Town & Tower announces service award recipients
The Town & Tower Club presented annual awards for outstanding service at its recent holiday luncheon.
This year’s recipients were Jill O’Bryant (Campus Service Award), executive assistant to the president at Mississippi University for Women; LaToya Bledsoe (Special Service Award), residence life coordinator at The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science, and Lieutenant Rhonda Sanders (Community Service Award), Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office and Community Benefit Committee.
The Campus Service Award is presented to an individual and/or organization demonstrating any of the following: Long-serving contributions to the campus community or to a local community organization, nonprofit or city initiative, accomplishments that have brought positive recognition to The W and the area, volunteerism that has improved the quality of life, health, education or potential for economic growth in the area and notable recognition beyond the area.
O’Bryant, who is in her at 29th year at The W, was described as the ultimate scheduler, communicator and organizer. She has been key to organizing three presidential investitures and a number of on-campus IHL Board meetings during her tenure.
O’Bryant, who announced her retirement this year, is wrapping up her 90th commencement ceremony this month.
The W alumna studied communications at The W and graduated from New Hope High School.
She is a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church where she serves faithfully. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, antiquing, and watching the Atlanta Braves.
The Special Service Award is presented to an individual and/or organization demonstrating any of the following: Long-serving contributions to the campus community or to a local community organization, nonprofit or city initiative, accomplishments that have brought positive recognition to The W and the area, volunteerism that has improved the quality of life, health, education or potential for economic growth in the area and notable recognition beyond the area.
A native of Grenada, by way of Philadelphia, Bledsoe has been employed at MSMS since 2003.
She advises several student organizations at MSMS that includes the Blu Diamondz, Blu Knightz, Fashion Board, Naach Dance team, Spirit Squad and SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions).
Bledsoe received her bachelors, masters and educational specialist degrees from Mississippi State University. She is a life member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated where she joined on the campus of MSU, Epsilon Theta Chapter.
Bledsoe is a member of Stevens Chapel United Methodist Church in Philadelphia. In her spare time, she enjoys working with young people, working in the church, working with her praise dance ministry, hanging out with her family, sorority sisters and friends.
The Community Service Award is presented to an individual and/or organization demonstrating any of the following: Long-serving contributions to a local community organization, nonprofit or city initiative, accomplishments that have brought positive recognition to Columbus and the Golden Triangle, volunteerism that has improved the quality of life, health, education or potential for economic growth in the area and notable recognition beyond the area.
Sanders, who is a lieutenant with the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, is a 28-year veteran of law enforcement. In this role Sanders serves as public relations officer and serves on numerous boards, including the Lowndes County Council on Aging, The Citizen Review Panel, and Parent Advisory Council, to name a few.
Prior to joining the county, Sanders served as officer with the Columbus Police Department, and she was hired as the first African American woman with the CPD. She served CPD for 23 years, working as a patrol officer and community relations officer. Sanders was responsible for numerous community outreach projects that established Neighborhood Watch programs and award-winning National Night Out Against Crime programming.
In addition to the previously mentioned programming, Sanders also coordinated the Policeman’s Ball, Relay for Life and the Senior Citizen Thanksgiving Dinner that feeds over 1,800 elderly persons and persons with disabilities in the City of Columbus each year.
Her biggest fundraising events are the Party with a Purpose and the annual haunted house that supports the purchase of bicycles and toys for children every Christmas as the president of the Community Benefit Committee.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, serving the community, and shopping.
Town & Tower’s mission is to foster and strengthen relationships between the university, the community and CAFB.
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