SORORITY INDUCTS ST. PHILIP'S COLLEGE PRESIDENT INTO ITS HALL OF FAME

Nomination reflects sorority's interests in student success, scholarship money for San Antonians

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS (May 21, 2008) --- St. Philip's College President Dr. Adena Williams Loston was one of six persons inducted into the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa Inc., Educator's Hall of Fame during the educational sorority's 16th annual banquet May 23 at the San Antonio Airport Hilton Hotel.

The audience of 200 included two tables of Alamo Community College faculty, staff and administrators. Dr. Loston's award features shooting stars and a lamp of knowledge. Hall of Fame alumni with SPC connections include Olga Samples Davis (1997); Dr. Dollie Hudspeth (2001); Dr. Gregory Hudspeth (2001); Dr. Angie Runnels (2002) Dr. William Davis (2005) and Horace James Franklin (2008).

"We had a very good Hall of Fame evening," the sorority's Gamma Tau Chapter President Anita O'Neal said. "First and foremost our sorority members think of Dr. Loston as a leader," said O'Neal. "She is a college president. Her resume contains contributions and leadership skills that stand out. It was my pleasure to see her and thank her for her contributions," said O'Neal.

Dr. Adena Williams Loston serves as the 14th President of St. Philip's College---our nation's only Historically Black College and Hispanic Serving Institution. She previously served as the Director of Education and Special Assistant for Suborbital and Special Orbital Projects Directorate for the Goddard Space Flight Center, Wallops Flight Facility and Chief Education Officer for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration at its Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Before joining NASA, she served as president of San Jacinto College South in Houston for five years. Dr. Loston was the second president of the college and the first African-American president in the District. During her leadership, the college increased in enrollment by 42-percent.

The National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa Inc., is a professional organization of 3,500 teachers dedicated to student success. It supports its goals by furnishing tutoring, mentoring, and scholarships for students who seek education as a career. Nationwide the sorority awards more than $250,000 annually to high school graduates. The local banquet raised money for scholarships for San Antonio area

CAPTION (Image by Mark Barnes): St. Philip's College President Dr. Adena Williams Loston (holding her award at left) was one of six persons inducted into the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa Inc., Educator's Hall of Fame during the educational sorority's 16th annual banquet May 23 at the San Antonio Airport Hilton Hotel. The banquet raised money for scholarships for San Antonio area students. Dr. Loston was recognized for her leadership to ensure student success by Gamma Tau Chapter President Anita O'Neal (at right). Photo

About St. Philip's: St. Philip's College was founded in 1898 by Bishop James Steptoe Johnston of St. Philip's Episcopal Church of the West Texas Diocese. Today, St. Philip's is a multi-campus institution of the Alamo Community Colleges and serves a semester enrollment of nearly 10,000 credit and more than 5,000 continuing education students. St. Philip's is a Historically Black College and Hispanic Serving Institution and is the only college in the nation that carries this dual designation. As "A Point of Pride in the Community," St. Philip's is among the oldest and most diverse community colleges in the United States.