Irene
Lewis, a Southern University Agricultural Sciences major with a concentration in Plant and Soil Sciences, will graduate with the highest grade point average in the Spring 2020
Class.
Baton Rouge, La. – Irene L. Lewis, a Southern University
Agricultural Sciences major with a concentration in Plant and Soil Science, has
been named the University’s Spring 2020 Chief Student Marshal, the student
graduating with the highest grade point average in the class.
“I am honored to serve as Chief Student Marshal to remind the Class of
2020 that we are resilient,” said Lewis, who graduated with a 3.9 grade point
average.
Irene went on to say that she began college wanting to graduate as the
chief student marshal but admitted that she quickly learned that a college
experience is more than academics.
“I learned that my college experience was much more important than my
grades,” said Lewis. “It is about the people you meet and the memories you
make. I never would have thought I would experience “virtual graduation,” but
here we are. I say all of that to say, even though life did not follow an exact
path for me, I am
glad we can still celebrate,” she added.
The COVID-19 pandemic wasn’t the first time Lewis had a disruption
from her planned path. In 2016, her home flooded days before the start of her
freshman year at college.
“It was difficult starting class almost immediately after losing the
home I grew up in,” said Irene. “It was even more difficult watching my family
have to bounce back and my siblings adjust to moving to a new town all in a
matter of months,” expressed Irene.
“I think watching how strong both my younger brother and sister were
as well as having my parents, family, and friends there to love and support me
helped me tremendously,” said Irene. “As I started at Southern in the College
of Agricultural, Family and Consumer Sciences, I also learned that more than
anything, I had a family away from home and a support system that would bring
me a long way,” added Irene.
During her college career, Irene was active in several student
organizations.
She was elected the National
Undergraduate President of the Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and
Related Sciences (MANRRS) organization for the 2019-2020 year and Region IV National
Undergraduate Vice President of MANRRS for the 2018-2019 year where she
represented the organization’s college chapters in Louisiana, Oklahoma, Kansas,
Missouri, and Texas. Irene was also active in the local Southern University
Chapter of MANRRS where she served as both the Secretary during the 2017-2018
academic year and Historian during the 2018-2019 year.
Irene
credits her time at Southern University for helping her grow as an adult.
“Throughout
college, I learned a lot about myself and my leadership abilities. I learned
that, through balancing several organizations, responsibilities, and my
personal life, I needed to take time to take care of me, my needs, and my
wellbeing,” said Irene. “My professors in the College of Agricultural, Family
and Consumer Sciences taught me how to build a community. My interests have
evolved greatly from my freshman year, but throughout, they have demonstrated
that my possibilities are endless,” she expressed.
After
graduating, Irene will spend the summer as an intern with the Congressional
Black Caucus Foundation. During the Fall 2020 semester, she will begin working
on a Masters of Public Administration at The Ohio State University, focusing on
food access policy. She will also have the opportunity to complete her second
year of studies while working in Washington D.C. on a fully funded fellowship.
Irene
is a 22-year-old native of Baton Rouge
by way of Central, La. She is the daughter of Eric and Maura Lewis and a 2016
graduate of Runnels High School.
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