By Paige Nash
Ringgold High School alumni, Antavion ‘Tay’ Moore, earned is first associates degree in 2019 from Bossier Parish Community College, while still attending high school. He earned is second degree along with his high school diploma in 2020 and is now a junior at Louisiana State University- Ogden Honors College where he studies political science and music.
He learned earlier this week that he was selected as a 2023 Truman Scholar by the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation.
“Honestly, I am still shocked,” said Moore. “To be selected for such a prestigious award is a testament to the power of prayer, but also comes with great responsibility.”
This is no small feat, in fact it is widely known as the most prestigious award for undergraduates who are pursuing careers in public service.
Moore was one of 62 other students selected to receive this honor and those 62 students chosen were selected from a diverse and talented nation-wide pool of 705 other candidates from 275 institutions. These 2023 Truman Scholars are nominated by their institutions based on their exceptional records of leadership, public service and academic achievement.
Being born and reared in the small town of Ringgold, it is a personal commitment of his to see not only his hometown prosper and grow, but to see other rural communities across the state do the same.
“Recently, my hometown, Ringgold, has experienced unprecedented pain and grief. I hope that my achievements are an encouragement to other young people from small, country towns that they not only rise above adversity but devote their lives to bettering the world along the way,” said Moore. “Though I am not physically in Ringgold every day, you better believe that I wholeheartedly represent and advocate for our town everywhere that I go. There are more than enough individuals who spend their time and energy solely talking about what is wrong, yet they never do anything to help fix the issue.”
Moore doesn’t believe that the sheriff, mayor, police chief or any piece of legislation is going to solve the issues facing the community of Ringgold by themselves. He said, “We must each stop pointing fingers, get our houses in order, do our part-whatever that may be- and pray like never before. Once our hearts are transformed and renewed, then we will see a true change in society.”
Moore has previously been named a Ron Brown Scholar, Faith and Politics Institute John Robert Lewis Scholar and Louisiana Service and Leadership Scholar. He is co-president of LSU Collegiate 4-H, and serves on the Board of Trustees for the National 4-H Council where he was named a Black History Trailblazer in 2022.
He is also the project manager for Project225. An Ogden Honors College initiative that provides members an opportunity to partner with local service and non-profit organizations in the Greater Baton Rouge area.
Last October, Moore was selected as one of 70 undergraduate students across the country, and the first ever from LSU, to attend the Harvard John F. Kennedy School of Government Public Policy Leadership Conference- a 3-day event in Boston, Ma.
“My success thus far would not have been possible without first- God- and the support of my family, community, and church, United Pentecostal Church of Ringgold,” said Moore. “My parents – my mom as a paraprofessional and my father as a 2-time war veteran – are some of the greatest examples of devotion to public service to our country.”
Moore is currently interning with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and he plans to pursue a dual-degree mastering in both Divinity and Public Policy.
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