10 Things That Make Us #CentenaryProud
1. Choir performs at Governor John Bel Edwards’ Inauguration
The Centenary College Choir performed with choirs from Southern University and Grambling State University for a moving performance at Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards’ second inauguration in January 2020. The Choir also performed at Edwards’ first inauguration in January 2016.
Click here to watch the performance on Facebook!
2. Mary Celeste Reagan and Jonathan Ferrell return for MLK Alumni Convocation
Centenary graduates Mary Celeste Reagan ’69 and Jonathan Ferrell ’05 returned to the College for the 2020 Dream Week MLK Alumni Convocation. Ferrell, director of college counseling at PACE Academy in Atlanta, Georgia, led the convocation with an inspiring speech about how he overcame challenges to become a Centenary student and how his education shaped his future. Mary Reagan, the first African-American graduate of the College, reflected on her time at Centenary and offered encouragement for all those facing adversity along their journeys. Reagan presented Jonathan with the first Centenary College Diversity Committee Alumni Trailblazer Award, inaugurated in 2020 and named in her honor.
Click here to watch the Facebook Live recording!
View photos from the event!
3. James Eakin’s work performed at Carnegie Hall
Dr. James Eakin’s work, “Blessed are the Peacemakers,” was performed by the National Women’s Honor Choir at Carnegie Hall in New York City on Februray 2, 2020. Eakin is an Assistant Professor of Music at the Hurley School of Music and a 1999 graduate of Centenary.
4. Centenary students excel in Model Arab League
Seven students represented Centenary College at the Bilateral US-Arab Chamber of Commerce Model Arab League competition at the University of Houston in February 2020. The students served as delegates from Lebanon and competed on the Joint Defense, Political Affairs, Social Affairs, and Economic Affairs councils.
Junior history and political science major Maria Zabaneh and sophomore communications and political science major L.A. Easley were recognized as the “outstanding delegation” (first place) on the Social Affairs Council, while junior political science and theater major Kennedy Wilcher and senior political science major Coco Edwards received the same designation for the Economic Affairs council. Other members of the Centenary delegation were senior Soira Teferi, a history and political science major, and Taha Hayat and Brenlyee Meaux, both sophomore political science majors.
Read more here!
5. #1 Rankings
Gents basketball won its first SCAC Tournament title to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history, finishing the season 18-10 overall and 15-5 in SCAC play. The Maroon and White set Division III era program records for conference wins in a single season (15), longest winning streak (10), and home wins (10) in a single season.
The Centenary Ladies gymnastics team finished the season ranked first in the nation in Division III in the Road to Nationals rankings for the second year in a row and finished the season ranked No. 1 on vault and beam and No. 2 on bars and floor in all of Division III. Head coach Jackie Fain was named the Regional Coach of the Year by the Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association.
Read more here!
6. Brennen Templeton receives Gilman Scholarship
Brennen Templeton, a Centenary College junior majoring in music, was selected as a recipient of the prestigious Gilman Scholarship from the U.S. Department of State. More than 5,000 applicants participated in this cycle of the Gilman Scholarship, and Templeton was one of 1,300 students offered awards.
Read more here!
7. Donovan Stone ’17 wins Dean’s Cup at Duke Law
Centenary alumnus Donovan Stone ’17 was the winner of the 2020 Duke School of Law Dean’s Cup. The Dean’s Cup is a premier oral advocacy competition and seeks to highlight the school’s best appellate advocates.
8. Community activism and #BlackLivesMatter
Centenary students, faculty, staff, and alumni contributed to the nationwide #BlackLivesMatter movement in the summer of 2020, including in Shreveport where many Centenary community members participated in marches, forums, and demonstrations to raise awareness about racial injustice and to advocate for change.
The College is continuing to engage with issues of past and present injustice and identifying concrete measures for change through a series of campus listening sessions this fall.
9. Josh Johnson receives Emmy Nomination
Josh Johnson ’12 was nominated for an Emmy Award in the “Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series” category for his work on “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah.” Josh also wrote and performed for “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon,” where he made his late night debut, and is featured on the Netflix comedy series, “The Comedy Lineup.”
10. Versha Sharma ’08 interviews Senator Elizabeth Warren
Centenary alumna Versha Sharma ’08 is managing editor and senior correspondent at NowThis News. She interviewed Senator Elizabeth Warren via Instagram live ahead of the final night of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in August 2020. Senator Warren previewed her speech for the DNC, discussed voter suppression, the United States Postal Service, and talked about Senate Intel's conclusion to the Russia report. Versha has also interviewed former President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Watch the IGTV Interview here!
See Versha’s Twitter Thread!