2012 Fall Membership Induction

November 8 marked an important phase in the lives of eleven dynamic, determined and progressive women at Prairie View A&M University, when they were inducted into the 100 Collegiate Women of America.

These women come with varied background, experiences, talent, skills and classifications that will enhance the organization as a whole. They hold membership in several organizations on the campus to include the PVAMU Pre-Alumni Association, Panther Advisory Leaders, Student Government Association, University Ambassadors, and major organizations in agriculture, biology, business, education, engineering, political science and juvenile justice and nursing.  

The ladies were formally pinned on November 16 at the 2012 Black Tie Scholarship and Awards Gala, hosted by the Collegiate 100 men.

 

Lakisha Alomaja  is a 19 year-old, sophomore in Criminal justice major with a legal business minor, hailing from the home of the Texans, Houston, with a family background from Nigeria through her parents Henry and Jacqueita Alomaja. She is a founding member of the Student Ambassadors program and serves as vice president if the Criminal Justice Club. She also holds membership in the Panther Advisor Leaders and the Alpha Phi Sigma National Criminal Justice Honor Society. Her goals are to make an impact on Prairie View A&M University, while transforming herself into the best that she can be.  She aspires to become a corporate attorney.

Symone’ A. Benard is a 21 year-old senior majoring in Psychology, hailing from Beaumont, Texas.  She holds membership in the Psychology Club (Secretary), the Association of Black Psychologists (Secretary) and the Panther Advisor Leaders.  She is listed on the Dean’s list and enjoys dancing and listening to music.  She is driven to help create programs for adolescent African American girls who may lack a motherly figure in their lives. Symone’ enjoys mentoring and plans to serve her community.  Her ambition is to become a Psychologist. 

Briya Boone is a 19 year old sophomore Biology major from Spring, Texas. She holds membership in the Undergraduate Medical Academy at Prairie View A&M University. She is a founding member of the Asian Immersion Club at Prairie View A&M University. Her goals are to inspire her peers and make an impact in the community. Her plans are to attend medical school after completing her undergraduate career. She aspires to become a doctor and continue to better the lives of those around her.

Lauren Bosman is a 20 year old, junior in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration on Social Studies 4-8 grade, representing Alief in South West Houston with a family roots in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She is an active community by volunteer with services at My Brother’s Keeper in Alief and The Second Mile Mission in Missouri City, Texas.  She holds membership in Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education, Panther Advisor Leaders, Helpers Advancing the Lives of Others and Campus Activities Board. She aspires to be certified teacher and Principal.

Kamiya J. Calhoun is a 19 year old, sophomore at Prairie View A & M University and a Nursing major from Long Beach, California. Her parents are Letha Bascus and Jason Calhoun. She is a member of the Panther Dolls Dance Team (Social Officer), Prairie View Student Nurses Association (Media Coordinator) and the 100 Collegiate Women of America.  Kamiya serves as a Laboratory Assistant in the University College computer lab. She aspires to be a Registered Nurse, earned Masters Degree and become a Physician’s Assistant and a contract nurse. ”

Chelsea Chore is a 20 year old, junior majoring in Psychology with a minor in English from the Los Angeles, California. She is a member of the Psychology Club and enjoys reading books on the Empowerment of African Americans and mentoring young girls. She has a passion for writing and aspires to write a book on African American studies. Her goals reflect her personality; she wants to make a positive impact on her community and those around her. She plans to use her education to give back to her community and use it as a stepping stone to help others achieve their dreams. Her ambition is to earn a PhD in Psychology.

Amber Z. Gary is a 20 year old, junior Business Management major, originally from Washington, DC. She is currently active as the Vice President of INROADS Intern Student Association, a member of Club Chic and for the last two years served on the committee for the PV Choice Awards. She has prior affiliations and involvement in Student Government Association, Panther Advisor Leaders, and Campus Activities Board. During the summer, she had the privilege to intern with a Fortune 500 company, and her plans are to continue interning until graduation, with hopes of landing a full time position. Her goals are to continue to mentor and inspire others to reach their fullest potential while making a mark on the community.

Candace Jackson is a 22 year old, senior in Biology major and Chemistry minor daughter of Debra Jackson and Lester Williams. She is from the beautiful Houston, Texas. She is a very active student in many organizations such as the president of dental club, PALs, Chemistry club, MAPs, and etc. She also volunteers for Annotated Caring Homes to help children that have disabilities.  Her goal is to become a dentist, own a dentist office named Fairy Dental, and give back to her community starting with smiles. She hopes she can inspire young women to go after their dreams and to never give up.

Tezya Jackson is a 20 year old, junior in Communications majoring in Mass Communications, with a minor in Theatre, from Dallas, Texas. She was born and raised in Pleasant Grove, with her parents Gregory and Lisa Jackson and younger sister, Alexa. Inspired at a very early age, writing and directing would be her passions that she pursued from elementary to college in advancing a career as a filmmaker. She is a member of the Charles Gilpin Player, Club Chic and 100 Collegiate Women of America. Her plans are to use media art as a way to demonstrate that images can provide understanding amongst all human stories. She is a dedicated writer, playwright and director, who hopes to encourage the world through art.

Santana Henderson-Jones is a 21 year old, junior a psychology/nursing major from Texarkana, Texas born to parents Caroline Henderson and Andre Jones. She holds membership in the Panther Ambassadors of the Criminal Justice and Psychology department, Panther PhDs (Promoting Healthy Decisions), Psychology club, the Panther Advisory Leaders, 4-H Center Burn Camp counselors for burned patients, and 100 Collegiate Women of America. She is a Residence Service Tech. in the university college. Hers goals are to make a difference in the lives of many, to make an impact on her peers, and others in the community through her motivational speaking and her life achievement. Her ambition is to become a Clinical Child Psychologist/RN.

Tierra L'ne White is a 21 year old, junior majoring in criminal justice from Houston, Texas. She is the daughter of loving parents Tangerla D. Penn and Elvia N. White Jr. who supports her college choice. She attends New Life Tabernacle Church of God in Christ (Pastor Carl Davis), and is an active member of the Criminal Justice Club (Historian) and a Community Assistant in University Village. Her goals include becoming an FBI agent or working in investigation for the Drug Enforcement Agency, Houston. Tierra is open minded, loving, dedicated, caring, and a strong minded person. She understands that God has a plan for her and keeping him first is what she will do while on her journey to success!  Her favorite quote is: “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.

Pearson and Leonard at the helm of the 100 Collegiate Women of America

The 100 Collegiate Women of America, Inc. is under new leadership at Prairie View A&M University. At the close of the Spring Semester 2012, Faydrian DeOnne Pearson and Charnabria Keichan Leonard, emerged as president and vice president, respectively.

The 100 Collegiate is leading the way for women empowerment at the university and has a dynamic slate of planned activities that would keep any college student busy for the whole year. [Sic]. Among the activities are mentoring young women in Navasota, Hempstead and Waller ISD’s, Breast Cancer Awareness, Tour De Pink, Dress for Success, Empowered Women Speaks Seminars, Women Lead and  Real Talk for Women.


Pearson is a 21 year old senior in Interdisciplinary Studies, with specialization in Mathematics 4-8. She hails from Missouri City, Texas. For the past few years, Faydrian has been active in various campus organizations to include the Panther Dolls Dance Team, The Wesley Foundation, National Society of Black Engineers, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Campus Activities Board, Panther Advisor Leaders, Student Government Association, Building 37 Step Team, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and Panthers At She enjoys going to church, socializing, engaging in intellectually stimulating conversations, dancing, giving back to others, spending time with family friends and her dog Beans. When asked her plans after graduation, she coyly states, “None yet! Because she believes that “if you want to make GOD laugh, tell him your plans.”

Elexia Robinson-White

Charnabria or "Bria" as she’s affectionately known is a 20 year old junior Biology major and Chemistry minor from Houston, Texas. Bria has been actively involved in several organizations including serving as Vice President of Programs for the Prairie View A&M University Pre Alumni Association, interim President for the Frederick Douglass Leadership Institute and a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. Bria plans to attend the Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas, TX after graduation. Upon completion of dental school, she plans on owning a dental practice in Houston.

Elexia Robinson White served as the first President of the 100 Collegiate Women of America, Inc. Elexia is a 21 year old majoring in Interdisplinary Studies with emphasis in Reading for Elementary students. She hails from Desoto, Texas. Elexia is currently student teaching with her eyes on graduating in December and will immediately begin her teaching career in the North Texas area.

The 100 Collegiate Women of America, Inc. was founded in August 2011 and chartered at Prairie View A&M University on November 10, 2011. The organization is a sister organization to the Collegiate 100, also founded at Prairie View A&M University in September 1993, which became an international organization in 1994 as part of the 100 Black Men of America, Inc., and the 100 Black Men of Metro Houston, Inc.  Both organizations are the brainchild of Frederick V. Roberts, president of Collegiate Community Development Corporation, parent company for the Mr. Collegiate African American, Ms. Collegiate Mom and the Miss Collegiate USA Pageant Programs.

For information on the programs contact:  collegiate100women@gmail.com

Associated Press Story
By DOUG FERGUSON

NEW YORK (AP) - The home of the Masters now has green jackets for women.

In a historic change at one of the world's most exclusive golf clubs, Augusta National invited former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and South Carolina financier Darla Moore to become the first female members since the club was founded in 1932.

"This is a joyous occasion," chairman Billy Payne said Monday.  For some, it was a long time coming.

Martha Burk and her women's advocacy group first challenged the club 10 years ago over its all-male membership. The debate returned this year when IBM, one of the top corporate sponsors of the Masters, appointed Virginia Rometty as its chief executive. The previous four CEOs of Big Blue had all been Augusta National members.

The battle ended in typical style for Augusta National, with an understated announcement that left even Burk stunned.

"Oh my God. We won," she blurted out when contacted by The Associated Press.
Burk was not the first advocate to draw attention to women being left out, but it was an exchange with former chairman Hootie Johnson in 2002 that ignited the issue. Feeling as though the Augusta National was being bullied, Johnson stood his ground, even at the cost of cutting loose television sponsors for two years, when he famously said the club might one day ask a woman to join, "but that timetable will be ours and not at the point of a bayonet."  See complete story at http://apnews1.iwon.com/article/20120820/DA0PBBPO0.html

Collegiate 100 Women of America Launched

A new voice for women is rising in collegiate life and is spreading around the academy.  The organization is educating, engaging, empowering and inspiring women to reach their potential, while helping others to do the same.  This new voice is the 100 Collegiate Women of America.

On November 10, the lives of forty-one young women were transformed following their induction into the 100 Collegiate Women of America™ at Prairie View A&M University.  The Collegiate 100 Women of America is one of the nation’s newest organizations for college and university students. It was developed at the university in March 2011.

Asked why do colleges and universities need another organization? According to the organizers this organization is needed because it is one of the few that will focus on empowering its membership first and then equip them to help others.  The organization is open to college women who are progressive in their thoughts and actions, committed and dedicated to the cause of all humanity.

The newest members come from varied backgrounds and cultures, and ready to move the organization to the next level with the many planned programs.  The key programs for the group include mentoring, education, economic empowerment and health and wellness.  Among the membership are student leaders, resident hall counselors, organization presidents and prospective entrepreneurs.

The mission of the 100 Collegiate Women of America is to increase and provide opportunities to empower and improve the quality of life for women and to influence development at all levels of society.

The 100 Collegiate Women is an outgrowth of a program for an organization by Frederick V. Roberts, former Assistant Director of Career Services at Prairie View A&M University and a program initiative of the Collegiate 100 at the university.  According to Roberts, who created the Collegiate 100 organization for men and women in 1993, the organization gained affiliation with the 100 Black Men of Metropolitan Houston, Inc. and the 100 Black Men of America, Inc. in 1994. However, since then most chapters opted to focus on the college men.  “It was time to give attention to the women since the men’s group was flourishing,” Roberts concluded.

Roberts reactivated the Collegiate 100 at Prairie View A&M University in March 2011 and the subsequent induction of the men into the chapter created a renewed interest in a women’s group.  Roberts said he was committed to bringing the group back for the young men first and decided to delay the ladies group for now.

Following the induction of the Collegiate 100 and at the urging of Dymonique Burton, Vice President of the group, Roberts organized a team and began work on creating the 100 Collegiate Women of America

Elexia RobinsonWhite President

With the help of Burton and Travis Reed, the Collegiate 100 president, the committee met with the women who had expressed interest in the new organization. Roberts appointed Elexia Robinson-White, a senior education major from Desoto, Texas, as the organizing Chair. The ladies were also offered membership into the new group.  “When I was selected as the organizing chair, I was ecstatic because this is the kind of organization I was looking for and am glad to be a part of the 100,” Elexia said.

Word about the organization spread like wild fire and the result was the induction of the 41 college women and honorary members: Mrs. Johnie Walker, Alternative Teacher Certification and Dr. De Linda Marzette, Language professor at Prairie View A&M, the organization advisers; Glenda Jones, Director, Career Services, Shadia Washington and Emebet Admasu, Corporate Relations and Administrative Assistant in Career Services, Kendra Mia Prestage, Artist/Grad Student, Tamra Wiley Lewis, TRB & Associates, Houston, Amy Charleston, Drama Teacher/Director, Royal High, Brookshire, Dr. DeAndrea Hughes, Talent Search at Texas Southern University and Attorney Evangeline Mitchell, Black Pre Law Conference, Houston.

Since the ceremonies, requests for chapters have been received from Texas Southern University, University of Houston, University of North Texas and Indiana University. Roberts and the group look forward to the launching 100 Collegiate Women of America chapters to these campuses.

The organization is also inviting those independent Collegiate 100 Women organizations to become part of this national movement.  There is strength in numbers and the organization is committed to empowering female students around the country with its myriad of programs and activities.

For information write: The 100 Collegiate Women of America, P. O. Box 5433, Prairie View, TX 77446 or the100collegiatewomen@yahoo.com or collegiate100women.america@yahoo.com.