Student Groups At Dillard University Excel Despite Pandemic

From Dillard University:

February 10, 2021

By Eddie Francis and Sabree Hill

For Black History Month 2021, Dillard University is celebrating “History Made, History in the Making.” Everyday, on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, the University is posting #DUBlackFacts to celebrate Dillard’s contributions to society.

Despite how COVID-19 has changed life at Dillard, student groups have lost neither
their competitive edge nor their desire to be the best. As a different kind of academic
year kicked off, Bleu Devils wasted no time making their mark. All photos are by Dillard's
university photographer, Sabree Hill.

Competing for only their second year, the Dillard University Debate Team placed fifth in the East Coast Early Bird Speech and Debate Competition in September. Jerika Edwards ’23, advanced to the final round in the Open Division IPDA (International Public Debate Association) category and placed second out of 23 competitors.

That same month, the Division of Student Success launched the Bleu Troop Public Health Ambassador program to address campus health and safety measures in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The group went to work immediately when they helped the Office of Community and Church Relations donate hand sanitizer, digital thermometers and over 600 face masks to the
campus and surrounding communities.

Dillard’s Beta Gamma chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., also earned honors in September. At their Southwestern Province’s 84th Province Council Meeting, the chapter won the Chapter of the Year award for small chapters while also earning distinction as the chapter with the second highest GPA in the province. Traelon Rodgers had the highest GPA in the province. Currently Rodgers is competing for two of the fraternity’s national awards.

Another Dillard fraternity made their presence known outside of the University. The
Beta Phi chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., earned honors at their district conference in January. The chapter won Chapter with Highest GPA and the district’s debate competition. Chad Fuselier ‘22, earnedmtop honors as the Brother with the Highest GPA.

The Dillard Diamonds got a pleasant surprise on Instagram in October. Support Black Colleges, a retail company, featured the Diamonds one of the “10 Dope Dance Teams.”

In the midst of these achievements, one of the newest student groups began their philanthropic
efforts. The New Wealth Society, an organization that focuses on financial literacy, awarded a fortunate fellow Dillard student with a scholarship.

Dillard’s chapter of the Society of Physics Students (SPS) is familiar with distinction. The chapter earned national recognition by being named a 2020 Outstanding Chapter Award. This marks an improvement from being named a Distinguished Chapter in 2017, 2018 and 2019. In addition, two chapter members, Jamaya Wilson '20 and Eboni Collins '21, wrote an article for the SPS website about how SPS adjusted their 2020 outreach efforts for the DU WISHES (Dillard University
- Women in STEM High School Experience in Summer) program.

Never to be outdone is the award-winning Mock TrialTeam. The team got their first win in November at the Castagna Classic hosted by Pace University. Amaya Ronczyk ‘22 and Reneé Simien ‘22, won top attorney honors. LaJeanne Shelton ‘21, Chasity Washington ‘23 and Simien earned top ranking witness honors. A significant win came at the University of Alabama’s Crimson Classic in January where the Mock Trial Team bested institutions such as Florida State University, the University of South Carolina, Pennsylvania State Univer, Emory University, Wake Forest University, the University of Tennessee and Alabama. There, Ronczyk won the Top Attorney Award. Additionally, the team hosted its second Big Easy Invitational in January, making
Dillard the first HBCU to ever host a mock trial tournament. Participating institutions
included Gonzaga University, Penn State, Baylor University, the College of William
and Mary, the University of South Dakota and Southern Methodist University.

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This press release was produced by Dillard University. The views expressed are the author's own.