2008 Scholarship Program Winners

President of Tennessee State University 
Welcomes and Salutes The 2008 Class
Of Bryan A. Collins Scholars 

NASHVILLE (AP) – Ten undergraduates made up the largest class of students ever awarded the Bryan A. Collins Memorial Scholarship at Tennessee State University.  This scholarship award is given every year to outstanding minority students who demonstrate excellence in leadership and academics in pursuing their college degrees. .  

The ten scholarships were awarded at the annual Bryan A. Collins scholarship program hosted on March 30 by the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity at the Tennessee State Floyd-Payne Campus Center and was attended by close to 70 students, parents and faculty.  

Dr. Melvin N. Johnson, president of the university, headlined the program as keynote speaker.  “I knew Bryan and this scholarship program is an outstanding tribute to his legacy and his influence on our campus.  This program exemplifies our university's vision of building on the past, present and future.  These scholarships will tremendously benefit this outstanding class of deserving students and the people they will impact in years to come.".  

 
Left to right: Alan Collins, Antionette Williams, Vincent Gartin, Regena Patterson, Justin Crawford, Julia Godwin,
Ryan Echols, Siwaver Rogers, Devarius Irvin, Lena McMillan, Francine Pace. (not pictured Mieshia Wyatt).

According to Dr. John Cade, associate vice president at Tennessee State and co-chair of the Bryan A. Collins scholarship committee:  "As this scholarship has become more well-known, it is being sought after by more students.  This year over 30 students applied for this scholarship and the 10 young men and women were selected have distinguished themselves as among our best and brightest for 2008."

Here is a close-up look at the ten 2008 scholarship winners: :

Justin Crawford….From Memphis….Sophomore in Criminal Justice with a 3.7 GPA….Ordained minister and has preached since the age of  nine….Mentor & tutor at McKissack Elementary School….Involved in the Student Government Association….Serves as Parliamentor in the Generation of Educated Men….Plans to attend Harvard Law School.  From Dr. George Kakoti, Associate Professor:  “Justin is a very determined young man, far ahead of his years and most of his classmates and peers.”  

Ryan Echols….From Atlanta ….Sophomore in Nursing with a 3.3 GPA…. Serves as University Peer Counselor mentoring incoming new freshmen as they arrive on campus.…Member of the Generation of Educated Men and NAACP….Enjoys Basketball, Reading , Swimming…Plans to pursue the Nursing profession upon graduation.  From Deloris Williams, University Administrator:  “Ryan is intelligent, is eager to learn and displays tremendous inspiration and courage.”  

Vincent Gartin….From Indianapolis….Freshman Music major, Business minor with a 3.3 GPA….Member of the TSU Concert, Jazz and Marching Bands….Composes, mentors,  and give music lessons to others on the sax, drums ..Referee for intramural sports….Upon graduation, plans to pursue graduate school and then enter the music business.  From Dr. Reginald A McDonald, Professor in Arts & Sciences:  “Vincent has a strong work ethic, often goes beyond the call of duty by volunteering and works tirelessly to fulfill his commitments.”  

Julia Godwin….from White Bluff, TN….Sophomore in Family & Consumer Sciences with a 3.8 GPA….Recipient of the Hope Scholarship from State of Tennessee….Teaches Sunday school and has been involved in youth groups since age 18….Preparing for a career as a dietician….Dr. Sandria Godwin, Professor of Dietetics:  “Julia is strongly committed and enthusiastic about her goals and willing to overcome any potential obstacles along the way.”  

Devarius Irvin….From Chicago …Freshman, Accounting major with a 3.8 GPA….Upon graduation plans to obtain CPA and then pursue either graduate school or law school at Northwestern to become a tax attorney or politician.  From Leslye Stewart Ford, TSU English Instructor:  “I teach 5 classes each semester, as a student amongst hundreds, Devarious ranks in the top 1%.  He does superior work, is an active participant in class discussions and has demonstrated intellectual maturity beyond his years.”  

Lena McMillian….From Stone Mountain, GA….Junior in Cardiorespiratory Care Sciences with a 3.6 GPA….Member of  Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority….Plays French horn in the marching band…and a member of the Wind Ensemble an elite band that gives 3 concerts a semester….Plans to pursue graduate school or medical school in preparation for becoming either a physician’s assistant or a doctor.  From Dhiren Chatterji, Asst Professor in the College of Health Sciences:  “Lena is one of the top students in the program, sets high schools, put forth maximum effort and has excellent interpersonal skills.”  

Regena Patterson….From Memphis ….Senior in Biology with a 3.1 GPA….Research lab assistant in Chemistry Department ….Representative-at-Large for Student Government ….Mentor and lunch buddy at McKissack Elementary school volunteering once a week helping 3^rd graders….Mentors underclassmen as part of Louis Stokes Alliance Minority Participation…Plans to attend Medical School….From Dr. Nsoki Phambu, Assistant  Professor of Chemistry:  “Regena is independent, motivated, willing to help her peers in the classroom and shows excellent leadership skills.”  

Siwaver Rogers….From Brownsville, TN…..Sophomore in Business Administration with a 3.5 GPA….Inducted as a lifetime member of Phi Eta Sigma honor society….Serves as Secretary with My Sisters’ Keeper, mentoring and motivating young women 13-25 years old in the Nashville community….Plans to pursue graduate school and then a management position in retail industry or technology.  From Diana Brown, Finance & Accounting:  “Siwaver is poised, dedicated, exercises sound judgment and displays excellent leadership in her campus activities.”  

Antionette Williams…..From Memphis…..Junior in Chemistry with a 3.8 GPA….Inducted into Beta Kappa Chi’s National Scientific Honor Society…Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority….Mentor to underclassmen as part of the Tennessee Louis Stokes Alliance For Minority Participation…Upon graduation, plans to attend Pharmacy school get her doctorate and enter private industry researching and developing medical products.  From Dr. Koen Vercruysse, Assoc Professor in the Department of  Chemistry:  “Antionette is hard-working, displays great confidence and dedication in her work.”  


Mieshia Wyatt….From Cincinatti…Freshman in Nursing with a 3.4 GPA….Volunteers and mentors girls in middle school in the Nashville area….Voted Miss Ohio for the 2007-08 School Year….Member of the Honors Club….Upon graduation, plans to work for a year, then pursue Masters in Nursing.  From Philip Schafer, English Instructor:  “I only provide recommendations for my most outstanding students and Mieshia is definitely in this group.  Her great personality, superior academic performance and strong work ethic are just some of the reasons she receives my full endorsement.’  

Each of these students will receive a $2,000.00 scholarship grant towards their tuition for the  upcoming school year.  Said Francine Pace and Alan Collins, parents of the late Bryan A. Collins and sponsors of the scholarship program:  "We would like to thank our family, friends, colleagues and the PepsiCo Foundation for their contributions to this scholarship.”

“And we want to give a very special, personal, heartfelt thanks to Pamela Hewitt and Warren Lawson of Chicago.  They have been great friends and have supported this scholarship from the very beginning and have continued their extraordinarily generous contributions to Bryan's scholarship fund for three consecutive years."    

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity of Tennessee State University, hosts of the Bryan A. Collins Scholarship Program  

Other highlights of the scholarship program included: Shaun Wilson (Bryan A .Collins Scholarship Winner ’07) as master of ceremonies, Jaron Spicer (Bryan A. Collins Scholarship Winner '07) who provided the invocation; Sedric Griffin and David Truesdale, fraternity brothers of the late Bryan Collins who provided personal recollections;  and music by Richard Shaw on saxaphone and soloist Lavoria Reese whose selection rocked the house and was received with a standing ovation.   

Applicants and contributors to the 2009 scholarship program can find additional details at the BryanCollnsScholarship.org website.