The Honorarium 2021 Issue

Spring 2021 Issue

Lawson State Community College Honors College Publication

THE
HONORARIUM

In This Issue: 03
04
Director’s Message 08
Scholar Spotlights 09
PTK Annual Catalyst Conference
Honors College Induction Ceremony

WHO WE ARE WHY JOIN?

Lawson State Community College Honors College aspires to Scholarship Opportunities
offer an engaging educational experience that cultivates Prestige and Attractiveness
academic excellence to ultimately produce a student who to Senior Colleges
is culturally diverse and civic-minded with a global Travel (nationally and
perspective. The Honors College is dedicated to providing internationally in some
an atmosphere that promotes critical thought and team- cases)
building through a variety of collaborative experiences. Study Abroad Opportunties
Through these initiatives, the Honors College empowers the Mentorship Opportunties
student to embrace intellectual challenges, to champion Intern Opportunities
civic responsibilities and to actively participate in and Engage in Community
positively contribute to a global society. Service Opportunities
Enhance Your Leadership
Skills
Exposure to Honors College
Classes and Experiences
Scholars' Bowl Team,
Mathematics Team, and
Speech & Debate Team

QUALIFICATIONS

3.3/4.0 GPA or higher
Minimum 12 semester hours
(100 level courses or higher)
completed
No more than 18 semester
hours obtained
1 Faculty recommendation
Demonstrated involvement
in student organizations
No history of disciplinary
issues at the college
Personal Interview

Honors College Council A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
by Cicely Martin, Editor
Mr. Weymon Holloway
Honors College Director I am delighted to welcome you to The Honorarium as we highlight
the Lawson State Community College Honors College for the
Mrs. Cicely Martin 2020-2021 academic year.
Honors College Co-Director
This year brings about major changes as we all have learned
Dr. Sherri Davis to navigate through a global pandemic, virtual classes and Zoom
Academic Dean events - a new way of life. The Honors College has experienced
changes as well. Our co-director and the visionary behind The
Mr. Darren Allen Honorarium, Dr. Shawanda Thomas, has accepted a new position
Dean of Sudent Services as the Director of 2-PI STEM. She has handed over The
Honorarium to a new co-director and editor.
Dr. Shawanda Thomas
Director of 2-Pi STEM While the core of The Honorarium is the same, you may see
some changes. This issue centers around the theme: “Our Time is
Ms. Rebecca Duncan Now”. We have highlighted the work of our students through the
PTK Lead Humanities Instructor four pillars of the Honors College: scholarship, leadership,
community service, and global citizenship. We hope you welcome
Mr. Matthew West the changes and enjoy reading about how our students are
Scholars’ Bowl Coach embracing this time of change, and in turn, are “being the change
they want to see in the world”.
Ms. Melanie Wilson
Speech/Debate Coach We are inspired by the voices of our scholars. “Our Time is
Now” symbolizes the urgency of moving forward, being a leader
Dorian Walyun today and not waiting until tomorrow.
Director Of Admissions and
Enrollment Management I am elated to be furthering the mission of Lawson State
Community College, the Honors College, Phi Theta Kappa Honor
Society and The Honorarium.

WORLD-CLASS
EDUCATIONAL
EXPERIENCE

Internships
Mentorship
Travel

WELCOME, NEW
MEMBERS!

INDUCTEES

Jurnee Allen* Kayla Nevette*
Jordan Barksdale* Matthew Morris*
Aubrey Bowman* Eniolo Ojo*
LaNissi Brown* Chelsea Phillips*
Stacee Brown* Annaleise Pope*
Zack Bruce Emily Powell*
Jayden Burrell* Michelle Rice*
Corey Butler* Kaylan Smith*
Clarice Carter* Patricia Smith*
Clarissa Cobb* Keturah Thedford
Michael Fields* Jalah Thompson*
Tiesha Finley* Tiya Threatt*
Susie Johnson* Aerica Watkins
Jakaylin Jones* Leon Whitney
Kelli Neely* Jamaya Williams-Jabri*

*Members of Phi Theta Kappa National Honors Society

THE DIRECTOR’S
MESSAGE
by Weymon Holloway

Each year around this time, as the director, I am presented with an opportunity to reflect on the
experiences of the past year, and in this case, I can truly say that the past year, unlike any other,
has presented us all with challenges that have served to test our resolve and forced us to adapt to
a “new normal”. For those who embraced this sweeping change, opportunities for personal growth
and innovation awaited them.

“THERE CANNOT BE ANY GROWTH WITHOUT A WILLINGNESS TO TEST
YOUR LIMITS.”

Our students adjusted to a life requiring them to learn and socialize in a virtual environment, and as
a group, we had to rethink how to engage students in these digital spaces. Despite these
challenges, our students persisted. Because of their determination, they and the Honors College as
a whole, are better situated to overcome those seemingly insurmountable obstacles that the future
is sure to present. After all, there cannot be any growth without a willingness to test your limits.

SCHOLARSHIP.

Academic study
Acheivement

LARON SHACKLEFORD “In just two
years, I have
Class of 2021
Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society grown
tremendously
LaRon is currently the president of LSCC Honors College and Phi Theta Kappa because of the
Alpha Epsilon Gamma chapter. He is also a Senator for the National Society of conferences,
Black Engineers. training and
great advisors
As a member of the Honors College, he has had the opportunity to participate in who have helped
and learn from a variety of experiences including the Nasa Community College guide me as I
Aerospace Scholars Program and the STEM Bridge Program. He has recently been make my stamp
excepted to both the Center for Nanoscale Materials & Bio-integration and Spire on the world.”
Energy Damage Prevention internships.

In addition, LaRon has earned several scholarships and awards: Honors College
Pillars of Excellence Award, Pre-Engineering/Physics Outstanding Student Award,
Catherine Green Memorial Scholarship, The STEM Rise Award, Dean of Students'
Award, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Award, 2020 Oberndorf Lifeline to
Completion Scholarship, Presidential Scholarship to Birmingham Southern College
and Stem Scholarship to Samford University.

LaRon has excelled in his academic career; however, he is most proud of his
beautiful family. His wife, Amina, is an accomplished LSCC scholar and Honors
College President (2019-2020). She attends Samford University and is majoring in
computer science with a concentration in data analytics. They have four beautiful
children, Amarie, Aria, LaRon Jr, and Lauryn.

After graduation, LaRon’s goal is to earn a Ph.D.in Physical Science and start a
career in research.

COMMUNITY
SERVICE

COMMUNITY The community outreach events did
OUTREACH EVENTS not stop there! We continued to
volunteer at Botanical Gardens,
by Tiya Threat Habitat For Humanity and Girls Inc.
We planted seeds, watered plants
and learned about gardening.

Through Habitat for Humanity, we
were able to be hands on and
engage in construction.

Hello everyone! My name is Tiya Threat and I am proud to be a PTK Girls Incorporated is the
member. This year, I was fortunate to be the community service organization that stole my heart.
chairperson. I had the opportunity to meet and work with numerous They teach girls to be STRONG,
organizations through Lawson State’s Honors College. Our SMART and BOLD! I love this
organization was truly devoted to these community service events! organization! From the Self-esteem
Seminar on Zoom and the Girls
We volunteered to clean up several neighborhoods with Black Warrior Night In Food Drive, we were able
River Keeper and Valley Clean Up. These organizations promote anti- to encourage, help out, and truly
littering and keeping our communities clean. As a PTK member, I get involved. The Self Esteem
learned that picking up trash is a humbling experience in which Seminar was created and presented
everyone should participate. by a group of Honors College
members to teach young girls about
The Honors College worked with Birmingham Community Kitchen. At developing self worth and self love.
the community kitchen, we prepared meals, fed the homeless and It was a workshop that included
understood the importance of giving back to our community. Our research, games and even prizes. It
homeless population deserves to be acknowledged and treated with was one of my favorite events! In
kindness. addition, we also prepared meals
and organized care packages for
“I am in awe at how compassionate and the members of Girls Inc. and their
resilient are members are! Phi Theta families.
Kappa represented LSCC well and
inspired others to do so!” Lawson State Community College
Honors College and Phi Theta
Kappa members truly worked hard
for all of the events this year!

LEADERSHIP.

Integrity
Influence
Respect

LEADERSHIP

”THE ONLY JAYDEN BURRELL
DIFFERENCE
Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
BETWEEN Miss Alabama United States 2021
WHERE YOU ARE
AND WHERE YOU Meet the newly crowned 2021 Jayden uses her platform to
WANT BE IS THE Miss Alabama United States, speak to elementary schools
about what it means to
STEPS YOU Jayden Burrell. She is currently persevere. On a recent visit to
HAVE’NT TAKEN in the nursing program and is McAdory Elementary School,
one of the newest members of she encouraged the students to
YET.” the Honors College and Phi make a promise to never give
Theta Kappa Honor Society. up and to strive for excellence.
~ANONYMOUS She is passionate about giving
In addition to receiving high children hope that they do
honors and being crowned matter and to be unapologetic
about who they are.
Miss Alabama United States,
Jayden also earned the Phi Jayden is also very passionate
Theta Kappa Leadership Edge about her loving family,
Excellence badges. PTK Edge is especially her mom, dad, older
a self-paced professional sister, and fur baby, Nash.
development course that
consists of four modules - Aim, Jayden plans to earn a
Act, Advance, and Acheive. She Bachelor of Science degree in
successfully completed all four Nursing and start a career as a
modules. nurse anesthetist.

GLOBAL
CITIZENSHIP.

Humanity
Sustainability
Peaceful
Fair

An Evening With Life is
abundant and
Alice Walker
life is
BY TIESHA FINLEY beautiful. And

An Evening With Alice Walker was a campus event that I was looking it’s a good
forward to. Hearing from an amazing writer, poet and icon such as place we’re
Ms. Walker was truly a pleasure! all in, you
know, on this
Alice Walker is a world renown writer and feminist. She is most earth, if we
known for creating novels, poems and short stories that describe the take care of
African American culture and that focus on a woman’s perspective.
She is the first African American woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for it.”
her award winning novel, ‘The Color Purple’.
ALICE WALKER
Photograph: Ana Elena

During the event, she discussed her opinion regarding the global
pandemic, the COVID-19 coronavirus. She stated that we are currently
in a place of not understanding and are unequipped. She went on to
say that it is beginning to look like we have a short stay here on earth,
no matter what we do.

I really enjoyed hearing about how the colors found in nature
inspire her work to “unlock the magic”. She would sometimes paint the
room where she does her writings to further inspire her creativity. She
believes that every person comes to this planet with a purpose and
each of us should work to find our purposes.

She gave three tokens of advice that I’ll take with me: find your
destiny, you have the right to be here, you are a planetarium.

SCHOLAR SPOTLIGHT

JURNEE ALLEN, ERIONA HUGULEY,
KELLI NEELEY, PATRICIA SMITH

Jurnee Allen, Eriona Huguley, Kelli
Neeley, and Patricia Smith were
honored by the Caring Men & Caring
Women Program for volunteering to
tutor and mentor elementary students
during the pandemic.

DONZELLA WASHINGTON

Mrs. Washington, a former Honors College
scholar, graduated from Alabama A&M with a
Bachelor of Social Work degree at 81 years old.
In an interview with WBRC News, she said “I
want to inspire people to know that age is just a
number. It’s the desire in yourself to accomplish
whatever you want to accomplish.”

KERA DUDLEY

Ms. Dudley has distinguished herself as
a scholar. She has been selected by the
Alabama Community College System
for the 2021 All-Alabama Academic
Team.

FAREWELL, SCHOLARSHIPS
GRADUATES! &

Your journey with Lawson State Community College may stop here, but above all, AWARDS
it is the beginning of new heights for you. As a member of the Honors College, you
have strived to be excellent in your studies, and you have shown again and again LaNissi Brown
that nothing is impossible when there is dedication. As another important phase $6,000 and $3,000 scholarship offers
of your life starts now, never allow academic excellence to be the thing of the past. to the University of Montevallo
You have shown remarkable academic performance and achievements at different
levels. Keep up the good work and never stop aspiring to be the best in life. Thank Jayden Burrell
you all for making us proud! Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
Leadership Excellence Badges
YOUR TIME IS NOW!
Clarice Carter
Transfer Presidential Scholarship to
UAB for full tuition

Clarissa Cobb
Cougar Pride Scholarship, LSCC
Cougar Pride Scholarship

Michael Fields
Chapter President of Kappa Beta
Delta Business Honor Society

Tiesha Finley
Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society
Leadership Excellence Badges

Kayla Nevette
$13,000 UAB Transfer Scholarship

Annaleise Pope
UAB’s Blazing to Biomedical Careers
paid internship

LaRon Shackleford
$20,000 Samford Univesity STEM
Scholarship, $17,000 Birmingham
Southern Vollege Presedential
Scholarship, Phi Theta Kappa
Oberndorf Lifeline to Completion
Scholarsip, All Alabama Academic
Team

Kaylan Smith
LSCC President’s Leadership
Award, UAB’s Blazing to Biomedical
Careers paid internship

Tiya Threatt
UAB Transfer Scholarship Award

DIFFERENT I attended the virtual PTK Catalyst virtual event and I really enjoyed it! I met
TOGETHER new people, and learned about other chapters. I attended the general session,
college fair, educational forum, and the Hallmark Awards Gala.
by Clarice Carter
Mr. Baumhawer (also known as Skip), welcomed us to the event. He showed us
April 8, 2021 - his amazing photography work. Skip has traveled all over the country and has
April 10, 2021 had the opportunity to meet new people and take photos of them. He has a
passion for capturing people in their environment and helping them see their true
Virtual Event beauty. A quote that really stuck with me from Skip is “If you are prompted to do
something, do it, because society will have you saying no”. I really connected
with his artwork and I felt inspired by his speech.

At the college fair, I met with UAB, AUM and the University of Montevelo. In
that session, I gained useful information about applying to their colleges,
accessing scholarships, and how to stand out on the application. The college
career fair was very beneficial.

In the breakout sessions for educational forums, I learned more about Honors
College, more about Phi Theta Kappa, and about the success of past PTK
members and the opportunities they were offered through PTK.

The conference ended with the Hallmark Awards Gala. The Hallmark Awards
Gala was interesting to watch and very informative. I enjoyed celebrating other
chapters’ success, while also learning about what it takes to succeed in my
organization.

The Honors College & Thank you to the administration,
Phi Theta Kappa Honor faculty, staff, students, families, and
Society Induction friends who attended this event. We
Ceremony value your support immensely. For
those who helped make this event
Theme: “Our Time is Now.” possible, we especially appreciate
your contributions to this ocassion.
On April 23, 2021, the LSCC Honors College and Phi Theta Kappa
Alpha Epsilon Gamma chapter had our first virtual induction We would love to see you at next
ceremony with the theme: “Our Time is Now.” LaNissi Brown, an year’s ceremony and at any of the
Honors College inductee, worked behind the scenes to create a Honors College events taking place.
presentation that set the tone for the event. We welcomed 30 new Honors College events are great
members and their families, learned more about the Honors places for networking and scholarship.
College, and recapped a year of being “different together.” We For now, please check out the Honors
also had the opportunity to listen to our scholars share College on the LSCC website and the
inspirational moments, present the four pillars of the Honors Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
College, and express creativity through poetry. In addition, our website at www.ptk.org to learn more
students introduced a high-powered keynote speaker, Alice G. about how to get involved. The Honors
Holloway, who is an Instrcutor of Marketing at Samford University College provides a wonderful
and the CEO and Executive Problem Solver at Skye Connect opportunity to get involved in
Incorporated. And, what an honor to see individual students and research, community service, and
our chapter recognized for their merit through scholarships, develop your own leadership skills
awards, and Phi Theta Kappa Excellence Badges. along the way.

“Congratulations to all, this was well put together.
Mr. Holloway, Mrs. Martin and all the inductees
that participated did an outstanding job. Mrs.
Holloway also did an outstanding job...she almost
brought me to tears with her speech. I truly
enjoyed this ceremony.” -Michael Fields

Honors College inductee
Phi Theta Kappa member

YOUR TIME IS NOW

Written by Tiya Threatt

Your time is now. TIYA THREATT IS A 2020-
2021 HONORS COLLEGE
Your journey is starting to take flight. INDUCTEE AND A MEMBER
Who knows what things you will discover in OF PHI THETA KAPPA
your life. Your life will be filled with HONOR SOCIETY. SHE HAS
choices. Some are easy. Some are hard. You BEEN AWARDED THE FULL
need to appreciate what choices you have TRANSFER PRESIDENTIAL
overcome so far. SCHOLARSHIP TO THE
UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA
Your time is now. You need to use it and do AT BIRMINGHAM
not abuse it! You need to focus and keep
moving forward, building yourself a path to
success, living your life and doing your
best, loving yourself and growing more,
looking forward to what life has in store,
pushing the limits that were set, breaking
barriers without a sweat!

Go for your wildest dreams, even when
others may not believe. Choose to fight any
challenge. Give yourself a healthy balance.

The time is now for you and me. Let’s do
our best! Know we will succeed!

WHERE TO
FIND US

[email protected]
[email protected]

https://www.ptk.org

THANK YOU
FOR YOUR SUPPORT