OXFORD, Miss. – Ten University of Mississippi seniors have earned entry into the school’s 2009-10 Hall of Fame, one of the university’s highest honors.
Chancellor Dan Jones bestowed the honor Friday (Jan. 22) in a campus ceremony at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts, noting that the selection is based on a student’s academic achievement, community service, extracurricular activities and potential for future success. The Ole Miss Hall of Fame has recognized students with outstanding achievements since 1930. “The selection of these outstanding students into the Hall of Fame is a reflection of their impact on life at this university,” Jones said as he offered congratulations to the students and their families. “They will continue to make an impact on their communities and the world as they take their talent, skills and commitment to the next phase of life. I join the entire university community in congratulating them.”
Students receiving the honor are Tommy Vincent Chamblee of Fulton, Melissa Carol Cole of Jackson, Andre’ Bernard Cotten of Madison, Claire Elizabeth Graves of Ackerman, Sederia Natasha Gray of Starkville, Elizabeth Jane Joseph of Clinton, Richard William McKay of Philadelphia, Joshua Steven Randle of Amory, Artair Joel Rogers of Guntown and Patrick Joseph Woodyard of Hot Springs, Ark.
Chamblee was a finalist for a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship and a Marshall Scholarship. A member of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, he won the Barksdale Award last spring for a project that included travel to Switzerland, Dubai and Tanzania for independent research into the economics of human trafficking. He also studied at the University of Edinburgh through the UM Study Abroad program and held an internship under a member of the Scottish Parliament. He is chief of staff on the Associated Student Body and chairman of the judicial board of the Columns Society, a group of 24 students who serve as official hosts for the university. His academic honors include membership in Phi Beta Kappa, the highest liberal arts honorary; and Phi Kappa Phi, the highest academic honor society recognizing scholarship in all disciplines. Listed on the Chancellor’s Honor Roll, he received a Taylor Medal, the university’s highest academic award. He is a Trent Lott Leadership Scholar, and his many leadership and service honors include membership in Omicron Delta Kappa, a leadership honorary; Mortar Board, a scholarship, leadership and service honorary; and Order of Omega, a Greek leadership honorary. He has been a volunteer for such charities as the Salvation Army, March of Dimes, Special Olympics, and Boys and Girls Clubs of America. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Chamblee, he is majoring in economics, public policy leadership and accountancy.
Cole is a member of the SMBHC. A Trent Lott Leadership Scholar, she participated in the Lott Leadership Summer Exchange to China. She was included in the 2008 presidential debate Student Media Package and was an interviewee for several national media outlets. She is co-founder of One Mississippi, a student coalition that promotes social integration within the student body. She has chaired several Associated Student Body committees, including Diversity Affairs, Student Involvement and First Experience. She belongs to Mortar Board, Omicron Delta Kappa, Order of Omega, Columns Society, Chancellor’s Leadership Class and Ole Miss Ambassadors. Her volunteer efforts include work with the March of Dimes, Habitat for Humanity, Alcohol Awareness Walk and Leap Frog. A biology major, Cole is recipient of the Alpha Epsilon Delta Pre-Med Scholarship. Her parents are Willie and Carolyn Cole.
Cotten has served two terms as co-director of student services on the Associated Student Body and is vice president of the senior class. He is the student liaison with UM’s Office of Sustainability and serves on the executive council of Students for a Green Campus. He co-authored the Wal-Mart Community Grant that provided $25,000 to start RebelPedals, a campus bicycle sharing program. He is a member of One Mississippi and serves on its executive council. Listed on the Chancellor’s Honor Roll, he is a Trent Lott Leadership Scholar and a Nissan North American Scholar. He is a member of Mortar Board, Omicron Delta Kappa, Order of Omega and the Columns Society. Co-founder of Rebels for United Way, Cotten’s other volunteer efforts include work with Habitat for Humanity, Relay for Life, Oxford Humane Society and Leap Frog. He is majoring in public policy leadership. His parents are Irvin and Gwendolyn Cotten-Smith of Madison.
Graves, a member of the SMBHC, was a presenter and moderator at the 2009 National Collegiate Honors Council Conference. She co-chaired UM’s 2008 presidential debate Student Steering Committee and was selected by the SMBHC and Lott Institute to attend the Washington Center’s Academic Seminar on the Republican National Convention at the RNC. She is president of Mortar Board and student director of the SMBHC Ambassadors. Listed on the Chancellor’s Honor Roll, she received a Taylor Medal and is a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Omicron Delta Kappa. She is spirit co-chair of the Ole Miss Ambassadors, constitution committee chair of the Columns Society and member of the University Lecture Series Committee. Her numerous volunteer efforts include work with the Holy Cross School in Belize (on a social work Study Abroad), Chicago Cares, Sunflower County Freedom Project, Boys and Girls Club, Angel Ranch and Ackerman Elementary School. A marketing communications major, she is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Benson Graves of Ackerman.
Gray is a member of the SMBHC and the Croft Institute for International Studies. Majoring in international studies and Spanish, she was an Amnesty International intern last year. She was the student coordinator for UM’s Quality Enhancement Plan, student representative for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accreditation process and member of the Residential College Steering Committee. She has served on the ASB and on several chancellor’s standing committees. Recipient of a Luckyday Scholarship, she is a member of One Mississippi, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Mortar Board, Omicron Delta Kappa and the Columns Society. She is co-founder of Rebels for United Way and a volunteer for Katrina Relief, Down in the Delta, Chicago Cares, Boys and Girls Club, March of Dimes, Relay for Life and other charities. She is the daughter of Eucluck and Gwendolyn Gray of Starkville.
Joseph, a member of the SMBHC, is president of the 2010 senior class and serves as executive assistant on the ASB cabinet. She belongs to the Lott Institute and spent a summer on a Lott Leadership Exchange to South Africa. She is a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Omicron Delta Kappa and Mortar Board. She was a member of the Chancellor’s Leadership Class and Ole Miss Ambassadors. She serves on the Chancellor’s Standing Committee for Buildings and Renovations. Listed on the Chancellor’s Honor Roll, she is a Fulbright Scholarship nominee and applicant. She has been a volunteer for such charities as Relay for Life, Habitat for Humanity, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and Make-A-Wish. An English major, she is the daughter of Jane and Norman Joseph of Clinton.
McKay is vice president of the ASB and alumni relations chairman of One Mississippi. He served on the student steering committee for the university’s Quality Enhancement Plan and was a team leader for the presidential debate. A member of the Ole Miss Ambassadors, he has been a counselor for Summer College for High School Students. He belongs to the Columns Society, Mortar Board, Order of Omega and Omicron Delta Kappa. He served on the Rebel Ride task force and Black History Month Planning Committee. He has been a volunteer for many causes including Upward Basketball, Crisis Pregnancy Center, United Blood Services and F.A.I.T.H Ministries. A finance major, he is the son of Don and Sharon McKay of Philadelphia.
Randle, a member of the SMBHC, serves on the senior class executive committee. He has been active in the Chancellor’s Leadership Class, Ole Miss Ambassadors and One Mississippi. Listed on the Chancellor’s Honor Roll, he is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. He serves on the ASB and belongs to the Columns Society, Mortar Board and Order of Omega. He was an official student representative for the presidential debate. As philanthropy chairman of his fraternity Kappa Alpha, he raised more than $50,000 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. He has also been a volunteer for many other groups, including Race for the Cure, Chicago Cares, Habitat for Humanity, Amory Main Street Inc. and Leap Frog. Randle is majoring in political science. His parents are Dr. Steve and Mrs. Tracy Randle of Amory.
Rogers, a member of the SMBHC, is president of the ASB and serves on the board of directors of Students for a Green Campus. He is co-chair of the Minority Affairs Leadership Council. A Trent Lott Leadership Institute Scholar, he participated in the Lott Leadership South Africa Exchange. He was included in the 2008 presidential debate Student Media Package and was an interviewee for several national media outlets. He was the university’s nominee for a Truman Scholarship and was UM’s recipient of the Outstanding Student Award in the statewide HEADWAE program. Listed on the Chancellor’s Honor Roll, he participated in the Chancellor’s Leadership Class and Ole Miss Ambassadors. He serves on several university standing committees and is a member of One Mississippi, Omicron Delta Kappa, Mortar Board and the Columns Society. He has been a Lott Institute counselor, Honors College Retreat leader and counselor for Summer College for High School Students. His many volunteer efforts have included work with Oxford Medical Ministries, Down-in-the Delta Community Service, Sunflower Freedom Project and Freshman Focus Mentor. He is majoring public policy leadership and sociology. His parents are Arthur and Inda Rogers of Guntown.
Woodyard is a member of the SMBHC and recipient of the Barksdale Award. He received UM’s International Friendship Award and the National Sigma Chi Balfour Award for Exemplary Academics and Service, and he was named Order of Omega Community Servant of the Year. He spent two summers in Uganda as a Friends-in-Need Integrated Development Project Intern. He is co-founder of UM’s chapter of Hope for Africa and has served three years as its president. His leadership has resulted in raising $36,000 in funding for a student education initiative and an income-generating livestock/health care program in Mukono, Uganda. Listed on the Chancellor’s Honor Roll, he is a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Mortar Board and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. He is the director of community service on the ASB and member of the Chancellor’s Standing Committee for international programs. He is a member of One Mississippi and serves on its events committee. Besides his work with HFA, he has volunteered for other causes including (on UM Study Abroad trips) Landless Workers’ Movement in Brazil, Small Farmers’ Economic Development in Argentina and Indigenous Movement in Paraguay. Locally, his volunteer efforts have included Graceland Nursing and Rehab Center, Leap Frog and Manna Feeding Ministry. A member of the Croft Institute, he is majoring in international studies and Spanish. His parents are Howard and Betsy Woodyard of Hot Springs, Ark., and JoAnne Oliver and Gary Wright of Oxford.