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Clark also instilled in me the importance of pursuing the highest level of education and excellence.
THE SIXTH GENERATION Amir, the eldest, is a 2014 graduate of CAU and was initiated into Omega Psi Phi through the university’s Beta Psi Chapter. A talented musician, he says he didn’t realize that so many of the musicians who influenced him had roots at Clark, and he didn’t think about applying. He had been accepted by the music department, but the official acceptance was delayed— and in the interim, he started exploring other options and was encouraged by his mother to apply.
takeaway is that lifelong friendships are essential to happiness and success in all areas of life. Clark taught me the value of supporting those who support you, reaching back to help others, and serving with graciousness. I learned to always put my best foot forward and to live by the guiding principle of ‘each one, teach one.’ These lessons have shaped every part of who I am—as an educator, a leader, and a servant to my community. April’s first cousin, Rolanda, graduated with a degree in mathematics and a minor in physics. She is currently on staff at CAU, working as the enterprise applications manager in the Office of Information Technology and Communications. Asked if there was ever a thought of going somewhere else for college, she responded adamantly, “Absolutely.” Thoughtfully, she added, “I was groomed for engineering, plus I didn’t want to do what everybody else did, so I didn’t apply to Clark. At all. And I ended up getting an acceptance letter—with a scholarship.”
was. She joined the tennis team, playing alongside her older sibling (her doubles partner, a four-year conference finalist, and captain for a year) and cousin—and while, she says, she was enticed by the scholarships, she remained at Clark and grew to love it because of the relationships she built and how Clark prepared her professionally. Rolanda was also initiated into Delta Sigma Theta through Clark’s Sigma Chapter—just as her Aunt Carolyn had been—says it is important to sow seeds into the institution which her family’s tapestry is so intricately woven. As the family explores its history and legacy at Clark, they are also making plans to endow a scholarship. She adds, “We’re working with Alumni Engagement, but saying it here in print will hold us accountable to moving forward.” Three of Rolanda’s four children are also graduates: Amir Henry (CAU ’14), Ahmad Henry (CAU ’16), and Chiana Fowler (CAU ’25).
He says he didn’t realize the significance of Clark to his family when he arrived, but eventually he understood. “It wasn’t until after I pledged that I understood how deep the family legacy was,” he reflects. A commercial composition major with a minor in business, Amir adds, “It was a great experience. It helped mold who I want to become. Learning the things that happened on that campus and the marks my family has made is part of why I love the school so much. It’s a circle of life.” Younger brother Ahmad—a dual business major (supply chain management and international business), with a minor in biology, who also became a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., at CAU— says he hadn’t thought too much about where he would go to school. But in late
In the end, she says, her parents made her go where the money
Fall 2025
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