Central State University names top senior scholars from four colleges

Photo caption (from left): Central State University Interim President Dr. Alex Johnson; Raven Golliday, Outstanding Senior Scholar, College of Business; Baijing Zinnerman, Outstanding Senior Scholar, John W. Garland College of Engineering, Science, Technology, and Agriculture; Laketa Wright, Outstanding Senior Scholar, College of Education; Daquan Neal, Outstanding Senior Scholar, College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences; and Dr. F. Erik Brooks, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.  

Central State University announced its four top college scholars during the annual Academic Recognition Convocation (ARC) on Tuesday, April 2.  

The 2024 Outstanding Senior Scholars included Raven Golliday of Cleveland, College of Business; Baijing Zinnerman of Indianapolis, Indiana, John W. Garland College of Engineering, Science, Technology, and Agriculture; Laketa Wright of Dayton, College of Education; and Daquan Neal of Mount Sterling, College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences.  

Dr. F. Erik Brooks, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, offered opening remarks. “Though it may be dreary outside, there’s no reason for it to be dreary in here. This is a celebration,” he said. 

“We are here to recognize and celebrate our students’ academic successes as we commemorate 137 years of academic excellence at this premier institution of higher learning,” Brooks continued.  

Dr. Sarah Armstrong-Jones, interim executive director of the Honors College and International Affairs, and Honors College program manager brought the occasion by stating that Honors Day, the precursor to the ARC, began on April 14, 1954, when then-Central State College acknowledged 83 scholars. 

"Fast forward to today, when we are recognizing over 1,000 students for class and college honors," Jones said. "The name may have changed to the Academic Recognition Convocation, but the spirit of the occasion is one that will live on in the students we see here today — students who are creative, talented, smart, and determined.   

"The students at Central State University have been my students and my mentees for over 10 years, and I, like many of you, have heard their struggles, seen their perseverance, and been in awe of their accomplishments."  

Jones addressed the students, saying they are a meaningful part of the university's history, culture, and future. She encouraged the students to sit up tall, push their shoulders back, and take pride in what they stand for and whose shoulders they stand on. 

"There is power in that,” Jones said. “We honor you for making the choice to handle your business, to set goals and strive toward them, to not shy away from the hard work. To find balance. To be committed to something you are passionate about. To make the necessary sacrifices to come out successfully on the other end. To ask for help when the road got bumpy. To assist your peers when you saw they needed it. To give an uplifting and encouraging word to a stranger, and to simply (pursue) excellence in all that you do." 

Golliday, the top College of Business scholar who also serves as the 76th Miss Central State University, welcomed attendees to the event. 

“Today we honor students who have allowed learning to drive their pursuit of personal excellence despite the challenges we have experienced,” Golliday said. “Today’s honorees are true examples of what it means to embrace academic achievement. They have clearly proven themselves to be among the top of their class ... and continue to transform Central State University into a culture of true merit and intellectual excellence.” 

The ARC recognizes full-time students with high academic standing. Outstanding Senior Scholars are selected based on high GPA, active participation in college activities, community service, and involvement in respective fields. College Scholars have a GPA of 3.50 or above. Class Scholars have a GPA of 3.20 to 3.49. 

More details and a list of scholars recognized on Tuesday are available in the attached document. The livestream may be viewed on the Central State University YouTube channel.

Raven Golliday, College of Business

Jessica Ngoie-Thomas, director of Marauder Leadership and Engagement and Golliday’s mentor, introduced Golliday as a passionate and inspiring leader. Golliday is majoring in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing and has been named to the dean’s list every semester since she began college.  

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“Through her dedication, resilience and commitment to the student body, (Golliday) has become a beacon of hope in empowering her fellow students,” Ngoie-Thomas said. “I have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of Raven’s leadership and spirit. Her passion for uplifting others and relentless pursuit of excellence serve as a constant reminder of the importance of persevering and determination in achieving one’s goal.”  

Golliday said attending a Historically Black University is a privilege.  

“(It is) a space created for us to be and dream as big as we want to be,” she said. “A place to bring more out of life while giving to those coming after."

"So, my question to you all this morning is, what more do you have to give to leave this place better than you found it?"

"That is a question I ask myself daily, and it has played a pivotal role in every one of my achievements.”  

After extending many thanks to family, faculty, staff and mentors, Golliday said she wanted to thank “the little me, my younger self, for never giving up no matter how hard it got; for never allowing doubt to deter me; for holding onto my dreams because it’s the most powerful thing you can ever do.”  

“With graduation only a month away, I will proudly walk across the stage knowing I gave more. More focus, more work, more advocacy, more leadership, more confidence, and most importantly, more love. And as I continue my legacy and prepare to transition, I am excited to see what more the world has for me.”  

Baijing Zinnerman

In a speech that at times drew laughter from the audience, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi-Majebi, professor of Manufacturing Engineering in CESTA, gave a passionate introduction for Zinnerman, his mentee. In addition to her academic accomplishments, Zinnerman plays point guard and is the captain of the Central State University women’s basketball team. 

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“It is my distinct privilege to speak to you this morning about a shining star that shot through the skies from the state of Indiana’s Lawrence Central High School in Indianapolis, Indiana, where she registered a GPA of (4.0 on a 4.0 scale) and landed in Ohio on the hallowed grounds of the magnificent Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio in August 2000," Ayayi-Majebi said. “She is the one and only illustrious Ms. Baijing Vesaney Zinnerman, nicknamed ‘Moo-Moo,’ a maestro in her own right, who matriculated CSU as a budding freshman in the year 2000, who as an indefatigable champion ... survived the onslaught of the debilitating 2019 coronavirus. ... Four years later ... she has been transformed by the superior and nurturing educational and professional processes of CSU, as a result of which, in a few weeks, she will become an illustrious CSU graduate and a Centralian.” 

Ajayi-Majebi said Zinnerman chose a rewarding and challenging major. CSU’s program is one of only 19 Bachelor of Science degree programs in the United States and one of only 21 in the world accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. The other two are in Turkey and the Philippines.  

"It is evident that (Zinnerman) deserves great notice. Whatever Baijing does is laced with excellence and a touch of very high class. ... For Ms. Baijing Zinnerman, the best is yet to come as she continues to ride her very steep trajectory of lofty goals and laudable accomplishments,” he added.  

Zinnerman said her journey has been marked by perseverance and resilience.  

“I encountered numerous obstacles along the way. This includes first the need to make significant social sacrifices while still nurturing important relationships; second, balancing the demands of playing basketball while striving for excellence in my major; and lastly, I learned the invaluable lesson of embracing discomfort as a catalyst for growth. Stepping out of my comfort zone became a constant companion on this journey, pushing me to new heights of achievement and self-discovery. 

“There were moments when the weight of these commitments felt overwhelming, and the temptation to give up appeared to be large. However, with unwavering support from my faith, family, friends, and professors, I found the strength to push through.” 

Laketa Wright

Wright was recognized for her achievements in the College of Education and counts Dr. Joshua Singer as one of her mentors. Singer said he met Wright when she showed up to his class early, introducing herself and sharing her gratitude for being at CSU. 

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“And I knew then and there that this was a student who was going to go on to do great things,” Singer said. "She has also faced more than her fair share of obstacles along the way, as too many of our students have; but she has overcome those challenges with her strength and perseverance, and usually with a smile on her face."  

After transferring to CSU in 2021, Wright persevered despite difficulties in transferring all her credits from her previous institution. With the help of faculty and staff at Central State, most of her credits were successfully transferred.  

College was difficult for Wright due to personal tragedy. On April 23, 2023, her younger brother informed her that their father had passed away.  

"I was in disbelief — my No. 1 supporter wouldn't be able to cheer me on anymore," Wright said. "One thing I will take away is the word' resilience,' which means to bounce back. In life, obstacles will be placed in your way, but stay resilient and keep pushing forward."

"I did it, Dad. I was the best person I could be!"

Daquan Neal

Neal was introduced by his mentor, Brittany Page Brake, assistant professor of Political Science. Brake said the first word that comes to mind when she thinks of her mentee is “resilience.”  

“The first time Daquan and I communicated via email, he asked why the quizzes weren’t matching up with the class,” Brake recalled. “I thought this was strange because I’m pretty good about keeping up with D2L (Central State’s online learning management system). So, I checked the course page, but before I could respond, he had already emailed me again to let me know that 12 weeks into the semester, he had been reading the wrong syllabus.”  

Neal worked hard to make up for the error, going on to earn top college honors.  

“From that point on, I knew Daquan was a serious student,” Brake said. “More seriously, Daquan has faced economic challenges and personal loss during his time at CSU. Never has he complained about these. In fact, when he lost his brother last month, he actually apologized to me for being late to class, which was ridiculous. I told him family and his mental capacity always come first.” 

Neal maintained a 4.0 GPA every semester, served as the 2023-34 Mr. CHAS, and is a founding member of Alpha Xi Mu — Central State’s first chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, the national Political Science Honor Society. He is also a Golden Key Scholar member.  

“I couldn’t be prouder of you, Daquan, and I know your brother is proud of you, too,” Brake said.  

Neal gave a moving speech about his path from two-time college dropout to top scholar and his resiliency in the face of tragedy.  

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“I come to you today as a man who knows the meaning of the word failure,” he began. “For a larger portion of my life, I had considered myself a failure, as every goal I had set out for myself seemed to evade me at every turn.”  

Neal attended three different colleges before transferring to Central State.  

“I was failing to be the student and man I knew I was capable of being,” he said. “It wasn’t until I began to learn from my mistakes, reflect on myself, take accountability, and change my perspective on everything I thought I knew that I began ... my journey of growth. I am here before you today not only because of my successes at Central State but because of my failures in life. 

“Here I am, two years after transferring as a two-time college dropout, and I stand before you now as the 2023-24 Mr. College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences. ... I have battled so much that I would need to sit up here for an hour to begin to tell you my whole story. But all my struggles in life have led me to this place.” 

After thanking his family, mentors, and friends, Neal had one final word of appreciation. 

“Lastly, I’d like to thank my brother, Kiare. Our time together was short, but you have imparted onto me your light and your positivity,” Neal said. “You have left quite the job for me, but I promise I will make changes to this system from the inside like I told you I would. I will leave you to explore the outside. We will have quite the conversation when we meet again. I wonder what sights you have seen. The sounds you have heard. The knowledge you have gained. I’m curious where you will go next."

"For now, I will put my curiosity of your misadventures in the afterlife aside, as I still have a lot to take care of down here."