While the current students at Centenary enjoyed Homecoming week, the college also made sure to acknowledge various alumni. One of these ways was through the new alumni award – Forward 5. Katie Chopin, the director of alumni and family relations at Centenary and 2016 alum, share that “[this] program honors young alumni who uphold the mission of the college, which is to ‘prepare global citizens to live productive lives of vitality and purpose.’ The award recipients are problem solvers, trailblazers, and pacesetters.” These recipients are five young alumni under the age of forty; they have made a significant impact in business, research, leadership, public service, and/or philanthropic endeavors. They also demonstrate a commitment to maintaining a lifelong connection to Centenary. The Forward 5 award was presented for the first time at a luncheon held during Homecoming, and I had the great honor of being invited to introduce one of the recipients.

The first recipient was Charlie Matter, and he was introduced by Matthew Lulich (’24), the Grand Master of Ceremonies for the Epsilon chapter of Kappa Sigma. Charlie received a Bachelor of Arts from Centenary College in 2007 and a Master of Arts from John Brown University. Currently, he is an entrepreneur and founder of numerous oil and gas mineral companies, including CEP Minerals and Rocking M Royalties. These are privately owned energy investment companies based in Dallas that acquire and manage oil, gas mineral, and royalty interests in over 200 countries and fifteen states. He oversees evaluating, acquiring, and managing his company’s oil and gas properties. Charlie is a Registered Professional Landman and Certified Mineral Manager, as well as being an active member of the Young Presidents Organization, Dallas Petroleum Club, American Association of Petroleum Landmen, and the National Association of Royalty Owners. 

Gracie Napier (’24), the President of the Iota Gamma chapter of Chi Omega, introduced the award winner, Margaret McDonald. Originally from The Woodlands, Texas, Margaret earned a bachelor’s degree in history and political science from Centenary and graduated summa cum laude in 2008. She then graduated from Louisiana State University’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center, where she was the production editor of the Louisiana Law Review. In 2011, she moved back to Shreveport to work as a law clerk at the First Judicial District Court and is now employed as a research attorney at the Louisiana Second Circuit Court of Appeal. Margaret is a dedicated community volunteer and is proud to serve as the current president of the Junior League of Shreveport-Bossier. She was a 2016 recipient of the 40 Under Forty Award presented by the Young Professionals Initiative. She also loves the chance to serve her alma mater; Margaret is the secretary of the Friends of the Centenary College Choir and previously was the president of the Friends of the Meadows Museum of Art. However, her favorite volunteer opportunity is serving as personnel advisor for Centenary’s Iota Gamma Chapter of the Chi Omega sorority.

Versha Sharma was the next recipient. Introduced by yours truly, Versha is a 2009 graduate of Centenary College and served as Editor-in-Chief of The Conglomerate during her senior year. Currently, she is also an Editor-in-Chief, but this time for Teen Vogue, a role she was named to in May 2021. Previously, she worked at the social video-first company, NowThis, where she was managing editor and senior correspondent. While she was there since 2014, she led audience growth on new platforms from Instagram to Facebook to YouTube. Versha has produced several short documentaries, recorded reports on immigration from the U.S. – Mexico border, reported from large protests in St. Louis, and traveled to Moscow, Russia, for the show she hosts and produces, The Russia Desk. Versha, along with the NowThis Reports team, won an Edward R. Murrow Award for a short documentary about the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. Before NowThis, she worked as a reporter and editor for Vocativ, where she managed a team of international reporters. She covered the 2012 presidential election for MSNBC and got her start in journalism with an internship at Talking Points Memo in 2009. Versha has long been, and will always be, an enthusiastic voice for the most innovative models in digital journalism.

Kendall Hughes Robinson was introduced by Jonathan Okereke (‘23), the President of the Student Government Association. Kendall is a proud 2013 Centenary alumna, where she graduated with a degree in biology and religious studies. While here, she served as SGA President, Chi Omega President, and Orientation Coordinator. She also holds a master’s degree from Columbia University that she completed in 2018. Now, Kendall is a science content specialist at YES Prep Public Schools. For the last decade, she has worked with students and teachers from grades 5-12; she has been called a teacher, coach, dean of instruction, and curriculum writer. In 2015, she moved to Houston to help found the first YES Prep school in Houston’s Third Ward. There, she taught 6th grade through AP Science. Kendall now writes curriculum for middle school science and AP Environmental Science while coaching teachers across the city. She helped to transition the entire district online within a week of the COVID-19 pandemic and reduced the learning loss for students. Kendall’s constant goal is that science instruction is at its highest level regardless of the zip code a student is born into. 

The last, but in no way least, recipient of the Forward 5 award was Marvkevea Campbell. Introduced by the President of Outreach, Jessica Cordova (’22), Marv is a 2016 graduate of Centenary. Since his graduation, he has actively pursued a path in city government and achieved multiple roles in state organizations. Those roles include, but are not limited to, currently serving as the Vice Chairman of the Human Resources Commissions, Region 8 Board Member for the Louisiana Public Health Institute, and initially serving as the Education Chairperson appointed by Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins in 2018. Currently, he serves as an educator and performing arts curator at Magnolia School of Excellence 6-12 campus. Marv continues to use his voice for youth, the rights and freedoms of the LGBTQ+ community, and much more.

It was an absolute honor to not only be present for the ceremony, but also introduce one of the incredibly hardworking individuals. As a senior with only five months until graduation, the thought of “what actually happens next?” is constant and daunting. However, seeing these five alumni being recognized for their remarkable achievements helped reaffirm that if you pursue what you’re passionate about, you will succeed in your own way. 

Congratulations to the Inaugural Forward 5 Recipients!

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