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3 Grads Who Excelled

Photo credit: Blue & White Flash "I just have to be secure in myself and do my best," said Keisha Stokes of Jackson State University, who is headed for Harvard Law School.

By Anya Alexander and Rebecca Francis
Black College Wire

Shana Besley, a biology major at Howard University, developed cancer twice and underwent three surgical operations in her first two years there.

Keisha Stokes, valedictorian at Jackson State University, hopes one day to be president of Jackson State or the first dean of a proposed Jackson State University Law School. She plans to continue her education at Harvard Law School.

Jason Hightower was the only male graduating senior in the John H. Johnson School of Communications Annenberg Honors Program at Howard. His senior thesis, "The Father Factor," focused on how single black men raise their daughters.

They were among the graduates at historically black colleges and universities this year who overcame obstacles and excelled academically.

Besley, from New York, was a full-time student, working two jobs and taking care of her sister and herself during and after her surgeries.

She found a way through that adversity with the help of an understanding Howard staff and faculty and an encouraging mother.

"Despite her health and financial situation, she managed to keep on top of her academics and graduate on time with a 3.0 GPA," said Teresa Bush, secretary in the dean's office of Howard's College of Arts and Sciences. "We just took to one another and I saw a need," Bush said.

Besley said one achievement was being able to manage her life through her difficulties.

"That, in itself, was a major accomplishment for me because now I know the value of a dollar and that hard work truly pays off," she said. "I have had a great learning experience at Howard University."

Besley was an active member of the Circle K service, leadership development and friendship organization, and the Health Professionals Society.

"I love volunteering and giving back to the community," she said. "I volunteer my help to students in D.C. because I love helping and working with children."

Besley wants to become a pediatrician. She plans to work for the National Institutes of Health for a year and move on to medical school.

Stokes, a native of Jackson, Miss., who majored in history education, is becoming a first-year law student at Harvard Law School. She said she would one day like to work for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.

Stokes distinguished herself as a Presidential and Honors College Scholar, and has made the President's List every semester.

She holds membership in Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Alpha Theta, Alpha Lambda Delta and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She scored in the 85th percentile on the Law School Admissions Test and in the 95th percentile on the Praxis assessment tests used as part of the teaching licensing certification process.

Stokes chose Harvard over such universities as Georgetown, Yale and Texas Southern universities, where she was also accepted.

“It is a national program and allows better mobility than a regional law school like Ole Miss,” she stated.

The future lawyer graduated summa cum laude as class valedictorian, compiling a perfect 4.0 grade point average. She managed to graduate a year early by completing two semesters during four summer school sessions.

“Jackson State has well prepared me for the future. I just have to be secure in myself and do my best,” she said.

Hightower entered Howard's John H. Johnson School of Communications Annenberg Honors Program as a sophomore long interested in radio, television and film.

"My Howard experience was definitely a lot of fun," Hightower said. "Howard is a place that provides you with all of the tools -- hammer, nail and wood -- but it is up to you what you will build with it."

Hightower joined the Howard University film organization, Spotlight, and had an internship at the Hollywood studio Focus Features. He was also a resident assistant in the Drew Hall dormitory for three years.

He was complimented on his senior thesis on how single black men raise their daughters.

"He did a wonderful piece on it: well-researched and showed great skill as an up-and-coming film producer," said Vincent Williams, Annenberg Honors Program coordinator. "Hightower explored an area that most people overlook."

Hightower graduated magna cum laude and plans to participate in a two-year Directors Guild of America training program in New York.

Anya Alexander, a Howard University student, writes for the Hilltop. Rebecca Francis, a Jackson State University student, writes for the Blue & White Flash.

Posted May 29, 2006