SUSLA Student Receives Inaugural Norma J. Blake Scholarship
Scholarship Will Be Awarded to Deserving Student in Allied Health and Nursing
On Wednesday, December 6, 2023, the Southern University Shreveport Foundation and the family of Mrs. Norma J. Blake honored her life and legacy with the inaugural Norma J. Blake/SUSLA: Allied Health and Nursing Scholarship Award presentation. The family announced the scholarship at the 21st Annual Gentlemen's Cooking Classic with a $25,000 check presentation.
Mrs. Monica Mickle, daughter of Mrs. Norma J. Blake, shared her mother's love and respect for the Allied Health and Nursing fields of study. Mrs. Blake yielded her desire of becoming a nurse to stand by her husband, Dr. Harry Blake, during the Civil Rights Movement. She proudly advocated for social justice, racial equality, and equity in education. Mrs. Blake was a supportive wife, mother, and First Lady of the Mt. Canaan Baptist Church for 52 years.
Mrs. Mickle and brother, Harry Blake, were present as Dr. Aubra Gantt, Chancellor of Southern University at Shreveport, Mr. Wendell Piper, Chairman of the Southern University Shreveport Foundation, and Mr. Frank Williams, Jr., Director of the Southern University Shreveport Foundation offered inspiring words of encouragement, support and hope to Ms. Kimberly Michelli before presenting her with a check for $1000. Ms. Michelli is a 2nd year clinical student in the SUSLA Radiologic Technology Program from Hammond, Louisiana. Ms. Michelli shared that she chose Southern University because of the Radiologic Technology Program and its National Registry pass rate. She shared how seeing the success of the Allied Health and Nursing Programs at SUSLA fueled her desire to become a Registered Radiologic Technologist.