

 

2013 AFAM Student of the Year Award: Mr. Kameron Copeland, GPA: 3.85 & completing his degree in (3) years
Graduating Senior, Mass Media Major and African American Studies Minor

2013 AFAM Student Mentor of the Year Award: Mr. Casey J. Williams
Graduating Senior, Education Major and African American Studies Minor

2013 AFAM Teacher of the Year Award: Ms. Felicia A. Hilson, Professor
Divison of Social Work & African American Studies Program

The Twelfth Annual Multicultural Sankofa Award: Ms. Kelli Williams,

2013 Community Servant of the Year Award: 
Presented by Dr. Shirley H. Hardin

Program Coordinators for Sankofa 2013
Mr. Derrick L. Carter, Sr., Ms. Candace Myrick, Ms. Jaccqueline Robinson, & Mr. Ryan Brinson