Howard University senior Omar Mbodj is doing what he can to innovate the education system in his native Senegal. Get the full story from Ashleigh Fields and Myia Borland at The Hilltop.
Credit: Children in Mbodjene. Photo courtesy of Omar Mbodj
Omar Mbodj is working to be a living embodiment of Howard University’s motto, “In truth and service.” As a senior, Mbodj knows first hand the benefit of learning at a school with the proper resources. Howard has served as a launching pad for his career.
Mbodj wants to make sure other students have the same chance. On Jan. 6, he started a global initiative entitled, “Renovate Education.” His hope is to improve the learning conditions for elementary school students from his home village, Mbodjene, in Senegal, West Africa, by raising money with his brother, Ali Mbodj, via GoFundMe.
According to Mbodj, Mbodjene is home to the Walo-Walo people and Thiédo Warriors who defeated colonization. Although he loves returning to his village because of the collectivist nature of his family, he finds it unfortunate that the quality of life is not ideal. Mbodj believes that investing in the education of the younger generation will ensure a brighter future for students and their families.
“They are working with very minimal school supplies and overall facility level; it’s very sad,” said Mbodj. “ There’s a definite feeling that I can do something about it, especially with my Howard network, I know I can make a difference.”
Mbodj’s goal is to renovate the broken floors and walls; purchase desks and chairs to accommodate all the students; install two restrooms, a small computer lab, library, solar panels, and an enclosed playground that is safe for kids to perform recreational activities and engage in sports. Mbodj hopes to start building this month and complete the project by the end of the summer.
This is not the first time that Mbodj has given back to his village. In Dec. 2021, Mbodj held a prize competition that rewarded students who received the best grades with tablets.
“I was elated by the extent to which students valued education and were eager to learn more,” Mbodj said. “They all would like to seek a profession in law, medicine, or tech.”
So far, the Mbodj brothers have raised nearly $4,000 out of their $20,000 goal on GoFundMe. Mbodj credits an effort from the Bison community and his line brothers from the Beta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alph Fraternity Incorporated.
“All of my line brothers have been really helpful in this process – a lot of them have helped raise funds through sharing and donating,” Mbodj said. “Many are willing to help and be hands on with building.”
To find out more about Mbodj’s cause and to donate you can visit the Go Fund Me here.
Over the weekend Elizabeth City State University announced the campus was dealing with an expansive power outage. Power has been restored to all but a few remaining buildings. Get the story from staff at the local Daily Advance below.
Source: Speaker Tim Moore Official Website
A number of Elizabeth City State University buildings and facilities, including the campus dining hall, were still without power Monday, two days after a brief power outage on campus.
ECSU said on its website that the city of Elizabeth City experienced a brief power outage on Saturday that included the university campus. When the city restored power, the university’s power infrastructure was affected, causing outages at a number of facilities, the campus said.
Buildings affected by the outage and still without power for most of Monday included Bedell Dining Hall; the commuter center/bowling alley; Dixon-Patterson Hall; the E.V. Wilkins Academic Computing Center; Griffin Hall; McLendon Hall; the Ridley Student Complex; the Walter N. and Henrietta B. Ridley University Center; the Thorpe Administration Building; the R.L. Vaughan Center; University Towers; and Williams Hall.
Students with classes in any of the buildings without power were advised to contact their professor so they could learn whether their class was being held in another building or would switch to being held remotely.
Because Bedell Dining Hall was without power, students were told to report to the K.E. White Center for breakfast and lunch on Monday. ECSU provided shuttle service to the center for students eating meals.
Students at University Towers were relocated Sunday to alternate housing sites both on and off-campus, and were expected to remain there until power was restored. Students were provided the alternate accommodations at no cost to them, ECSU said.
ECSU staff were stationed at the off-campus housing sites to assist students and provide those lacking transportation shuttle service to and from campus.
Monday evening, ECSU announced that power had been restored to both Bedell Dining Hall and University Towers, and that campus staff would continue to work on restoring power to other facilities and buildings still without power.
ECSU said it planned to schedule students’ return to campus over the next two days. Students were advised to wait until contacted by Residence Life personnel before returning to University Towers.
The university also announced that because of the power outage, the last day to remove incomplete grades had been extended from Tuesday to Friday, March 25.
Faculty and staff were advised to come to work on Tuesday if their building had power. Non-essential employees who work in one of the buildings without power were advised to telework on Monday and Tuesday.
Faculty members who teach in buildings without power were supposed to be notified about alternative classroom locations.
Langston University student Zachaeus Beard has made history at both his HBCU and beyond at a recent championship. Over the weekend, he earned the top spot at the NAIA T&F Championships. The move also earned him a spot at Langston that hasn’t been touched in almost 10 years. In fact, Beard has become the first tracker runner to bring Langston University a national track championship since 2013! Learn more about Beard’s history-making run in the 60M dash and how he found success in the story from Kyle Taylor of Langston Sports Information.
For the first time since the 2013 season, the Langston University Lions returned home for the NAIA indoor Track and Field Championships with a national champion.
Zachaeus Beard won the men’s 60-meter dash and set the meet record with a time of 6.61, breaking the previous national meet record of 6.65 seconds by two different runners (Mike Rodgers of Oklahoma Baptist in 2007 and Kejavon Moore of Indiana Tech in 2018).
Beard became the first Langston University Lion or Lady Lion since 2013 to gain the distinction of national champion. The most recent being David Walters during the 2013 season in the same event, the 60-meter dash.
“This makes me feel so grateful, so thankful. I have so many to thank for my success. Glory Glory Hallelujah! I’m just so happy man, I worked for this,” the junior sprinter said when reflecting on his accomplishments. “I haven’t really understood the magnitude of what I’ve done yet, but they’ve been telling me it’s big! Not only was it big, but it’s only the beginning.”
Dion Collier also picked up NAIA All-American honors, finishing fourth overall in the 60-meter dash with a final time of 6.78 seconds.
The sprinting duo now looks to continue their success as Langston transitions to the outdoor season on March 26th at Oklahoma Baptist in Shawnee, Okla.
Dillard University alumna Shetellia Riley has made history as the presumed on Black woman sports agent in the NBA after her stepson Kyrie Irving tapped her to represent him. Get the full story from Derek Major at Black Enterprise below.
(Credit: NBA.com)
Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving has changed his representation and is keeping it in the family, hiring his stepmother, Shetellia Riley Irving.
According to The Athletic‘s NBA insider, Shams Charania, Riley Irving currently serves as the vice president of ad sales at BET and is believed to be the only Black female agent representing an NBA player. Roc Nation and Jeff Wechsler previously represented the Nets guard.
Irving has a player option for the 2022-23 season that will pay him $36.6 million, but he can also decline the option and become a free agent. Irving has played in just 15 games this season, all in road games outside of Brooklyn due to his reluctance to get the COVID-19 vaccination and New York City’s vaccination mandate for indoor events.
(Credit: Christian Vierig / Shetellia Riley Irving)
Many fans hoped New York City MayorEric Adams would make an exception for the superstar point guard, but Adams refused. Although mask mandates have been relaxed for indoor venues, the vaccination mandate still stands, meaning Irving cannot play home games.
The Nets entered the season as an NBA Finals favorite, but things haven’t gone well for them whether or not Irving has played. Teammate Kevin Durant has dealt with injuries all season, and James Harden eventually expressed his displeasure with his two teammates constantly being out and was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. Ben Simmons, who the Nets received when they traded Harden, is currently out with a back injury.
The Nets are eighth in the Eastern Conference with a 32-32 record and are holding onto the conference’s last playoff spot by one game. In the 15 games Irving has played, the Nets are just 5-10.
Irving previously played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, winning a title with LeBron James, and the Boston Celtics. Irving has been to seven All-Star games and is a three-time All-NBA player.
North Carolina A&T State University will welcome Earvin “Magic” Johnson during an event later this month that will explore lessons that can be learned from his business endeavors. Get the full story from the N.C. A&T release below.
Credit: Getty Images
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University will welcome business mogul and NBA legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson to the Chancellor’s Speaker Series, “Building Black Businesses,” Tuesday, March 29, at 6 p.m. Johnson will deliver a tailored keynote address to an audience of students and community members in Harrison Auditorium, located on the university’s campus.
This event comes on the heels of the “Building Black Wealth” speaker series, which featured financial expert Mellody Hobson. Both conversations bolster the university’s continued goal of cultivating an intellectual climate and offering a platform for creative exchange of ideas. “Building Black Businesses” is an opportunity for participants to gain foundational principles and glean from Johnson’s lived experiences as a leading businessman.
Having left the basketball court for the boardroom, Johnson has successfully parlayed his skills and tenacity from the court into the business world as chairman and CEO of Magic Johnson Enterprises (MJE). MJE provides high-quality products and services that focus primarily on ethnically diverse and underserved urban communities.
Still a commanding presence in popular culture, Johnson made history in 2012 when he became co-owner of MLB’s Los Angeles Dodgers. He also co-owns the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA, Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Football Club, and eSports franchise Team Liquid. He continues to expand his influence through his many businesses that include EquiTrust Life Insurance Co. and SodexoMAGIC, a food service and facilities management company.
The Lansing, Michigan, native is constantly evolving and remaining relevant in a dynamic digital age by broadening his scope into infrastructure improvement in the United States and technology. He is one of the leading investors in several minority-owned technology companies that include Uncharted Power, a power and data infrastructure technology company; Jopwell, a diversity and hiring recruiting platform; and ShotTracker, a company that makes wearable technology for basketball players that helps track player and ball movement.
In 2021, Johnson was appointed to the board of directors for Fanatics, a sports licensing company, and Cameo, a company that lets celebrities sell personalized messages to fans. With his unique positioning as a businessman spanning multiple industries and generations, he aims to help companies expand and foster a positive impact domestically and globally.
The speaker series event is open to the public. Free tickets will be available beginning March 15 at the University Ticket Office located in Brown Hall.
Livingstone College President Dr. Jimmy R. Jenkins, Sr. will have a scholarship named after him as an honor to his 16 years at the HBCU. Get the full story from WBTV staff below.
Livingstone College says Dr. Jenkins was inducted into the 2022 CIAA class of the John B. McLendon Jr. Hall of Fame on Friday. (Credit: Livingstone College)
The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) will be establishing a scholarship in the name of Livingstone College President Dr. Jimmy R. Jenkins, Sr., according to the college.
Livingstone College posted to social media that the CIAA just announced it is establishing a scholarship in Dr. Jenkins’ name.
Jenkins is the longest-tenured president among the CIAA-member institutions and was inducted into the CIAA John B. McLendon Jr. Hall of Fame on Feb. 25 at the Baltimore Convention Center.
President Jenkins recently announced to the Livingstone Board of Trustees on Feb. 9 that he will retire from his role on July 1, 2022, after 16 years of service.
Jenkins was appointed to lead the historically black college in February 2006. He is the second longest-tenured president in the history of the school.
According to the college, under Jenkins’ leadership, the campus saw its first major construction in more than 40 years in that of Honors Hall, apartment-style units for new students with high grade-point averages.
President Jenkins is credited with saving the college from closure from its accrediting agency and the college boasts reaffirmation of accreditation for the next 10 years without a single recommendation.
“Jenkins also raised the net asset value of the college by $15 million; acquired a former Holiday Inn to establish the hospitality management and culinary arts program; and reactivated the college’s 40 acres of land to grow food and supply culinary arts. College enrollment grew 35 percent to 1,400 students, the largest in school history (pre-COVID-19), resulting in Livingstone purchasing College Park Apartments, a four-building complex that houses 100 students,” Livingstone College’s website reads.
Livingstone College says Dr. Jenkins was inducted into the 2022 CIAA class of the John B. McLendon Jr. Hall of Fame on Friday. The induction was among several recognitions for the outgoing Livingstone College president.
Jenkins is the longest-tenured president among the CIAA-member institutions and currently serves on the CIAA’s Board of Directors.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Jenkins recalled when McWilliams informed him he was being inducted into the Hall of Fame for his 28 years with the CIAA.
The CIAA recognizes inductees for their excellence in the conference, significant contributions in the community, leadership within CIAA athletics, and commitment to the conference mission.
“When I first joined, I was the youngest member on the board. And now as I depart, I’m the oldest member on the board,” Jenkins quipped during a talk-show style interview at the induction ceremony. “And just to have my colleagues who are younger than I to see something in me to the point where they voted me into the Hall of Fame is something that I will remember and cherish for the rest of my life.”
Jenkins is credited with saving the historically black college in Salisbury from losing its accreditation and with raising its net assets value by $15 million.
“When we arrived at Salisbury, the school was on the verge of losing its accreditation with SACSCOC (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges) … We were able to move the institution to financial stability. I’m proud we were able to save the institution. Since that time, 16 years later, we’re moving forward and got reaffirmed a year ago now with no recommendations, which is historic for the institution.”
Jenkins has not one, but two buildings named after him.
Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) in North Carolina has a science building that bears his name and Edward Waters University in Jacksonsville, Fla., named an athletic field after Jenkins. He is a past leader at both universities.
“I think its surreal,” Jenkins said.
When asked about the future of HBCUs, Jenkin said, “We have to remember that these HBCUs were established at the time to educate the children of the just-freed slaves. This is war and it’s a war against ignorance. Many of our students are not able to perform on certain standardized tests – not because of their intellect but because of exposure. If we get that exposure, they will be able to perform well and be able to command their rightful place in the global society.”
Jenkins was joined at the induction by his wife, Dr. Faleese Moore Jenkins; their children and grandchildren; and his brother and sister
Cheyney University is being intentional about bringing more diverse educators to the Pennsylvania school system through a new pipeline. Get the full story from the NewsOne article below.
Source: Maskot / Getty
Cheyney University is looking to create a pipeline for more diverse teachers in the Pennsylvania school system.
According to Chalkbeat, Last week at a Board of Education Philadelphia school district officials talked about statistics that showed a 200% increase year over year in teacher resignations along with numerous other problems that the school district was facing when it comes to educators.
The meeting also takes place at a time when the ratio of students to teachers of color in Pennsylvania is among the worst in the nation. And in a Philadelphia School District where there is a drastic need for more diverse representation to connect with students, Cheyney could be a crucial asset.
Cheyney is considered the oldest historically black college and university (HBCU) in the country and has been offering opportunities to Black students for decades. The collaboration among Cheyney, the School District of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Department of Education, and the Community College of Philadelphia could be another way to help the HBCU with its mission. The program will track students who are in the 10th, 11th, and 12th grades, and encourage them to go into teaching. To apply to the program, a student has to be a graduating senior with a minimum GPA of 3.0. The student must also achieve at least 1,000 or higher on the SAT.
“A lot of people don’t know, but I did my undergrad at Cheyney studying business and economics because I thought that was something I really wanted to do at that time,” said Joyce Abbott who attended Cheyney University’s graduate program for elementary education and is the inspiration behind the new hit comedy “Abbott Elementary”. “But the love for teaching has always been a part of my life with my family.”
“I will tell you a lot of the stronger teachers in Philadelphia obtained their education degree from Cheyney,” Abbott continued, according to Chalkbeat. “They would go into schools and just be phenomenal. And that was a direct result of the instruction and training they received from Cheyney.”
District officials say that they will dedicate resources to help improve the number of diverse teachers who are hired in their schools and remain at their schools.
Cheyney President Aaron Walton thinks Cheyney could help with these issues. The school has a summer program called Aspire to Educate or A2E and it could help inspire high school students to consider a career in education. There is no cost for the program and it’s built to show students the benefits of teaching.
The problems with finding diverse teachers exist in more places than in the state of Pennsylvania. According to a recent report from the Pew Research Center, about 79% of U.S. public school teachers are white; Black teachers accounted for about 7% of the country’s teaching force, while Latino teachers accounted for 9%, and Asian American teachers 2%.
The meeting also takes place at a time when the ratio of students to teachers of color in Pennsylvania is among the worst in the nation. And in a Philadelphia School District where there is a drastic need for more diverse representation to connect with students, Cheyney could be a crucial asset.
Cheyney is the oldest historically black college and university (HBCU) in the country and has been offering opportunities to Black students for decades. The collaboration among Cheyney, the School District of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Department of Education, and the Community College of Philadelphia could be another way to help the HBCU with its mission. The program will track students who are in the 10th, 11th, and 12th grades, and encourage them to go into teaching. To apply to the program, a student has to be a graduating senior with a minimum GPA of 3.0. The student must also achieve at least 1,000 or higher on the SAT.
“A lot of people don’t know, but I did my undergrad at Cheyney studying business and economics because I thought that was something I really wanted to do at that time,” said Joyce Abbott who attended Cheyney University’s graduate program for elementary education and is the inspiration behind the new hit comedy “Abbott Elementary”. “But the love for teaching has always been a part of my life with my family.”
“I will tell you a lot of the stronger teachers in Philadelphia obtained their education degree from Cheyney,” Abbott continued, according to Chalkbeat. “They would go into schools and just be phenomenal. And that was a direct result of the instruction and training they received from Cheyney.”
District officials say that they will dedicate resources to help improve the number of diverse teachers who are hired in their schools and remain at their schools.
Cheyney President Aaron Walton thinks Cheyney could help with these issues. The school has a summer program called Aspire to Educate or A2E and it could help inspire high school students to consider a career in education. There is no cost for the program and it’s built to show students the benefits of teaching.
The problems with finding diverse teachers exist in more places than in the state of Pennsylvania. According to a recent report from the Pew Research Center, about 79% of U.S. public school teachers are white; Black teachers accounted for about 7% of the country’s teaching force, while Latino teachers accounted for 9%, and Asian American teachers 2%.
South Carolina State University has a list of activities lined up for students, alumni, staff, and friends of the university to celebrate its 126th year! Get the full story from staff at The Times and Democrat below.
(Credit: Yon Online/The Times and Democrat)
South Carolina State University will celebrate its 126th birthday this weekend with events honoring students and university supporters.
Friday, March 4: The university will honor the newest members of the Thomas E. Miller Society in an invitation-only dinner on campus. Named in honor of Thomas Ezekiel Miller, the first president of the institution that would evolve into S.C. State, the Miller Society recognizes cumulative philanthropy from individuals, couples, organizations, associations, corporations and foundations who demonstrate commitment to the university and higher education by sharing their resources.
Saturday, March 5: The S.C. State Foundation will host its 31st annual Scholarship Gala & Tribute, a ticketed event at Smith Hammond Middleton Memorial Center. Tickets for the in-person event are sold out with a waiting list, but the festivities will be streamed online exclusively to virtual ticketholders at $99 each. The foundation also continues to accept sponsorships. This annual event is the S.C. State Foundation’s major fundraiser and supports scholarships at the university. To purchase tickets and sponsorship packages, visit https://www.scstategives.com. The event will begin at 6 p.m., and the foundation will honor six “Shining Stars” in the student body.
Sunday, March 6: The Founders’ Day Program, “126 Years: Affirming Our Past, While Embracing Our Future,” will begin at 4 p.m. in Smith Hammond Middleton Memorial Center. Dr. Andrew Hugine Jr., former S.C. State president (2003-2007) and a 1971 alumnus, will deliver the keynote address. This event is open to the public.
The Founders Day Program will include the university’s annual awards, including faculty and staff service awards, 2022 Quarter Century Club Awards, the Distinguished Alumnus and Alumna Awards, the Outstanding Accomplishments and Achievements Award, the Distinguished Alumni Awards, and the Staff Employee of the Year Awards.
Dr. Andrew Hugine Jr.
Hugine is a Green Pond native and the son of the late Rev. and Mrs. Andrew (Irene Short) Hugine Sr. He resides in Madison, Alabama.
In 1971, Hugine received a bachelor of science degree and a master of education degree in 1974, both in mathematics, from South Carolina State College (now university). In 1977, he received a doctor of philosophy degree in higher education and institutional research from Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan.
During his 30-year career at S.C. State, Hugine served as the director of special services, program director for University Year for Action Program, teaching assistant, institutional research analyst, assistant professor, research fellow, the assistant director and director of the self-study, assistant vice president for academic affairs, professor of mathematics, and interim executive vice president. Hugine was appointed president of SCSU in 2003. In 2009, he was appointed president of Alabama A&M University in Huntsville, Alabama.
2022 Thomas E. Society Inductees
· Chief Justice Donald W. Beatty, ’74.
· Helen Corbett-Brandyburg, ’74.
· Hubert Daniely Jr., ’63.
· Dr. and Mrs. Charles (Barbara) Gadsden, ’72, ’90.
· Willa H. Hightower Jr., ’64.
· Dr. and Mrs. Andrew (Abbiegale H.) Hugine Jr. both ’71.
Students interested in engineering and more at Alcorn State University recently enjoyed their first “ERDC Day, ” which introduced them to opportunities at the US Army Corps of Engineers’ Engineer Research and Development Center. Get the full story from the ERDC release below.
Fulton Carson, a computer scientist at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory, speaks to several Alcorn State University students at ERDC Day on February 23, 2022. The event, which featured a mini career fair, exposed Alcorn students to ERDC career opportunities. (Credit: Khary Ratliff)
Recently, Alcorn State University (ASU) hosted a team of personnel from the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) in Vicksburg, Mississippi, for a career day. The event—known as ERDC Day— was the first of its kind to be held on the ASU campus in Lorman, Mississippi.
“This is the beginning of a strong, renewed relationship with ERDC,” said Dr. Ontario Wooden, ASU Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. “Today is the realization of the partnership that we have been dreaming about.”
“We are appreciative of ERDC’s commitment in helping us help our students be the best that they can be,” Alcorn State University President Dr. Felecia Nave said as she welcomed the ERDC team to campus on February 23. “We are appreciative of the commitment of Dr. (David) Pittman and his team in making sure that we are more intentional and deliberate in showcasing the relationship and making sure our students are not only prepared, but also very much aware of ERDC and the valuable resource that is right up the road in Vicksburg, Mississippi.”
The one-day event featured ERDC researchers and other staff, who introduced the students to various avenues of employment from scientific research to communications. The 12 classroom sessions not only reviewed the subjects of interest to the students, but also included an introduction of the offerings and history of ERDC.
“We want to thank everyone at Alcorn for hosting us at one of the best recruiting events we have ever been a part of,” said Dr. Gary Anderton, Director, ERDC Directorate of Human Capital. “ASU’s hospitality, staff engagement and the wonderful students we got to meet were all outstanding. We are looking for this to be the model on how we join forces with regional colleges and universities in the coming years.”
Alan Katzenmeyer, chief of Aquatic Ecology and Invasive Species Branch at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) Environmental Laboratory, addresses the students in a classroom at Alcorn State University. Katzenmeyer was one of several participants in ERDC Day on February 23, 2022. The event, which featured a mini career fair, exposed Alcorn students to ERDC career opportunities. (Credit: Khary Ratliff)
“This is an important day for Alcorn and ERDC,” said Speler Montgomery, ERDC Talent Acquisition Program Manager. “We are getting to tell the ERDC story and let students know that there are opportunities to work with us as student interns as well as full-time jobs when they graduate.”
“ERDC is always looking for the best and brightest,” said Mr. Mark Noel of ERDC’s Environmental Laboratory. “Strengthening the relationship with Alcorn State University gives ERDC an opportunity to engage with the students early through internships leading to recruitment and employment. Moving forward, strategic engagements will lead to adjunct faculty and collaborative research opportunities.”
In addition to the presentations, the students also spoke in-person with the ERDC team through a mini career fair. The fair allowed the students to ask questions, visit and take away more information about the various opportunities for employment and internships.
“Resource Management was able to connect with students across the fields of business administration, accounting and computer science,” said Sissy Hudson, ERDC Director of Resource Management. “Having that face-to-face interaction with tomorrow’s all-stars is critical in ensuring a partnership for ERDC’s future financial accountability.”
“We are out in the middle of nowhere, and the biggest challenge for us is connecting to those employment opportunities and helping our students to connect,” said Dr. Carolyn Davis, Director of Career Services and Pre-Professional Programs. “ERDC’s presence here made a world of difference and added value to the mission of Alcorn—to connect students to global opportunities. On a scale from one to ten, this event was a ten.”
With successful and engaged turnout during the classroom interactions, lunch-and-learn and mini career fair, organizers of the event said they hope ERDC Day at Alcorn will happen annually and continue to grow in the years to come.
Presently, 20 ERDC employees have one or more degrees from ASU— 17 with bachelor’s and six with master’s. ASU graduates working at ERDC include awards program specialist, budget analyst, chemist, computer scientist, equal employment manager, information technology specialist, lead security guard, and many more. Two ASU students are currently employed at ERDC.
ERDC’s workforce includes more than 2,180 employees, including 1,330 engineers and scientists, many with advanced degrees and international recognition in their areas of expertise. ERDC also partners with leading experts from other agencies, academia and private industry to provide solutions for the U.S. Army, Department of Defense, civilian agencies and the Nation.
Fayetteville State University recently brought home the CIAA men’s basketball championship, and it has one alumnus reliving one of the best moments of his life! Get the full story from The Fayetteville Observer at Myron B. Pitts at The Fayetteville Observer.
Fayetteville State University players celebrate winning the CIAA Men’s Basketball Tournament in February of 1973. Roy Birch from that team (No. 22) says that the players were like family. On Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, the Broncos won the CIAA Tournament for the first time since 1973. (Credit: Fayetteville State University)
The Rev. Roy “Skip” Birch got to relive a specific kind of joy Saturday night — and it is one 49 years in the making.
Birch played on the Fayetteville State University basketball team that won the CIAA Men’s Basketball Tournament on Feb. 24, 1973. He remembers the team arriving home that long-ago Saturday night to the cheers of their fellow Broncos at the student union.
“Of course it was a joyous occasion. There were a lot of students,” Birch says. “It was unexpected. We felt special.”
It would be from that day until Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, before another FSU men’s team would return to campus wearing the CIAA tournament crown. The Broncos defeated Virginia Union 65 to 62 in the tournament final in Baltimore that afternoon, powered by balanced scoring from Jalen Seegers, the tournament MVP, Darian Dixon and Cress Worthy.
Fayetteville State students and alumni filed into Capel Arena to greet the players when they arrived around 8 o’clock in the evening.
The Fayetteville State University men’s basketball team celebrates winning the 2022 CIAA Tournament championship on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022.(Credit: Fayetteville State University)
Birch and his wife, Dorothy, also an FSU alum, were among attendees. Word about the welcome-back event at Capel spread through the alumni community on Saturday.
“We actually waited about two hours,” he says. “The reality of when they were getting back was different than what we were initially told.”
He added the student body had evidently been told the correct time because they started coming in not long before the players, he said.
As for the team’s entrance: “It was exciting,” he says.
The CIAA win earned the Broncos, whose coach is Luke D’Alessio, an automatic berth in the NCAA Division II Tournament. The bracket is scheduled to be revealed Sunday.
Roy “Skip” Birch played for the 1973 Fayetteville State University men’s basketball team that won the CIAA championship. The Broncos won the tournament on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, for the first time since then. (Credit: The Fayetteville Observer)
Birch, who lives in Fayetteville and is an associate minister at First Baptist Church on Moore Street, says he didn’t think there was any way it would take so long for FSU to win the CIAA tournament again. The Broncos have been to the title game several times and lost a heart-breaker in the 2020 final. COVID-19 canceled the tournament in 2021.
“It’s a combination of breaks, and basketball, and participating in the moment — all of those kinds of things,” Birch says. “I’m not one who believes in luck.”
‘Like family’
It was a different world back then when the 1973 Broncos completed their historic run by upending the Norfolk State Spartans, 94 to 89, in the final held in Greensboro. The Vietnam War was on the front pages of the newspaper, Richard Nixon was still president and the day prior to the CIAA championship, three Apollo 17 astronauts, referred to in a headline as “the last Moonmen,” visited with state legislators and N.C. Gov. Jim Hunt in Raleigh.
In The Fayetteville Observer sports section, the FSU victory, “Broncos claim CIAA Crown” was the lead story on a page that also included stories about a win by then-Methodist College in its conference tournament and a 23-game win-streak by the N.C. State Wolfpack led by David Thompson, one of the all-time great collegiate players.
FSU’s victory in overtime was described as a “heart-rending and emotional comeback” that was a “revenge for a loss to these same Spartans in the finals a year ago.
“The Broncos did whatever it took — gut, pride, desire, hustle.”
The team, coached by Tom Reeves, leaned on the brilliant play of James Tyus, “the Arkansas Flash,” who was named the tournament MVP, as well as Terrance Murchison, the only team’s only senior, the Cogdell brothers, Alton and Larry, and Otis Newkirk.
Birch, who played as a guard and forward, says there was another key element.
“We were like family. We hung out together,” he says. “We chit-chatted together. We bonded.”
Many of the players stay in touch to this day, he says. In this region, the circle includes Birch; Otis Newkirk in Raeford; Robert Wilson and Michael Ross in Raleigh; and Murchison in South Carolina.
Birch can also name the members of the team who have passed away. They include Coach Reeves, who died in his office just a few months after the championship — but whose wife, Evelyn, is 96 and attends Birch’s church. Also deceased are the Cogdell brothers; assistant coach Armstead; Angelo Finch; and Sam Smith, he says.
Birch is looking forward to see how the 2022 edition of the Broncos, the latest CIAA champs, do in the Division II tournament.
He describes the moment on Saturday when the triumphant team came into Capel, having ended the long drought.
“You can say it was a weight lifted, personally for me, but for the school. I was extremely overjoyed,” he said. “And proud.”
Atlanta HBCUs like Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, and Spelman College are combatting the battle against teaching critical race theory but successfully teaching its value. Get the full story from Eric Stirgus at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution below.
Adrienne Jones, an assistant political science professor, teaches concepts that embrace the ideas of critical race theory during her constitutional law class at Morehouse College on Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022. (Credit: Hyosub Shin)
Kurt Young, political science chair at Clark Atlanta University, said his students are asking more questions about critical race theory these days.
It’s happening amid a smoldering national debate on the subject, which has also erupted in Georgia.Critical race theory, typically used in graduate and law schools, examines how race has shaped culture, legal systems and policies to produce unequal outcomes.
Republican state lawmakers have introduced several bills in recent weeks that would limit discussions on race in public schools and colleges and, in some cases, impose financial penalties. Young says the controversy has increased interest among his students in critical race theory.
“It’s the reverse of what the intentions seem to be of proponents of the attacks on critical race theory,” he said.
For decades, principles of critical race theory have been ingrained in the curriculum of HBCUs, including those in Atlanta. For instance, the English Department’s webpage at Spelman College says critical race theory is one of several areas “in the spirit of social transformation” that are “the cornerstone of a Spelman education.”
Many students say they enrolled at HBCUs to learn more about historical figures who fought structural racism.
“So trying to restrict it puts us at a disadvantage. It’s stopped us from knowing our true value as being African American and the value we added to our country, because this is our country, too,” said Milaj Robinson, a Morehouse College political science major.
Kurt Young is the chair of Clark Atlanta University’s political science department (Credit: Clark Atlanta University)
Classroom focus
Atlanta’s HBCUs, connected physically and philosophically, have long been at the forefront of confronting racism. In 1960, students organized marches and sit-ins that desegregated several downtown businesses. In recent years, they’ve helped lead Black Lives Matter protests.
Together, thesix private schools enroll about 9,000 students. Many were founded more than a century ago to teach Black students when other schools refused to admit them.
Young says they have a duty to teach “the missing chapters of history.” That includes teaching critical race theory.
“HBCUs must continue to be a space to study those dynamics and dedicate more resources to the refining of those dynamics,” he said.
At Clark Atlanta, Young said the conversations about CRT have resulted in more political science discussions about the inner workings of federalism and how politicians have used it to discriminate against people of color through poll taxes and other methods.
There are similar classroom discussions about CRT at Morehouse, the alma mater of civil rights icons such as the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Maynard Jackson. It was led for nearly three decades by King’s spiritual mentor, Benjamin E. Mays. Young people are ready for it, a group of students said after a recent constitutional law class.
Cameron Williams, 23, a senior majoring in history and sociology, said his knowledge of Black history has grown significantly since transferring to Morehouse in 2019. For instance, he learned about the “Call to Rebellion,” a speech by Henry Highland Garnet in 1843 encouraging Blacks to turn against their enslavers.
Cameron Williams (second from left) has a discussion with classmates during assistant political science professor Adrienne Jones’ constitutional law class at Morehouse College on Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022 (Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC)
Robinson, a sophomore, said he learned about Black Wall Street at Morehouse. Black Wall Street was a flourishing Black business district and neighborhood in Tulsa, Oklahoma, destroyed by a violent white mob in 1921. Dozens of people were killed; thousands were left homeless.
One student in a group discussion asked if it’s too traumatic for younger students to learn about aspects of history that would come from critical race theory curriculum, such as the 1906 Atlanta Race Riot where about two dozen Blacks were killed, some reportedly hanged from light poles.
No, the others replied. The material, they said, could be taught on a gradual scale.
CRT backlash
The pushback against CRT has caused some at HBCUs to speak carefully, or not at all publicly, on the topic. One administrator worried that speaking in support of CRT could anger donors.
Faculty members at public universities in Georgia also say colleagues are increasingly wary of speaking on controversial topics such as CRT. A Republican state representative last month asked for information from University System leaders identifying any courses that focus on topics related to critical race theory, such as anti-racism and social justice. System officials are working on a response.
The seeds of critical race theory were planted in the early 20th century by Black intellectuals like W.E.B. DuBois, who taught at what’s now Clark Atlanta. Most scholars trace the roots of CRT to the 1960s and early 1970s to academics such as Derrick Bell and Alan Freeman, who felt the instruction was needed on the graduate level at predominantly white colleges and universities.
CRT was largely unnoticed by the broad public until 2020 when the Trump administration asked all federal agencies to divert any federal funds from training involving critical race theory, calling it “un-American propaganda.” The White House spotlight sparked more interest, and criticism, of CRT from conservatives. President Joe Biden reversed the order his first day in office.
There’s frustration among faculty at Atlanta’s HBCUs about perceptions of CRT.
“Most people don’t know what critical race theory is. It isn’t popular. It is not taught in grade schools. It isn’t the basis for any federal programs,” Morehouse assistant political science professor Adrienne Jones, director of its pre-law program, wrote in a commentary posted on the college’s faculty blog site.
“The goal of CRT is to remove racism from law and policy and to further democracy by creating an equitable legal system,” she added.
The students in Jones’ American Constitutional Law class believe young people of all backgrounds are open to learning about CRT.
“I think our generation is more curious,” said Raquille Love, 21, a Spelman College senior majoring in women’s studies. “More individuals now are talking about what’s happened to us. And restricting common knowledge doesn’t necessarily move us forward.”
White parents, the students argue, are largely the ones reluctant to have these conversations.
“They don’t want their children or their great-grandchildren to hear about how they stopped somebody from going to school based on the color of their skin,” said Emmanuel Deen, 20, a junior majoring in political science at Morehouse. “So I feel it’s a way of erasing their mishaps.”
“It’s their parents who are the ones who are arguing (against CRT),” Love said. “The students have no complaints. They are the ones who are starting the conversations.”
It’s the small choices that we make day after day that truly determine our success and define who we are. For author and real estate entrepreneur Antonio Buchanan, it paid to have education at the forefront. Valuing his studies led him across the globe and later to buying homes. Although it’s unconventional, there’s no doubt you’ll find inspiration in his story whether you’re an HBCU student, alum, or ally.
Antonio Buchanan grew up like many young Black men do, tempted by the possibility of an exciting life as a professional athlete. He enjoyed basketball, and thought perhaps it could be his ticket to a better life. “The only people that I had other than family like my dad and my brothers as positive role models, were people that were aspiring to be athletes in football or basketball, people that were aspiring to be rappers, or drug dealers,” he said. “There was no in between. I didn’t meet a lot of doctors, I didn’t meet a lot of attorneys, I didn’t meet a lot of successful people that just do regular jobs.”
The basketball player tried his best not to accrue heavy student loan debt by playing at a community college after high school. However, it was easy to get side-tracked. He noticed many players only studied enough to be eligible during basketball season. Whenever the season wasn’t on, they fell off. Determined to succeed, he became one of the most dedicated players on his team. But when he received a couple scholarship offers to continue playing at four year universities after he earned his Associate’s degree, he thankfully recognized the pivotal moment for what it was. “I had a moment of reflection and I had to be real with myself,” he said. “Was I good enough to go to the league?” The four-year school he aspired to go to didn’t give him a scholarship, and that led him to enter the military seeking to study computer engineering and information technology (IT).
Although the military may seem like an unconventional path towards higher education for many, Buchanan lived an exciting life. He traveled to over 40 countries while in the Navy, and then came back to finish his last year in Oklahoma. As it turned out, the principles of the military would lead him to live the next chapter of his life doing a different kind of service.
In what was a surprise to many, he applied and succeeded in his goal to become a US Marshal in Miami. “I was kicking in doors, I was arresting people, drug cartels, terrorists, you name it. Some of the worst of the worst criminals I came face to face with,” he said. Amid his exciting career, he still found the time to graduate with his computer engineering degree from the only local college in Miami to have the program at the time.
Next it was time for a bigger challenge. “What else can I do,” he asked himself. His answer was just as ambitious as his quest to be a US Marshal: he set his sights on the CIA. It was very difficult to get in, and for a while he was the only Black man in the program. Knowing this challenging scenario was one of the reasons he pursued his education, he then put his degree to good use. “I went there to be a computer engineer/intelligence officer,” he said. “So think about what I did as a US Marshal. I did the same thing in the CIA but it was geared towards foreign nationals, and I did it from behind a computer. If you wanted to launch a missile, fly a drone, if you wanted to enable the officers that are on the ground overseas, I was the person to do that from an IT perspective.” He eventually went on to earn his Master’s degree in systems engineering, with a minor in cybersecurity.
However, as he became more and more successful, he began to resent the nature of his CIA work. It distanced him from his community too much. Having to lock his phone away for top secret missions every day eventually started to wear him out. Now in his next phase of life, he is finally in a space to be able to be of service to people in a different way. He has found success teaching others in his community the lessons he had to learn on his own.
With the funds and connections he made during his preceding careers, Buchanan dove into real estate. He is now the CEO and managing partner at Capstone Investment Group. He bought his first property in Baltimore, and then Wisconsin. He currently has properties that also span Virginia, Indiana, and even Mississippi. In the future, he has plans to acquire real estate in Texas and Oklahoma City. His new business endeavor is the perfect way of showing his community that it is possible to go beyond what’s typical as a Black man from an urban community.
For Buchanan, entering the real estate market wasn’t enough— he longed to be able to share his wealth of knowledge with others. With his book, “Building Wealth Through Real Estate with AB,” he has set out to demonstrate to readers that they too can find success in the housing market. It’s a concept especially useful to the Black community. “It doesn’t matter what your degree level is, or it doesn’t matter how much training you have outside of your house. The one thing that we lack as a community is financial literacy across the board,” he said. “We’re talking about balancing checkbooks, knowing the difference between an APR and APY. We’re talking about when you go get student loans, the compound interest. Then we bring in the real estate, the stock market, whole life insurance policies that are going to pay you dividends— what the rich people do. We talk about all these things no matter your degree level, no matter how much money you got.”
Because there is so much he had to learn on his own about financial literacy, he is successfully working to close that gap for others. “I wanted to create a body of work that people could not only read once, but can refer back to years from now and it’ll still be valid on how to build wealth through real estate. [I thought] how can I do that without charging you hundreds of thousands, tens of thousands of dollars. For twenty dollars I’m giving you free game,” he said. To make it accessible, the paperback book is easily available on platforms like Amazon.
Speaking of free game, we asked Buchanan, real estate-related or not, what the best advice is that he would give to current students. He didn’t disappoint! He encourages those in college to not follow the crowd. “Often times, when we’re in college we don’t wanna be the one standing alone not doing something because the rest of the crowd is actually doing it,” he said. “If you don’t wanna go to a party that day because you have to study or you have to do certain things then you shouldn’t do that. Because at the end of the day, God has put something in you, and you’re on a journey to get to your destination,” he said. Take it from him, it’s the intentional decisions he made over time that changed his life.
Learn more about Antonio Buchanan by heading to his website here. Also, pick up a copy of his book on Amazon today here.
The Dillard University baseball team has hired a new head coach. Get the story about coach Tennis Grant from the DUrelease below.
New Orleans – The Dillard University Athletics Department announced on Feb. 24, the addition of Trennis Grant as the new head baseball coach. The Dillard baseball program is scheduled to begin playing games in the spring of 2023.
“We are so proud and excited to welcome Coach Grant to our Dillard University athletics family,” Dillard athletics director Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes stated. “Coach Grant quickly established himself as our top candidate based on his strong recruiting background, enthusiasm for the job, local and national baseball ties and vision for the Dillard baseball program.”
Baseball will be the seventh sport that the program is adding over the last year. Men’s and women’s tennis were added in the spring of 2022 as was a men’s and women’s indoor track & field program in January 2022. The DU Diamonds and Cheer Devils went from support groups to competitive teams also in the spring of 2022.
“First, I have to give thanks and honor to God because without God none of this would be possible,” said Coach Grant. “I would also like to thank Dr. Barnes and the staff for welcoming me with open arms. I felt at home from the minute that I stepped on campus through the entire hiring process. I am grateful to be the Head Baseball Coach here at Dillard University. I’m excited to get started and recruit the newest Bleu Devils for our baseball program. We are going to recruit great student-athletes that represent Dillard University, the athletics department and the baseball program well. Every day will be B.L.E.U D.A.Y.S. (Better Leader Exceeding Unitedly and Dillard Advancing Yesterdays Successes). We will fully embrace the university’s motto Ex. Fide Fortis which means from faith comes strength. GeauxBleu!!!”
Grant has seven years of coaching experience at the NCAA level.
Most recently he was serving as the Assistant Coach at Southern University for the two years. At Southern, he was in charge of coaching and developing outfielders, catchers and the team’s hitters. Under his watch, the program won the 2021 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and made the NCAA Regional. He helped mentor a pair of All-SWAC players in Taj Porter and O’Neill Burgos during the 2021 season. He also aided five Southern players make the SWAC All-Tournament Team in Zavier Moore, Isaiah Adams, Enrique Ozoa, Colton Frank and the MVP of the Tournament O’Neill Burgos. Grant also helped the team put up a team grade—point average (GPA) of 3.0 during the spring semester of 2021.
Prior to his time at Southern, Grant spent two years working as Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at Alabama A&M from 2018-2020. Among his duties were coaching and developing outfielders, catchers, infielders and hitters. Grant spearheaded the national recruiting at Alabama A&M that saw the program recruit from 18 high schools in 10 different states. Among his accomplishments were helping the team improve their stolen base totals from the previous season and mentoring All-SWAC player Johnathan Smith II.
Coach Grant served as the Assistant Coach at the University of Arkansas – Pine Bluff from 2016-2018. In the assistant coach role he worked with the team’s catchers, outfielders and hitters. He helped improve the national recruiting footprint of UAPB by successfully bringing in 14 players from junior colleges and high schools from eight different states. In his two years with the program, Coach Grant aided the team improve in nearly every offensive statistical category including hits, home runs, triples and stolen bases. He also served as the academic liaison for the team as the team put up a cumulative GPA of 3.26 in 2016 and 3.33 in 2017.
Prior to Arkansas – Pine Bluff, Grant started his baseball coaching career at Hendrix College from 2014-2016. In his coaching role he worked directly with the outfielders and assisted with the team’s hitters. He aided the program improve offensive numbers in doubles, triples and RBIs. He also helped Drew Judson be a First Team D3.Baseball.com All-Region and First Team SAA.
The Canton, Mississippi native graduated from Arkansas Tech in 2014.
He resides in Gonzales, Louisiana with his wife Cierra and their four children.
Please follow the baseball team on Twitter at @BleuDevilBSB or contact Coach Grant directly at 504-816-4515 if you are interested in being part of his initial recruiting class.
Please Note: It is thought that Dillard University may have previously had a baseball program sometime in the 1960s – although no accurate records have been found as of this date – even if that is the case, the sport hasn’t been an active part of the athletic department in over 50 years. If any Dillard University alumni played or know of any person that personally played baseball for the school, please contact the athletic department directly so we can work on developing a more detailed archive for the sport.
Students at Tennessee State University event in 2019. Photo credit: (Credit: TSU Student Affairs)
There are more than 100 historically Black colleges and universities in this country, seven in Tennessee.
Monday night the Memphis Grizzlies shined a bright light on these institutions.
In the sea of Grizzlies blue and gold, there was a lot of collegiate pride.
It was HBCU night at the Memphis vs. San Antonio game at FedExForum.
Lemoyne-Owen College started the game with their choir singing the national anthem.
Tennessee State University might have slowed down concession sales with their halftime performance which kept everyone in their seats.
For more than 150 years, historically Black colleges have been a staple in this country.
“HBCUs really connect us back to our heritage as a people,” said Trevia Chatman who graduated from Tennessee State University. “There was a time when we couldn’t get into higher education and really tap into our talents and even though years ago there was segregation and we didn’t have the opportunity to go everywhere we had these institutions that really embraced who we were and nurtured who we were,” said Chatman.
Monday afternoon the Tennessee Senate approved a bill that would create HBCU Day in the state.
The bill would celebrate all HBCUs on November 8.
On that day in 1965, the Higher Education Act was passed and HBCUs were designated by the U.S. Department of Education.
Tennessee would not only celebrate historically Black colleges, but also focus on things like funding and enrollment.
“HBCUs have provided a wealth of knowledge. A wealth of teaching to students for so many years and it’s time for us to be recognized,” said Robin Mayweather who graduated from Florida A&M University.
“I am very interested in HBCU culture. It means a lot to me, I hope to give a lot back to future students as well,” said Marvelous Brown who graduated from Tennessee State University and now teaches at Fisk University.
HBCU Day in Tennessee still needs to pass the House.
The Johnsons have been been married for over 60 years, and husband Herbert Johnson found a meaningful way to honor the birthday of his wife Ruth. Learn more about the legacy he plans to leave for his wife at Harris-Stowe StateUniversity in the story below.
Deborah Marie Johnson, Herbert Johnson, Harris-Stowe State University President LaTonia Collins Smith, Ruth Johnson, Michael Keith Johnson, and Harris-Stowe Vice President of Institutional Advancement Jeff Shaw celebrate the Johnson’s scholarship gift to the college. (Credit: Harris-Stowe State University)
A love of education and helping others have led Herbert and Ruth Johnson to create the Ruth Elizabeth Blanchard Johnson Endowed Scholarship and Live and Learn in the Lou Scholarship at Harris-Stowe State University.
“It was because of this loving first-grade teacher who inspired me, that I knew I wanted to become a teacher just like her.”
Herbert A. Johnson established the scholarships to honor his wife, Harris-Stowe graduate Ruth Elizabeth Blanchard Johnson, who turned 90 this year.
“Ruth and I have been happily married for 68 years and I knew she would absolutely love this gift,” said Johnson.
Ruth Blanchard Johnson is a native of Aberdeen, Mississippi and moved to St. Louis at an early age with her parents William Scott Blanchard and Elizabeth Ward Blanchard. A product of St. Louis Public Schools, she attended Cole Elementary School and Sumner High School. It was at Cole where Johnson discovered her passion for teaching.
“At the age of six, my parents moved to St. Louis, and I enrolled at Cole Elementary School in the 1st grade. This was a frightening experience being all alone, in a strange surrounding, but the teacher, Ms. G. James received me with open arms, taught me with patience, love and encouraged me,” said Mrs. Johnson.
“Her advice was to always believe in yourself and say, ‘I can do it if I try.’ It was because of this loving first-grade teacher who inspired me, that I knew I wanted to become a teacher just like her.”
She earned her bachelor’s degree in education from Stowe Teachers College, a predecessor of Harris-Stowe State University, in 1953. She later received a master’s degree in Education from the University of Illinois and completed additional coursework at Webster University.
As a student at Stowe, Johnson was a part of the Royal Court, serving as First Lady of Stowe (1951) and was initiated into the Alpha Omega Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. After graduating from Stowe, she began her career as a SLPS teacher.
“My first teaching experience, believe it or not, was first grade at Attucks Elementary School, which brought back memories of my wonderful first-grade teacher,” she said.
Johnson served as a reading specialist, instructional coordinator, and assistant principal before retiring with honor after 37 years.
“It is because of the loving support of my husband of 68 years who encouraged me in my every endeavor that my teaching career was a success,” she said.
The Johnsons are parents of two children – a son, Michael Keith Johnson, and Deborah Marie Johnson. Since her retirement, Mrs. Johnson has enjoyed spending time with family, traveling, and volunteering with numerous community organizations.
“Teaching was exciting, challenging, and a fulfillment of my lifelong dream,” she said. “However, it was always my desire to do community service. It’s not the length of time you have given, it’s how much you’ve given to others during that time.”
She is a member of St. Philips Evangelical Lutheran Church, YWCA COA, Skinker-DeBaliviere Community Council, Annie Malone Children’s Home, and CAPS at Barnes -Jewish Hospital.
Her motto is, “If I can help someone along the way, then my living will not be in vain.”
The $44,000 Ruth Elizabeth Blanchard Johnson Endowed Scholarship will benefit full-time students majoring in education. In addition, the $6,000 Ruth Elizabeth Blanchard Johnson Live and Learn in the Lou Scholarship will be awarded the year it is donated, allowing the Johnson’s the ability to immediately impact students.
“Through Mr. and Mrs. Johnson’s legacy gift, they are planting a seed that will continue to grow education professionals for the life of the University. Harris-Stowe is blessed to have donors like Mr. and Mrs. Johnson,” said Jeff Shaw, vice president of the HSSU Office of Institutional Advancement.
To support the Ruth Elizabeth Blanchard Johnson Live and Learn in the Lou Scholarship or Ruth Elizabeth Blanchard Johnson Endowed Scholarship or learn more about supporting students at Harris-Stowe State University, visit www.hssu.edu/advancment, or contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at (314) 340-3386.
Art is getting one Florida A&M University student’s point across as he fights to keep old history in his community. Get the full story from Shamonee Baker at the Tallahassee Democrat below.
Obiefuna Okoli, a Florida A&M student, shows off some of his artwork on the walls of the abandoned pool on the FAMU campus in Tallahassee, Fla., Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022. (Credit: Tori Lynn Schneider)
Obiefuna Okoli knows it’s too late to change Florida A&M University’s plans to turn an abandoned pool on campus into a parking lot — but he’s determined to make his feelings public.
Over 40 years ago, Florida A&M University debuted its eight-lane, 50-meter-long Olympic size pool in the heart of campus near Gaither Gymnasium. For the next 25 years it was considered a gem where swimming classes, competitive meets and summer programs were held.
But in 2007, the pool was closed, for reasons including structural damage and no longer meeting NCAA regulations.
After five years without a pool, FAMU renovated its other six-lane pool in 2013. This week, the university began tearing down the Olympic size pool’s surrounding structures — a decision Okoli, a junior electronic engineering technology student and a lifeguard at FAMU’s aquatic center, finds frustrating.
Okoli sees the removal of the old pool as a loss to the university; the Olympic sized pool was once an asset to community swimmers.
Okoli’s dual passions for art and swimming began to align in November when he would walk from his apartment on Old Bainbridge Road, with a bucket of paint in his hand, to the abandoned pool across the street from the Lawson Center.
‘I WANTED FAMU TO REMEMBER’
Because he is an aquatics employee, Okoli had access to the old pool. And he took advantage of the open space as his canvas. After dark, he painted one side of the pool wall red and centered his art on two names painted in black.
“I didn’t want the painting to be perfect,” said Okoli, 21. “I wanted them to resemble how I felt when I was creating the mural.”
One of the names Okoli included in his panels is James Brock, a white motel owner who poured acid in a pool full of Black swimmers in St. Augustine during a swim-in protest in 1964; no one was hurt. The other is Genesis Holmes, a 13-year-old Black boy who drowned in a pond in Hollywood, North Carolina in 2014.
Okoli says he wanted to remind people about the trauma the Black community has faced in the past and continues to struggle with as it relates to swimming.
“In a sense, I wanted to make FAMU feel bad for tearing down the pool,” Okoli said. “I wanted FAMU to remember the reasons why this pool is needed.”
Okoli wants the pool to be re-opened and put back into use. But that’s unlikely.
Jorge Olaves, director of FAMU’s aquatic center and instructor in the health, physical education and recreation department, says even though the pool has been closed since spring 2007, the staff still used the locker rooms, lifeguard office and an aquatics lab surrounding the structure until last December. That’s when they were asked to move out ahead of the demolition.
“Okoli and a lot of my other staff didn’t like that the pool will soon be torn down,” Olaves told the Democrat. “They preferred that it be fixed instead.”
But they never took those concerns to the university, he added.
William E. Hudson, Jr., vice president of student affairs at FAMU, wasn’t aware of Okoli’s artistic display.
But soon the art will be a thing of the past.
Hudson told the Democrat the pool demolition will begin in March to create more parking spaces for students, faculty and staff.
‘A FORM OF EXPRESSION’
Growing up in a strict household in Lagos, Nigeria, Okoli was never allowed to show his expressive side.
He developed his interest in art at an early age but was discouraged to pursue it by his parents. His father is a lawyer and his mother is an executive director at a bank.
“Growing up in Nigeria, there is a cultural difference,” Okoli said. “Creating art is looked down on, so I would always draw in secret.”
In his teenage years, Okoli found himself in a lot of trouble.
In his senior year of high school, he met a group of artists that encouraged him to stop his rebellious behavior and express himself through art instead. But trouble found him again: He was later expelled from high school for smoking marijuana.
It was at the encouragement of his uncle — Okenwa Okoli, a professor and chair of the Department of Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering — that he moved to Tallahassee.
It was here that Okoli began to take his artistic ability seriously, but it wasn’t until the beginning of the COVID pandemic that he regularly exercised his skills on clothing, canvases, and walls.
Okoli says this mural is the first of many. He hopes to finish painting the other side of the historic pool walls before the scheduled construction begins.
“I think the artwork is cool,” Okoli said. “It takes a form of expression on its own.”
