WASHINGTON – Da'Nya Thomas, a 2020 graduate of the College of Arts and Sciences is the latest recipient of Howard University’s annual Reginald F. Lewis Prize. First introduced in 1990, the Reginald F. Lewis prize is a monetary award to one student graduating during the current academic school year, who demonstrates the most improvement in his/her cumulative grade point average (GPA) from their sophomore to senior year. During Thomas’ completion of her undergraduate studies within the Department of Health, Human Performance & Leisure Studies, she increased her GPA from 2.14 to 3.66 – a 1.52 point increase. 

"Ms. Thomas has distinguished herself as the latest recipient of the Reginald Lewis Prize,” says Provost and Chief Academic Officer Anthony K. Wutoh, Ph.D. “Her additional focus to academic excellence, and commitment to her education make her an exemplar of the quality and commitment that Mr. Lewis represented." 

Thomas was notified by Provost Wutoh just after the Virtual Conferring of Degrees Ceremony that she was the 2020 recipient of the Reginald F. Lewis Prize. 

“I was excited to know that all my hard work and time paid off,” Thomas says. “All of the work I put in at Howard did not go unnoticed. I am certainly honored to be the recipient of the Reginald F. Lewis Prize.”

After graduating from high school a year early, Thomas says she was sure of her direction upon entering Howard University. She began her journey pursuing a double major in biology and chemistry. 

“My freshman year at Howard was extremely frustrating,” she explained. “I finished my first semester with a GPA of 2.14. When I saw this, my heart dropped and I felt like a failure. I never had a GPA lower than 3.5 in high school. I knew I had to do better. I have younger siblings who look up to me, and their encouragement made me want to be better. I couldn’t let them down.”

Thomas says after her freshman year at Howard, she was determined to push herself in order to maintain a 4.0 average GPA. She recalls the first semester when earning a 4.0 at Howard as a turning point when she realized not only was she well-equipped to excel as a student, but also mature with balancing academic and extracurricular activities. 

“For me, Howard was a great place to reflect on myself, what I want in life, where I was trying to go, and deciding my true passion,” Thomas says. “Therefore, during my sophomore year, I changed my major to human performance with a concentration in sports medicine and a minor in chemistry.”

Thomas credits Deborah Johnson, interim chair of the Department of Health, Human Performance and Leisure Studies, and Ms. Shaunda Young, senior academic advisor within the Center for Academic Excellence with helping to ensure that she remained on track throughout her matriculation. Next, she plans to prepare for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) before applying to medical school. Her goal is to open her own practice as an OB/GYN. 

“Without the experiences of college, making friends, growing up, and completing my studies, I would not be the person I am today: a college graduate, who finished in three years at Howard University with a bachelor's degree,” Thomas expresses. “My journey at Howard was worth all of it and I’m proud to be an alumnus of the illustrious Howard University.”

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About Howard University

Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 13 schools and colleges. Students pursue studies in more than 120 areas leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced one Schwarzman Scholar, three Marshall Scholars, four Rhodes Scholars, 11 Truman Scholars, 25 Pickering Fellows and more than 70 Fulbright Scholars. Howard also produces more on-campus African-American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States. For more information on Howard University, visit www.howard.edu.

Media contact: Ramzey Smith, Office of University Communications, ramzey.smith@howard.edu