More than 400 alumni, family and friends from around the nation gathered to honor alumni who have excelled in their professions and made exceptional contributions to the University, the NAA and their communities.
FAMU President Larry Robinson applauded the graduates for living up to the University’s motto, “Excellence with Caring.”
“All of the honorees have distinguished themselves in their careers and made a lasting impact on their communities,” said Robinson. “We expect our graduates to be outstanding teachers, journalists and engineers and be a positive influence on someone’s life.”
This is the 28th class to receive the Distinguished Alumni Award. NAA members nominated alumni for awards in the categories of athletics, community service, business, medicine, technology, law, education, government, military and health.
“I’m grateful to these alumni who have supported the university with their donations, countless volunteer hours and continuous service to FAMU year after year,” said FAMU NAA President Lt. Col. Gregory L. Clark. “They often go above and beyond the call of the duty to show their support.”
“I enjoyed the pleasure of working with each of the 26 honored alumnus of FAMU,” said Gala Chair Doris L. Hicks. “They are truly distinguished and have not forgotten what it means to support our dear alma mater.”
The 2018 FAMU NAA Distinguished Alumni Award recipients are:
- Moses Eugene Aaron, Retired Diplomat and U.S. State Department Foreign Service Officer
- Chan B. Abney, General Counsel and Director of Human Resources at Gary, Williams Parenti, Watson & Gary, P.L.L.C.
- Tomia Austin, Ph.D., Executive Director of the As One Foundation
- Waite Bellamy, Retired Educator
- Erica LaTrice Brown, Respiratory Therapist
- Barbara Page Burns, Retired Educator
- Althea Chavis, Retired Educator
- Shelby Chipman, Ph.D., FAMU Director of Bands and Music Professor
- Lillie Covington, Retired Educator
- MaKeba Earst, DDS, General Dentist at All About Smiles Dental Care
- Alzada Bradley Fowler, Retired Educator
- Angela T. Freeman, Oracle JD Edwards Project Manager
- LaDray B. Gilbert, Personal Injury Attorney
- Kimberly Godwin, CBS News Vice President and Executive Director of Staff Development and Diversity
- Doris A. Jackson, Retired School Counselor
- Loretta Jenkins, Retired Elementary School Principal
- Lenetra King, Texas Health Resources Vice President
- Lt. Col. (Ret.) Ricardo Kinsey, Retired United States Army Officer
- Lisa Rae Bledsoe LaBoo, Owner of Prosperity Investment Services, Inc. and Prosperity Real Estate, LLC
- Lisa Lang, Ph.D., Jarvis Christian College Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs
- Bonita McCray-Williams, Retired Educator and Coach
- Alonda Thomas, Howard University Director of Public Relations
- Col. (Ret.) Keith Stubbs, Retired United States Army Officer
- Vaughn Wilson, Director of Rattler Productions
- John Wimberly, Jr., Retired Employee of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice
- Monica Zeno-Martin, Chief Program Officer of YouthBuild USA, Inc.