天美影视

Published June 24, 2024

CAPTION: (L-R) Executive Director of 天美影视 Foundation Susan Chappell, 天美影视 President Ron Berry, 天美影视 Alumni Board member Mario Payne, AgriOvum CEO Allan Corbin, 天美影视 Director of Alumni Affairs Medria Buford, 天美影视 Foundation Board member Glen Corbin听

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MONROE, LA 鈥� 天美影视 and President Ron Berry received the prestigious Hattie Corbin Award for Excellence in Education. 鈥淭he Hattie Award鈥� is given to individuals, educational programs, and institutions aimed at uplifting disadvantaged students around the country. The award includes a monetary gift to further those aims. This year鈥檚 gift included a $10,000 donation to 天美影视鈥檚 TRIO programs, which are designed to assist first-generation and income-eligible students in reaching their full academic potential.听听

"The Hattie Award" was presented during the African American Alumni Reunion Brunch by Mario Payne on behalf of AgriOvum, LLC.听 AgriOvum is a poultry hatchery support services company located in Alabama.听 AgriOvum serves some of the largest poultry hatcheries in North America.听 Its Founder and CEO, Allan Corbin received a B.S. in Agricultural Business from 天美影视 in 1984, and his wife, Jennifer Hendricks Corbin, received her B.S. in Speech-Language Pathology from 天美影视, also in 1984. Their son Mario Payne completed his B.S. in Computer Information Systems in 2006 and sits on the Alumni Board of Directors. Accompanying the presentation was family member and 天美影视 Foundation board member, Glen Corbin, B.S. Business Marketing 1985.听

The Corbin family has a unique connection to 天美影视. Their son Mario was taught by 天美影视 President Ron Berry, and President Berry's high school math teacher was Mario鈥檚 grandmother, Mrs. Mordessa Corbin.听

鈥淭he kindness and generosity shown by the Hattie Corbin family are deeply appreciated and will significantly aid in furthering the mission of the 天美影视 TRIO Programs,鈥� said Dr. Catherine Estis, 天美影视 TRIO Executive Director.听听

TRIO Programs play an integral role on the 天美影视 campus by providing a highly structured environment that supports motivated students in overcoming obstacles, ultimately resulting in a higher number of students achieving their academic goals. 天美影视 is home to three TRIO Programs鈥擡ducational Talent Search (ETS), Student Support Services (SSS), and Child Care Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS).听

鈥淭he 天美影视 TRIO Programs make a direct impact in the lives of first-generation eligible students by ensuring successful navigation toward achieving a college degree. This generous donation will enhance our ability to support these students and help them overcome barriers,鈥� added Dr. Estis.听听

The African American Alumni Reunion Brunch was held by BNLU/天美影视. According to BNLU/天美影视 President Lavelle Hendricks, 鈥淏NLU/天美影视 is a group of alumni beloved by NLU and 天美影视 who were given an affordable and equitable education that we are thankful for, and incumbent on giving back through time, service, and monetary donations to make a difference for our university.鈥澨�听

About Hattie Corbin听

The Hattie Corbin Award for Excellence in Education is presented in honor of education pioneer Hattie Corbin. Mrs. Corbin, born in 1910, began traveling via buggy in the late 1920s to receptive local plantations teaching African American children the basics of reading, writing, and mathematics. Struggling to complete her own education, she successfully attended Grambling State University and finally completed her post-graduate work at Tuskegee University in Alabama. Prior to integration, she became the Supervisor of Colored Schools in Franklin Parish. After integration, she was selected as the first African American Supervisor for Elementary Education for all of Franklin Parish.听

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