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.
小蝌蚪APP Because of your courage, perseverance and determination, you planted the seeds of change,小蝌蚪APP漵aid UL Lafayette President Ray Authement. 小蝌蚪APP淚 say to you today, thank you, thank you, thank you. You小蝌蚪APP檝e made our lives and our community what it is today and for that we are eternally grateful.小蝌蚪APP
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 小蝌蚪APP淧illars of Progress小蝌蚪APP and formally dedicated to them and their actions in 1954.
小蝌蚪APP These individuals represent noble characteristics and ideas that many citizens can be proud of,小蝌蚪APP said Shawn D. Wilson, president of the UL Lafayette Alumni Association. 小蝌蚪APP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.小蝌蚪APP
Gresham described the honors as 小蝌蚪APP渦nbelievable.小蝌蚪APP 小蝌蚪APP淚 am still in shock,小蝌蚪APP she said. 小蝌蚪APP淎fter 50 years, this is finally all coming out.
小蝌蚪APP We put our necks out not only for ourselves, but for everyone in general who wanted to go to college,小蝌蚪APP she explained. 小蝌蚪APP淚 feel honored and I want students to know if they want something, it just takes hard work.小蝌蚪APP
The commemorative ceremony and the awarding of honorary degrees to the group coincides with the 50th anniversary of the university小蝌蚪APP檚 desegregation. Recently, Dr. Michael Martin, an assistant professor of history, coordinated a symposium dedicated to desegregation.
小蝌蚪APP It is of the utmost importance that we remember what those who went before us did,小蝌蚪APP said Martin during the graduation ceremony. 小蝌蚪APP淭his group deserves to be honored and we should all be thankful to them and their families.小蝌蚪APP
Broussard said she felt wonderful about the honors and noted that 小蝌蚪APP渨hat we did didn小蝌蚪APP檛 go unnoticed.小蝌蚪APP
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.