COLUMBUS, Ohio –
The 2019 Carter G. Woodson awardees were announced during the Defense Supply Center Columbus’ African American and Black History Month celebration Feb. 27. (CAC enabled)
The Federal Award went to Aundre Howard, lead financial technician with the Defense Finance and Accounting Service-Columbus. Howard’s nomination packet cited his efforts as an outstanding role model and his work in helping to improve lives and clean up neighborhoods. Howard is involved in several Special Emphasis Programs at DSCC. Howard was unable to attend, and the award was accepted on his behalf by Cassandra McDuff, of DFAS-Columbus.
The Community Award was given to Todd Walker for his contributions toward the African American community in Central Ohio. Walker, who holds a doctorate in philosophy, is the founder of REAL Young Men and author of several academic papers on African American issues. He’s currently pursuing a law degree through Capital University Law School.
Walker said he was honored to be considered for the award, adding, “I think it says a lot about what the Defense Federal Community values and how it’s seeking to be inclusive and incorporate and recognize the contributions of a diverse group of people.”
Other nominees included Joey Green, a program coordinator for the Columbus Urban League Re-entry Program, who was nominated for the Community Award for his volunteerism with African American youth and the formerly incarcerated.
In addition to Howard, the Defense Federal Community nominees included three from the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime and two from DFAS-Columbus. DLA Land and Maritime associates were Shawn Colvin, material planner supervisor; Alice Ferguson, purchasing agent; and Viviane Filias, a contract specialist. DFAS – Columbus nominees included Mary Harper-Thomas and Sheri Neale, both systems accountants.
Established in 1990, the Defense Federal Community’ Carter G. Woodson Award Program recognizes two individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the African American community – one each from the Central Ohio community and the Defense Federal community. Past recipients include former Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty and Charles Tennant, the founder of Columbus’ Africentric School.
Carter G. Woodson was an African American writer and historian considered by many to be the father of Black History Month. He penned more than a dozen books in his lifetime, most notably the influential book The Mis-Education of the Negro, and helped found the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. Woodson worked for the U.S. government as an education superintendent, and earned several degrees including a doctorate from Harvard University. He established a scholarly publication entitled The Journal of Negro History and formed the African American owned Associates Publishers Press. Woodson lobbied for schools and organizations to participate in a special program to encourage the study of African American history, which began in February 1926 with Negro History Week. The program was later expanded and renamed Black History Month.
Aundre Howard received the 2019 Carter G. Woodson Award in the Federal category for his efforts as a positive role model. Howard is a lead financial technician with the Defense Finance and Accounting Service – Columbus at the Defense Supply Center Columbus. He was unable to attend the ceremony Feb. 27 and a DFAS-Columbus representative accepted the award on his behalf. The award program is sponsored by the DLA Land and Maritime Equal Employment Opportunity Office’s African American Employment Program and recognizes federal employees and community members for outstanding contributions to the African American community.
Additional nominee - Community Award category
A program coordinator for the Columbus Urban League Re-entry Program, Joey Green was nominated for the Carter G. Woodson Award’s community category for his volunteer efforts with African American youth and the formerly incarcerated. The award program is sponsored by the DLA Land and Maritime Equal Employment Opportunity Office’s African American Employment Program and recognizes federal employees and community members for outstanding contributions to the African American community.
Additional nominees - Federal Award category
2019 Carter G. Woodson Award nominee Shawn Colvin is a material planner supervisor with the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime at the Defense Supply Center Columbus.
2019 Carter G. Woodson Award nominee Alice Ferguson is a purchasing agent with the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime at the Defense Supply Center Columbus.
2019 Carter G. Woodson Award nominee Viviane Filias is a contract specialist with the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime at the Defense Supply Center Columbus.
2019 Carter G. Woodson Award nominee Mary Harper-Thomas is a systems accountant for the Defense Finance and Accounting Service – Columbus at the Defense Supply Center Columbus.
2019 Carter G. Woodson Award nominee Sheri Neale is a systems accountant for the Defense Finance and Accounting Service – Columbus at the Defense Supply Center Columbus.