(Talladega, AL) Acclaimed scholar Dr. Karla FC Holloway ’71 delivered a poetic and inspiring message at Talladega College’s 2021 Alpha Chi Honor Society Initiation Ceremony and Honors Convocation. Her presentation, “When We Emerge,” charged students to make themselves ready for the path that will emerge when the pandemic ends.
“As rooted as we might feel in this moment — bound to a pandemic — rootedness happens only because roots burrow and stretch. They slip downwards. They thicken. It may be a chaotic burrowing, but it is insistent,” she stated. “Sometimes roots emerge as braided trunks on an ancient temple’s ruins or as tentacles strong enough to split a stone, but roots find ways and means, and they grow old even while they sprout new growth.”
Dr. Holloway received a B.A. from Talladega College, an M.A. and a Ph.D. from Michigan State University, and a Master of Laws from Duke University. She has taught at a number of higher education institutions, but completed her tenure in the academy at Duke University, where she served as chair of African and African American Studies and dean of the Humanities and Social Science faculty. She retired in 2016 as distinguished James B. Duke Professor Emerita of English, and Professor of Law. At Duke University, she served as chair of the University’s Appointments, Promotions and Tenure Committee and a member of the Institute on Care at the End of Life. She was the founding co-director of the John Hope Franklin Center and Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies of the Humanities.
Dr. Holloway has spoken internationally; won numerous awards and fellowships; and published eight academic books, two novels, and over 75 articles, essays, and public media presentations.
Her mother, father, and great-great grandfather were also graduates of Talladega College.
SPRING 2021 NEOPHYTES
Alabama Alpha Chapter 2021 Alpha Chi Honor Society
Courtney Archie, Edna Barclay-Scott, Dominique Burnett, Derrick Calvin, Shania Clifton, Rena Coats, Jada Cole, Jasimen Collins, Kirstin Crook, Thelma Dark, Jordan Dubose, Michael Elliott, Amber Ellington, Thai Fowell, Jermaine Fuller, Deja Gadison, Skye Gerald, Adam Gunter, Taylor Hammonds, Anntionette Harmon, Jahzani Henry, Marva Herman, Norberto Hernandez, Jill Hosmer, Zacarra Jernigan, Cassius Jones, Ke’Shell Lambert, Anjolaoluwa Lawani, Daniel Lawler, Christopher Mascia, Geornipha Milbin, Nicole Montoute, James Morris, Jayla Morris, Madison Pike, Alicity Robair, Nicholas Saunders, Ayala Seaborn, Moussa Sissoko, Terry Thomas, Kiaria Tucker, Victor Varela, Vionce Weeks, Jasmine Whiteside, and Arreah Wilson
4.0 GPA Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Estevao Bittencourt, Rena Coats, Jada Cole, Amber Ellington, Deja Gadison, Adam Gunter, Anntionette Harmon, Shania Jones, Anjolaoluwa Lawani, Daniel Lawler, Nicole Montoute, Ta Bee Naw, Derrick Appiah Osei, Madison Pike, Ayala Seaborn, Shawnell Skanes, Sherita Stovall, Khadiyjah White, Jasmine Whiteside, Lauren Williams, Victoria Willis, and Letinna Wilson
4.0 GPA Spring 2020
Christopher Anderson, Houston Anderson, Diavionne Ard, Estevao Bitencourt, Nazara Bonner, Jarmarcus Brown, Tyler Brown, Dominique Burnett, Miguel Carrera, Cornelius Catlin, Tracey Claveria, Rena Coats, Jada Cole, Kirstin Crook, Brittney Curl, Angela Curry, Chancey Davis, Berlande Delpe, Michael Elliott, Amber Ellington, Radovan Ercegovcevic, Sheldia Evans-Maddox, Donte Fomby-Hendrix, Thai Fowell, Deja Gadison, Adam Gunter, Taylor Hammonds, Anntionette Harmon, Mary Harris, Roben Heard, Norberto Hernandez, Bethany Holland, Erial Hunter, Pauline Hunter, Michelle Jones, Shania Jones, Timothy Kendrick, Anjolaoluwa Lawani, Daniel Lawler, Ashlyn Lewis, Kayelyn Lewis, Tervion McClary, Nicole Montoute, Ta Bee Naw, Alexis Nealy, Enyia Neal, Meharu Negawo, Telexsea Norwood, Derrick Appiah Osei, Madison Pike, Teresa Piper, Rajia Randall, Rosa Reynaud, Eboni Robinson, Jorge Rodrigues-Mangual, Ayala Seaborn, Zwelakho Sebele, Raynisha Simpson, Shawnell Skanes, KaShandra Smith, Sherita Stovall, Kiaria Tucker, Tygeria Welck, Khadiyjah White, Lauren Williams, Tyrionna Williams, Letinna Wilson, Victoria Willis, and D’Ante Wright
4.0 GPA Fall 2020
Noah Andrews, Dwayne Bates, Estevao Bittencourt, Shelia Borden, Kaitylyn Bowman, Mya Brown, Teriona Brown, Dayon Bryant, Deanthia Butler, Jamero Callins, Rena Coats, Angelica Cole-Huffman, Jada Cole, Eliza Croom, Hailey Curtis, Thelma Dark, Kayla Dillon, Jordan Dubose, Kagoma Egide, Amber Ellington, Davina Elston, Deja Gadison, Jhalyn Gaston, Bianca Gonzalez, Jatavis Gooden, Kurston Gray, Adam Gunter, Anntionette Harmon, Haniyah Harris, Mary Harris,Oronde Henderson, Jahzani Henry, Marva Herman, Paul Holland, Jr., Hosea Hutson, Zacarra Jernigan, John Johnson, Jr., Diamond Jolly, Cassius Jones, Shania Jones, Ke’Shell Lambert, Anjolao Lawani, Daniel Lawler, Jada Livingston, Chaniaya McKenzie, Deanna McLeroy, Taelyr Minor, Nicole Montoute, Ta Bee Naw, Linda Nooner, Derrick Appiah Osei, Unique Paul, Madison Pike, Morgan Prince, Jazsmin Ramsey, Kenetria Refern, DeMarcus Reid, Shamarla Samuels, Ayala Seaborn, Quintez Sellers, Moussa Sissoko, Shawneil Skanes Takara Smith, Lawanda Stamps, Sherita Stovall, Somer Underwood, Jeremy Upton, Cosmas Uzoaru, Nicci Vaswani, Tunishia Venable, Jordan Washington, Mila Waters, Khadiyjah White, Jasmine Whiteside, Lauren Williams, Victoria Willis, Letinna Wilson, and Abdulla Yusuf
Talladega College 2021 Scholarship Recipients
AAICU Scholarship - Brian Lockett
Alabama Power Computer Science Scholarship - Skye Gerald
Alumni Centennial Endowment - Elisa Clay
Anthony Liuzzi Memorial Scholarship - Amber Ellington and Patria Gatson
Bertie H. Winfield Memorial Scholarship - Aniya Easley
Carlton L. Ellison Scholarship - Gabrielle Grinstead
Chapman-Jones Memorial Scholarship - Amber Ellington
CIC UPS Scholarship - Amber Ellington
Comer Foundation - Jahazani Henry
Demint Frazier Walker Scholarship - Neimad Williams
Donald P. McCullum (’48) Memorial Scholarship - Sha’Marla Samuels
Dr. Charlie M. Stinson, Jr. Scholarship - Derrick Appiah Osei
Dr. Escous Blackwell Goode Scholarship (Community Foundation of South Alabama) - Makeda Shelton
Earl R. Scott Scholarship - Thai Fowell
Ella & William Cokely Scholarship - Bianca Gonzales
Elson Foundation, Inc. Award - Linda Noone
Energen Corporation - Marva Herman
Eunice W. Johnson - Javair Jackson
Franklin W. Thomas - Fredrick Pierre
George W. Crawford Scholarship - Derrick Appiah Osei, Linda Nooner, and Morgan Prince
Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream Foundation Scholarship - Donice Bloodworth, III, Michael Elliott, Ashton Hall, Che’Isha Johnson, Daniel Lawler, Jailah Shivers, and Jeremy Upton
Hazel E. Wright - Nicole Montoute
Hearst Endowed Scholarship Fund (William Randolph Hearst Foundation) - Yajaira Richardson
Ives-Sandoz Scholarship - Samantha Thompson
James B. Hunting, Sr. Scholarship - Jose Torres
James & Lorraine Thornton Scholarship - Elisa Clay
John R. & Helen H. Bross Scholarship - Bianca Gonzales, Samantha Thompson, and Jose Torres
John & Huey Cross - Vionce Weeks
Joseph A. Pittman Memorial Scholarship - Morgan West
Joseph B. & Lula Johnson Scholarship - Alycia Lawson
Josephine Crawford - Wilfred Hadd Scholarship - Johnea Howard
Daniel Kennon Scholarship - Amariona Kelley
Julian Davis Scholarship - Eliza Croom
Leroy Matthew and Maurice Cecile Christopher Scholarship - Ashton Hall
Majorie F. Aldous Memorial Scholarship - Gabrielle Grinstead and Aniya Easley
Mary R. Tollette & Thuddrman Tollette Scholarship - Vionce Weeks
Mildred Jackson Scholarship - Jahzani Henry
Monroe Hill Memorial Scholarship - Johnae Howard
Muriel Taylor Scholarship - Marva Herman
Reuben A. Sheares, II Scholarship - Alycia Lawson
Rose Brawley Singley & Carl Edward Singley Scholarship - Javair Jackson and Nicole Montoute
Ruth Duncan Nesbitt & Julie A. Wil Scholarship - Sha’Marla Samuels
Scott Paper Company - Alycia Lawson
Surdna Foundation Scholarship - Sha’Marla Samuels
Trustee Scholarship Fund - Jahzani Henry
UNCF Coca-Cola Scholarship - Morgan West
Virginia R. Harrison Memorial Scholarship - Bianca Gonzales
Vulcan Scholarship - Brian Lockett
William R. Harvey Endowed Scholarship - Thai Fowell
Daniel Hand Foundation Scholarship
Christopher Anderson, Donice Bloodworth III, Elijah Coates, Oronde Henderson, Quartaz Kendall, Carl Killingsworth, Daniel Lawler, Brian Lockett, Joshua Madden, Timothy Moneyham, Fredrick Pierre, Quinton Randall, Joseph Roche, IV Jaylin Scott, Jeremy Upton, and Dominique Willis
Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation Scholarship
A’maya Agee, Ashliyah Allen, Tryielle Baker, Nakiya Banks, R’Daizjya Bell, Keyell Bentley, Sheila Borden, Jennifer Brown, Teriona Brown, Makayla Buchanan, Ashlei Carter, Rena Coats, Angelica Cole, Rekenia Cole, Eliza Croom, Jalaiah Favors, Kalaiah Favors, Samani Green, Lynda Hann, Gerilyn Hayes, Kemauri Jones, Da’Mesha Lee, Jada Livingston, Tiphanie McGee-Jordan, Loreal McGuffey, Antranique Parker, Enasha Phillips, Johnnieangel Robinson, Ayala Seaborn, Brittney Thompson, Kiaria Tucker, Tunisha Venable, Jordan Washington, Kendraih Williams-Moore, Khalia Wilson, and Letinna Wilson
HONOR ORGANIZATIONS
Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society
Tyrielle Baker, Shania Clifton, Amber Ellington, Patria Gatson, Anjolaoluwa Lawani, Daniel Lawler, and Armani McFadden
Phi Alpha Honor Society
Brionni Black, Jada Cole, Thelma Faye Dark, Deja I. Gadison, Anntionette Jean Harmon, Hannah Grace Harper, Zacarra Jernigan, Diamond Lajade Jolly, Tyeisha Quentavia Juhan, Ke’Shae J. Lambert, Christopher John Mascia, Unique M. Paul, Jazsmin Lashay Ramsey, and Raynisha Monee Simpson
Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation Program
Daniel Lawler and Brian Lockett
Ronald E. McNair Program
Tyrielle Baker, Dominique Burnett, Ashlei Carter, Shania Clifton, Rekenia Cole, Eliza Croom, Kauryn Datcher, Amber Ellington, Lamontrell Ellis, Patria Gatson, Alisha Green, Gerilyn Hayes, Ominy Holloway, Che’Isha Johnson, Christen Jones, Daniel Lawler, Alycia Lawson, Da”Mesha Lee, Armani McFadden, Geornipha Milbin, Ellise Robinson, Destiny Strum, Romello Thomas, Brittney Thompson, Kiaria Tucker, Terrica Warren, Morgan West, and Tyla White
About Talladega College
Talladega College, Alabama’s first private historically black college, is consistently ranked among the best southeastern colleges and top HBCUs in the nation. It was founded in 1867 by two former slaves, William Savery and Thomas Tarrant, and is the home of the renowned Hale Woodruff Amistad Murals.
