Page 19 - Susie B White Scholarship Foundation 2020

Devon Purvis

2014 Encouragement Award

Devon Purvis, grandson of Walter Johnson Sr. is a proud graduate of Jackson State
University. In completing Jackson State University, he was awarded an Accounting
Degree in which he has great pride. Devon is currently employed with the State of
Mississippi and works as a Budget Analyst.

The Susie B. White scholarship helped Devon tremendously by giving him confidence
and reminded him that anything is possible. Devon lives by the infamous words of his
grandfather, “No matter what, stay with Lord.”

Asia Thomas

2015 Susie B. White Scholarship
2017 Continuing Education Award
2018 Continuing Education Award
2019 Continuing Education Award

Asia Thomas is a native of Natchez, MS. She is the daughter of Rhonda Thomas, and
the granddaughter of Deacon Louis Thomas Sr. and the late Mother Betty Thomas. She
attended Greater St. Missionary Baptist Church since she was born and became an
official member at age eight. Asia is a 2015 graduate of Clinton High School in Clinton,
MS, and attended Alcorn State University.

Asia was the 2015 Susie B. White Scholarship recipient. As a high school student, Asia
dedicated time to teaching Sunday school and bible study at both Greater St. Mark M.B.C.
of Natchez and Morrison Heights Baptist Church of Clinton. It was through these
experiences that she found a love for children, a thirst for learning, and a passion for
teaching. She is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Child Development in May of
2020.
In her time at Alcorn State University, she has devoted her time to numerous acts of
campus involvement. She was a four-year member of the Alcorn State University
cheerleading squad where she served as captain for two consecutive years. She was
also a member of the junior and senior class cabinet. Her current affiliations include being
a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success and Kappa Omicron Nu
National Honor Society for the Human Sciences.
She has also been a two-time President’s List scholar as well as a Dean’s List scholar.
Her most cherished accomplishment is being a research assistant for the Department of
Human Sciences. There, her research focuses on the prevalence and environmental risk

SUSIE B. WHITE SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY | 19