Honors

Dr. Willa Grant Battle
Dr. Willa Grant Battle received the honorary Doctor of Humanities degree, Sunday, December 19,2004 during the winter commencement at ST. Cloud State Unviersity, St. Cloud, Minnesota. She was the commencement speaker for 500 graduates who received their bachelor degrees with approximately 4,000 people in attendance.
For the past 25 years over 5,000 students have visited Grace Temple Deliverance Center here in Minneapolis from the multi-cultural department under the leadership of Dr. Erika Vora who is a full professor of communication at St. Clound State University.
Dr. Battle is the second person to receive the Universitie's highest honor in 133 years. She is the first African American to receive this honor in the history of the University.
St. Cloud State University and it's President, Dr. Roy H. Saigo felt that Dr. Battle and Grace Temple Deliverance Center have been an asset to many students in helping them to learn about the African American people and their way of worship.
Following the commencement, Dr. Saigo and the faculty sponsored a reception for Dr. Battle and her family and several guests that accompanied her from her congregation in Minneapolis.
Dr. Battle gives God all the glory and honor for His divine enablement. She says if it were not for God this could not ave happened. This is something that just doesn't happen often at St. Cloud State University for men or women. To God be the Glory.