LeRoy Collins Distinguished Alumni Award

NFCC alumni brothers set the standards for success for rural youth

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Judge Augustus D. Aikens, Jr. and his brother, Dr. Chester Aikens came from humble African-American roots in Madison County, Florida. By any standard they both are winners, not allowing anything – race, economic status, gender, religion - to become a barrier to their success. Both are recipients of the LeRoy Collins Distinguished Alumni Award from the Florida Association of Community Colleges.

LeRoy Collins Nominees

• 1990 Region II Nominee Jerry M. Blair: State Attorney Jerry Blair graduated with honors from NFJC and University of Florida. A Viet Nam veteran, he received the Bronze Star and Army Commendation Medal. He was elected State Attorney to the Third Judicial Circuit in 1978.

• 1991 Region II Winner Jesse Solomon: A NFJC graduate and Dallas Cowboy Jesse Solomon spends his time, energy and money helping young people.

• 1992 Region II Nominee Kelly W. Kilpatrick: Graduate of NFJC, Kilpatrick later became Jefferson County High School Principal.

• 1993 Region II Winner Elesta Pritchett: Elesta Pritchett, is a Greenville resident. Served on the NFCC Board of Trustees from 1988 until May 1999. Attended Suwannee River Junior College (later NFCC) and received her AA. She has a master’s degree in elementary education from FAMU. Has been an educator for 34 years. She is the Mayor of Greenville and is on the Board of Directors of the Greenville Development Authority and Madison County Senior Citizens.

• 1994 Region II Nominee Claymore “Boogie” Schnitker: He graduated from NFJC in 1963. He is the former President of First Union Bank in Madison. He served on the NFJC/NFCC District Board of Trustees, several years as chairman.

• 1995 Region II Nominee William Dawson Rutherford: President of the largest architectural firm in North Florida he is an architect/planner for city, county, state and federal government agencies, community colleges, universities and hospitals, he is the only architect certified as a Disaster Recovery Planner.

• 1996 Region II Winner F. Allen Boyd: He is a member of the Florida House of Representatives and now a Florida Congressman. Boyd has played a key role in supporting Florida's Community College System.

• 1997 Region II Winner Tim Sanders:
  He is the Madison County Clerk of Court and NFJC graduate. He is a shining example of volunteerism; from mentoring in the public schools to leading historic renovations.

• 1998 & 1999 Region II Nominee Edwin Blalock, Ph.D.: A biomedical scientist, he has published over 250 scientific papers and edited numerous books, trained more than 30 students and garnered over $9 million in research funds.

• 2000 Region II Winner Chester A. Aikens, J.D., D.D.S., M.B.A.: Dr. Chester Aikens, an oral surgeon in Jacksonville, received his A.A. degree from NFJC in 1971. He earned a bachelor’s degree, a doctorate in dental surgery, a law degree and an M.B.A. Aikens’ credits include the FSU Outstanding Alumni Award, LeRoy Collins Distinguished Community College Alumni Award, Who’s Who Among Black Americans, and Ebony Magazine’s 100 Most Influential Black Americans.

• 2002 Region II Nominee Tracy J. Revels, Ph.D.: An alumna and professor of history at Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C., received the 2005 Rembert Patrick Award for Best Scholarly Book in Florida History from the Florida Historical Society. Revels holds a Ph.D. in history from Florida State University and is the author of Watery Eden: A History of Wakulla Springs.

• 2003 Region II Nominee Oscar M. Howard, Jr.: He has been an educator for 32 years as teacher, principle and Taylor County Superintendent. Howard found OSCAReading Program, in which children can be caught reading and rewarded for their efforts.

• 2004 Region II Winner Judge Augustus Aikens: He is a Leon County Judge and a 1968 graduate of North Florida Junior College. After earning an A.A. at NFJC, he went on to earn a B.A. in Social Science from Florida State University, a J.D. from the FSU College of Law and a M.S. in Public Administration from FSU.