Newly inducted GSU student gets pinned at the Earl Lester Cole Honors College induction on Oct. 30
The room was packed with excellence at the 25th annual Earl Lester Cole Honors College Induction ceremony Oct. 30 in the Black and Gold Room.
Forty-nine students from different majors and regions of the country all with a grade point average of a 3.5 came together to be rewarded for their academic excellence.
“It is an honor to expose to GSU your academic achievement in life thus far,” Michael Meadows, an inductee from Tallulah.
The presiding officer, Dr. Ellen D. Smiley, who is the dean of the Earl Lester Cole Honors College, opened up the ceremony by having each student introduce themselves by stating their name, where they’re from and major.
Grambling State University Interim President Cynthia Warrick spoke to the audience and expressed how proud she was of the inductees.
“These 49 students are the ones who are going to carry the flag of academic excellence here at Grambling State University,” stated Warrick.
Interim Executive Dean of the College of Business and former GSU student, Otto Meyers, shared a strong message to the inductees.
“It is absolutely fantastic to see students striving for excellence academically,” Meyers said. “This distinguishes Grambling State from any other university because of the focus we place on excellence.”
Meyers earned his bachelor’s degree from GSU and his doctrine from Temple University in Philadelphia.
He also mentioned famous African American figures such as Jackie Robinson, W.E. Dubois and Grambling’s own Charles P. Adams and described how they paved the way for Blacks to be able to succeed today.
Meyers also shared motivational quotes with the inductees from his grandfather that helped him in his journey to success.
“We are truly at our greatest when we seek to serve others,” Meyers said.
He ended his speech by saying “God bless America and bless Grambling State University where everybody is somebody.”
Dr. Janet Guyden, who is the interim provost and vice president of Academic Affairs presented the badges to the inductees.
This ceremony motivated other students who were in attendance to become better students.
“This ceremony really motivated me to enhance my work ethic so I can be great and the best student I can be,” said junior, computer information systems major, Braxton Matthews.