Executives from Walmart Enterprise traveled from Bentonville, Arkansas and from local Walmart stores and Sam’s clubs, to meet with Southern University (SU) faculty and students to discuss the University’s curriculum alignment with new workforce trends. ”Walmart Day” at SU started with a panel discussion at the newly constructed Valdry Center for Philanthropy (VCP), where Walmart executives met with faculty and senior administrators from the University’s Baton Rouge campus to discuss how current curricula in the areas of business, merchandising, marketing, engineering, science, computer science, and data analytics could better prepare our students for the increasingly changing workforce.
Walmart executives visited 12 classrooms to engage with SU students during the afternoon to discuss career opportunities at the Fortune 1 Company. Walmart also provided the opportunity for SU students to apply for high-demand internships in the United States and provided guidance to SU international students on how to apply for intern and full time positions abroad.
“We were excited to have several of our students joining Walmart and becoming new associates this summer,” said Monique Picou, SU alumnus and senior vice president, Walmart Enterprise.
The visit by Walmart stages a new model for capacity building between corporate America and the University. This model provides a greater opportunity for customization and alignment between corporate segments and University programming.
The SU Office of Career Services, VCP, and the SU System Foundation hosted this event. The newly developed program model will be offered to multiple corporations and organizations throughout the year.
“We are truly excited about our partnership with Walmart. The corporation’s engagement during Walmart Day certainly had an impact on the administration, faculty, staff and students. Walmart executives and team members gave us a first-hand view of their organization’s technology and the skills that our students will need to be successful in the workforce,” said Tamara Foster-Montgomery, director, SU Career Services Center.
For more information about this program, please contact Montgomery at: tamara_montgomery@subr.edu.
Executives from Walmart and Sam’s Club stores:
Top row (left to right) Reggie Wells, Club Manager – Sam’s, Myron Frazier, VP DMM Bakery and Prepared Foods, Sam’s, Tony Rogers, SVP and Chief Member Officer, Sam’s, Jontray Anderson*, Walmart Market Manager, April Legere, Senior Director, People Partner, Sam’s, Maggie Watson, Sam’s Assistant Manager, Donald Roberts*, Sam’s General Merchandise Manager.
Bottom/front row (left to right) Kelvin Coney*, Director, Supply Chain Management, Walmart, Rosalyn
“Roz” Dedeaux, Walmart Store Manager, Lori Furnell, Director of Talent Acquisition, Supply Chain, Wal-mart, Monique Picou*, SVP Flow & Specialty Networks, Walmart, Anjannette ‘Anjie’ Robertson*, Walmart Store Manager, Derrick Edwards, Market Manager, Walmart, Marlon McDonald, Store Manager, Walmart, Gregory Rutherford, Walmart Store Manager, Cordell White, Territory Assets Protection Manager, Sam’s
* Southern University Alumnus
I. Generate significant annual investment income to support the advancement of the Southern University and A&M College campuses
II. Promotion of a financially sustainable business model for the Southern University and A&M College System
III. Engage benefactors with a shared interest in the sustainablity of higher education at historically black colleges and universities
I. One-time cash gift of no less than $100,000 to the fund
II. A benefactor provides documentation that names the Felton Grandison Clark Endowed Fellowship Fund of the Southern University System Foundation as beneficiary of a planned gift. The planned gift must have a cash value of no less than $100,000
III. Each distinguished fellow will receive a gold silk ribbon and attached personalized gold and blue medallion
I. One-time cash gift of no less than $10,000 to the fund
II. A benefactor provides documentation that names the Felton Grandison Clark Endowed Fellowship Fund of the Southern University System Foundation as beneficiary of a planned gift. The planned gift must have a cash value of no less than $10,000
III. Each fellow will receive a blue silk ribbon and attached personalized old gold medallion
Class of 2014
Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus
Class of 2015
James and Betty Brown
Anna M. Jones
Class of 2016
Hall and Cecile Davis
Waren and Virginia Valdry
Class of 2017
Keith andAnn Tillage
Class of 2018
Dexter and Angela Henderson
Brian and Vanessa LaFleur
William and Yolanda McElroy
Class of 2019
Fred and Alma Banks
Wilbert and Timolin Ferdinand
Fourth District Missionary
Baptist Association
Cathy R. & Sam Davis Jr.
DOC-DHL
Class of 2014
Tony and Paula Clayton
Irving and Darlene Matthews Joseph and Clara Stewart
Class of 2015
Leon E. Valdry
Class of 2018
Clyde and Carrie Ann McHenry
Jarquarius Qualls
Raising Cane’s Todd and Gwen Graves Scholarship Recipient
Classification: Freshman
Major: Business Minor: Marketing
Hometown: Cantonment, Florida
“I want to be a community activist and partner with organizations that control local, state, and federal funding. My marketing education will prepare me to attract investors who will join me in lifting my hometown and communities like it.”
Lauryn Langley
Whitney Bank Scholarship Recipient
Classification: Sophomore
Major: Plant and Soil Science Minor: Fine Arts Hometown: Zachary, Louisiana
“I attended the BAYOU Program at the SU Ag Center before college and I fell in love with plant and soil concentration. I am very grateful to the donors who give to the SUSF. Your donations allow me to experience first-hand, what it means to give back.”
The Williams Center for Undergraduate Student Achievement (WCUSA) was established at Southern University at Shreveport (SUSLA) by SU alums Tony and Tina Williams, who generously donated $25,000 to establish the Center. WCUSA serves as a conduit to discipline, train, teach, and serve at-risk minority males, and to increase their presence in the academic fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM), Education, and Allied Health. Scholar benefits include
“The Honoré Center for Undergraduate Student Achievement has prepared me to give my students the tools that are needed for life lessons as well as for academics.”
Denzel Roberts
5th Grade Teacher
Lafayette Academy – New Orleans, Louisiana
Honoré Center for Undergraduate Student Achievement 2019 Graduate
Southern University New Orleans
Hometown: Algiers, LA
Major: Educational Studies
The Southern University System established the Honoré Center for Undergraduate Student Achievement (CUSA) with funding from the State of Louisiana and other sources to improve success rates for African-American males in Louisiana that attend college, while increasing the number of male classroom teachers in urban settings. A cohort of New Orleans area male high school graduates are selected for the initiative that provides them substantial added support and resources to complete their college education at the Southern University New Orleans (SUNO) campus, and to become effective classroom teachers.
The initiative is named after Lt. Gen. Russel L. Honoré, a Southern University alumnus, military hero, and an expert on leadership development. Students with leadership potential and the motivation to make a difference in their communities are chosen ideally with ACT scores and GPA that qualify them for university admission with no more than one developmental course required. Honoré scholars are provided year-round campus housing at SUNO in a holistic living and learning environment. Additional support includes a personal computer, campus meal plans, a monthly $100 stipend, plus a $500 textbook voucher per semester for up to five years. Personal counseling, field trips, life skills, and tutoring resources are
incorporated to help ensure their academic and personal success.
THE INVESTMENTDirect support to Southern University Students, faculty, and System unites:
The Annual Fund is the general fund for the Southern University System. The Fund endeavors enhance the academic and social landscape for our students, faculty,
and greater community. Your generous gift to the Annual Fund is put to use immediately to help create educational opportunities, develop new programs, and to support the evolution of the five campuses that comprise the Southern University System.
TrueBLUE ($100 – $249)
A.W. Mumford Donor ($250 – $999)
E.N. Mayberry Donor ($1,000 – $4,999)
J.S. Clark Circle ($5,000 – $9,999)
T.T. Allain Circle ($10,000 – $24,999)
Henry Demas Circle ($25,000 – $99,999)
P.B.S. Pinchback Circle ($100,000+)
Join the 1880 Society by making a gift of $1,000 or more the the Annual Fund, and receive annual membership benefits that include monthly meetings with the Southern University System President, priority access to Southern University sporting events, invitations to the TrueBLUE Donor Appreciation Gala, exclusive donor circle lapel pin, and recognition in the System Foundation Annual Report.
