2016 Honorees

Heritage Award – Honoring Leadership

Lonnie G. Bunch, III
Director, National Museum of African American History and Culture, Smithsonian Institution

Historian, author, curator and educator, Lonnie G. Bunch, III is the founding director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. In this position he is working to set the museum’s mission, coordinate its fundraising and membership campaigns, develop its collections, establish cultural partnerships and oversee the design and construction of the museum’s building. Read more

Torch of Truth Award – Honoring the Alumni Heritage of Bowie State University

Kimberly Stokes
Vice President, T. Rowe Price

Kimberly Stokes, affectionately known as Kim, is a Vice President of T. Rowe Price Group Inc., and is a corporate credit analyst in the Fixed Income Division.  She is responsible for covering the Investment Grade Utilities and Midstream Energy sectors. Read more

Founders Promise Award – Honoring University Service

M. Sammye Miller, Ph.D.
Chair, Department of History & Government, Bowie State University

M. Sammye Miller holds a Ph.D. in Legal History from The Catholic University of America and received his M.A.T. in History from Trinity University and a B.A. in History from Delaware State University. He completed a post-doctoral experience at Stanford University in Constitutional Law and History under the direction of Professor Don E. Fehrenbacher. Read more

Military Service Award – Honoring Exceptional Military Service

Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Jonathan E. Watson
United States Army

Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Jonathan E. Watson is a native of Washington D.C.  He is a graduate of Bowie State University in Bowie, Maryland where he received his commission as a Regular Army Second Lieutenant in the Quartermaster Corps. He also holds two Master of Arts degrees. Read more