Graduations highlight Spring for System

Maringouin native Nicholas Rocforte was the top graduate for the SU Law Center Spring 2007 class.

The pomp and circumstance of the spring commencement season was special this year for more than 1500 graduates receiving degrees from the three Southern University System campuses and the Law Center. Four distinguished speakers – a mayor, congressman, police superintendent and a presidential EEOC appointee – were selected to address graduates in Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Shreveport.

Southern University Law Center

The Southern University Law Center conferred the Juris Doctor Degree to 143 new lawyers during the 2007 Commencement May 12, at the Felton G. Clark Activity Center in Baton Rouge. Top student Nicholas R. Rockforte of Maringouin was one of three summa cum laude graduates this year.

Naomi Churchill Earp, Chair, United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), delivered the commencement address and urged the graduates to remember PIE -- take pride in what they do; protect their images; and not limit themselves, but take advantage of exposure to all the opportunities that the world and their careers will offer.
 
Golden Alumni Murphy W. Bell of Baton Rouge, former executive director of the Capital Area Legal Services and chief public defender and the late Lawrence Wheeler, a  New Orleans a criminal justice solo practitioner, were recognized for earning their law degrees 50 years ago.

LaToya Johnson, chief student marshal for Spring 2007 commencement leads the processional of graduates into the F.G. Clark Activity Center. Five Southern University Laboratory School students (marching in green) received their high school diplomas after they missed their commencement ceremony to attend a state track meet in which they received first place.

Southern University Baton Rouge

Southern University, Baton Rouge, held its spring 2007 commencement May 11 awarding 575 degrees to graduate and undergraduate students. LaToya LaTasha Johnson of Gibson was named chief student marshal, the student with highest cumulative grade point average. Johnson, finishing with 3.938 grade-point average, received a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice. She plans to attend Harvard Law School.

U.S. Rep. James E. Clyburn of South Carolina delivered the keynote address and encouraged the graduates to be tenacious in regards to their goals. “Life does not follow the rules of baseball. In baseball three strikes and you’re out,” he said. “That’s not true in life.  No matter how many times you try and fail, never ever, ever give up.”

Clyburn was elected Majority Whip for the 110th Congress by the House Democratic Caucus in 2006. He is the first South Carolinian and second African American to ascend to the third ranking position in the U. S. House of Representatives.

SUNO

Ifeanyichukwu Oluchukwu Onor led the 491 Spring 2007 graduates of Southern University, New Orleans. Onor, a native of the Nise Anamdra State, Nigeria, plans to pursue a doctorate degree in pharmacy at Xavier University. Onor received a Bachelors of Science degree in biology.

New Orleans Police Superintendent Warren J. Riley was guest speaker for the May 12 event held at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.  Riley received both undergraduate and graduate degrees in criminal justice from SUNO. The 26-year veteran of the New Orleans Police Department has served as superintendent since November 24, 2005. He holds an associate degree from Delgado University of New Orleans and attended the Senior Management Institute for Police Executives at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.

Top Southern University Shreveport graduate DeMarcus Pleasant with Chancellor Ray Belton.

Southern University Shreveport

Southern University, Shreveport’s student marshal DeMarcus Pleasant received an associate of applied science in electronics technology degree. The Shreveport native finished with a 4.0 grade point average.  

Cedric B. Glover, the first black mayor of Shreveport, spoke to the 345 students receiving diplomas at the ceremony was held at the Shreveport Convention Center. A pre-commencement reception was held at the Southern University Museum of Art.

Glover became the youngest individual elected to the Shreveport City Council in 1990 and five years later was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives and served on the Executive Committee of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus. He also was selected as Legislator of the Year by the Rural Caucus, and was honored by the Louisiana Municipal Association, Citizens Against Crime, Incorporated, for instituting the first computer-automated victim notification system in Louisiana.