Administration At Virginia State University State Gift Over 30 Bikes To Children

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Virginia State University administration members are being credited for supporting the youth in their Petersburg community. Get the full story in the VSU release below.

Credit: Virginia State University

VSU administration partners with Petersburg for bicycle distribution to Petersburg children. 

Each member of the Virginia State University administration purchased a bicycle for distribution to a Petersburg child as part of a “VSU Gives Back” holiday initiative. On Thursday, December 16, 2021, the administration and other VSU employees collected and donated more than 30 bicycles. 

“I am beyond grateful to my administration for participating in this VSU Gives Back Holiday Initiative. Thank you to our Assistant Vice President of Communications, Gwen Williams Dandridge for spearheading and organizing this,” said VSU President Dr. Makola M. Abdullah. “At Virginia State University, we look for opportunities to give, to serve, and to partner. This bike initiative allows us to do all three while also making a difference in the life of several young children during this holiday season.” 

VSU partnered with the City of Petersburg for the bicycle distribution. The Petersburg Department of Social Services identified children to receive the bicycles and the Petersburg Public Information Office coordinated the distribution of the bicycles.  

“The City of Petersburg thanks VSU’s Leadership team for their contribution of bicycles to children in need in Petersburg. Too many children often make do with hand-me-downs,” said Petersburg Mayor, Samuel Parham. “By donating these bikes, VSU is giving many disadvantaged children an uplifting experience of receiving and enjoying something new during the holiday season. The bikes are also a great gift for encouraging our children to get outside and exercise. Petersburg appreciates the ongoing partnership with VSU and the University’s support of the city.”  

“Our children have spent the better part of nearly two years navigating the challenges of a pandemic.  Research shows that youth mental health is now a national state of emergency,” said Gwen Williams Dandridge, VSU Assistant Vice President for Communications. “This is our way of making a difference. We hope our donated bicycles will help to encourage the youth to get outside, exercise, and enjoy the beauty of being a child with the knowledge that their neighbors at Virginia State University care about their well-being.”

Mary McLeod Bethune Statue To Replace Confederate Statue at the Capitol

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A statue of Mary McLeod Bethune, a founder of Bethune-Cookman University, is heading to the Capitol after being toured in places like Florida. Get the full story from Kynala Phillips of NBC News below.

The statue of Mary McLeod Bethune on display at the Daytona State College’s News-Journal Center in Florida.Courtesy Rep. Kathy Castor

The statue of Mary McLeod Bethune, a civil rights activist born to former slaves, will represent Florida in the National Statuary Hall Collection, starting in 2022.

Civil rights activist and Bethune-Cookman University founder Mary McLeod Bethune will soon make history again. 

She will be the first Black person to represent a state in the National Statuary Hall Collection at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. The renowned educator’s Florida-commissioned statue will be placed permanently in the Capitol in February 2022, replacing the statue of a confederate general. 

Standing at 11 feet tall and weighing in at 6,000 pounds, the statue shows Bethune in a cap and gown to signify her dedication to education. It also features a stack of her own books piled next to her. A smaller bronze version will also be placed in Riverfront Park near Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard.

The statue was created by Nilda Comas, a decorated sculptor who splits her time between Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Pietrasanta, Italy. She will be the first Latina sculptor with a piece in the Capitol’s collection, according to NPR.

The statue of Mary McLeod Bethune on display at the Daytona State College’s News-Journal Center in Florida.Courtesy Rep. Kathy Castor

In 2016, then-Gov. Rick Scott approved a measure to remove the statue of Confederate Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith, who was born in Florida, from the Statuary Hall. The bronze was removed in September and temporarily transported to a Florida museum. 

The Florida Department of State’s Division of Arts and Culture reviewed the names of more than 3,000 Floridians to replace that statue, narrowing it down to 130 potential subjects. It chose Bethune after receiving 1,233 votes in favor of her to represent the state, according to Evolve Magazine, a business publication based in Florida. The statue was temporarily on display at the Daytona State College’s News-Journal Center until Dec. 12 and will be shipped to Washington. 

“Dr. Bethune embodies the very best of the Sunshine State — Floridians and all Americans can take great pride in being represented by the great educator and civil rights icon,” U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Fla., said in a statement.  

Who was Mary McLeod Bethune?

Born in South Carolina in 1875, Bethune was one of 17 children. Her parents were formerly enslaved and the family picked cotton to make a living. Nonetheless, Bethune was committed to her education. She eventually graduated from Scotia Seminary, a Presbyterian boarding school for Black girls, in 1894.

Mary McLeod Bethune, circa 1920. Chicago History Museum / Getty Images

Next, she went north to Chicago to study at the Moody Bible Institute, with the goal of doing missionary work in Africa. At the time, she was the only Black student enrolled. There, she established Sunday schools in neglected parts of Chicago, worked with prisoners in city jails, and helped with the Pacific Garden Mission, which housed and fed hundreds of people each day.

When she sought an opportunity for mission work in Africa, the Presbyterian Board of Missions denied her request and instead sent her to Georgia, where she worked at a school for Black girls. Soon after, she married Albert Bethune, and eventually the couple and their child moved to Florida. While teaching in Palatka, Florida, she learned of the poor living and educational conditions of Black residents of Daytona Beach. 

Soon, Bethune started a school in Daytona with a commitment to provide Black girls a higher quality education.

Bethune was resourceful. She created her own pencils using charred wood and elderberries for ink. 

The school offered courses in science, business and liberal arts, according to the National Women’s History Museum. 

The school would later combine with the Cookman Institute, an all-male school, to form Bethune-Cookman, a coeducational high school, in 1923. After becoming affiliated with the United Methodist Church, the school became a college, and is now a university. However, Bethune’s advocacy didn’t stop there. She remained a tireless champion for African American women and girls. 

Two years after Bethune-Cookman formed, she became the president of the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs. And in 1935, she founded the National Council of Negro Women. 

She served as the only woman on President Franklin Roosevelt’s advisory board of Black leaders, which Bethune dubbed the “Black Cabinet.” Roosevelt appointed her to the National Youth Administration, a New Deal program, and she oversaw employment opportunities and job training for young people across the country. 

“If I have a legacy to leave my people, it is my philosophy of living and serving,” Bethune said in her final will and testament, in which she explained how she expects her legacy to be love, hope and a “thirst for education.” 

Tuskegee University Veterinarian’s Medical Device Lands Patent

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A veterinarian at Tuskegee University has landed a patent for her new medical device! Get the full story from the Tuskegee release below.

Tuskegee University veterinary faculty member Dr. Deidre Quinn-Gorham is making it her mission to use a new patent to produce a multiple blade handle system for performing surgeries. Many surgical or medical procedures require the use of distinct types and sizes of scalpel blades which may also require the user to change to a different scalpel handle to accommodate those blades. Her new method may have proved helpful in being a “do-all” scalpel handle in the hands of a medical or veterinary medical professional.

Quinn-Gorham’s device, “Multiple Blade Handle System, also called the Manifold Scalpel Handle,” allows for an easier fit for a distinct size and type of scalpel blades to fit onto a single handle. She projects the new handle system will eliminate the need to use other individual handles.

“The handle idea was created from an experience that I had while performing a surgical procedure as a third-year veterinary student at Tuskegee University’s School (now College) of Veterinary Medicine,” explained Quinn-Gorham. “Midway through the surgery, the procedure required changing to a different sized scalpel blade that fit a different sized scalpel handle.”

Since then, Quinn-Gorham always had an idea for one scalpel handle that could conveniently fit diverse sizes and types of blades. This idea inspired her to experiment and create a few rough 3D designs. She then sought the expertise of one of her mentors in additive manufacturing (also known as 3D printing), aerospace engineer Dr. Sharanabasaweshwara Asundi. Asundi, in conjunction with one of his former students, Jimesh Bhagatji, further developed the design idea into a finalized drawing and then into a functional prototype.

“The Manifold can be produced in different models (i.e., double ends or with an extendable shaft), different types of materials such as metals, eco-friendly plastics for disposable use, and using different methods of production such as machining or 3D printing,” noted Quinn-Gorham.

Under the patent, commercially, the handle can be marketed and utilized in industries where scalpel handles are in high demand. The diversity of the handle’s use, production, and marketability will make it an asset to economic growth and technological advancement.

About the Inventors:

Dr. Deidre Quinn-Gorham, a native of Tuskegee, is a faculty member in the Department of Pathobiology at the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine. She is currently involved in various teaching and research activities in Parasitology, focusing on continuing her research on the environmental control of zoonotic small animal Hookworms. She has established a 3D printing lab within her department to incorporate 3D printing technology into the veterinary medical program. She aspires to teach this technology to veterinary students and have veterinary, and engineering students collaborate on 3D printing projects in veterinary medicine. Dr. Quinn-Gorham has remained active in using her vast and diverse background in technology to create several teaching animations, learning modules and provide technical support or consultation for various veterinary medical courses, including Parasitology. She is a three-time graduate from Tuskegee University, receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, a Master of Veterinary Science degree, and a Doctoral of Veterinary Medicine degree.

Dr. Sharanabasaweshwara Asundi, a native of India, is a Ph.D. from the University of Florida working as an Assistant Professor of Space Systems Engineering in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Old Dominion University (ODU). Currently, he is engaged in several teaching, and research activities focused on furthering the Space Systems Engineering Program at ODU. He has been involved in research collaboration with NASA Goddard as a Science Collaborator. He has been awarded grants by the U.S. Air Force, National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Agriculture to research Magnetic Mapping of Pico/Nano/Micro-Satellites and study the impact of magnetic field exposure on plant germination, growth.

Jimesh Bhagatji, specializes in bringing ideas to life through constant innovation and is currently pursuing an M.S./Ph.D. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Old Dominion University. Bhagatji is experienced in product development from the ideation phase to the qualification phase across a wide range of Industry from space-qualified systems to medical instruments and devices. He specializes in structure simulation of solid and fiber composites on various commercial CAE platforms.

Morgan State University Receives Additional Gift of $2.5M From Anonymous Donor

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Morgan State University has received $2.75 million in total from an anonymous donor who gave once, and then donated again! Get more information from the MSU release below.

Morgan State University President David K. Wilson today announced receipt of a new $2.5-million gift from a donor who wishes to remain anonymous. The latest gift follows an initial $250,000 from the donor, made in October. The total of $2.75 million in resources will be invested in students, providing access to a college education for as many as 83 scholars per semester through the establishment of the Leading the Future scholarship fund. In an already historic year of giving to the University, this latest gift is the second largest received from a non-alumnus.

“We are appreciative and excited that individuals are continuing to invest in Morgan publicly or anonymously and are creating opportunities for many of our students to have the financial assistance needed for them to stay in college,” said President Wilson. “Through the establishment of this scholarship, we look to positively impact the student academic experience by helping our scholars connect to transformational opportunities and resources that can get them over the finish line to graduation and beyond.”

After receiving the initial gift of $250,000, which was used to support students from diverse backgrounds who were seeking to enroll at Morgan, the University was gifted an additional $2.5 million from the same donor to expand upon its educational work and create more access for prospective students to attend college. With the latest gift, the University established the Leading the Futurescholarship fund. Beginning in spring 2022, up to $5,000 per semester will be awarded to as many as 83 students toward covering their tuition, fees, room and board, and textbook expenses. Award preference will be given to first-generation college students and to students who are either involved in community activism or are majoring in hospitality/culinary, engineering, computer science, health care or business.

As an additional component of the Leading the Future scholarship program, students will participate in career services programming; group meetings with the Office of Student Success and Retention’s student scholars and strategic partners specialist; and networking/professional development events with industry leaders, Morgan alumni or peer mentors.

“When you think about the transformative power of higher education and the many students who will benefit from this generous gift, you can’t help but think about the exponential benefits higher education has on families and communities,” said Donna Howard, vice president for Institutional Advancement. “We are grateful for the opportunity this gift provides to expand support for our students and for the recognition a gift of this magnitude brings to Morgan.”

This latest gift is a continuation of the historic investment Morgan has received over the last 12 months, including, among others, very high-profile gifts such as $40 million from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, $20 million from Morgan alumnus Calvin Tyler, $2.7 million from financier Mike Novogratz, $5 millionfrom Google, $1.25 million from Apple, $1 million from the Baltimore Ravens and $500,000 from NBCUniversal/Comcast.

Added Wilson, “We are committed to establishing the University as a global institution, achieving the highest level of research activity, revitalizing the community and revamping services to be comprehensive and student-centric. The types of investments we are currently receiving will go a long way toward achieving these goals.”

President Biden Joins Rep. Jim Clyburn At South Carolina State University Commencement

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South Carolina State University received two very special guests during it’s commencement over the weekend! Get the full story from Barbara Sprunt at NPR below.

Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., second from left, holds his history degree with South Carolina State University Interim President Alexander Conyers, second from right, on stage with President Biden and Rodney Jenkins, chair of the Board of Trustees, right, during the South Carolina State University’s 2021 Fall Commencement Ceremony in Orangeburg, S.C., on Friday.
Carolyn Kaster/AP

Sixty years after Jim Clyburn received his diploma from South Carolina State University by mail, the House majority whip returned to his alma mater to march alongside current graduates and receive his diploma in person from the president of the United States. 

Clyburn, the sole congressional Democrat from South Carolina, delivered commencement remarks to December graduates and talked about his time at the HBCU, where he met his late wife, Emily. 

“She came to this campus from a little 22-acre farm in Berkeley County. I don’t know what was expected of her but I know what she did,” he said. “She came across a little wayward guy from Sumter, South Carolina, and turned him into a U.S. congressman.”

Clyburn, a longtime ally of President Biden, shared how his wife pulled him aside in 2020 and insisted on their support of Biden for president.

“She said to me, ‘If we want to succeed in this upcoming election, we had better nominate Joe Biden,’ ” he said. “She passed away before the South Carolina primary, but what she said to me that night stayed on my mind. When I looked among those 20-some odd candidates running for the Democratic nomination, several of whom were very close friends of ours, I remembered what she said to me. And I followed her directions, just as I had for the 58 years that we were married.”

President Biden delivered the keynote address at South Carolina State University’s fall commencement ceremony on Friday.
Carolyn Kaster/AP

Biden, who delivered the ceremony’s keynote speech, credited Clyburn’s public endorsement as a pivotal moment in reviving his sluggish campaign.

“I got what we call in my old neighborhood in Claymont, Del., I got shellacked in the first two primaries, and I kept saying, ‘I’m waiting to go to South Carolina,’ ” he said. 

Biden acknowledged the challenges facing graduates today

Biden also reflected on the importance of historically Black colleges and universities in his own political career. 

“The reason I got elected 1972 was because of an HBCU called Delaware State University,” he said. “So, folks, you’re inheriting an incredible tradition, graduating from this university.”

Biden acknowledged the challenges graduates face: the continuation of the coronavirus pandemic, an uncertain economy and “the reckoning on race not seen since the ’50s and ’60s.”

“No graduating class gets to choose the world under which they graduate,” he said. “A few classes, every once in a few generations, enter at a point in American history where it actually has a chance to change the trajectory of the country. That’s not hyperbole. You face that inflection point today.” 

Biden touted his administration’s legislative achievements to date, including a bipartisan infrastructure bill that puts significant investments in expanding broadband access. 

“Everyone should be able to access high-speed internet — urban, suburban and rural,” he said. “No student should have to go to a coffee shop or a fast food restaurant to get the internet so they can do their homework.”

Biden made a plea for passage of voting rights bills 

Biden’s address to graduates comes as disagreements among congressional Democrats have delayed passing what would be his administration’s hallmark piece of legislation: a roughly $2 trillion social and climate spending package. 

Biden also issued a passionate plea for Congress to pass the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, which would ensure that states have early voting, make Election Day a public holiday and secure the availability of mail-in voting. Democratic lawmakers say these measures are necessary to combat a wave of new restrictions from Republican-controlled state legislatures across the country. 

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has described the legislation as an attempt by Democrats to have the federal government overhaul elections. 

Both bills have been been blocked by Senate Republicans.

“I was chairman of the Judiciary Committee for a long time. At the end of my stint, before I became vice president, I was able to pass the extension the Voting Rights Act for 25 years and guess what? Convinced Strom Thurmond of South Carolina to vote for it,” Biden recalled. “I thought, ‘We’re finally, finally finally beginning to move.’ But this new sinister combination of voter suppression and election subversion — it’s unAmerican, it’s undemocratic and sadly, it is unprecedented since Reconstruction.”

Biden, who often talked about the “battle for the soul of the nation” during his campaign, also addressed the racism that continues to plague the country. 

“We continue to confront the oldest and darkest forces in this nation: hate and racism,” he said. “You can defeat hate but you can’t eliminate it. It just slides back under a rock and when given oxygen by political leaders, it comes out ugly and mean as it was before. We can’t give it any oxygen. We have to step on it. We have to respond to it.”

5 HBCU Students Help Bring Special HBCU Clothing Capsule Collection To Life

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Several HBCU students studying different aspects of the fashion industry recently partnered with a national clothing retailer to create an HBCU capsule collection! Get the full story from Aiyana Ishmael at Teen Vogue below.

Credit: U.O.

Urban Outfitters has tapped five students from three Historically Black Universities (HBCUs) to create an exclusive assortment of collegiate apparel and lifestyle accessories.

The brand’s latest capsule collection was created as part of UO’s HBCU Summer Class of 2021 — a 10-week internship and mentorship program for five students recognized for their academic excellence and creative prowess. The program was in collaboration with three HBCUs: Howard University, Clark Atlanta University, and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. The UO Summer Class of 2021 includes CAU students Jalen Bradford, Jasmine Logan, and Dacia Redmond (also a recipient of Virgil Abloh™️ 2021’s “Post-Modern” Scholarship Fund), as well as NCAT student U’lia Hargrove and Howard student Janae Claxton.

From concept to creation, the selected students worked with the UO Buying team to design a 24-piece apparel and lifestyle collection celebrating the culture and community of their respective schools. “Being able to share our resources with HBCU talent, and to work alongside these students creatively as they developed their own product, made Summer Class enriching not only for our students but for every UO employee who got to be a part of the program,” Dalila Shannon, UO Women’s Divisional Merchandising Manager and Summer Class Mentor, shared in a press email.

UO’s HBCU merch collection is officially licensed by CLC, the nation’s leading collegiate licensing company, and includes a variety of sweats, tote bags, and long-sleeves, some even featuring original designs from students in the program. It is available for purchase exclusively at urbanoutfitters.com and purchases include a charitable donation to the student’s respective alma maters. 

With the success of the inaugural UO Summer Class internship program, Urban Outfitters plans to continue the initiative in 2022, expanding the program to include even more HBCUs.

Credit: U.O.

‘Top Class’ Series Goes Behind The Scenes of Top-Ranking Sierra Canyon Basketball Team

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Season 2 Available on IMDbTV Now

The world of high school basketball is heating up thanks to a new tv show that highlights what life is like for those in the jersey. Being an athlete, rather than a fan, has its perks because you can keep a clear mind while staying fit. But being a student-athlete is truly top tier because your team becomes a community that will support your life on and off the court. If you have an appreciation for sports, especially basketball, there’s an IMDb TV show that you should definitely watch about the life of basketball players at one of the top high schools in the country for athletic talent. We loved season one, so we already know season two is going to be filled with drama considering the fallout from COVID-19.

EMBED TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3CMN8LXh1A 
Uninterrupted’s Top Class is an original series on IMDbTV,  Amazon’s free streaming service. This second season follows the 2021 men’s basketball team of Sierra Canyon High School, which has weathered a pandemic, and pressures at school and home. Viewers will get an unfettered look into the lives of star players like Amari Bailey, Bronny James, Ramell Lloyd Jr., and Shy Odom – all top talent that hope to enter D1 programs after graduation. Based in San Fernando Valley, the team has snatched an impressive three straight Southern California regional titles. But unfortunately, the realities of the pandemic robbed the elite players of nearly 12 straight months of practice.  Through it all, the show captures the players finding they are stronger together as they seek to win their next championship.

TOP CLASS

Top Class is a drama highlighting how odds are often stacked against young Black men, and how sports like basketball can offer them a second chance. Through it all, their coach pushes them to be on their A-game. Preparing them for life, the boys are encouraged to pay attention to their mental health just as much as their physical fitness.  Coaches encourage the players to be at their best, despite challenges arising from the outside world and the boys’ own hands. Watch new episodes of Top Class streaming now on IMDbTV to discover whether the players of Sierra Canyon can successfully clutch their next championship win. All six episodes are available to stream for free beginning Friday December 17th.

ECSU Selects Marcus Hilliard As New Head Football Coach

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Elizabeth City State University has selected Marcus Hilliard as the new head coach of its football program! Get the full story from the ECSU release below.

Credit: D2 Football

Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) announces Marcus Hilliard has been named ECSU Football Head Coach. A former ECSU Assistant Head Coach, Defensive Coordinator and 2004 alum, Hilliard returns to ECSU with a historied knowledge of the program, authentic home-grown Viking pride, and a vision to revive the program, restore the culture, and bring about a new era and brand of Viking football to ECSU. Coach Hilliard will take over the Vikings football program effective January 2022.

“We are thrilled to have Coach Hilliard back at ECSU,” said ECSU Chancellor Karrie G. Dixon.  “He was a respected member of the athletic program and helped lead our football program for 13 years, and we welcome him back home to the Vikings.  Our students are fortunate to have a coach with a winning record and passion for the game.”

In 2018, Hilliard was nationally recognized by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) as the Division II Assist Coach of the Year.

“Coach Hilliard is a proven leader, educator, and winner and exemplifies high character and high integrity. As both player and coach, his football teams have risen to a higher level. Coach Hilliard is the right person at the right time.  He is someone who has the ability and desire to bring our community of Vikings and friends together.  We look forward to the new era with our Viking Football program,” said Athletic Director George Bright.

Hilliard has spent the previous three seasons as the assistant head coach at Virginia Union University (VUU), where he is also the co-defensive line coordinator.  Hilliard is responsible for leading the Panthers defensive unit, managing the football budget and scholarships, and serving as the professional football scout liaison.

Prior to his arrival at VUU the Goldsboro, NC, native spent 14 seasons climbing the ranks at ECSU while playing a pivotal role in the development of the program. During his eight years as the defensive coordinator for ECSU, Coach Hilliard produced a combined 16 All-CIAA First Team, Second Team and Honorable Mention performers.

“I’m excited to be back home and ready to get to work,” said Hilliard. “This opportunity is not one that I take lightly. The opportunity to impact such a group of talented student-athletes on and off the field is why I wake up and do this job every day. It’s my obligation to every player that puts on that ECSU jersey agreeing to trust the process and join me on this journey. I’m glad to be here and looking forward to restoring ECSU football.”

Hilliard began his coaching career for the Mighty Vikings as the Assistant Football Coach-defensive line starting in August 2004.  He played an intricate part of the heralded “Blue Swarm” defense, which in 2006, shut out four opponents and held six opponents to seven points or less. That season was one for the history books as ECSU set a winning record of 9-3.  The Vikings were also ranked 5th in the nation in scoring defense, 2nd in takeaways, 5th in interceptions and 4th in fumbles recovered.

During the 2007 season, his defense gave up only 234 yards per game which put his team at 4th nationally in total defense.

Hilliard advanced to the Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator position in 2010 where he developed game plans, supported student athlete development, and orchestrated the Vikings entire defensive strategy.  Coach Hilliard also monitored student-athlete grades to ensure academic progress and eligibility, recruited prospective student athletes, and served as the Strength and Conditioning Coordinator.

In 2011, his defensive unit finished 14th in the nation in total defense. He has been a part of four CIAA championship games (2006, 2008, 2011, 2012) and four post season appearances.

Additional Professional Accolades

  • Hilliard is always looking to increase his knowledge, and in May 2010, he was among 25 participants in the U.S. chosen to participate in the NCAA Men’s Football Coaches Academy. This program was developed to prepare minority coaches for head coaching positions.
  • That same year, Coach Hilliard was selected to participate in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ preseason training through the Bill Walsh NFL Diversity Coaching Fellowship program. It provides NFL coaching experience to a diverse group of coaches every year.  It exposes talented minority college coaches, high school coaches, and former players to the methods and philosophies of NFL coaching staffs.

When Hilliard played for ECSU, he was a four-year letterman for the Vikings and the leading tackler for the 5th ranked defense in Division II during the 2002 season. He was also a member of the 2001 All-CIAA Defensive First Team, was a two-time Thomas A. Caldwell recipient for excellence in football (2001-2002) and received the Pepsi-Cola Most Outstanding Football Award in 2003.

Hilliard is a North Carolina native who graduated from ECSU in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in History.  He went on to earn his master’s degree in Sport Management from the United States Sports Academy in 2007.

TSU President Glenda Glover To Serve As Vice Chair Of Biden’s Board of Advisors on HBCUs

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Tennessee State University‘s president Dr. Glenda Glover has been selected to fill an important position for our nation. Get the full story from TSU’s Newsroom below.

Credit: Tennessee State University

Tennessee State University’s Dr. Glenda Glover has been appointed by President Joe Biden to serve as the Vice Chair of the President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).  The Board will advance the goal of the HBCU Initiative, established by the Carter Administration, to increase the capacity of HBCUs to provide the highest-quality education to their students and continue serving as engines of opportunity.
 
The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to supporting the vital mission of HBCUs.  Through the American Rescue Plan and by forgiving capital improvement debt of many of these institutions, the Biden-Harris Administration has already committed more than $4 billion in support.  Reestablishing the White House HBCU Initiative – and placing strong leadership at the head of the Board – will allow the administration to build on that financial commitment with continued institutional support.  
 
Dr. Glover serves as the eighth President of Tennessee State University, a position she has held since January 2013. Under her leadership as the university’s first female president, TSU has experienced a significant increase in alumni and corporate giving, research funding, and academic offerings. The University has also received the Carnegie R2 “high research activity” designation with Dr. Glover at the helm. In 2020 during the pandemic, TSU set a school record with nearly $71 million in research funding.

Her commitment and advocacy of HBCUs spans nearly four decades, including the work she has done as International President and CEO of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Through the sorority and as president of TSU, Dr. Glover has engaged in groundbreaking work to elevate the stature of HBCUs with historic fundraising efforts and marketing. Through her work as international president of AKA, she implemented a fundraising campaign to raise $1 million in one day for HBCUs. She exceeded this goal for four consecutive years raising more than $1 million in one day, which culminated in $2.5 million this past September. This massive fundraising effort resulted in the establishment of endowments at each of the 96 four-year HBCUs, including her alma mater, TSU.

Dr. Glover’s educational development began as a student at TSU, where she majored in mathematics. After graduating with honors with a Bachelor of Science degree, she pursued the Master of Business Administration from Clark Atlanta University. She then completed her doctorate in business from George Washington University, and later completed her law degree from Georgetown University. She is also a certified public accountant, and is one of only three African-American women to hold the Ph.D-CPA-JD combination in the United States.

Her career also includes serving on boards of publicly traded corporations Pinnacle Financial Partners, The Lenox Group, Citigroup-Student Loan Corporation, and First Guaranty Bancshares. Dr. Glover currently serves as a member of the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority.

No. 1 Recruit Travis Hunter Commits To Jackson State University

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In yet another feat, Jackson State University has poached the top recruit in the game: Travis Hunter. Get the full story from Sam Cooper at Yahoo Sports below.

Source: Sports Illustrated

Deion Sanders and Jackson State have pulled off a signing day shocker.

Travis Hunter, Rivals.com’s No. 1 player in the class of 2022, announced Wednesday that he has committed to play for Jackson State.

Hunter, a two-way player listed by Rivals as an athlete, was committed to Florida State since March of 2020. There was also speculation that the Suwanee, Georgia, native could flip his decision to the in-state Bulldogs. Instead, he will drop down to the FCS level to play for Sanders at Jackson State, an HBCU located in Jackson, Mississippi.

Sanders, of course, was a star at Florida State before embarking on a Hall of Fame NFL career. Now he has pulled off arguably the biggest recruiting surprise in recent memory at his alma mater’s expense.

https://twitter.com/TravisHunterJr/status/1471166038834356237?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1471166038834356237%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fsports.yahoo.com%2Fno-1-recruit-travis-hunter-commits-to-deion-sanders-and-jackson-state-171307497.html

Hunter announced his decision during a ceremony at his school early Wednesday afternoon. Hunter had Florida State, Georgia and Auburn hats in front of him but threw those to the side and had his mother toss him a Jackson State hat to make it official. Hunter then unzipped his jacket to reveal a Jackson State T-shirt. 

This isn’t the first time Sanders has lured players with Power Five offers to Jackson State. Last year, De’Jahn Warren, a top junior college cornerback, signed with Jackson State after previously committing to Georgia. Jackson State also signed four-star tackle Javonte Gardner, four-star defensive tackle Katron Evans, four-star receiver Trevonte Rucker, three-star defensive tackle Braezhon Rossand three-star linebacker Baron Hopson in its 2021 recruiting class. All of those players had offers from Power Five programs, but chose Jackson State.

That recruiting prowess has paid off so far. Sanders is currently in his second season as the head coach at Jackson State. The Tigers have an 11-1 record and won the SWAC title. They are set to square off against South Carolina State, the MEAC champions, in the Celebration Bowl on Saturday in Atlanta.

How long Sanders, who has a 15-4 record as a head coach, will stay at Jackson State remains to be seen. He has reportedly interviewed for multiple Power Five jobs, including TCU in the most recent cycle. The early on-field results have been strong and now Sanders’ recruiting chops have proven to be even stronger. 

Grambling State Set To Award Posthumous Bachelor’s Degrees to Natalie Desselle Reid, Jamarcea Washington

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Two well-deserving former Grambling State University students will receive bachelor’s degrees posthumously. Learn more about them in the GSU release below.

This week will be a cause for celebration and remembrance as Grambling State University holds its Fall 2021 commencement exercises this week. Unique to this semester’s ceremonies is the awarding of a posthumous degree to the late Jamarcea Washington on Thursday and the late Natalie Desselle Reid on Friday. Scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. each day, the events will be held in the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center and streamed live on Grambling State’s YouTube channel.

A native of Alexandria, actress Natalie Desselle Reid graduated from Peabody Magnet High School and attended Grambling State University for 2 1/2 years. The acting bug bit her after a starring role in Grambling’s production of “Bubbling Brown Sugar.” After several productions as a thespian, she decided to move to Los Angeles and test the waters. Realizing Hollywood was not aware of her “arrival,” she became a receptionist, a soul food waitress, and lastly a tank mechanic at McDonnell Douglas.

Alexandria, Louisiana, actress Natalie Desselle Reid graduated from Peabody Magnet High School and attended Grambling State University for 2 1/2 years. The acting bug bit her after a starring role in Grambling State’s production of “Bubbling Brown Sugar.” After several productions as a thespian, she decided to move to Los Angeles and test the waters. Realizing Hollywood was not aware of her “arrival,” she became a receptionist, a soul food waitress, and lastly a tank mechanic at McDonnell Douglas.

Her break came when Robi Reed cast her in F. Gary Gray’s “Set It Off” which led to a guest-starring role on television’s “Family Matters.” After her initial foray into Hollywood, she found herself looking for opportunities while living in Inglewood, California, and then the call came. The role that established her as a comedic thespian aka “the funny chick” in Robert Townsend’s” B.A.P.S”, starring opposite Halle Berry. The films “How to be a Player”, “Cinderella” and televisions “Built to Last” and “For Your Love” followed.

In the 2000s, she played Janie Egins on the television show “Eve” for three seasons, and had one of her last film roles in Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Big Happy Family (2011). Her most cherished production was her family, which included her husband Lenny Reid and their three children Sereno, Summer, and Sasha. Her family will be present to receive the honorary Bachelor of Arts degree in Visual and Performing Arts in her memory.

Jamarcea Washington was a graduate of Southwood High School in Shreveport, LA. His path led him to Grambling State University where he majored in criminal justice and was a bass drummer for the World Famed Tiger Marching Band before his untimely passing in October this year. Affectionately known as “Jay”, his family will be present to receive the posthumous Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice in his memory.

Bluefield State College To Offer First-Ever Master’s Degree Program In Spring 2022

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Bluefield State College is one step closer to establishing itself as a university thanks to its ability to now offer its first Master’s Degree program! Get the full story from Bluefield Daily Telegraph below.

Credit: Bluefield Daily Telegraph

Bluefield State College continues to achieve milestones, and a major one has now been reached.

Starting with the spring semester, the college will offer its first ever master’s degree program, setting the stage for eventual university status.

The Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC) on Friday approved the college’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) program.

“Today’s decision by the Commission empowers Bluefield State College to launch the first graduate degree program in the College’s 126-year history,” said BSC President Robin Capehart. “By offering a graduate program, Bluefield State can now begin the process for pursuing university status.”

The master’s degree program will be interactive with a “hybrid” format of online courses and seat time.

“Building on Bluefield State College’s fully accredited undergraduate programs in the W. Paul Cole, Jr. School of Business, we are excited to expand into graduate education by offering a Master of Business Administration this spring to meet the educational needs of this region,” Dr. Ted Lewis, BSC Provost, said. “By offering this program in a hybrid format, students will gain valuable seat time and opportunities for in-person interaction, engagement, and experiential learning as well as the ability to meet face to face with business leaders.”

The MBA program is designed for both business and non-business majors, and will be offered in an accelerated format with courses offered primarily through online delivery. Students can complete the 36-credit hour program in as little as 12 months.

“Bluefield State College is gratified and excited to announce we will be offering the MBA program through the W. Paul Cole, Jr. School of Business,” said Karen Grogan, the school’s Interim Dean. “The Master of Business Administration program will be offered, beginning in the Spring 2022 Semester.”

The program will bring an “affordable and accessible” graduate business education for residents of the region and beyond.

Southern West Virginia employers surveyed by the Cole School of Business “expressed strong support for the program,” the college said in the announcement. “They saw the BSC MBA as a valuable way to help current employees strengthen their skills and business acumen, and facilitate the recruitment of new employees seeking to further their education while continuing to work.”

From here, the college will now seek program-specific accreditation of the MBA program as soon as possible. The Cole School of Business undergraduate business program is already nationally accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.

Capehart took over the college in early 2019 and one of his goals was to eventually achieve university status, a goal he previously accomplished as president of West Liberty University.

“Becoming a university would give us a higher aspirational level,” he said earlier this year after being formally inaugurated as the college’s new president, which had been delayed because of the pandemic. “Universities have a large reach in terms of attracting students. Becoming a university also attracts more international students.”

The path to achieve that, he said, is offering graduate programs.

“We have three graduate programs pending,” he said then of the process that includes a review by the Higher Education Policy Commission.

Now, one of those pending programs has been officially approved.

Another major goal of Capehart was to offer on-campus housing and that has also been accomplished.

BSC purchased the former Bluefield Regional Medical Center and transformed much of it (the emergency department remains) into a residence hall and classrooms, and that made the facility part of the BSC campus.

This summer, about 175 students started moving in to the former rooms for patients that had been renovated for students.

The first “quad” of the planned four units at Heritage Village behind the student center is scheduled to be finished by August 2022 and will house 30 students.

Enrollment is also strong.

“This semester, we welcomed a freshman class of nearly 600 students, 45 percent of our total enrollment,” Capehart said recently, “and nearly one-third of our freshman class are African-Americans. Overall, our minority and African-American student enrollment has risen from 3 percent three years ago to nearly 22 percent today.”

The BSC student body includes students from 33 different states and 15 foreign countries.

Prior to Capehart’s January 2019 arrival, Bluefield State had experienced a 40 percent decline in enrollment over the previous eight years. By the fall of 2020, BSC halted its enrollment slide and registered a 1 percent enrollment increase, one of only three colleges in West Virginia to show enrollment growth.

Deion Sanders Earns Coach Of The Year Honor With FCS Eddie Robinson Award

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Jackson State University coach Deion Sanders has been named coach of the year with his FCS Eddie Robinson Award! Get the full story from Craig Haley at The Analyst below.

Credit: JSU Athletics

One of the biggest coaching hires in FCS college football history has paid quick dividends.

Jackson State University certainly “believes” in the results under Deion Sanders, who on Tuesday was named the 2021 recipient of the Stats Perform FCS Eddie Robinson Award, which is presented to the national coach of the year in the Division I subdivision.

One of 17 finalists for the award, which is named for legendary Grambling State coach Eddie Robinson and celebrating its 35th anniversary season, Sanders will be honored at the FCS National Awards Banquet on Jan. 7 in Frisco, Texas.

Just over a year after the school made the legendary cornerback a first-time head coach, the Tigers have set a program record with 11 wins and captured the Southwestern Athletic Conference title for the first time since 2007. The Tigers have qualified for the Celebration Bowl for the first time, set to face South Carolina State on Saturday in Atlanta.

“This is a team effort, it’s a valiant effort, it takes a lot, it does not just take me. I know it takes a visionary, but people have to really support the vision. And that’s what we did,” Sanders said.

After Jackson State hired Sanders in September 2020, he quickly instituted an “I Believe” mantra to suggest positive days were ahead for a program that didn’t have a winning season since 2013.

In his first campaign this past spring, the Tigers went 4-3, but one win was a forfeit. This fall, they’ve left no doubt, losing only once by five points to an FBS opponent, even while the 54-year-old Sanders, who’s known as Coach Prime, coached in and around a three-week hospital stay.

With Sanders’ son Shedeur, a freshman quarterback, leading the offense as the 2021 Jerry Rice Award recipient, and the defense ranking as the SWAC’s best, Jackson State has gone 11-1, including 9-0 against conference opponents. While it’s unfolded, an average of 42,293 fans flocked to six home games – a single-season record for an FCS school.

Jackson State’s turnaround has added another chapter to Sanders’ remarkable career. He’s one of the greatest cornerbacks in history, voted to both the College and Pro Football Hall of Fame. He starred at Florida State before the Atlanta Falcons selected him fifth overall in the 1989 NFL Draft, and he went on to win two Super Bowls and make eight Pro Bowls while playing for five organizations over 14 seasons.

A two-sport star, he also spent parts of nine seasons in Major League Baseball.

A 50-member, national media panel selected the Eddie Robinson Award following the regular season. Past recipients include Mark Duffner, Erk Russell, Chris Ault, Jim Tressel, Houston Nutt, Andy Talley, Paul Johnson, Joe Glenn, Mike Ayers, Jerry Kill, Jerry Moore and two-time recipients Mickey Matthews, Sean McDonnell and Craig Bohl. Sam Houston’s K.C. Keeler, the 2016 recipient, was the runner-up for the second consecutive season.

Also at the national awards banquet, Stats Perform will present the Walter Payton Award (FCS offensive player of the year), Buck Buchanan Award (FCS defensive player of the year), Jerry Rice Award (FCS freshman player of the year) and Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year. An awards show will begin airing the next day, Jan. 8, on Bally Sports Regional Networks.

2021 Eddie Robinson Award Voting Results

A first-place vote was worth five points, a second-place vote four points, a third-place vote three points, a fourth-place vote two points and a fifth-place vote one point.

1. Deion Sanders, Jackson State: 9-7-8-10-6-123

2. K.C. Keeler, Sam Houston: 9-5-5-6-7-99

3. Randy Sanders, ETSU: 11-4-7-2-1-97

4. Troy Taylor, Sacramento State: 7-7-5-3-4-88

5.(tie) Matt Entz, North Dakota State: 1-7-3-3-2-50

5.(tie) Brent Vigen, Montana State: 1-5-5-4-2-50

7. Eric Morris, UIW: 2-2-6-3-2-44

8. Jason Simpson, UT Martin: 3-3-1-3-2-38

9. Glenn Caruso, St. Thomas: 2-3-2-0-1-29

10. Brian Bohannon, Kennesaw State: 0-2-2-4-4-26

11.(tie) Mark Ferrante, Villanova: 1-1-2-2-5-24

11.(tie) Bobby Petrino, Missouri State: 0-3-1-4-1-24

13. Buddy Teevens, Dartmouth: 2-0-2-3-0-22

14. Colby Carthel, Stephen F. Austin: 1-1-0-3-3-18

15. Bob Chesney, Holy Cross: 1-0-1-0-5-13

16. Buddy Pough, South Carolina State: 0-0-0-0-5-5

17. Chris Merritt, Bryant: 0-0-0-0-0-0

Pharrell Williams Receives Honorary Doctorate From Norfolk State University

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Artist and philanthropist Pharrell Williams was recently honored during his commencement speech at Norfolk State University. Get the full story from Megan Ambers at Blavity below.

Credit: Bloomberg/Getty Images

“I wanted to be able to make people feel the way Norfolk State’s band made me feel,” Williams said.

Over the weekend, Grammy award-winning musician and producer Pharrell Williams received a doctorate from Norfolk State University in Virginia.

University President Javaune Adams-Gaston presented Williams with the award and named Williams as an honorary member of the Spartan Legion, Norfolk State’s marching band.

Williams expressed his honor to be at the graduation and showed his appreciation to the 2021 graduates despite not attending Norfolk University. 

“I didn’t attend Norfolk State, but I was always present,” Williams said. “The pull of the green and the gold is strong. I am honored to have made this part of my work, my story, and still today; I can’t wait to see how far you amazing, impressive graduates of Norfolk State … how far you’ll go.”

Williams believes Norfolk, Virginia, will continue to thrive in the future because its local and past heroes always return, sharing the story of Willis Augustus Hodges as an example.  

“Like many of you here today, he was an activist,” Williams said. “He was 14 years old, chased by an angry mob to Canada, and guess what? He still came back.” 

“So yes, there is something in the water, and it has been there for a long time,” he said.

Williams explained he expects the city to look entirely different in the upcoming five years, crediting Norfolk’s “inclusive, energized, pro-business community.”

“Norfolk will not be the city that limits its peoples’ own potential, but instead, it will feed it,” he said. “Five years from now, it will be a very different Norfolk.” 

Williams recently spoke out against injustice and police brutality in his hometown of Virginia Beach. In March 2021, Donovon Lynch, Williams’ cousin, was fatally shot by a police officer. The shooting was later determined to be justified by a grand jury. 

The producer, who expressed dissatisfaction about the city’s handling of his cousin’s case, announced that he would not bring his music festival, Something in the Water, back to the city. 

“That was a toxic situation that was hurtful to my family,” he said at the time. “If you’re cool with it going down like that, then you’ve got to do some soul searching.”

In addition, he urged the graduates to be intentional with their spending dollars and to support local businesses. 

“We are the emerging majority,” he said. “Don’t wait until Election Day. Vote with your wallets today, tomorrow, and the next day. Does the business owner look like you? Shop there.”  

“You have the ability to create the city that you deserve, the life that you deserve,” he added before closing his speech. 

Learn All You’ve Ever Wanted To Know About A Career In The NFL

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If you’ve ever dreamed about a career in the National Football League, then we have great news for you! As it turns out, the NFL has been looking for you too. Earlier this week, NFL officials held the day-long “HBCU Careers In Football Forum,” and more than a few gems were dropped. Attendees represented over 40 HBCUs, with over 175 undergraduate students in attendance. 

The league has been very intentional about recruiting HBCU talent, and it could be you!  According to a statement from the NFL, “There is a fulfillment unlike any other that comes from working alongside like-minded individuals to achieve a common purpose. Whether you are working to deliver a memorable Super Bowl or aiding the process of delivering games to millions of fans on Sundays— we believe all of us play an important role in fulfilling the NFL’s mission of working to unite people and inspire communities.” So no matter what you have plans to do with your education, there is definitely room for opportunity.

Credit: Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

The event commenced with a warm opening by Jamil Gittens, who serves as the Director of Football Administration and Club Services for the NFL. “We are super excited to have you, he told the students.” The HBCU Careers In Football Forum is a part of the NFL football operations of the National Football League’s mobility efforts to increase opportunities for minorities interested in pursuing careers in sports. This year’s event will bring students from HBCUs with the hope and the desire to inspire, develop, and connect you with a wonderful plethora of opportunities within the industry of professionalism within sports. “ said Jamil Gittens, director  of football administration and club services for the NFL. The conversation was held December 8th from 10am-4pm.

Gittens and other NFL heavy-hitters were a significant part of the virtual event’s success. With seven events spread throughout the day, students heard from professionals all across the league. For example, the first event, “Business Operations Inside the League Office,” featured executives Hans Schroeder (EVP & COO of NFL Media); Dave Jurenka (SVP & General Manager of NFL Media); Nana-Yaw Asamoah (VP of New Business Development at the NFL); and Anna Isaacson (SVP, Social Responsibility at the NFL). The subsequent events featured leaders in communications, coaching, and diversity, equity and inclusion from teams like the Detroit Lions, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Washington Football Team. Multiple HBCU leaders were also involved in the event, including Ariel Escobar (Director of Football Operations at Tennessee State University) and Paula Jackson, Ph.D. (Associate Director of Athletics at Hampton University).

If you have a strong interest in the career opportunities within the NFL, don’t just watch the games on TV! Learn all about topics like working in college athletics, developing your elevator pitch, and even what perspectives executives can offer students like you! Explore NFL careers by clicking here.

N.C. A&T Golfer JR Smith Earns 4.0 GPA In First Semester

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North Carolina A&T State University got a new star player when JR Smith was accepted to their golf program. Now, as it turns out, they have a star student as well! Get the full story about JR Smith’s 4.0 GPA at N.C. A&T in the Bleacher Report story from Tim Daniels below.

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Former NBA guard JR Smith celebrated earning a perfect 4.0 grade-point average (GPA) during his first semester of college at North Carolina A&T State University.

Smith, who generated headlines for being a 36-year-old freshman on the Aggies’ golf team, posted an Instagram video after finding out his final grades from the fall semester:

The two-time NBA champion also made a couple posts on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/TheRealJRSmith/status/1470774473141927945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1470774473141927945%7Ctwgr%5Ehb_1_7%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Farticles%2F10020841-jr-smith-reflects-on-getting-40-gpa-in-ig-video-cant-even-describe-the-feeling

Smith achieved the 4.0 while taking part in the first half of the golf season, which included four tournaments across September and October. The campaign takes a winter break before resuming in March.

In October, he said Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul was among the players to reach out to say they’ve been tracking his progress.

“I got a lot of great feedback,” Smith told reporters. “Chris Paul was telling me guys were talking about it in the locker room. Guys are really looking for my scores, so I got to take care of business so when I see them it ain’t going to be too much backlash.”

The New Jersey native didn’t take the traditional path to college as he was selected in the first round of the 2004 NBA draft out of St. Benedict’s Prep School.

He circled back to higher education after a successful 16-year NBA career that included stops with the New Orleans Hornets, Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers.

Smith wrapped up his career by helping the Lakers win the 2020 NBA championship.

Now the 2012-13 Sixth Man of the Year is finding success at N.C. A&T both on the golf course and in the classroom.