When Southern University and A&M College awarded nearly 600 degrees on May 12, a name was called that had a local Franklinton flare.
Calvonta S. Ard, a 2019 Franklinton High School graduate and former band captain of the Demon Regiment, received his Bachelor of Science degree in Plant and Soil Science, with a minor in Urban Forestry.
While at Southern, Calvonta won several scholarships in agriculture and forestry. He was also honored to be part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Pathways program that afforded him the opportunity to gain real life experience and earn money doing it while in college.
Ard's educational journey was far from uneventful. In second grade, his mother received a call informing her that Ard would not be moving on to the 3rd grade. The reason was because he did not "benchmark" on DIBELS. DIBELS is an early literacy assessment that measures a student's level and success, or lack thereof, in reading.
"I can recall being in tears and feeling hopeless and helpless," remembers his mother, Yumeka Ard. "My brother was not an educator at the time, but I remember him telling me that we would fight this decision because it was not rooted in district policy."
The fight to get him on to the 3rd grade was only the beginning of many struggles that he faced in school.
Ard was eventually given an Individual Education Program (IEP) under the category of Other Health Impairment because of a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). While this was how he was found eligible for special education supports and services, a clinical psychologist diagnosed him with Autism, ADHD and dyslexia around the same time.
"We were happy to receive the IEP, but his needs were not being met with the program of supports and services that the school offered," said his uncle, Dr. Delarious O. Stewart, who is now a special education leader and school psychologist. "At the time, I did not have the vocabulary to articulate what needed to happen for him, but I knew that the things the team put in place were not moving his academic needle."
Stewart also noted that it took years to get Ard's program of supports and services right. "There were many contentious meetings where folks were angry at me for demanding that my nephew got what he was entitled to, but that did not matter to me. What mattered was that they got it right for Calvonta."
There were many school years of struggle, harm and disappointment, but in 9th grade, he started to feel some success in school.
Despite having challenges in reading and writing, he connected with his 9th grade English teacher. "I remember being very angry at my Uncle for having me receive these services through special education. I was embarrassed and felt dumb. Now, I understand that he was making sure that I had the tools I needed to navigate my life beyond high school," Ard said.
He developed a sense of self efficacy from his experience with his 9th grade English teacher. For the first time, he believed that he could successfully navigate school. It was the kind of feeling that propelled him to dig in and struggle through his discomfort.
"Dr. Graham was one of the best teachers I ever got to experience. She made me comfortable with showing up as my authentic self. Most importantly, she did not let me use what I saw as a disability as an excuse," Ard said.
In addition to recalling the positive experience with his English teacher, he also remembers other teachers like Kewanda August, who taught him in 1st grade, Amanda Dillion, who provided IEP services to him in middle school and in after school programs, and Elecia Crain-Jones, who served as his special education teacher and case manager while he was in high school.
"There were days where my brother drove in from as far as Jackson or flew in from Wisconsin or wherever he was living at the time to show up for IEP meetings. I never knew if a meeting would end with him going to jail or my son being kicked out of school. What I did know was that he fought hard for my son and we now see why," Yumeka Ard added.
Ard is now part of the official "Jaguar Nation." During his commencement, he was sworn into the National Alumni Federation by someone he knew very well. His uncle, Dr. Kendric Stewart, serves as Executive Director of Alumni Affairs at Southern.
"I have had the opportunity to swear a great number of graduates into the National Alumni Federation for a number of graduations, but none felt as good as this one because I got to swear in my legacy," Stewart said. "Not only is he an official Jaguar now, he also studied the same field that I earned my bachelor's and doctoral degrees. This was one of the best feelings an uncle could have."
In the fall, he will return to Southern University and will begin the Master of Science program in Urban Forestry. After completing his master's, he plans to return to U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Services and work either as a soil conservationist or an urban conservationist.
"Many people betted against me. They felt like my life and education were not worth the fight. God had a different conclusion," Ard said. "I am so grateful to every single person who helped me along the way. My village has carried me my entire life. I hope I made them proud."
Ard is the son of the late Calvin Ard and Yumeka Ard. He is the grandson of Jesse Magee, Dorothy Stewart, Eddie Joe Ard and Debra Daniels-Ard. He is the brother of Jessica Ard-Wilson, Ariell Coates, Tancaljaneek Ard Camyria Ard and Alexandriel Jackson.
"My dad and my cousin, Felix, are my angels. They weren't here with me, but I know they are smiling down from heaven."
Calvonta is one of many in his family to graduate from Southern. Both of his uncles, Delarious and Kendric, earned degrees at the university. His aunt, Kiera Stewart, received her bachelor's and master's degrees from Southern. His cousin, Jacque Harvey, earned his bachelor's degree in the same field. His cousins Tashika Tate, Phyllis Reeves-Hayes, Marilyn Reeves, all earned bachelor's degrees from Southern. He has two cousins, Tywin Tate, who is a senior majoring in civil engineering, and Jache Williams, who is studying nursing. He has two cousins, Kaleah Johnson and Curtis Williams who will begin their undergraduate studies at Southern in the fall.
Former New Orleans mayor and current National Urban League CEO, Marc H. Morial, was the commencement speaker.
