The Flame on the Fly | University of the District of Columbia

The May 7th Commencement Day at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center belonged to the joyful University of the District of Columbia, UDC David A. Clarke School of Law, and Community College graduates. It turned out that it was a center stage moment to a couple of alumni, too. For the first time, the honorary degree recipients were esteemed graduates of the University. Mary C. Thompson ’53 received the Myrtilla Miner Founder’s Award, newly established by President Allen L. Sessoms to honor the University’s predecessor school’s founder. Thompson, who is in her second term as an alumni representative to UDC’s Board of Trustees, was acknowledged by President Sessoms for her “time, substance, and individual efforts to UDC.” Also recognized was Major General Errol R. Schwartz ’80, who was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree.

The Commanding General for the District of Columbia National Guard told the Class of 2011 that as graduates of UDC, they were “now prepared to do things and do things well.” He went on to say that they should hold on to the values of integrity, respect, and excellence in all they would pursue. But perhaps the most poignant remarks were those of Senior Class President Veronica Alcantara, who presented the Senior Class Gift. “It’s all up to us to keep this greatness [University of the District of Columbia] alive,” she told her classmates. “We hold the pen of history in our hands.” After the speakers were done, the degrees awarded and the triumphant recessional played, the proud new alumni strode outside into the sunshine for what was the dawning of their bright future.

Alumni News

Honoring the Golden Jubilee Class of 1961!!

When Frances M. Plummer, Ed.D., Delores Coppedge Carter, Frances Garner Brock, and Gloria Terry Freeman took on the roles of class agents for the DCTC Class of 1961, it was a sure thing that their Golden Jubilee Anniversary would meet with success. The four educators immediately started dialing Class of 61 and e-mailing their former classmates and the rewards of their labor were seen on Tuesday, April 26th when alums, near and far—Wanda M. Collins travelled from California—came to celebrate the milestone. And what’s a celebration if others don’t join in? That question was answered by the Miner Teachers College Class of ’46, who were celebrating their 65th Anniversary. They were led by their class agent, the exuberant and irrepressible Georgia Johnson Herron. The 65th anniversary class also had an out-of-town representative, Edna Nichols Douglas, who made the trip from Pennsylvania. With an abundance of good food and cheers from members of other classes, UDC students and family and friends, the celebrating classes reminisced and told heartwarming stories about their school days. The hours passed by almost too quickly during this festive Alumni Reunion event.

Pictured Above: The Class of ’61 are a happy group displaying their gold 50th Anniversary medals. From left—Row 1, Gloria Terry Freeman, Benita Pyndell, Miriam C. Douglas, and Joan Brown; Row 2—Dorothy Acker Jenkins and Delores Coppedge Carter; Row 3—Marguerite G. Tillman, Andrew E. Jenkins, III, Wanda Moore Collins, and Joan Thomas Kelly (behind and to the right of Wanda Collins); and Row 4—Frances M. Plummer, Frances Garner Brock, and Norma Archer Carter.

Pictured to the Right: Class of ’46 members seated from left, Essie Blakeney Taylor, Edna Nichols Douglas, Georgia Johnson Herron, and Betty Fitzgerald Gillis ( with back to camera is Rosa Leak Clayton ’76, ’79). Standing is John T. Butler, Assoc. VP for Institutional Advancement and ’46 members Eloise Hall Harris, Jeanette Hatcher Smith, Louise Nelson Robinson, Vernal Whitaker James, Marjorie Hines Burke, and Dr. Marian Moody Shell (2nd from right). At Shell’s right is Marion Douglas (Edna Douglas’ daughter) and to Shell’s left is Dr. Carolivia Herron (daughter of Georgia Herron).