UK Lyman T. Johnson Constituency Group Awards Nursing Students Torch of Excellence and Torch Bearer Awards
The University of Kentucky Lyman T. Johnson Constituency Group awarded College of Nursing MSN graduate Alalia Mack and undergraduate student Nana Ntodi the Torch of Excellence and Torch Bearer Awards Fri., Oct. 19 during the 26th Annual Homecoming Awards Celebration. The reception commemorated the 67th year of an African American presence on UK’s campus.
Following previous years of tradition, these awards recognize an alum, faculty or staff who displays faith, hard work and determination that positively impact the lives of people on UK’s campus, the city, state or nation; and an undergraduate student who has, through his or her academic achievements, positively impacted the lives of others.
Mrs. Alalia J. Mack - Torch of Excellence Recipient
Mrs. Mack was one of two graduates who did not realize they were the first African American graduates of the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program. Being recognized by the University of Kentucky some 25 years later was the first and only indication they had until now of this very noteworthy accomplishment. As the first college graduate in her family education was important to her. Mrs. Mack is a 1969 BSN graduate of Tuskegee University. As such, she and her husband of 46 years, Waymond, encouraged their children, neighbors children, and other family members and friends to finish college. They have three children who all graduated with their advanced degrees and went on to have successful careers as well as five grandchildren who are being groomed to follow in their grandparents footsteps.
Mrs. Mack was teaching nursing when she entered UK in 1972. At that time there was only one African American faculty member and secretary in the College. She commuted daily from Cincinnati and knew she had to work harder for her grades than her peers. She often felt invisible as others did not take the time to get to know her. Upon graduation, she worked for the Veterans Administration in positions of increasing responsibility.
Also worthy of recognition, Mrs Mack was the first masters prepared African American to work at the Cincinnati Department of Veterans Affairs. She fought tirelessly against discrimination in the workplace. She encouraged and fostered higher education and development programs in the workplace. As a result of her efforts, many RN’s, LPN’s, and others began embracing higher education in nursing.
Mrs. Mack taught within the hospital setting and worked in the Outpatient Department for 32 years. She and her husband are now retired and enjoy spending time with their family.
Nana Ntodi - Torch Bearer Award Recipient
Miss Ntodi is a Lexington native, graduate of Henry Clay High School and a first generation college student whose siblings have always looked up to her. She is the December 2018 Class Vice President and an active member of the Undergraduate Nursing Activities and Advisory Council (UNAAC). Miss Ntodi was selected to be a Nursing Practice Intern and during her Public Health course, she visited Ecuador. She is now working on a Women’s Empowerment Project with her mentor, Dr. Hartley Feld. Faculty comment “Nana works with new student orientation, volunteers for service projects, and engages in simulation lab scenarios. Her demonstrated leadership ability will serve her well in her nursing career.” She has maintained high grades while working as a nursing care tech at UK HealthCare.
In addition, Nana is an advocate globally for women's health and empowerment. Her pilot work in Ecuador has provided vital information that will aid in the development of economic opportunities to reduce gender-based violence of women served by UK's Shoulder to Shoulder Clinic. Upon graduation, she plans to work as a Labor and Delivery nurse before returning to school for her Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) to become a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner. Miss Ntodi states, “I am one of the few black students in the program and work very hard and do my best to represent my race in this healthcare field.” She is currently the 2018 Miss Ghana USA first runner-up and is working on a mentorship project for students in underprivileged areas of Ghana.
