Student leaders strive to make the world a better place

Black Collegian, Oct 2002 by Doucette, Curtis

Onee again, THE BLACK COLLEGIAN Magazine is highlighting and celebrating the accomplishments of students who have managed to take achievement to the next level. The following students have been showcased because we see special qualities in them. Whether making the news in positions of influence or quietly leading on the job or in their communities, we expect them to continue to accomplish great things.

A student leader is one who excels as an individual and demonstrates a great degree of assistance to others. The following students have made their mark in securing a solid foundation for their future, but they've gone beyond that by making a difference in the lives of others. These students have been selected to represent their schools by members of their faculty and we're pleased to present them to you.

Impressive! If you were to sum up Tiffany Singleton's accomplishments in college with one word, that would have to be the one. She served as Class

President in her freshman and sophomore years, President of the Melton Foundation in her junior year, and SGA President in her senior year. She managed to hold all of these positions and still graduate with a 3.86 GPA.

"I want to feel like I'm making a difference," Singleton stated. "If after you leave, a situation is not better for someone else, what's the point?" She's certainly stood by that philosophy as she managed to affect positive change in every position that she held. She stepped up the role of student leadership on campus by developing an orientation and training program for students elected into positions of leadership and helped manage the expansion of the SGA budget to support campus organizations. These are only some of the noteworthy accomplishments that exemplify the range of her leadership abilities.

In typical student leader fashion, Singleton's work has gone beyond the campus, exhibiting her strong commitment to giving back. As freshman and sophomore Class President, she developed a monthly service project program, with the intention of making sure that the class was involved in community service. She orchestrated a campus wide walk-a-thon, which over a three-year period donated to the United Cerebral Palsy of Greater New Orleans, the Salvation Army, and Breast Cancer Awareness. She also developed a tutoring and international affairs education program for students at George Washington Carver High School in New Orleans. "It was really important to me that we understand the need to give back," she said. "You owe a debt. Somebody gave up something for you to get there." Singleton graduated from Dillard University in May 2002 and is currently working at JPMorgan Chase as a Financial Analyst. Joie Rasberry is an example of what determination and a never-- quite spirit can do. Before she got her opportunity to excel on campus she was demonstrating the selfless characteristics of a student leader. Rasberry is the first non-traditional student to be selected as a student leader. Even the circumstances that led to her being a non-traditional student make her worthy of recognition. Initially she attended college directly after high school but she postponed her education to care for her mother who needed special attention after suffering a heart attack. Then just as she was ready to re-enroll, her family suffered another tragedy. Her sister was murdered and Rasberry stepped up to the challenge once again to help raise the young nieces and nephews that were left behind.

It takes a special drive to go back to school after being away for almost ten years. But Rasberry didn't just go back. At age 29, she returned with a drive that made her excel as more than a student but also a leader. "Since I was knocked off course, my passion was different," Rasberry said. At age 33, she was crowned Miss Texas Southern University. In this position, she serves as a goodwill ambassador for the university. In addition she has served as the President of the international champion Texas Southern University Debate team. She garnered first place awards in Parliamentary Debate, Public Addresses, and Roman Oratory as she helped her team to be crowned 2002 International Forensics Champions in Rome, Italy.

She also works with a mentoring program in which she and other Speech majors at TSU teach public speaking and basic character building skills to elementary and middle school students in Houston, Texas.

Rasberry is presently a senior at TSU, where she continues to serve as Miss TSU and work fulltime. She also operates her own business called Professionally Speaking, a public speaking business that serves churches, schools, businesses, community organizations, and special interest groups.

His family members sometimes call him "mayor." One look at his long list of accomplishments and you'll know why. Mikiyon Alexander has served in student government each of his four years at Kentucky State University. He's served as a Senator, Class President, First Vice President of the SGA, and now President of the SGA. Yet his commitment to serving the student body has not stopped him from maintaining his status on the Deans List and giving back to his community.