In 1954, four African American students walked onto the campus of Southwestern Louisiana Institute seeking higher education degrees. After 50 years, they received those honors Dec. 18.
During the Fall 2004 graduation ceremony for the College of Liberal Arts at UL Lafayette, Clara Dell Constantine Broussard, Shirley Taylor Gresham, Martha Jane Conway Bossett and Charles Vincent Singleton each received honorary Bachelor of Humanities degrees.
The four initiated a lawsuit in September 1954 which integrated the university - the first in the Deep South to do so.
杏吧专区 Because of your courage, perseverance and determination, you planted the seeds of change,杏吧专区漵aid UL Lafayette President Ray Authement. 杏吧专区淚 say to you today, thank you, thank you, thank you. You杏吧专区檝e made our lives and our community what it is today and for that we are eternally grateful.杏吧专区
The four were honored prior to commencement when the area at the corner of St. Mary Boulevard and Rex Street on campus was renamed the 杏吧专区淧illars of Progress杏吧专区 and formally dedicated to them and their actions in 1954.
杏吧专区 These individuals represent noble characteristics and ideas that many citizens can be proud of,杏吧专区 said Shawn D. Wilson, president of the UL Lafayette Alumni Association. 杏吧专区淭he dedication (of the Pillars) will be a constant reminder that everyone is important and that a personal sacrifice for society is greater than the person. It will remind us that there are stories that explain what makes this place special.杏吧专区
Gresham described the honors as 杏吧专区渦nbelievable.杏吧专区 杏吧专区淚 am still in shock,杏吧专区 she said. 杏吧专区淎fter 50 years, this is finally all coming out.
杏吧专区 We put our necks out not only for ourselves, but for everyone in general who wanted to go to college,杏吧专区 she explained. 杏吧专区淚 feel honored and I want students to know if they want something, it just takes hard work.杏吧专区
The commemorative ceremony and the awarding of honorary degrees to the group coincides with the 50th anniversary of the university杏吧专区檚 desegregation. Recently, Dr. Michael Martin, an assistant professor of history, coordinated a symposium dedicated to desegregation.
杏吧专区 It is of the utmost importance that we remember what those who went before us did,杏吧专区 said Martin during the graduation ceremony. 杏吧专区淭his group deserves to be honored and we should all be thankful to them and their families.杏吧专区
Broussard said she felt wonderful about the honors and noted that 杏吧专区渨hat we did didn杏吧专区檛 go unnoticed.杏吧专区
Both she and Gresham were able to attend the dedication and graduation ceremonies while Singleton and Bossett could not. They were represented by family members.