Alabama State University News September 25, 2015 Students To Attend Thurgood Marshall College Fund Leadership Institute Author: Timothy C. Ervin A group of Alabama State University students will have the opportunity to participate in one of the nation's most well-known leadership development conferences, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) Annual Leadership Institute. Designed for students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), the 15th annual conference will take place Nov. 13-17 in Washington, D.C. "It is an honor for me to be selected to participate in the Thurgood Marshall College Fund Leadership Institute," said Kendall Williams, one of 11 ASU students attending the conference. "I believe being among students from various schools across the country will be a great experience. I look forward to representing myself and Alabama State University." The number of ASU students selected to participate in the award-winning TMCF Leadership Institute has more than doubled since 2012. Dr. Karyn Scissum Gunn, associate provost for Academic Affairs, hailed the increase as a testament to the University's commitment to the "Black and Gold Standard" - scholarship, excellence and leadership - and to how well the students understand and strive to uphold that standard. "Our student products are our signature, and this growing presence in the TMCF Leadership Institute is definitely expanding ASU's brand among the 47 TMCF institutions and their affiliates," Gunn said. "We are quite proud of the preparations that these future leaders are making today to claim their places in greatness tomorrow. As they go, so ASU goes; the Black and Gold Standard lives on through them and their work as professionals and citizens of change." Gunn said the TMCF Leadership Institute will be an intense experience for ASU's scholars, and the payoff will be huge. "We hope that their participation will affirm to them that they are capable, competent, confident and that they can compete and excel nationally," Gunn said. "We want them to hone in on and keenly develop those 'soft' skills that will distinguish them among others when they step into interviews, internships, leadership opportunities and ultimately onto that stage we call the global workforce." The other 10 students attending the Institute include: * Jauqius Frazier-Buckman, senior finance major * Bryan Womack, senior accounting major * Kennedy Akwuba, senior criminal justice major * Tyler Bryant, junior social work major * Jada Jones, junior rehabilitation services major * Damian Love, senior addiction studies major * Aliyah McCray, senior rehabilitation services major * Nyya Ramsey, senior communication major * Lanisha Snow, senior secondary education (history) major * Alexis Thackurdin, junior English major About the Thurgood Marshall College Fund The Thurgood Marshall College Fund, named for the U.S. Supreme Court's first African-American Justice, was established in 1987 under the leadership of Dr. N. Joyce Payne in cooperation with Miller Brewing Co., Sony Music, the National Basketball Association, Reebok and the American Association for State Colleges and Universities. TMCF supports and represents nearly 300,000 students attending its 47 member-schools. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.