USF Alum India Williams Honored in First African American Honor Society Induction

2013 Apr 4

The University of St. Francis recently inducted 13 students into the newly formed Augustus Tolton Honor Society. The society is named after the first recognized African American priest in the United States and honors the spirit of scholarship, leadership, and identity for high-achieving African American students at USF. The society exists to nurture intellectual ability, to promote leadership development, to foster knowledge of self, and to provide service to the community while upholding the university's values of respect, compassion, service and integrity.

Inducted during the ceremony were Alexandria Brown (Joliet), Solomon Chapman (Dolton), Carol Jackson (Joliet), Jenna King (Kankakee), Shaunda King (Oak Park), Kenneth Mason (Oak Lawn), Jennifer Morris (Joliet), Leonard Riley (Crest Hill), La'Shara Shaw (Plainfield), Ketura Taylor (Cary), Denara Watson (Joliet), Erayna Wright (Chicago) and John Yanni (Crest Hill).

In addition, December 2012 graduate India Williams of Joliet, Ill. was acknowledged as an honorary alumni member.

The honor society's founders and moderators took various parts in the ceremony, with a special presentation by Most Rev. Joseph N. Perry, J.C.L., Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago.

According to an honor society founder and advisor, Deborah Glenn of USF's College of Education, "One of the highlights of the induction occurred when Bishop Perry presented the inductees and the University of St. Francis with a framed image of Reverend Tolton from the St. Katharine Drexel collection."

The University of St. Francis in Joliet serves 3,400 students nationwide, offering undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs in arts and science, business, education, nursing and health care and social work. For information, call (800) 735-7500 or visit www.stfrancis.edu.