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What is the ODSA TRiO Achiever Award?
The progress and success of the TRiO programs is personified by the TRiO Achiever Awards. The strength and determination of TRiO students across the state and the nation is represented by this awardee. The annual ODSA TRiO Achiever Award is designed to recognize and honor former Oklahoma TRiO participants who have demonstrated exemplary accomplishments in their professional pursuits and for whom TRiO played a fundamental role in their educational achievements. Each year a former ODSA TRiO participant is selected as the ODSA TRiO Achiever who embodies the TRiO spirit of excellence and achievement. The ODSA TRiO Achiever is introduced to the membership at the annual conference and represents ODSA at the SWASAP Regional Conference.
The 2007 ODSA TRiO Achiever, Willis U. Alexander, Jr.
Mr. Willis Alexander is an alumna of the Upward Bound and Student Support Services programs through Langston University, in Langston, Oklahoma. He fondly recalls his relationship with Ms. Juanita Goff and Mrs. Louvenia Moham as “filling the void that was missing in my life as I was not raised with a mother in my household.” Willis graduated from Frederick A Douglas High School in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma ranking in the top 10% of his class with an overall GPA of 3.88, and subsequently went on to score a 28 on his ACT after his first and only attempt. He is convinced that this is “primarily due to the workshops to assist with the test taking process.” Upon graduating high school Willis received numerous scholarship offers, and decided to attend Morehouse College, however, after one year at Morehouse he decided to return to Oklahoma, and more specifically, to Langston University.
In 1991 he began services through the Student Support Services program, and was eventually hired as a peer tutor, ultimately receiving the Peer Tutor of the Year for 1992. Willis states, “Mr. Lawrence, Mrs. Nash, Ms. Booker, and Mr. Fulgum, were all integral parts of my life. To this day, we still remain in contact…Student Support Services supported me academically, spiritually, at award ceremonies, at my athletic events, and most importantly at my graduation. To have people supporting you who have your best interest at heart is a great feeling.”
In 2003, Willis began service as a counselor in the Langston University Educational Talent Search program, and states that “working with students from Tulsa, Kingfisher, El Reno, and Oklahoma City, was a treat…I enjoyed the relationships that we fostered.”
Willis has since returned to the public school system where he currently teaches Learning Disabled, Emotionally Disturbed, and Mentally Retarded students. In addition, he has continued his TRIO link as a sponsor for the Educational Talent Search program stating “I know that my TRIO experience helped me find my niche in life…my Langston University TRIO family put a lot of time into me, and I hope that I have made them proud by returning the same to students who have come after me.”
ODSA TRiO Achievers
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Willis U. Alexander, Jr. 2007 TRiO Achiever Langston University Upward Bound / Student Support Services |
Jason W. Boston. 2006 TRiO Achiever OSU - Oklahoma City Student Support Services |
Rep. Michael Shelton,
2005 TRiO Achiever
Langston University |
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Sherry D. Williams, 2004 TRiO Achiever
University of Oklahoma |
Terrence Alford,
2003 TRiO Achiever
Langston University |
Piyush Patel,
2002 TRiO Achiever
Redlands Community College |
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Dr. Marsha Gathron,
1988 TRiO Achiever
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
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Johnny O. Flenory, Oklahoma City Upward Bound, 1983
University of Oklahoma Student Support Services
Mike Cornelius, ECU Upward Bound, 1984
MSC Special Services Project Officer
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Johnny O. Flennory, 1984, Oklahoma City Central High School Upward Bound and University of Oklahoma Special Services,
National TRIO Achiever, 1984
Benny Manning, 1987
Dr. Marsha Gathron - SOSU Upward Bound, 1988
Associate Professor of Education, Austin College, Sherman TX
National TRIO Achiever, 1988
Eva Neill O’Connor - SOSU Upward Bound, 1989
Senior Chemist/Aristech - LaPorte, TX
Dr. Phillip Washington - SOSU Upward Bound, 1990
Dental Surgeon, Washington Dental Clinic, Ardmore, OK
Tracy Cline - CASC Student Support Services, 1992
TRIO Counselor
Dr. Guy Sneed - SOSU Upward Bound, 1993
(Doctor of Medicine)
Dr. Bill Osborn - ECU Upward Bound, 1994
ECU Faculty/Administrator
Cedric Bailey - ECU Upward Bound and Student Support Services, 1995
Dr. Marcus Mosley - Langston University Student Support Services – 1996
No TRiO Achiever - 1997
Cheryl Conditt - SOSU Upward Bound, 1998
Counselor, Durant High School, Durant OK
Corinice Cephus - Rogers University Upward Bound, 1999
Upward Bound Counselor
Pam Douglas – Cameron University Student Support Services, 2000
Mental Health Therapist
Jodi Jones – Northeastern Oklahoma State University, 2001
Coordinator of Technology, Student Support Services
Piyush Patel – Redlands
Upward Bound, 2002
Entrepreneur and student
Terrance Alford– Langston University, Student Support Services, 2003
Broadcasting
Sherry D. Williams – University of Oklahoma, Project Threshold (SSS), 2004
Attorney
Michael Shelton – Langston University, Student Support Services, 2005
Oklahoma State
Representative, District 97
Jason Ward Boston - OSU-OKC,
Student Support Services, 2006
Lead Analyst, LexisNexis Real Estate Dept.
Willis U. Alexander, Jr. - Langston University, Upward Bound / Student Support Services, 2007
Teacher, John Marshall High School
(Click here to print this list of TRiO Achiever Award recipients)
