By Brad Duncan

"We have successfully hosted this banquet for 13 years to honor the accomplishments of our African-American alumni and students. The awards help increase the level of participation by African-American alumni in the alumni affairs of the university, the National Alumni Association and its affiliated groups."

-- Emmett "Buzz" Burnam, Lyman T. Johnson Alumni Club president and director of UK's African-American undergraduate student recruitment

Lexington, Ky. (Dec. 11, 2002) -- The University of Kentucky Lyman T. Johnson Alumni Club recognized the contributions and accomplishments of African-American alumni and students at the 13th annual Lyman T. Johnson Banquet.

The award ceremony, appropriately titled "Passing the Torch of Excellence," honored alumni who have succeeded nationally, statewide and locally since leaving UK. Current students from across campus also were honored for their faith, determination, hard work and academic excellence and will become "torch bearers" for their colleges.

"We have successfully hosted this banquet for 13 years to honor the accomplishments of our African-American alumni and students," said Emmett "Buzz" Burnam, Lyman T. Johnson Alumni Club president and director of UK's African-American undergraduate student recruitment. "The awards help increase the level of participation by African-American alumni in the alumni affairs of the university, the National Alumni Association and its affiliated groups."

This year's honorees were:

-- Michael Caldwell, Agriculture, bachelor's degree in animal science (1973);

-- Carol Ann Mills, Agriculture, senior, horticulture;

-- Crystal Williams, Business and Economics, bachelor's degree in accounting (1997);

-- RasShauna Ellis, Business and Economics, senior, marketing/management;

-- Lisa A. Brown, Communications and Information Studies, bachelor's degree in journalism (1990) and master's degree in educational policy studies and evaluation (1995);

-- NeShaune Mahin, Communications and Information Studies, senior, broadcast journalism;

-- Sarah Clark Newby, Education, bachelor's degree in elementary education (1958) and master's degree in elementary education (1965);

-- Sonia Dianese Fullwood, Education, senior, middle school education;

-- Kenneth H. Kennedy, Engineering, bachelor's degree in civil engineering (1968);

-- Esobe Edogun, Engineering, senior, electrical engineering;

-- Cliff Jackson, Fine Arts, School of Music vocal coach and accompanist;

-- Lacresha Berry, Fine Arts, senior, theatre;

-- Shnieka Johnson, Human Environmental Sciences, senior, merchandising, apparels and textiles;

-- Chizimuzo T.C. Okoli, Nursing, bachelor's degree in nursing (1999) and master's degree in nursing (2002);

-- Roshanna Devon Samuels, Nursing, senior, nursing;

-- Johnna Nelson, Pharmacy, doctorate in pharmacy (2000);

--Rudo N'Dia, Pharmacy, third year in PharmD program;

-- Vanessa Hunn Jones, Social Work, master's degree (1990);

-- Veleshia Smith, Social Work, senior, social work; and

-- Ronnie Riley, Athletics, bachelor's degree in business administration (2002), first year in master's in business administration program.