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GSU ALUMNI NEWSSPECIALPOINTS OFINTEREST:• Class of 1959Celebrates 50YearsS U M M E R I S S U ECLASS OF 1959 CELEBRATES 50 YEARSJ U N E 2 0 0 9• President’s ScholarshipDinner-Theatre Gala• Alums Honored atNAFEO• Alum Spotlight• Martha AdamsAlumni ChapterHosted The TigerCaravanGolden-glad graduates of the GSU Class of 1959marched across the stage again during commencementceremonies as they celebratedtheir 50 th anniversary May 15-17. PresidingClass Member Dr. Mildred Gallot, encouraged herclass to support the university through Louisiana’seducation funding crisis, and Beverly Hopkins,Miss Grambling 1959, thrilled her class with storiesof days gone by during a luncheon presentation.Class members were also treated to a slide showduring the luncheon, which showed pictures of the1959 class yearbook.President Horace A. Judson presents Golden GradMildred Gauthier Gallot her golden diploma.INSIDETHIS ISSUE:President’sScholarshipDinner-Theatrewas aSmashingSuccessGSU AlumsHonored atNAFEO23AlumniSpotlight 4The MarthaAdamsAlumni ChapterHosted TheTiger Caravan5Dr. Gallot said she was pleased to see her fellow classmates after so many years and joked about the cost of theevent. “If you take our registration fee and divide it by 50, that comes out to be less than $10 a year,” Dr. Gallotsaid. “Being able to celebrate 50 years at a cost of $10 per year is well worth it.”The class also donated more than $1,650 to Grambling State University as part of the festivities. Class members,their spouses, friends and family members saw substantial infrastructural changes on campus during abus tour, and many said they were excited about the upcoming Tiger football season and plan to purchase seasontickets.Addressing the class, President Horace Judsonthanked them for returning to campus and encouragedthem to continue to support the mission ofGrambling State University.Golden Grads participate in the GoldenGrad Luncheon held in the President’s Dining Room.2009 Golden GraduatesMembers of the Class of 1959 participating in theactivities were: Margaret Ashley Bailey, JacquelynMoore Tolbert Beverly, Deloris Smith Deemer,Tom L. Dixon, Ester Mae McClahanan Fondel,Mildred Bernice Gauthier Gallot, Claude L. Giles,Lillie P. Giles, Ruby Ann Metoyer Harris, BeverlyAnn Dawson Hopkins, Odell F. J. Jackson, FayeMelvin Piller, Hazel Prevost Starks, Leola WayneTaylor, Archie M. Osborne Tatum, Joe Leon Walk,and Dr. George M. Wimbush.Student-AlumniSpotlight5

PAGE 2GSU ALUMNI NEWSPresident‘s Scholarship Dinner-TheatreGala was a Smashing SuccessUPCOMINGEVENTS—JUNE 14-19 —RODBROADWAY’STIGERFOOTBALL CAMPGRAMBLING,LOUISIANA—JUNE15-18—RICK DUCKETTBASKETBALLSCHOOLGRAMBLING,LOUISIANADr. Horace A. Judson andDr. Gail Shorter-Judsonpictured with the “Dream Girls”—JUNE 20—BIRMINGHAMALUMNICHAPTERANNUALSCHOLARSHIPDINNER & DANCEBIRMINAHAM,ALABAMAHILTON HOTEL8 PERMITER PARKSOUTH$50 PER PERSON6:00 P.M.The Dream Girls were Anya Washington,Brittany McCray, and Sherrell Nard.Deron James (Chicago, Illinois) wascasted as Jimmy “James Thunder” Early.—JULY 6—THE PRESIDENT’SFIRST ANNUALGOLF OUTINGAND LUNCHEONSQUIRE CREEK GOLF& COUNTRYCLUBCHOUDRANT,LOUISIANA\—JULY 30—THE MONROE-OUACHITAALUMNICHAPTER7TH ANNUALEVENING WITHGSU ATHLETICSDEPARTMENTMONROE CIVIC CENTERMONROE, LOUISIANAFORT MIRO ROOM6:00 P.M.More than 370 patrons filed into the GSU Assembly Center over twonights to see “Dream Girls,” the Broadway musical that was the highlightof the 2nd Annual President’s Scholarship Dinner-Theatre Galaheld on April 24-25. The gala also included a silent auction of art bystudents and members of the GSU Art Department.Patrons saw high-quality performances by GSU students who practicedfor weeks to nail their roles. The play’s director, Dr. King DavidGodwin, called the play “the total embodiment of an era gone by.”“Dream Girls” is based on the show business aspirations and successesof rhythm and blues entertainers such as The Supremes.The GSU production featured music by Dr. Larry Pannell, chair of theMusic Department, and the art exhibits were coordinated by DonnaMcGee, Art Department chair. Faculty member Larry Holston designedthe signature art.Proceeds from the event will support the President’s ScholarshipFund.

GSU ALUMNI NEWSPAGE 3GSU Alums Honored at NAFEOGSU Alumni Dr. Mildred Gallot,Virgil Robinson, Miechelle Willisand Dr. Connie Walton were recentlyhonored as DistinguishedGraduates at the National Associationfor Equal Opportunity inHigher Education’s 35th NationalDialogue on Blacks in Higher Education- Ending the Cradle toPrison Pipeline, Establishing aCradle to College Pathway, at theRenaissance Concourse Hotel inAtlanta.President Judson and GSU NAFEOHonoree Michelle WillisDr. Loretta Walton Jaggers, professorof education at GramblingState University, was also honoredas a NAFEO NOBLE prizeawarded at the conference, one ofseven outstanding faculty membershonored with such an award.NAFEO was founded in 1969 by agroup of HBCU presidents as theprofessional association of thepresidents and chancellors of thenation’s historically black andemerging predominately black collegesand universities. NAFEOrepresents approximately 400,000students and their families, andAfrican Americans across thehigher education spectrum.NAFEO member institutions arepublic and private, 2- and 4- yearcommunity, regional, national, andinternational comprehensive researchinstitutions, located intwenty-five states, the District ofColumbia, the Virgin Islands andBrazil.President Judson and GSU NAFEOHonoree Dr. Loretta JaggersPresident Judson pictured with Atlanta-MetroAlums: Aaron Darrington, Melissa Bickham,Angela Darrington Martin, and Ike Paggett

PAGE 4GSU ALUMNI NEWSAlum Spotlight"GSU: A Century of Successat Transforming Lives by Degrees"GSU Provided Foundation for Harvard’sCaroline Boutte-Thompson, Class of 1986For Caroline Boutte-Thompson, attending Grambling StateUniversity provided a strong foundation that allowed her tocompete in a diverse workforce. Boutte-Thompson graduatedfrom GSU in 1986 with a degree in Computer Science.For the past nine years, she worked at Harvard College inCambridge, Massachusetts. Currently, she serves as Directorof Technical Operations for Harvard College UndergraduateFinancial Aid and the Student Employment offices.She also is currently a member of the adjunct facultyof the Urban College of Boston, where she teaches Microsoftcomputer applications. The Lawtell native said her experiencesat Grambling were similar to the kinds of experiencesthat she has had throughout her life — meeting andworking with diverse people.“It doesn’t matter where you come from, but when you getto the table what you have is going to show,” she said. “Igot to the table, and I am just as happy so say I’m fromGrambling as my colleagues are to say they are from Harvard,Oberlin, Stanford or where ever.” Boutte-Thompson,who returns home at least two weeks a year, said she likesthe atmosphere at Harvard because its culture welcomes andaccepts people based on their merit, absent the societalprejudices, such as affirmative action, that can sometimescall into question a person’s performance.Boutte-Thompson has just been accepted into graduateschool at Lesley University in Cambridge, where she willpursue a M.Ed., in technology education.She offered sage advice to prospective graduates of GSU:“Whatever you learn at Grambling, take it with you becauseyou never know where you are going to end up. You neverknow where your Grambling experience will lead.”Caroline Boutte-Thompson, Directorof TechnicalOperations forHarvard CollegeUndergraduateFinancial Aid andthe Student EmploymentOffices,stated “Whateveryou learn at Grambling,take it withyou because younever know whereyou are going toend up. You neverknow where yourGrambling experiencewill lead.” “Iam just as happy sosay I’m fromGrambling as mycolleagues are tosay they are fromHarvard, Oberlin,Stanford or whereever,” stated Boutte-Thompson.TÄâÅÇ| exÄtà|ÉÇá átÄâàxá VtÜÉÄ|Çx UÉâààx@g{ÉÅÑáÉÇ

GSU ALUMNI NEWSPAGE 5THE MARTHA ADAMS ALUMNI CHAPTER HOSTEDTHE TIGER CARAVAN IN HAMMOND, LOUISIANAThe Martha Adams Alumni Chapter ofHammond, Louisiana, hosted the Grambling StateUniversity Tiger Caravan (Athletics Department)on May 9, 2009. The chapter welcomed membersof the Department of Athletics Department. Thetheme for the program was “Pointing to Success.”The chapter was informed by the Director of Athletics,Mr. Lin Dawson, of plans to increase seasonticket sales and increase the overall revenue for theDepartment of Athletics.During the program, Mr. Tom Stevens, Presidentof the chapter, presented several gifts toCoach Rod Broadway, Head Coach of the TigerFootball Team, for his individual and the team’saccomplishments the past season.The Tiger Caravan has been hosted by thefollowing Alumni Chapters: Bastrop, Shreveport,Lake Charles, Homer, Lafayette, and Atlanta-Metro.The Houston Chapter and Dallas Chapter will hostthe Tiger Caravan on June 13 and June 27, respectively.The Tiger Caravan has tentative datesplanned with the Orlando, Oklahoma, and BirminghamChapters.Mr. Tom Stevens presented several gifts onbehalf of the chapter to Coach Rod Broadwayon behalf of the chapterMr. Lin Dawson, GSU Athletic Director (far left), Coach RodBroadway, GSU Head Football Coach (center-right); Mr.Wilbert Ellis, Former GSU Acting Athletic Director (right ofBroadway); and along with other members of the AthleticsDepartment traveled to HammondSTUDENT-ALUM SPOTLIGHTThe 2009 Spring Commencement was held on Saturday,May the Sixteenth at Ten o’clock in the Morning at theAssembly Center on the Grambling State UniversityCampus. The keynote speaker was the HonorableBobby Jindal, Governor of the State of Louisiana.The Ceremony was especially celebratory with ValedictoryStatements from not just one graduate, but two —highest ranking graduates — with perfect 4.0 gradepoint averages. Mr. Leron C. Charles and Miss PriscaSimon are both from Castries, St. Lucia. Mr. Charlesmajored in Marketing, and Miss Simon majored in HotelRestaurant Management. Their speeches encouragedtheir fellow graduates to go forth and conquer theworld.The Office of Alumni Relations and the Grambling StateUniversity Family salute Mr. Charles and Miss Simon.2009 Spring Commencement ValedictorianMr. Leron C. Charles2009 Spring Commencement ValedictorianMiss Prisca Simon

Office of Alumni RelationsGrambling State University100 Robinson StreetAt RWE Jones DriveGSU Box 4204Phone: (318) 274-6265Fax: (318) 274-3330E-mail:alumnirelations@gram.eduGrambling, LA 71245The Alumni Relations Office assists GramblingState University (GSU) in promoting good relationswith alumni, students, parents, friends andsupporters of GSU, while strengthening the ties ofloyalty and devotion to GSU in furthering theInterest of the University.For information about recent and upcoming eventsfor Alumni, contact Mrs. Glenda Jones, Mrs.Valencia Clemons, Mr. Ralph Wilson, or MR. ByronMcCauley in the Office of Alumni Relations,Grambling State University.www.gram.edu/alumni/news.asp2009 Tiger Football ScheduleDATE OPPONENT/EVENT LOCATION TIME09-06-09 South Carolina State5th Annual SWAC/MEAC ChallengeOrlando, Florida2:00 PM09-12-09 Northwestern state Grambling 6:00 PMSunday, September 6, 2009Florida Citrus BowlOrlando, Florida—Official GSU Alumni Hotel—Hilton Grand Vacations Club6924 Grand VacationsWay•Orlando, FL 32821407.239.0100Saturday, September 5, 2009Alumni Breakfast withPresident Horace A. Judson$25.00Call (318) 274-6265 for More InformationRoom Rates: $79 Studio& $109 One Bedroom SuiteAsk for:Grambling Black & Gold Foundation Block09-19-09 Jackson State Jackson, Mississippi 3:30 PM09-26-09 Oklahoma State Stillwater, Oklahoma 6:00PM10-03-09 Prairie View A&MState Fair Classic10-10-09 Alabama A&MHigh School DayDallas, Texas6:00PM10-17-09 Alabama State Montgomery, Alabama TBA10-24-09 OPEN10-31-09 Mississippi ValleyHomecoming11-07-09 Arkansas-Pine BluffDelta Classic for LiteracyGramblingLittle Rock, ARKANSAS2:00 PM4:00 PM11-12-09 Texas Southern Grambling 8:00 PM11-21-09 OPEN11-28-09 SouthernSTATE FARM Bayou ClassicXXXVIIGramblingNew Orleans, Louisiana3:00 PM1:00 PMNow alumni, students and friends of Grambling State University can keep up with what’s going on around campus at aglance by accessing Grambling State University Media Relation’s Twitter account — http://twitter.com/GramblingPR