Thursday, June 26, 2008

Charis Jones, 22, of Clinton was the only African American to graduate with honorable distinction last week from Drexel University's Pennoni Honors College in Philadelphia. Jones earned a 3.73 cumulative grade-point average and graduated magna cum laude from the college with a bachelor of science degree and certificates in health humanities, health science, sociology, English and philosophy.

She initially attended Xavier University in New Orleans but was displaced after Hurricane Katrina. Drexel offered Jones a post-Katrina scholarship for her first year there; she then earned it for the next two years.

Jones co-founded the Drexel University Tradition Council, which helps educate students and staff members about the university's history and traditions.

Jones will attend Vanderbilt University, where she will work toward a master's degree in public health. She also has been nominated for a 2008 Jack Kent Cooke Foundation scholarship.

-- Compiled by AKEYA DICKSON