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Achievements

Outstanding Senior in African American Studies

Jireh Ojata 2025

Jireh Ojata

Awards

The African American Culture: Philosophy Award

The African American Studies and Research Center at Purdue University is devoted to the theoretical and practical encouragement of themes of identity and community as they pertain to the African American experience. To foster dialogue on these issues, the Center has sponsored annual conferences devoted to critical discussion of the development and implementation of concepts of community and identity.

In that regard, the African American Culture and Philosophy Award has been created in honor of a scholar who has devoted their work to the clarification and development of critical issues in African American Culture and Philosophy that have contributed to intellectual and social community building.

The award recognizes work that critically challenges our society's assumptions of what it means to be human, as well as work that compels reevaluation of methodological assumptions involved in the study of communal experiences in the African American context. in addition to scholarship, the African American Studies and Research Center recognizes that such work can also include a career of service to the African American Community.

The award is presented annually during the African American Culture and Philosophy Symposium.

  • 2018 Dr. Greg Carr
  • 2016 Dr. Abdul Alkalimat
  • 2015 Not Awarded
  • 2014 Dr. Alondra Nelson
  • 2012 Dr. Houston Baker
  • 2011 Dr. Kim D. Butler & Dr. Gwendolyn Midlo-Hall
  • 2010 Not Awarded
  • 2009 Dr. Rosalyn Terborg-Penn
  • 2008 Joint Symposium No Award 
  • 2007 Joint Symposium No Award 
  • 2006 Not Awarded 
  • 2005 The Purdue Black Caucus of Faculty and Staff 
  • 2004 Delores Aldridge, Sociology & African American Studies and James Stewart, Economics & African American Studies 
  • 2003 Joint Symposium, No Award 
  • 2002 Leonard Harris 
  • 2001 Charles Mills 
  • 2000 Darlene Clark Hine, History/African American Studies 
  • 1999 Jesse Taylor, Philosophy/African American Studies 
  • 1998 Not Awarded 
  • 1997 Joy Ann James, Political Science/African American Studies 
  • 1996 William R. Jones, Political Science/African American Studies

Karen J. Lillard

The Karen J. Lillard Award was named for Karen J. Lillard, Lafayette, Indiana, clerical staff at Purdue University from 1975 to 1992. The award, first presented in 1993, was "For Distinction in Staff Contributions to Purdue University's African American Studies and Research Center's Spirit of Excellence and Community Cooperation."

The award has been discontinued due to a lack of funding, but we do wish to continue to recognize previous recipients.

  • 2000-2001 Matilda Stokes, Administrative Assistant, African American Studies and Research Center
  • 1995-1996 Community Times Newspaper
  • 1994-1995 Sarah Rounds Price, Deceased - Foods Service Manager - Purdue Memorial Union
  • 1993-1994 Donna Hall, Operations Manager Retired, Black Cultural Center
  • 1992-1993 Edna Fox, Receptionist Retired - African American Studies and Research Center

H.H. Remmers Memorial Award

Since 1985-86, the African American Studies and Research Center has coordinated the identification of an annual recipients(s) for the Remmers Award. This award has been made possible through the H.H. Remmers Memorial Fund established in 1969 to honor Dr. Remmers who had been head of the Division of Educational Reference and a member of the Psychology Department. The Remmers family had stipulated that the income from the fund be used to assist "Afro-Americans who are pursuing graduate study in the social sciences, men and women, providing the amount of $500.00 per calendar year." In 1998, the family graciously agreed that the award be increased to $1000.00 each for an Afro-American doctoral and masters student level. In addition to the two 1993-94 recipients, the program will also honor our 1992-93 doctoral recipient who was not selected until after last year's event. Each year, the selection committee solicits nominations from the heads of the social science departments, including Communications, Psychological Sciences, Political Sciences, Sociology/Anthropology, and Audiology/Speech Sciences. Nomination criteria include consistent and outstanding academic progress as well as academic, professional, and leadership potential.

  • 2019 Breeah Carey, Speech, Languages and Hearing
  • 2018 Courtney Griffin - Oliver, Psychology Department &Jasmine Jackson, Political Science Department & Ariel Smith, American Studies
  • 2017 No Award
  • 2016 LaTasha Swanson, Brian Lamb School of Communications
    Courtney Griffin-Oliver, Psychology Department
  • 2015 H.H. Remmers Award Winners Sharonda Woodford, Political Science Department
  • 2014 H.H. Remmers Award Winners Shavonne Shorter, Brian Lamb School of Communications Marilouise Jones, Psychology Department
  • 2013 H.H. Remmers Award Winners Theon Hill, Brian Lamb School of Communications
    Candrianna Clem, Sociology Department
  • 2012 H.H. Remmers Award WinnersAmber Landers, Department of Psychological Sciences-Doctoral Level Daphne Penn, Department of Sociology- Master's Level
  • 2010-2011 Dwaine Jengelley, Department of Political Science & Tyrell Connor, Department of Sociology
  • 2008-2009 Adrienne R. Carter-Sowell, Department of Psychological Sciences & Laurent Wrzesinski, Department of Political Science
  • 2007-2008 John E. Spruill III Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences & Andrea Stokes, Department of Communications
  • 2006-2007 Nakia Collins Tamora CallandsMasters Candidate Ph.D Candidate
  • 2005-2006 Adrienne Carter-Sowell Candace Best Masters candidate Ph.D Candidate
  • 2004-2005  
    Damion Waymer, Communications & Kimberly Usher, Psychological Sciences

Faculty Publications and Articles

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