UA African-American Alumni Association Presents Awards, Supports UA Scholarship Fund

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama African-American Alumni Association recently honored a group of outstanding alumni and raised $25,000 to endow a scholarship for a minority student at an Alumni Scholarship Breakfast and reunion held recently in Tuscaloosa.

More than 320 people attended the event that was sponsored by the African-American Alumni Association with the UA National Alumni Association and Pan Greek organizations.

The recipient of the 2004 AAA Alumni Achievement Award was Donald V. Watkins, a 1973 graduate of the UA School of Law. Watkins was honored for giving his resources and skills. He started his own scholars program through VoterNewsNetwork and will present more than $30,000 in scholarships this month to deserving students from central Alabama who desire to become politicians, entrepreneurs or business executives. In January 2000, Watkins founded Alamerica Bank, a Birmingham-based financial institution which specializes in assisting small to medium sized businesses and agencies to establish themselves and build business. He is currently president of the law firm Donald V. Watkins P.C., specializing in strategic corporate litigation.

Honorees receiving Outstanding Alumni Awards included:

• Stacy L. Jones, The African-American Association — Jones, UA assistant dean of students, was honored for maintaining a constant presence in the lives of students at the University. She currently serves as adviser for several student organizations, including the Afro-American Association, the National Pan-Hellenic Council, SGA Senate and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.

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  William Joseph Hinton, The African-American Gospel Choir — Hinton, known to most as “Joe Bear,” was the heart of the Gospel Choir in Tuscaloosa. He joined the choir in the 1970s, and was a constant adviser to students and leaders until his death in 2003. He would often walk all the way from Northport just to be in attendance at choir functions. His influence will remain within the heart and soul of the choir.

• Dr. Rodney L. Harris, Alpha Phi Alpha — Harris, a gastroenterologist with Southeast Permanent Medical Group of Atlanta, has greatly distinguished himself in medical communities in Alabama and Georgia. He was in private practice for eight years in Montgomery prior to relocation to his current position in 2001. He is a member of the Atlanta Medical Association, National Medical Association and the American College of Gastroenterology.
• Kathy E. Sawyer, Alpha Kappa Alpha — Sawyer, a founding member of Theta Sigma Chapter, is Alabama Commissioner of Mental Health and Retardation. She heads one of the largest departments in state government with 3,400 employees and a budget of more than $500 million. Her record of past involvement includes organizations such as Class IX Leadership, Leadership Montgomery and the Alabama Poverty Project.
• Sherrel W. Stewart, The Capstone Association of Black Journalists — Stewart, an award-winning journalist and 1982 UA graduate, is the assistant city news editor at The Birmingham News. She is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists, the Alumni Advisory Board for the UA College of Communication and Information Sciences, and the Birmingham Association of Black Journalists, an organization which she co-founded in 1983.
• Vernetta Dickerson, Delta Sigma Theta — Dickerson is currently employed with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama. Before joining Blue Cross she worked for MCI, Prudential and AT&T. She is a member of NAACP, the National Council of Negro Women, Young Democrats, Sisters for Life, UAB Civitan and the Juvenile Diabetes Association. Dickerson also tutors at Wenonah High School in Birmingham.
• Cleophus Thomas Jr., Kappa Alpha Psi — A noted attorney and businessman, Thomas pulled together the support of a cross-section of students in 1973 to become the first African-American student government association president at UA. He received a George C. Marshall Scholarship to Oxford University and received a degree in philosophy, politics and economics from Oxford in 1980. He serves as chairman and CEO of A.G. Gaston Corp., the holding company for Booker T. Washington Insurance Co. and its subsidiary companies.
• Dr. Teneramie Smith, NAACP — Dr. Smith is an assistant professor at the University of Southern Mississippi, and also serves as USM chapter adviser for the NAACP. She also serves as secretary of internal affairs of the Mississippi State Conference of the NAACP. She currently teaches educational technology courses to administrators worldwide in the Department of Educational Leadership and Research.
• J. Gaston Large III, National Society of Black Engineers — Large, a December 2003 graduate of UA, is the son of Jimmy and Esther Large. While at the University, he served as ambassador for the College of Engineering and president of the National Society of Black Engineers.
• Michael Seals, Omega Psi Phi — Seals is recognized throughout the state of Alabama for his leadership in the banking industry. In 2000, the Mobile native was appointed by former Gov. Don Siegelman as assistant superintendent of banks for Alabama. He is division manager for the administrative and specialist employees of the Alabama Banking Department. He serves on the board of the Macon County Chamber of Commerce, Mobile Chapter of the American Institute of Banking and Greater Mobile Business Development Council.
• Terry Woods, Phi Beta Sigma — Woods, a chief civil and metallurgical engineer with the Tennessee Valley Authority, is recognized both in civic and professional communities. He was recently featured in Diversity Careers magazine for his involvement in recruiting and training new college engineering graduates. Woods was named a UA College of Engineering Distinguished Fellow in 2003.
• Mary J. Chambers-Huff, Zeta Phi Beta — Chambers-Huff, assistant director of the Career Services Office in the UA School of Law, is an outstanding leader in the Tuscaloosa community. Her tireless work demonstrating leadership and excellence in service to her church, career and country is evident through her community service in organizations such as the Stork’s Nest prenatal education program. She has also served as coordinator of the Human Genome community education project.

For more information about the UA African-American Alumni Association contact the UA Alumni Association at 205/348-5963 or James King at 205/726-2373.