Recap: Multicultural Recognition Ceremony

Quianne Holmes | Staff Writer

Multicultural students were recognized last Thursday for their academic efforts in the Spring semester as well as students of the W.E.B. DuBois Honor Society’s newest class. The Multicultural Recognition Ceremony took place the Talley Student Union Ballroom on Sept. 10.  

Assistant Director for Hispanic Affairs in the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, Nelson Santiago, hosted the event and gave inspiring words to the students in attendance  regarding their academic careers at the University. Reflecting back on his life experiences and what brought him to the position of hosting this ceremony, he recognized two main pillars, resilience and support.

Santiago said, resilience is the ability “to keep going and believe in yourself so that you can always strive to do your best.” He also said the support comes from those around you such as family, friends, professors and also the Multicultural Student Affairs office which is there as a resource to endless opportunities.

MSA’s interim director, Jennifer Brown, spoke words of gratitude for all of the outstanding scholars. She also acknowledged the families as a support system that have sacrificed so much so that students can succeed.

Students who achieved a 3.3 GPA or higher during the spring semester were called up to be recognized. There was a recognition of the parents and faculty that were present to celebrate with their scholars.

At the ceremony, the W.E.B. DuBois Honor Society was able to induct over seventy new members, which is a commendable achievement for a relatively new student organization as well as for the multicultural community. Tyrek Shepard, a junior majoring in accounting, leads the Honor Society as the President for this academic year.

The W.E.B. Dubois Honor Society is an organization that was founded at Florida State University in 1991 and at North Carolina State University in 2011. This organization aims to recognize campus scholars that have racial or ethnic minority status. Each member of the W.E.B. DuBois Honor Society must have either a cumulative GPA of a 3.3 or be ranked in the top twenty percentile of their class.

Shepard, along with Nia Doaks, a junior majoring in communication, presided over the induction of its new members. Once the new class said the oath; they were challenged by the President to accept this new membership as an avenue to do more and not just become comfortable with accepting this as an accomplishment.

Students in the W.E.B. DuBois Honors Society are expected to maintain academic excellence and integrity and to display multicultural leadership on campus.
Shepard wants the community to know that the W.E.B. DuBois Honor Society is committed to the scholarship and leadership of collegiate undergraduates. He also has a lot of things planned for the year, one of the trips being to the City of Raleigh Museum.