SALISBURY — ”I’m an alumni,” shouted Jim Duncan after he received his honorary doctorate from Livingstone College President Anthony Davis on Friday.

Duncan received the award for his work in the community, primarily as the founder of anti-human trafficking organization Project Light Rowan. Duncan was one of three people who received the honorary degrees during the college’s winter commencement ceremony, with the other two being Rev. Shavon Arline-Bradley and Troy Veale.

Although Project Light is Duncan’s main focus these days, he has also worked in vital roles with local organizations such as the Rufty-Holmes Senior Center and Rowan Rotary. Duncan also helped the East Rowan YMCA get started as well as helped establish the East Rowan JROTC program.

Duncan is also an Army veteran, having retired as a lieutenant colonel and after service as an inspector general in the Pentagon.

Duncan received the Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards earlier this year, which is nominated by local community members and then awarded by a state-level commission

“I’m humbled and I love Livingstone College and I really appreciate the support that Livingstone College has provided us as we fight against human trafficking. I’m really honored to be a part of the students that are graduating today, and you know what, I’m an alumni,” said Duncan.

Arline-Bradley received the award primarily for her work on a national scale as the president and CEO of the National Council on Negro Women and as the founder and CEO of Washington D.C.-based R.E.A.C.H. Beyond Solutions, a public health, advocacy and executive leadership firm. Arline-Bradely also served as the senior advisor and director of external engagement to former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy.

Veale is a former football player at Livingstone who went on to found multiple businesses and organizations in the Salisbury and Charlotte areas, including PhD Laboratory in Charlotte, One Love Community Programs in Salisbury and Veale Management Services in Charlotte. Veale also serves on multiple committees with the college.

“Many of you don’t know this, but during COVID, when many communities did not have COVID-19 tests, it was Troy Veale’s laboratory that went to the fairgrounds. The state didn’t give him a contract, but he showed up at the fairgrounds anyway offering tests. I wasn’t the president then. I said ‘when I become president one of my first orders of business is to make sure (Veale) receives an honorary doctorate for your work because he is one of those unsung heroes,” said Davis after the presentation.

Arline-Bradley also served as the guest speaker for the commencement ceremony.