Richland Wall-of-Honor students

Cynthia Anderson

Cynthia Anderson has had her fair share of obstacles, and none were easily conquered.

Among her physical struggles, Cynthia has had cancer, cataracts, a brain injury, two strokes, diabetes, and is confined to a wheel chair. On top of that, she is a survivor of Hurricane Katrina, where she lost everything in her home in New Orleans.

When she moved to Dallas after the disaster, she fought through her hardships and enrolled at Richland College as part of the Total Re-Integration Program. Despite being out of school for 30 years, she excelled in her studies and became a Richland Honor student and a member of Phi Theta Kappa.

Her nominators describe her as someone who "never complains about her circumstances" and who encourages other students to do their best in school.

Cynthia was awarded a spot on the Wall of Honor in Spring 2009.

Jude Ayozie

On the morning of Feb. 3, 1993, Jude Ayozie woke up only seeing a faint light in the corner of his eye. Doctors confirmed that abusive beatings by his stepmother caused brain trauma, leaving him blind.

With the loss of his mother at age 2, the abuse from his stepmother and the blindness that resulted, Jude could have easily given up. Instead, he persevered.

"There has always been a part of me that refused to give in. And that was my resolution to make a success story out of misfortunes," Jude said.

He graduated from Richland College in 2000 with an Associate degree and a 3.15 GPA. He later received a Bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Texas at Dallas and a Master's degree in education from the University of North Texas.

Jude became a Wall of Honor student in Spring 2010.

Francis Lubuulwa

Francis Lubuulwa, from the AIDS-stricken country of Uganda, is no stranger to loss.

His father died of AIDS when he was 10 years-old. His stepmother and stepsister were claimed by the disease two years later. Soon after his mother revealed that she too was HIV positive.

Francis was sent to an orphanage in southern Uganda, where he realized his talent for music. In 2002, he was selected to go on tour performing Ugandan singing, dancing, and drumming for an American fundraiser.

He earned several awards during his years in high school. He toured America again in 2008, and received a scholarship from the Empower African Children organization in Dallas. He used the scholarship to attend Richland College.

 Francis gained leadership positions in the Peace and Justice Club and the African Student Union, became a featured advocate for AIDS relief programs in Africa and was awarded a Sharon Conine Scholarship for International Students.

Francis was added to the Wall of Honor in Fall 2009.