Attorney and Healthcare Leader Appointed Metro Hospital Authority Chair

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A Fisk University graduate has been elected to lead as chair in a prestigious position. Learn more in the story by staff at The Tennessee Tribune.

The Metro Hospital Authority Board welcomes new board leadership as Nashville General Hospital begins its fiscal year in 2023. Mr. Richard Manson, President of Sourcemark, LLC, and founder of the law firm Manson, Johnson, & Conner, was elected board chair.

“I am privileged to serve as chair of this dedicated and talented group,” said Mr. Manson. “We, as a board, are at a pivotal time, embarking on the possibility of a new Nashville General Hospital that will serve our community and its mission to provide equitable access to patient-centered care. I am honored to serve as chair during these exciting times for the city of Nashville and one of its oldest entities, Nashville General.” 

A native of Dayton, Ohio, Manson completed his undergraduate degree at Fisk University, receiving the prestigious international Thomas J. Watson Fellowship. He holds a Juris Doctorate from Vanderbilt University Law School and remains steadfast in fostering his executive leadership skills as a graduate of several advanced executive management programs, including Amos Tuck at Dartmouth School of Business, the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. 

Manson was named to the Hospital Authority board by former Mayor Megan Barry in 2017. He served as the Hospital Authority board representative as part of the 2018 Better Health Stakeholder Work Team.

“Having and growing Nashville General Hospital is smart for Nashville and the entire community,”  Mr. Manson said. “Everyone should have access to quality patient care close to home and when needed. Access to care reduces a community’s overall healthcare costs and decreases health disparities. An investment in the city hospital is important as we continue attracting corporations and individuals based on Nashville’s commitment to serving all its citizens. I look forward to working with our partner Meharry to create a world-class facility with innovative and advanced medical treatments.”

Mr. Manson is a strong supporter of Nashville General and its leadership; he’s previously stated CEO Dr. Joseph Webb and his team have worked well over the past seven years to expand services and access and increase the number of commercially insured patients utilizing the hospital and Nashville Healthcare specialty services, all while maintaining Baldrige performance excellence standards, as recognized by the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence.

“I practice what I preach,” said Mr. Manson. “I’m not only a board member but also proud to be a patient at Nashville General Hospital. It is time for the residents of Davidson County to realize this hospital provides great care for every patient. We have worked hard to counter the negative messaging previously affecting the hospital by consistently providing high-quality care and improving the patient experience for the patients we serve. We are here to care for all of Nashville.”

Established in 1890 as City Hospital, the area’s original community hospital, Nashville General Hospital provides quality care for more than 58,000 patients annually. 

Nashville General is committed to improving the health and wellness of Nashville by providing equitable access to coordinated patient-centered care – including specialty care through the 23 outpatient centers of Nashville Healthcare Center – and training tomorrow’s caregivers. 

The Center for Journalism & Democracy at Howard University Announces Executive Director

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Founded by the 1619 Project’s Nikole Hannah-Jones, The Center for Journalism & Democracy at Howard University has a new lead. Learn more in the story by Sholnn Z. Freeman at The Dig below.

The Center for Journalism & Democracy at Howard University has named Kali-Ahset Amen, Ph.D., as its inaugural executive director. Amen will be responsible for operationalizing the vision put forward by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones, who is founding the center. The center is set to launch late Fall.

Amen had previously served as managing director of the Billie Holiday Center for the Liberation Arts in Baltimore, where she worked to advance its mission of preserving, documenting and disseminating Black Baltimore’s history and culture. She was also an assistant research professor of sociology at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. 

The Center for Journalism & Democracy is devoted to bolstering the field of investigative journalism in the service of multiracial democracy. Hannah-Jones, the Knight Chair in Race and Journalism at the Cathy Hughes School of Communications, has called attention to the need for historically informed investigative journalism that meets with urgency the threats to our democracy and for broader representation among the nation’s investigative reporters. 

Amen will supervise the center’s day-to-day operations and lead its fundraising efforts. She earned a doctorate in sociology from Emory University in 2014. She also holds a Master of Arts in sociology from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor of Arts in African studies from Columbia University. In addition, she has earned a graduate certificate in museum studies from Harvard University.

“In the year since I announced that I would be creating the Center for Journalism & Democracy, we have engaged in rigorous strategic, branding and launch planning that has tapped into important stakeholders in the field. As we prepare to launch the center later this Fall, I am so excited to announce Dr. Kali-Ahset Amen as the inaugural executive director for the Center for Journalism & Democracy. Launching a center of this ambition is a massive and consuming task, and Dr. Amen brings an ambition, dedication and vision to this work that matches mine. More importantly, Dr. Amen brings critical experience, historical grounding and a passion for the work of equipping generations of journalists with the knowledge and skills to do the urgent journalism our democracy requires. She is brilliant and a force, and the center is very lucky to have her,” Hannah-Jones said.

“Serving as the inaugural executive director is a dream come true for me because I believe deeply that independent Black thought and strong Black institutions are critical to creating the kind of democracy that all Americans want. History has already shown us that when Black voices are lifted in defense of truth and justice, the entire society benefits. African-American journalists, intellectuals and activists of all sorts have bequeathed a legacy of political and moral thinking that must be applied to the progressive transformation of American society. In this vein, we are committed at the center to this work of social change and historical repair through the important medium of investigative reporting,” Amen said.

Hannah-Jones continues to build out her team and has also hired Beverlee Turner as the center’s program manager. Turner, a Howard University alumna, joins the center from the University of Southern California where she served as the associate director for the Marshall School of Business’s Master of Science of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program. Turner comes with a wide range of academic experience.

The center will create and support investigative journalism courses as well as visiting professorships that bring working professionals into the classroom. With the center, Howard University will become one of the few journalism programs nationwide to offer a slate of courses with an investigative focus. The center will also fund investigative reporting courses at other HBCUs, as well as provide financial support for student journalists and student newspapers at historically Black colleges and universities, support journalism faculty, and train students and professional journalists.

The center will also work to promote investigative journalism in service of preserving American democracy and furthering equality and racial justice, and will host democracy summits and other symposia that bring together experts across the field to tackle some of the nation’s most vexing issues.

Actor Who Grew Up in Fayetteville Stars in Short Film Screening Prior to the Movie ‘Nope’

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A former Fayetteville State University student is enjoying a career in entertainment, with a role many can see on the big screen in and near their hometown. Learn more in the story by Akira Kyles at The Fayetteville Observer.

Kasper Washington, 33, originally of Fayetteville stars in the short film, “Amina.”  Contributed to The Fayetteville Observer

An actor who grew up in Fayetteville will share the big screen with a feature-length film when their star role in a short film is shown before a major motion picture.

Kasper Washington, 33, who uses they/them pronouns, will star in the short film “Amina” that will be shown prior to screenings of Jordan Peele’s horror/sci-fi film “Nope” in select theaters through Thursday. 

“Amina” will be shown at four movie theaters in Fayetteville and the Raleigh area: Millstone 14, 3400 Footbridge Lane, Fayetteville; Paragon Fenton, 21 Fenton Main St., Cary; Parkside Town Commons Stadium, 1140 Parkside Main St., Cary; and Park West, 3400 Village Market Place, Morrisville. The short film can also be seen online at jobschangeus.com.

Washington developed a love for the performing arts while following in their parents’ footsteps. Washington’s parent took part in a production of “The Wiz” together and used to travel with the North Carolina opera.

Washington’s father, who died when Washington was 20, was a music educator in Charlotte.

Washington said their parents were always supportive as they and their brothers were figuring out what they wanted to do.

“My parents were never pushy about it,” they said. “They always let us find our way through it. I would also say that they’ve been very encouraging once we decided to take our own path.”

As a child, Washington spent about 10 years performing in Cape Fear Regional Theatre productions often led by professionals

“So, even though I was tucked away in Fayetteville, North Carolina, I got to work with people who had been on Broadway or people who were former Miss Americas, or people I would go on to run into and still see in my theater community here in Los Angeles,” Washington said. 

The camaraderie within the theater community is something Washington said they gained while at Cape Fear Regional Theatre.

“I think being able to go and feel like I was around people that were interested in the same things as me, that really cared about you and took care of you, it became like a close-knit family there,” they said. “I still have lots of those friends to this day.” 

Initially, Washington aspired to be a dentist and completed about a year at Fayetteville State University. 

Washington then moved to Los Angeles in 2008 to attend the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. After completing a two-year program there, Washington landed regular on-stage performances.

“I’ve been really fortunate to be working for the past 15 years,” they said. “I feel like LA has been a pretty easy journey for me as far as my career is concerned. It hasn’t been without its challenges but fine for me.” 

Starring in ‘Amina’

Washington recently started to make the transition from stage to film and television, making “Amina” their film debut. 

The short film depicts a former astronaut, Noa, haunted by the loss of her partner, Amina, another astronaut, as she struggles to connect with her unborn child. 

Washington plays the role of Amina in the short film. Originally, Washington was called in for the role of Noa after auditioning in March, but they still wanted to remain with the film after being cast as Amina. 

“I had to be choosing sessions with the casting director, and it was then that they shared with me that the story about grief and about loss and about love that transcends space and time,” Washington said. “The writer and director, she wrote this story to kind of help process the grief of losing her father. I had recently been revisiting feelings of loss for my father, so this really resonated with me.” 

The short film, written and directed by Shanrica Evans, debuted at the New York’s Tribeca Film Festival, which is the last time Washington thought it would be screened. That all changed once they found out it would be shown before select screenings of “Nope.” 

“I’ve been looking forward, first of all, to seeing ‘Nope,'” Washington said. “I got to see it this past weekend. It was really good, but never did I think that I would get the opportunity to see myself on the big screen again.” 

Claflin University To Establish New University Center With $548,000 Grant

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Claflin University now has the funding to establish a new center focusing on economic development! Learn more in the story from staff at the Times & Democrat.

Claflin University has received a $548,000 grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s University Center Economic Development Program.

The grant will allow the university to launch a University Center, which will work closely with the region’s rural and underserved minority populations that have limited access to economic and business development resources and regional commercialization efforts.

“Claflin University will take a leadership role in the economic development in our region. We will become drivers of economic growth by actively engaging the community,” said Dr. John Jasina, associate professor of economics and Presidential Fellow at Claflin University.

The U.S. Economic Development Administration’s program aims to enable colleges and universities to establish and operate University Centers to leverage university assets and build regional economic ecosystems that support innovation, high-growth entrepreneurship, resiliency and inclusiveness.

The EDA is one of several multi-agency initiatives supported by the U.S. Department of Economic Development.

The total investment is $1,096,180. Claflin will be awarded $109,618 per year for five years.

The Claflin University EDA University Center will support commercialization efforts, high-growth entrepreneurship, workforce development and business expansion, as well as cultivate innovation in Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Colleton, Hampton, Jasper and Orangeburg counties.

Jasina and Dr. Nicholas Hill, dean of Claflin’s School of Business and professor of economics, are the grant’s co-principal investigators. Jasina will also serve as the director of Claflin’s University Center.

“Claflin faculty and students will provide cutting-edge research to promote growth and prosperity to those who need it most. The University Center will utilize its expertise in applied economics to assist public and private sector leaders in understanding the factors that lead to local and regional economic growth and identify effective policies that contribute to economic growth. We want to enhance the performance of entrepreneurs by increasing their critical thinking and quantitative analysis skills,” Jasina said.

The University Center will work closely with entrepreneurs to conduct research that will include regional economic analysis, economic impact analysis, labor and strategies to expand economic and workforce development.

The center will provide technical assistance to small businesses in the region, empowering regional entrepreneurs to become engines for economic growth in their communities.

“We plan to create a business development curriculum that will teach entrepreneurs how to operate in a formal economy,” Jasina said. “It will also teach them how to increase capacity and growth through innovation in domestic and global markets.”

A Stillman College Graduate Is The New President of USC Radio Group

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Stillman College graduate will oversee multiple California radio stations in his new executive role. Learn more in the story from staff at KUSC.

Source: YouTube/Valparaiso University

Meet the new President of USC Radio Group, James A. Muhammad. He will oversee Classical California, including KUSC and our sister station KDFC in San Francisco.

With the goal of nurturing a love of classical music for all, Classical California serves audiences across California via FM broadcasts, numerous streams, websites, social media and YouTube channels, in addition to live events.

James is currently the President & CEO of Lakeshore Public Media based in Merrillville, Indiana. Known for his transformative leadership style, James has grown Lakeshore Public Media into a nationally recognized media operation, winning prominent awards such as the Chicago/Midwest Emmy and the 2022 Nonprofit of the Year from the Crossroads Regional Chamber of Commerce.

A public media veteran, James began his career as an intern at Alabama Public Radio in Tuscaloosa where he later became one of America’s youngest classical announcers. He also held leadership positions at NPR station WCBU at Bradley University and West Virginia Public Broadcasting. He has a B.A. in mass communications from Stillman College where he attended on a choral music scholarship and an M.B.A. from Valparaiso University where he sits on the national council for the college of business.

“James is a highly accomplished public media executive with a lifelong passion for classical music. He engages audiences with meaningful, innovative programming together with a steadfast commitment to community partnerships. We are so glad that James will be leading USC Radio Group forward into its next era,” says Samuel Garrison, Senior Vice President of University Relations at the University of Southern California which owns the FCC licenses for KUSC FM and KDFC FM.

James says: “It is an honor to be selected as USC Radio Group’s next president. The organization’s mission aligns perfectly with my personal beliefs and how I was raised. I am the proud son of a music educator, choral music director, and organist whom I watched share the majesty and transformative power of classical music freely. It’s the mission of Classical California to do the same. I’m so excited to be part of that.”

James will start his new role in mid-September. He is passionate about classical music, is looking forward to sunny California, and is already an avid listener to our stream.

Cheyney University Continues ‘Rightsizing’ Enrollment

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Cheyney University of Pennsylvania is adjusting its attendance trends, and it feels just right. Learn more in the story Bill Rettew at the Daily Local.

Cheyney University President and former business wiz Aaron Walton is overseeing big changes at the state-run historically Black university.

Walton said during a phone interview that despite the pandemic, the university has continued an obligation to maintain stability and consistency toward its goal to educate both minority and non-minority students.

Aaron Walton, president of Cheyney University, seated
Cheyney University President Aaron Walton. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Enrollment is holding steady at about 650 students heading into the fall semester after having reached a high of about 3,000 students about 30 years ago.

The “rightsizing” was intentional.

Walton noted that education is now different than it was just 20 years ago. He said that the population has decreased, leading to more competition for student enrollment.

“In today’s world you have to be unique,” Walton said.

With that goal in mind, the school is becoming more of a “boutique university.”

“We can’t be all things to all people and the university can’t offer a wide array of programs,” he said.

Much of the university’s focus has turned to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) programs. Students are studying from more of a science perspective, including both cancer research and pharmaceutical involvement.

Partners have moved into campus buildings and more businesses are planning to do the same. Changing the way students learn and new Science Center tenants include: Navrogen Biotech Company; ASI Chemicals, which leads pharmaceutical research; EPCOT Crenshaw Corporation, an analytical services firm; and Advanced Alchemy Labs, a CBD processing lab.

As part of the boutique college experience, students take paid internships and gain real hands-on experience, while matriculating at the university.

The school has balanced its budget every year since the 2018/19 school year on a path of financial soundness, Walton said. Not since 2011 had Cheyney balanced the books.

The college, located in both Delaware and Chester counties, is looking to perform some upgrades to dorms and other buildings to make them more attractive to students.

Walton said that he is thankful for the support of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, Gov. Tom Wolf and the state Legislature.

The five-year president said the university seeks student success, financial stability and a dedication to excellence.

“We are focusing on infrastructure and programs that will support all three of these pillars,” he said.

UDC President Ronald Mason Jr. To Step Down In 2023

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By this time next summer, University of the District of Columbia President Ronald Mason Jr. will have served his last day in his leading role. The HBCU president recently announced his plan to step down in a message addressed to students and staff at UDC, which was filled with not sadness but hopes for an even more successful future. Learn more in his announcement reprinted below.

Dear Firebirds,

Today, I would like to share some important news with you. This will be my final year as the President of the University of the District of Columbia (UDC). I will continue serving as President through the duration of my contract, which concludes on June 30, 2023. It was not a decision I made lightly. After considerable contemplation and consultation with the Board of Trustees and seven years in this role, the time is right to pass the baton.

We have come a long way together, and I believe our work has served the University well. Along with Mayor Bowser and the Office of the Mayor, Chairman Mendelson and the Council, civic and community leaders and friends, we have spread the news far and wide that UDC, the public institution of higher learning in and for the nation’s capital, is a historic university that matters. I have been proud to be its President, working with like-minded people who realize UDC’s significance and importance to the District, nation and beyond.

You are some of the most remarkable and brilliant faculty and staff in higher education. And when I look at our dedicated and resilient students, working through some of the most challenging times I’ve seen in my 40-year career in higher education, I am incredibly proud of all you continue to accomplish. You are indeed our brightest hope for the future.

In my final year, there is still much to consider and accomplish. The Board of Trustees will soon charge a Presidential Search Committee with finding the next servant leader of UDC. Information will be made available so that you can participate in the process, and I am happy to assist in any way I can.

This is not the end, and certainly not goodbye. We still have significant work to do, and I look forward to doing it together—as we always have.

Let’s make this a remarkable year, Team UDC.

Stillman College To Add New Civil Rights Museum, Digital Learning Center

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Since the National Park Service announced its recent multi-million-dollar funding to HBCUs, Stillman College has shared its plans for using the money. Learn more in the release by Stillman below.

Campus library to add civil rights museum, digital learning center

Stillman College has taken a significant step in its plans to overhaul historic Sheppard Library.

The National Park Service has awarded $500,000 to Stillman College to upgrade technology and infrastructure at Sheppard, which will be transformed into a civil rights museum and digital learning center.

Stillman is one of five HBCUs in the State of Alabama to receive funding through NPS’ Historic Preservation Fund (HPF). Each of the five HBCUs received $500,000 as part of a $9.7 million investment by NPS in HBCUs nationwide.

Stillman President Dr. Cynthia Warrick said establishing a civil rights museum on campus will shine a much-needed light on the contributions Stillman students, faculty and staff have made toward challenging racial injustices and inequality in Tuscaloosa.

Sheppard Library’s Italian marble columns and wrought iron capitals are among the exterior areas under renovation.

“One of the things I noticed when I got to Stillman was that we didn’t have any information about Stillman and its role in the civil rights movement in our community,” she said. “No one talks about Stillman students’ roles with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) during sit-ins or on Bloody Tuesday, or how Winsborough Hall was a haven for students protesting segregation.

“Telling the story of Stillman College within a civil rights lens is important.”

Additionally, Sheppard Library will be modernized to include spaces for faculty development and digital learning for both Stillman students and members of the community.

Stillman is working with consultant Tim Lewis, who designed The Gateway: Alberta’s Innovation and Discovery Center and The Legacy Museum in Montgomery, to steer tech and museum designs during renovation.

This funding is NPS’ second recent investment into Stillman’s campus. Stillman recently announced a $500,000 grant from the National Park Service to help repair the roof and façade of Winsborough Hall, which will be renovated and re-imagined as a residential center for active seniors.

NPS’ recent interest and financial commitments to preserving and refocusing historic structures on campus builds on its planning grant for Sheppard awarded two years ago. Those funds were used to develop a historic structures report, which identified several structural areas to address immediately, such as restoring the Italian marble columns and wrought iron capitals, which originated from the Cochran Plantation home. The college received other external funding to restore the columns, and the new round of NPS funding will allow the college to make repairs to the building’s roof, wiring, alarm systems, HVAC, and egress and regress of passageways, said Adrienne Royster, director of sponsored programs for Stillman College.

“I am excited to see Stillman awarded these [NPS] funding opportunities – they’re much deserved and very timely,” Royster said. “These funds will bring to fruition Dr. Warrick’s vision to see this campus prosper and be of service to our students, faculty and staff, but also our community.”

Sheppard Library opened in 1956 and is named for William H. Sheppard, a Stillman alumnus and one of the first Black men to become a missionary for the Presbyterian Church. He helped combat colonialism and exploitation of the Congolese people by Leopold II of Belgium.

The HPF funding for Sheppard and other Alabama HBCU projects was aided by U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07), who leads the congressional effort to increase funding for the National Park Service’s Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) to preserve Civil Rights sites and HBCU campuses. Sewell serves as vice chair of the Congressional HBCU Caucus.

“Alabama’s HBCUs have played such a pivotal role in shaping the history of our nation, and I was so proud to help make this funding available, which will be used to preserve these cherished institutions,” Sewell said. “As vice chair of the Congressional HBCU Caucus, I remain committed to ensuring the vitality of Alabama’s HBCUs. Fighting for funding like this will continue to be one of my top legislative priorities.”

The NPS grant requires the college match 20% of the funding amount. To support the renovations to Sheppard Library, you can give online, check or cash:

  • Online: Stillman.edu/give
  • Mailing address: Institutional Advancement, 3601 Stillman Blvd. Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 

New Fellowship Looks To Clark Atlanta and Morehouse For More Principals of Color

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Many students of color do not have access to educators of color, and especially principals. Now a new fellowship is helping Clark Atlanta University and Morehouse College students fill principal roles. Learn more in the story by Allison Joyner at Saporta Report below.

For more than 20 years, New Leaders has developed over 8,000 equity-focused leaders who reach two million students in over 45 cities nationwide. 

The National Aspiring Principals Fellowship, now offered at Clark Atlanta University and Morehouse College, began a partnership with the educational nonprofit New Leaders earlier this year. Now halfway through its first cohort, the program is showing a positive outcome for continued success in the future. 

“We think it’s an opportunity for Atlanta, and Georgia, to diversify and build their pipeline to have much more equity-focused leaders –  primarily leaders of color – that can tap into as more experienced principals retire out of the principalship,” said Jean Deservaines, CEO of New Leaders. “My excitement stems from the partnership we launched with Morehouse College and Clark Atlanta to be the largest provider of equity-focused leaders in the country.”

Jean Desravines, CEO of New Leaders (Photo Credit: New Leaders)

Jean Desravines, CEO of New Leaders (Image provided by New Leaders).

While half of all K-12 public school students identify as a person of color, just one in five of their principals do. Research shows that only 11 percent of public school principals are  African American and 9 percent are Hispanic. New Leaders want to improve those numbers. 

In its mission of redefining the role of what the principal should be, New Leaders provides leadership training for principals and their supervisors to accelerate learning for every student in every classroom every year. Their new Aspiring Principal Fellowship is a one-year online course of intense guidance that results in either a principal certification or a master’s degree from the two historically Black institutions. 

Desravines agrees that the quality of the teacher is a significant factor in education but thinks that the role of the principal is another factor that is often overlooked. 

“The principal sets the vision, creates the culture, hires the teacher so if you are a great teacher, you need great principals and that’s the work that we’ve been doing at New Leaders for the past 20 years,” Desravines said.

He told SaportaReport that he knows this theory is accurate because it worked on him when he was a student. 

David Thomas meets with Morehouse students (Photo Credit: Morehouse College)

Desravines, a first-generation Haitian American from Brooklyn, N.Y., suffered several tragic events that almost led him to drop out of school in his senior year. Three weeks after his father died of a massive heart attack, his mother suffered a mental breakdown resulting in her being institutionalized. When the 18-year-old approached his Catholic school principal to explain his reasons for dropping out, he told him “absolutely not.” 

His principal told him he was dealt a tough hand, but he would help him build a promising future that he sees in him as much as possible. 

He graduated on time and attended a local college on a full academic and track and field scholarship that led to a master’s fellowship at New York University for finance and public administration. 

“We do this as a growth strategy. We believe that in a country where the majority of students are Black and brown, there is no reason why less than 20 percent of principals and teachers should be,” Deservaines said.

He said that we, as a community, can raise awareness about this critical issue of ensuring there are more principals of color raising their children. He also said that the way to ensure that young people in middle and high school consider furthering their education as an option is through reaching out to their school boards and voting for elected officials with agendas pertaining to education. 

“Everyone has a critical role to play to ensure that education is front and center in Atlanta as well as the state of Georgia,” Deservaines said. 

The next class for the Aspiring Principal Fellow begins in January 2023.  Click here for more information. 

Two Choir Members Earn The First HBCU Choral Scholarships At Their High School

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Two recent high school graduates heading to Tennessee State University have made history with scholarships from the HBCU. Learn more in the story from staff at DeSoto County News.

orn Lake graduated seniors Jayden Pointer and Katelyn Gatewood, who signed choral scholarships to HBCU Tennessee State University (Bob Bakken/DeSoto County News)

We’re just a week away from the start of the 2022-23 school year but there’s apparently still some scholarship money to be passed out to the Class of 2022.  Just ask Horn Lake graduated seniors Jayden Pointer and Katelyn Gatewood. 

Katelyn Gatewood signs her offer as brother Jamareus Freeman looks on. (Bob Bakken/DeSoto County News)

Pointer and Gatewood are choral students of Holly Beck at Horn Lake High School. They were interested in continuing their musical education but still had not committed to a school. Beck went to work to explore the scholarship possibilities for the pair.  

The search would lead to making a connection with Dr. Angelica Dunsavage, the head of the choral program at Tennessee State University who is starting her second year at the Nashville, Tennessee HBCU (historically black college or university). 

When Beck asked Dunsavage about scholarship money, the reply was “yes,” and because of the lateness of the summer, a recording Beck had to Pointer and Gatewood was second to Nashville. 

It was that recording that led Dunsavage to offer both Pointer and Gatewood a choral scholarship, which accomplished two things to the students: money to help pay for their education, and having the ability to attend an HBCU university, something they both wanted to do.  

Jemeca Pointer smiles as daughter Jayden Pointer signs her scholarship offer to Tennessee State University. (Bob Bakken/DeSoto County News)

“She has several students from Memphis, but this is her first group coming from DeSoto County,” Beck said. 

It also means that Beck’s program at Horn Lake has now received scholarships to HBCU choral programs for the first time in school history.  

A “signing” event was held Monday morning at Horn Lake High to celebrate the scholarships. 

Pointer said she was excited about the scholarship as she felt high school would be the end of her music career, and to be able to do it at a school she wanted to go to. 

“I weighed my options but I knew I wanted to attend an HBCU,” Pointer said. “This is a win-win and that makes it very exciting.”

Gatewood said she has been singing since six grade, she said, and is also looking forward to college life.

“They didn’t have to do this (offer the scholarship), so I’m grateful,” Gatewood said. “My momma wanted me to go to an HBCU.”

Pointer said she would be studying nursing at Tennessee State, while Gatewood will pursue a health sciences degree with plans to become a physical therapist.  

Fisk University Grad and ‘Elvis’ Actor Shonka Dukureh Didn’t Take Her Hollywood Shine for Granted

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Fisk University alumna Shonka Dukureh, who played legendary blues pioneer Willie Mae ‘Big Mama’ Thornton in the new feature film Elvis, has died at 44. Learn more in the story by Zoey Hodge at Andscape below.

Shonka Dukureh’s version of “Hound Dog” is included in the soundtrack of Elvis. Kane Skennar

Actress and singer Shonka Dukureh soared to stardom quickly after what started as an audition tape led to a legendary role in the hit film Elvis.

Just a few weeks after the release of the film, Dukureh, 44, was found dead in her Nashville, Tennessee, apartment on Thursday. It was days before a weekend filled with performances, including the John LewisWay March in Nashville on Saturday, where she was scheduled to sing. Now, officials are reporting there will be a short tribute for her following the event. 

The march was set to celebrate the one-year anniversary for the formal dedication of renaming a portion of the city’s 5th Avenue to Rep. John Lewis Way. Like Dukureh, Lewis, the late congressman and civil rights icon, was a Fisk University graduate. 

Dukureh was scheduled for an interview with Andscape on Monday.

“No foul play is evident in today’s death of actress Shonka Dukureh,” the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department tweeted Thursday. “Dukureh, a Fisk Univ graduate, was found dead in the bedroom of her Kothe Way apt that she shared with her 2 young children.”

Dukureh, who was originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, made the “Music City” her home. She earned a bachelor’s degree in theater from Fisk University and a master’s degree in education from Trevecca Nazarene University.

Dukureh’s longtime mentor Rev. Jeff Obafemi Carr told Andscape in a statement that she was a “generational talent, one that has infected, effected and affected scores of people who were blessed to witness her gifts.”

Carr met Dukureh at Fisk University while he was completing consulting work with the dramatics and speech department.

“Her drama professor, Persephone Felder-Fentress, was bragging about having found a certified star,” Carr said. “The first time I heard Shonka open her mouth, all of my highest expectations were shattered in one clear, powerful, laser-focused burst of melodic excellence. Even as an experienced producer and director, I became an instant fan.”

Shortly after Dukureh graduated, Carr cast her in the production of Langston Hughes’ Black Nativity.

“Her rendition of ‘There’s a Leak in This Old Building’ had people shouting in the aisles,” Carr added. “Needless to say, anytime I had a project that needed excellence in its foundation, Shonka was the cornerstone. Even when I founded an interfaith spiritual community, she lent her voice to bring her trademark soulfulness and power to the welcome table.”

Dukureh leaves behind her children. She was working on an unfinished album she was gearing up to launch later this year. 

Dukureh always had a passion for music and got her early start in gospel. She admired many gospel artists, including Shirley Caesar, The Clark Sisters and Yolanda Adams. Her powerful voice encapsulates emotions allowing listeners to truly feel the passion behind her lyrics. 

So when she landed her big role in Elvis as Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton, the legendary blues singer and original singer of the song “Hound Dog” made popular by Elvis Presley, she was elated.

She recently shared the story of how she got the role.

“I was contacted by a local legend here in the music arena, Odessa Settles,” Dukureh told The Tennessee Tribune. According to the newspaper, Settles is the daughter of gospel ensemble singer Walter Settles of the famous Fairfield Four.

“Not very long after I sent the [audition tapes] in, Miss Odessa called me back. … She said, ‘Shonka, they love you!’ … I think she was just as shocked and surprised as I was at how much they loved what they heard and saw from me.”

The film is now in theaters and scheduled to hit HBO Max on Aug. 8.

Dukureh made her big-screen debut starring as Thornton alongside Austin Butler and Tom Hanks. Her cover of “Hound Dog” for the film was sampled in Doja Cat’s new hit “Vegas.” Dukureh made her first appearance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival with Doja Cat. Many fans believed it was Thornton on the track, but it was actually vocal powerhouse Dukureh.

She later shared behind-the-scenes footage of the music video shoot on Instagram.

“A little BTS from the video shoot for Doja Cats VEGAS. After all the fuss around me and puttn me together I was toooo tickled at the results.”

Baz Luhrmann, the director of Elvis, released a note on Instagram. 

“A special light went out today and all of the Elvis movie family are heartbroken by the loss of Shonka Dukureh,” he wrote. 

“Whenever she was on set, on stage or even just in the room, everyone always felt uplifted. Shonka was just starting to find a larger audience for her tremendous talent, and I got to see her uplift whole crowds of people at Coachella and beyond. … I, along with the entire Elvis cast, crew and musical collaborators, feel truly blessed to have had time with her. We send all our love and support to Shonka’s children and family at this time.”

Doja Cat also posted a message on her Instagram story.

“Rest in Peace Shonka – an incredible talent taken from us too soon. Was a true honor getting to know her and I am so grateful to her for lending her incredible vocals to ‘Vegas,’ ” Doja Cat wrote. “Her amazing performance in Elvis amongst her other artistry will live on. Sending my deepest condolences to her loved ones.”

Before Elvis, Dukureh starred in many plays and musicals across the United States. In 2003, she won the Tennessean Theatre Award for best musical direction or performance as a vocalist for her role in American Duet. According to Sacred Music, Dukureh also spent more than 10 years touring college campuses and conferences with the First Amendment Center’s multimedia musical production Freedom Sings. She also toured internationally with the Royal Pharaohs and recording artist Jamie Lidell.

Besides being a musician, Dukureh was also a mother and educator who devoted much of her time to underserved youths. 

Dukureh was gearing up to launch her album later this year.

The album, titled The Lady Sings the Blues, was inspired by the role of Thornton and is ultimately a tribute and celebration of blues and the fierce sound brought by musical pioneers of the genre.

Mayor John Cooper of Nashville tweeted in response to her death: “Her powerful voice and artistry will live on through her music, and we honor her memory on this sad day.”

Report: Morehouse, Spelman Grads Make More Money Than Other Black Graduates In Georgia

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Attending an HBCU truly pays off in the long run. Learn how in the story by Derek Major at Black Enterprise below.

(Photo Credit: LinkedIn/SpelmanCollege)

Online U, a college ranking company, revealed the top ten Historically Black Colleges and Universities HBCUs whose graduates make more money than other Black grads in their states.

According to SaportaReport, the study, titled HBCUs with the highest payoff for Black students, revealed the list of the median income of an HBCU graduate, 10 years after starting school and that state’s median salary for non-HBCU Black graduates.

Data for the report came from the Equitable Value Explorer, which allows institutional leaders, researchers and policymakers to explore the economic value colleges and universities deliver to students.

To help students accomplish their educational and career goals, Online U researched thousands of online degree programs to provide accurate and detailed salary information for HBCU alumni.

Spelman College finished second on the list as its Black graduates on average make $49,625, while other Black graduates in the state average $40,346.

Taylor Nichols, a data reporter for Online U, said she was surprised to see Spelman high on the list considering Black women make $0.63 for every dollar a White man makes. According to the study, Spelman has a graduation rate of 75% and nearly half of its graduates continue their education to gain employment in business, accounting and the medical field.

Nichols added Spelman Black graduates who are employed by the Atlanta Public School system start out making $2,000 more than other teachers in Georgia’s public school systems.

“Teachers with six years of experience earn $55,235 per year, which is above the state salary threshold for Black graduates and maybe boosting salaries for Spelman alumni who stay in Atlanta,” Nichols told SaportaReport. 

Fellow Atlanta-area HBCU Morehouse College finished fourth as its Black graduates averaged $44,135 per year a decade after starting school, about $4,000 more than other Black grads in the state. However economic and business administration graduates earn more than the average compared to business graduates across the country.

Finishing first in the study was the Xavier University of Louisiana, whose Black graduates earned $54,582 while Hampton University ($47,197) and Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University ($39,700). Tennessee State University, Fisk University, Tuskegee University, Alcorn State University, and Dillard University round out the top ten.

Virginia State Graduate Students Can Earn Free Tuition By Working For Local Schools

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Several schools in communities near Virginia State University will be receiving teaching talent from the HBCU. Learn more in the VSU release below.

Stock/Black Enterprise

The Virginia State University College of Education has announced an innovative program which will enhance the experience of future teachers serving Richmond and Petersburg, while earning a Teacher License and Masters degree “free” of charge.
  
In the new teacher residency program, graduate students will co-teach and earn a Master of Education within one year, while gaining real-world experience in a classroom under the supervision of a master teacher. Once the co-teacher earns the degree, they must commit to full-time teaching positions in their residency school division for an additional 3-years.
 
The initiative is funded through the first ever “I Too Teach”Grant for HBCUs from the Virginia Department of Education. The primary goal of the program is to increase the number of highly qualified teachers of color—particularly males. In addition to addressing the critical teacher shortage in Richmond and Petersburg—the program will provide Pre K-12 classrooms with culturally and linguistically diverse teachers.

During the residency, VSU students/co-teachers will work nights and weekends on their Master of Education Degree in Elementary Education (PreK-6) or in General Curriculum for Special Education (K-12). Teacher residency candidates must hold a current bachelor’s degree and have a desire to teach in schools with a more than 30 percent poverty rate.  

VSU is accepting applications for the VSU College of Education’s no-cost “I Too Teach” Master of Education program.  Upon conditional acceptance, a full-time substitute position will need to be secured with either Petersburg or Richmond City Public Schools for the 2022-23 school year and the Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA) Exam must be completed for admission into the Graduate Program. During the course of the school year, professional development will also be provided to graduate students for knowledge of self, trauma informed care, relationship building, and in-depth culturally responsive pedagogy. 

To apply, please visit VSU Graduate Admissions Application.  

Inside KeShaun Moore’s Journey From HBCU Linebacker to an NIL Deal with WWE

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KeShaun Moore’s education and football experience at Hampton University has helped him prepare for the opportunity of a lifetime. Learn more in the story by Jerry Humphrey III at ESPN below.

KeShaun Moore, a senior at Hampton University, joined the WWE’s NIL program in the spring of 2022. Courtesy of KeShaun Moore

KeShaun Moore was doing what just about every college student does during downtime — scrolling on Instagram. But this past April, he had a very unexpected direct message come through. One that instantly caught his attention.

“I didn’t know what to think of it at first. [WWE’s] recruiting page messaged me on my Instagram about three months ago telling me about the opportunity [of Next In Line],” Moore said. “I checked the page out and started talking to one of the guys in the talent department, and the relationship just grew from there.”

The Next In Line program is an initiative where WWE recruits and develops college athletes with all types of athletic backgrounds, including football, gymnastics, wrestling and cheer, into WWE superstars. The partnership grants all signees access to the state-of-the-art WWE Performance Center in Orlando for wrestling training, along with resources across the organization, including brand building, media training, live promotion and, if successful in training, the opportunity to be offered a WWE contract.

The WWE announced its second “Next In Line” class on Monday, Jun. 13th. This year’s class brought in 15 student-athletes across 14 different universities. Moore, a linebacker from Hampton University, became the first Historically Black College & University (HBCU) student to sign a Name Image Likeness [NIL] deal with WWE.

During the first couple of conversations with Moore, his maturity and athletic frame was something WWE’s recruiters immediately appreciated.

“He was very thoughtful of what he wanted his future to look like and those characteristics showed us that this was a talent that has his head together and would fit well in our locker room,” James Kimball, WWE’s senior vice president of global talent strategy and development, told ESPN. “His size and stature of course was the first box checked. He has a frame that can hold a presence in a ring and that’s valuable.”

Moore is entering his senior season with Hampton. As a junior, the 6-foot-3, 240-pound linebacker collected 48 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 13.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, a touchdown and an interception. He earned Big South All-Conference honors.

“Once I graduate, my No. 1 goal is to play in the NFL, and if that does not work, knowing I have that opportunity to train in Florida to be a wrestler is not too bad.”

Because of football offseason training, Moore could not attend the first event for WWE NIL signees, but he’s still planning on taking advantage of the program’s offerings this summer.

KeShaun Moore earned Big South All-Conference honors after his junior season. Courtesy of KeShaun Moore

“When my school and football schedule allows it, I’ll be going to a lot of the live events because I never had the opportunity as a kid,” he said. “This summer I want to go to SummerSlam because that’s one of the biggest pay-per-views right next to WrestleMania.”

SummerSlam takes place on Saturday night at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee (8 p.m. ET on Peacock).

Moore was a huge wrestling fan growing up, watching it weekly on television and playing all the games on PlayStation. But his primary interest in the company these days isn’t the high-risk maneuvers or superstars like John Cena and The Undertaker. It’s the behind-the-scenes and business side of things.

“My major at Hampton is marketing, and I have my associate’s degree in business,” Moore said. “I’m all for the public relations and marketing aspect of the company and learning how to market myself because it’s all preparing for my next steps in life.”

Last July, college athletes began profiting off of their name, image and likeness. HBCUs have seen an increase in attention in the media in recent years, and NIL opened a huge door for their athletes after years of being overlooked.

The first HBCU athlete to sign a NIL deal was Ky’Wuan Dukes, a wide receiver at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte who signed a deal with the Bojangles fast-food chain. In addition, Shedeur Sanders, a quarterback at Jackson State and son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders who is also Jackson State’s head coach, signed an NIL deal with Gatorade this past January.

“With me signing with the WWE, it gives HBCU athletes a sense of gratitude knowing one of us can get big opportunities,” Moore said. “WWE is a global phenomenon, and it attracts many people from across the world, and they have a huge reputation.”

Kimball emphasized that the company is proud they can say they have talent from an HBCU school as the NIL program was put in place to offer a vast opportunity for college athletes beyond the Power 5 schools.

“It’s important that our talent is reflective of our fanbase which is very diverse. We have over 30 athletes in the program and over 50% of them are non-white,” Kimball said. “With the addition of KeShaun the WWE will continue to recognize and grab talent from HBCU programs.”

Even though Moore was excited to play a significant role in HBCU history with the NIL deal, he kept the news quiet for a while.

“I didn’t tell my parents straight up at first because I didn’t know how legit it was at the time,” Moore said. “As stuff began to get more serious, I would tell a few friends here and there, but I kinda had to keep everything on the down-low until everything was finally announced on social media. My phone immediately blew up with congratulations and people asking me what my finishing move will be.”

His mother was proud, but not surprised by WWE’s interest in her son.

“He has always had a magnetic personality and people are just drawn to him,” she said. “I knew from his first year playing flag football at age 5 that he has a real talent and would be able to perform in front of huge crowds one day.”

Football is a common starting point for pro wrestlers. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson started off playing defensive lineman for the Miami Hurricanes alongside NFL Hall of Famers Ray Lewis and Warren Sapp. Brock Lesnarplayed for the Minnesota Vikings in 2004 during the preseason, and current WWE undisputed champion Roman Reigns was a first-team All-ACC defensive tackle for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets before trading the cleats in for wrestling boots. Big E played as a defensive lineman at the University of Iowa.

Moore knows that his football skill set will translate perfectly inside the ring. His desired finishing move marries the two together — a spear.

“I played defensive line, so I’m kinda used to being in the trenches,” Moore said. “The stuff that I think I would have to work on the most would be the entertainment aspect of it all and learning how to interact with the crowd. I’m a pretty outgoing and outspoken guy so if I fine tune that and sell my character, I believe I can make the adjustment to the business fast and be one of the best.”

HBCU Alum Highlighted As ‘Wavemaker’ In Honor of His Philanthropic Initiatives

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Curtis Turney-Rentas is a Delaware State University graduate who is making waves in his community! Learn more in his profile from Kerry Murtha at The Wave below!

Curtis Turney-Rentas is quick to credit his mom’s influence when asked what prompted him to give back to his Far Rockaway community.

“It’s something that’s always been at the forefront of my heart,” said the 28-year-old native. “My mom instilled a sense of service in me to always do for others, whether that means helping one person, two people or 100, the reward is the same.”

His drive to serve took root when he left home to attend Delaware State University in 2010, where his idea to organize campus clean-ups grew into a full-fledged organization that he dubbed Future Leaders In Progress, an initiative that drew members from various fraternities and sororities at the university. Seeking out like-minded Samaritans who want to make a difference is a concept Rentas said he was determined to bring back to Rockaway after he graduated in 2014.

He started small, enlisting the help of his mom and a few friends to do community clean-ups, holiday toy collections and a Thanksgiving Day drive–courtesy of his mom’s cooking– to feed those who otherwise wouldn’t have a meal.

In 2019, Rentas amplified his efforts when he became a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, the first intercollegiate Greek letter organization that was established for African Americans on the campus of Cornell University more than 100 years ago. Its mission aimed to bond brothers through serving those in need.

“I wanted to bring that exposure to the peninsula and join forces with other Greek letter organizations,” Rentas said. He began with members from nine other fraternities and sororities and eventually included six additional multicultural Greek groups. The Far Rock Greek Council was born.

“Our purpose is to unite the youth of the peninsula through service, civic engagement and scholastic opportunity,” Rentas noted. “We aim to change the narrative and trajectory of our community because Far Rockaway has little representation of college education, let alone Greek life. But through community care, we organize other community members who want to be the catalyst for change.”

Since its founding, The Far Rock Greek Council has broadened the scope of annual events that Rentas began years before. Together, members and volunteers now help a growing number of families through their Back to School Cookout; Tides of Joy Toy Drive and Operation Feast, a Thanksgiving Day celebration that served more than 300 residents last November with plated meals, a feat accomplished through the relationships the Council forged with local businesses like Cuisine By Claudette, Batesy’s and the Rockaway Tiki Bar.

Members also deliver weekly supplies of fresh fruits, vegetables and additional food items to 150 families through their “No Family Left Hungry” food drive while their “Clean My City” initiative regularly collects upwards of 50 bags of trash from beneath the Rockaway Freeway.

The Council collaborates with other Rockaway-based groups as well to host social events like the Rock the Block Fun Day at Bayswater Park, which Rentas co-founded, and the recent Forever Young Skate Party, which took place at the Roller Hockey Rink on Beach 109th Street earlier this month.

“I think we bring a different type of energy and grit to our work,” Rentas added. “We try to encourage people to join us and invest more time into the improvement of our community.”

His service to better the peninsula isn’t limited to the Council he founded. Two years ago Rentas joined the staff of the Rockaway Development Revitalization Corporation and took a seat on the board of the 101st Precinct Community Council.

In September, Rentas and his fellow Far Rock Greek Council members plan to roll out a mentorship program for middle school and high school students that will educate them on Greek life and the mission of community service. “Greek life is a collegiate level goal, so we’d be promoting higher education at a younger age while instilling the value of serving others,” Rentas said. “I’m really looking forward to creating more educational programs,” he added. “Our goal is to be one of the most prominent organizations in Rockaway and leave a legacy for years to come.”

Parents of Murdered Army Lieutenant Appeal to White House For Arlington National Cemetery Burial

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Army Lieutenant Richard Collins III was a Bowie State University student days away from graduation when he was tragically killed. Earlier this year, a plaza was unveiled in his honor at The University Of Maryland College Park. Now his family is pushing for him to be rightfully honored at the Arlington National Cemetery. Learn more in the story by Bruce Leshan at WUSA9.

A Bowie State University student who was days away from graduation Collins, who was days away from graduating Bowie State University and had been commissioned into the U.S. Army as a second lieutenant, 

Lt. Richard Collins III was murdered by an alleged white supremacist. His parents say his killer was the kind of domestic terrorist he’d sworn an oath to oppose.

Dawn and Richard Collins have left their son’s room just the way it was when two Maryland State Troopers arrived on May 20, 2017 to tell them he’d been murdered. A wall is emblazoned with a big American flag, and there are mementos of newly-commissioned 2nd Lt. Richard Collins III’s time in the ROTC at Bowie State University.

Dawn Collins still goes into her son’s room to console herself, and still wakes every night at 2:30 a.m. — the time an alleged white supremacist stabbed him to death at a University of Maryland bus stop. 

“It’s just a sense of disbelief that he’s not here,” said his father, Richard Collins, Jr.

Court papers say Sean Urbanski muttered at Lt. Collins: “Step left, step left if you know what’s best for you.” When Lt. Collins said no, Urbanski plunged a knife into his chest.

For years, the Collins family has been pushing Arlington National Cemetery to let them bury their son amongst the heroes on its sacred, wooded grounds. Now, after another denial, they’re appealing to the White House for help.

Collins had signed his papers, he’d been sworn in and committed himself to service. But because he was killed a few weeks before he was due to report to his first duty station, and because his papers were dated a few weeks later, Arlington is refusing to let him be interred there.

“He was murdered by a domestic terrorist,” Dawn Collins said. “The same individual or enemy of this country that he took an oath to defend against.” 

If it had been just a few weeks later, if he’d already reported for his first command, there wouldn’t be any question, he’d be at Arlington now. Instead, he’s buried in a family plot without a headstone in a small town in North Carolina.

U.S. Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Ben Cardin (D-MD) jointly wrote a letter last year urging the cemetery to reconsider. 

“As you know, Lt. Collins was an ROTC graduate of Bowie State University who commissioned as a 2LT, but was tragically murdered before reporting to his first duty assignment,” they wrote. “While LT Collins does not meet the traditional criteria required for burial at ANC, his situation is unique and warrants serious consideration for a new grave exception. LT Collins had every intention of reporting to his duty station and committed himself to a life of service to his country. Until the very end, LT Collins used his Army training to stand up for what is right. Although his desire to serve was tragically cut short, [Arlington National Cemetery] has the opportunity to demonstrate the Army’s commitment to LT Collins with this exception.”