2007 Scholarship Program Winners

Johnson, Johnson, Locklin, Spicer and Wilson 
Selected As First Bryan A. Collins Scholars

NASHVILLE (AP) -- Two freshmen, two juniors and one senior at Tennessee State University were selected as the first-ever recipients of the Bryan A. Collins Memorial Scholarship award.  This scholarship is given every year to outstanding minority undergraduate students who demonstrate excellence in pursuing their college degrees.  

The 2007 scholarship award program was hosted on April 18 by the Alpha Theta Chapter of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity in the Tennessee State LRC Auditorium.  This event was attended by close to 90 students, parents and faculty and led by William Busch, fraternity polemarch who also served as master of ceremonies.   

Alan Collins, Jaron Spicer, Jasmine Locklin,Shaun Wilson, Courtney Johnson, Jerry Johnson, Francine Williams.

"We are extremely proud of the first winners of our scholarship award.  All of them are outstanding.  Each of them exemplifies Bryan's spirit and what we want this scholarship to be about -- which is excelling in the classroom and excelling with people," said Francine Williams and Alan Collins, parents of the late Bryan A. Collins and co-sponsors of the scholarship. 

According to Dr. John Cade, dean of Admissions and Records, "These are among our best and brightest students.  And as good as they are academically, they even more exceptional as people. They have great futures ahead of them."

Here is a close-up look at the five scholarship recipients:

Courtney Johnson.....From Nashville, TN....Freshman, Business major with 3.0 average....seeking to become first college graduate in her family....plans to pursue her MBA....Actively involved in the pre-Alumni Council....Fundraising Leader.....voted Miss Boyd Hall.....Participates in church benevolence projects....Assists with local area community campaigns...Highly recommended by Tenley Hardin, Ph.D. Professor of English:  "Courtney has exuded great leadership both in class and outside the class often tutoring and assisting other students."

Jerry D. Johnson III .....From Memphis.... Senior, Accounting major with 3.8 average....plans to pursue MBA and CPA....seeking career in Public Accounting....Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity... Vice president - National Association of Black Accountants student chapter....Mr. TSU honors....University Honors Program mentor....Hoops Society Advisor....Boys & Girls Club mentor....internships with Boeing, Caterpillar & Memphis Board of Education...summer studies at Harvard.  From William Latham, TSU Associate Director: "Jerry receives my highest recommendation for the Bryan A. Collins scholarship."

Jasmine Locklin .....From Washington DC ....from military family and has lived in New York and Georgia...Freshman, Biology major with 3.5 average....Preparing to become a doctor...also interested in real estate....Tennessee State University Honors program....Freshman Representative to the Honors program.....Active member of Student National Medical Association...Volunteer for children's church....Volunteer for nurses for newborns...From Allyson Young, TSU Adjunct Faculty: "Jasmine is committed to a very high standard of excellence which will allow her to become distinguished in her field."

Jaron Spicer ....From Memphis....Junior, Mass Communications with 3.0 average...Preparing for graduate school and a career in real estate...Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity....Involved in the Student Election Commission....Student Union Board of Governors....Generation of Educated Men, National Communication Association Student Club....Active community service volunteer. ....From Veronica Duncan, Assoc Professor & Interdisciplinary Studies Coordinator: "Jaron works well with faculty, is an excellent communicator and his personality always shines through in any situation."

Shaun Wilson....Junior, Mechanical Engineering major with 3.2 average...Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity....University Honors Program...Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society....Teacher’s Assistant program.....Intramural Sports.....First Baptist Church....Boys & Girls Club at McKissack Elementary School.  From Lee McGahey, Coordinator of Academic Advisement: "Shuan has demonstrated excellent leadership qualities through his commitment to various Honors activities and his desire and willingness to help other students."

Each of these students will receive a $2,000.00 scholarship grant towards their tuition for the  upcoming school year.  Said Williams and Collins:  "We would like to thank our family, friends and colleagues from IBM, Quaker and PepsiCo for their tremendous support in helping to launch this scholarship.   And we would like to give a very special thanks to  Pamela Hewitt and Warren Lawson of Chicago for their personal encouragement over the last year and their extraordinarily generous contribution to our scholarship fund."  

Remarks by Dr. Michael Freeman, vice-president Student Affairs and musical selections by Dairanetta Spain, Miss Tennessee State University and the Kappa fraternity members were also featured as part of the scholarship program.  

Applicants and contributors to the 2008 scholarship awards can find additional details at the BryanCollnsScholarship.org website.