A Howard University student recently received a prestigious award from the White House! Learn more about Tamia Thompson and what she did to earn the award in the story from Howard below.
Howard University College of Arts and Sciences sophomore Tamia Thompson has been awarded the 2021 White House Presidential Service Award. This award honors Thompson for contributing 176.98 service hours to several nonprofit organizations, including Whatsoever Is Good, Inc. and the Zero Debt College Project. Thompson provides one-on-one mentoring, scholarship essay writing assistance and scholarship strategy advice to 10-year-old through college-aged students.
Credit: Howard University
“She writes curriculum for the Whatsoever Is Good, Inc. weekly virtual activities and pitches in wherever necessary to ensure the program’s success,” said Monique Thompson, Ph.D., founder of Whatsoever Is Good, Inc. and the Zero Debt College Project. “Through her role as our top student leader and mentor, she helps others learn credible information about scholarships and dispel myths about needing to graduate top of their class or with perfect grades to avoid student loans.”
A Dallas native, Thompson is majoring in political science and minoring in philosophy. She became a published author in 2017 with the release of her book “Thirteen” and serves as the executive director and co-founder of the Zero Debt College Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Since her start at Howard University, Thompson has managed a school board trustee campaign as well as a mayoral campaign in Little Elm, Texas – both of which were successful, leading to Little Elm Independent School District electing its first Black woman to the Board of Trustees and the city of Little Elm electing its first Black mayor. She also worked a student writer for Stories from the Mecca during the Spring of 2020.
Credit: Howard University
Currently, Thompson is a member of the Model United Nations team and the NAACP. “Giving back to the community and advocating for marginalized groups are core values of mine, which is why I plan to attend law school after completing my undergraduate degree in order to pursue a career as a civil rights attorney,” says Thompson.
Even if you may hear about it less, HBCUs are still holding their own win it comes to top basketball recruitment. Get the full story about why you just may be hearing about these successes a little less from Jason Jordan at Sports Illustrated below.
This time last year, it had been roughly six months since the killing of George Floyd and racial tensions remained high as an abundance of Black Lives Matter protests and marches brought out countless world leaders, celebrities and athletes to speak against racism, inequality and police brutality.
The trickle down, as it pertained to the college basketball recruiting space, was an influx of interest from elite high school stars in Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU).
Top players who customarily post offers via social media from college basketball heavyweights like Kentucky, North Carolina and Duke, were trading in the blue blood offer announcements to feature offers from HBCU like Howard, Hampton and North Carolina A&T.
“It was a beautiful thing,” said elite 2022 combo guard Skyy Clark. “I committed to Kentucky because it was the perfect fit for me, but I loved to see the HBCU get the attention. It’s always been a question about why players don’t look at HBCU more, but last year we saw a lot of top guys putting out that they were interested in them.”
Floyd, a Black man, died on May 25, 2020, after being pinned beneath police officers, one of whom kneeled on his neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds, as he was detained. Floyd repeatedly told the officers that he couldn’t breathe.
The officer who kneeled, Derek Chauvin, was convicted of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter and was sentenced to 22 and a half years in prison last month.
A year and a half later, with less national headlines surrounding racial and social issues, the social media posts have halted to an extremely slow drip at best, which begs the question: Is HBCU interest still real among elite players or was it all just a knee-jerk reaction to the moment?
Howard men’s basketball coach Kenny Blakeney said it’s “still very real,” but that “the narrative is a lot less focused than it was last year.”
Blakeney made history last July when landed consensus top 15 player Makur Maker, giving the Bison the highest rated player in the modern recruiting era to commit to a HBCU.
Unfortunately, Maker never got to shine on the big stage.
He suffered an injury two games into last season then Howard was forced to cancel its season due to COVID-19 related issues.
Now, Maker is playing professionally with the Sydney Kings in the NBL in Australia.
“There was such an intentional focus surrounding the horrible murder of Mr. George Floyd at the time,” Blakeney said. “It’s been over a year, and, as things do, it’s died down. As a result, players and their families wanting to have the association of HBCU and their recruitments has not been the same. It’s still there, it’s just not as loud.”
When Maker committed to Howard he said his goal was “to make the HBCU movement real so that others will follow.” He specifically named Mikey Williams as one of the rising high school stars he wanted to influence “to join me on this journey.”
Williams, a junior, is the most popular high school athlete in the country with an Instagram following that eclipses 3.4 million and friends like Drake and Da Baby, as well as NBA superstars like LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard.
In July, Williams inked a deal with Excel Sports Management, becoming the first high school basketball star to sign with a major sports agency to pursue name, image and likeness (NIL) endorsements.
Last month, he inked a multiyear deal with Puma, making him the first American high school basketball player to sign a sneaker deal with a global footwear company.
Williams’ mother, Charisse Williams, was a star softball player at prestigious HBCU Hampton University and in August his father, Mahlon Williams, said his son is “leaning toward” playing at a HBCU.
Phoenix Suns star Chris Paul is doing his part to keep HBCU at the forefront, consistently sporting HBCU paraphernalia before and after games. His Winston Salem State hoodie was a go-to look for him during the NBA Finals this summer.
Chris Paul is bringing the spotlight to HBCU. (Credit: Getty Images)
Paul talked about the importance of promoting HBCU, and recently produced the docuseries “Why Not Us,” which followed HBCU powerhouse North Carolina Central.
Paul, who played two years at Wake Forest before going on to the NBA, is currently studying Communications at Winston-Salem State University.
“Just trying to make sure that they get that spotlight,” Paul said.
North Carolina Central coach LeVelle Moton contends that while the spotlight is currently illuminated it’s not aligned with the trend; and therein lies the problem.
“These kids do what’s trendy, it’s the world we live in,” Moton said. “Whatever’s hot is the wave they ride. The bottom line is this: When it comes to decision time are they gonna turn down the aesthetics and glitz and glamour and go with the culture?”
Elijah Fisher, a junior who is widely regarded as a top 10 player in the 2023 class, said he wants to normalize HBCU offers being a big deal.
“I got offered by Morgan State and it’s a big deal for me,” Fisher said. “I think it’s important to support the schools that predominantly have people that look like me there. I love that Morgan State is a HBCU.”
Typically, players in Fisher’s position opt for schools in Power 5 conferences to maximize resources and exposure, but Fisher said, “It may be time to change things.”
Blakeney’s Bison recently made the top eight for elite junior forward Sean Stewart, and Ron Holland, arguably the top junior forward in the country, took a visit to Tennessee State in October.
“I like the idea of making history,” Holland told SI. “That’s what they’re pushing, and it makes sense to me.”
Cade Cunningham never had the option.
Cunningham, who went No. 1 overall to the Detroit Pistons in this year’s NBA Draft, grew an affinity for HBCU watching the famous Prairie View A&M-Grambling rivalry while growing up in Texas.
Still, when it came to his recruitment, Cunningham never received any interest, likely because of his stature as a top five player with top pick projections even in high school.
Cunningham, who eventually picked Oklahoma State, said he would’ve “seriously considered” HBCU had they reached out.
“I definitely support any younger guys that want to go to HBCU,” Cunningham said. “I think that would be a great step.”
Still, Blakeney said while ultimately landing elite prospects is the obvious goal, the attention top tier players bring by reciprocating interest in HBCU via social media “definitely helps.”
“I think any time that we can bring light to our HBCU, especially young men with social media followings reaching tens of thousands, that’s a good thing,” Blakeney said. “Just seeing what took place since Mr. Floyd’s murder, and seeing Makur come to Howard and grow and develop even as a one-and-done type player is a positive. He’s a guy who will have a chance to achieve his goals and dreams, and that’s the ultimate goal.”
Learning how to invest can sometimes seem so intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be! Recently, we hosted an HBCU Game Night Info Session in collaboration with Girls Who Invest (GWI) to give a few HBCU students insight into just how exciting finance can be. Girls Who Invest is a non-profit organization that was created in 2015 to increase the number of women in portfolio management and in executive leadership positions in the investment management industry.
The ladies who attended our game night were able to test their knowledge in the management industry in a fun trivia game.
The participants of the game night included:
Ty’Queyia Jenkins of Norfolk State University
Ashleigh McKinney of Xavier University of Louisiana
Madison Moffatt of Clark Atlanta University
Faith Crawford of Howard University
Jordyn Allen of Howard University
Deveraux Mackey of Howard University
Alyssa Moore of Howard University
Jaden D. Johnson of Southern University
Kaila Reggans of Fisk University
Jamerya Kelley of Johnson C. Smith University
In addition to testing their existing knowledge, the participants were able to learn about two free GWI programs. Thankfully, you too can learn about these programs and see all the opportunities waiting for you in investment management. Regardless of your major, Girls Who Invest has something for you! As long as you are a hard-working student with an interest in finance, there are free Summer Intensive and Online Intensive programs for you to take advantage of. The GWI Summer Intensive Program is a ten-week experiential program, featuring academic instruction from top business school professors and a paid internship at a leading investment firm. College sophomores are eligible to apply for this program. First-year students (in addition to sophomores) or students looking for more flexibility can apply for the GWI Online Intensive Program, a self-guided option that can be completed at your own pace. From February through August, students learn key finance and investment concepts from educational partners like Wharton Online, CFA Institute, and Wall Street Prep. The program culminates in a certificate of completion from Girls Who Invest.
Long-term, Girls Who Invest looks to increase the amount of women in finance by ensuring more motivated women are applying for roles in the industry. GWI has created a remarkable pipeline to prepare these women for their dreams. GWI’s vision is to have 30% of the world’s investable capital managed by women in 2030!
To learn more information about Girls Who Invest and follow along on their journey to change the face of investing, follow their Instagram page.
Some unfortunate news has been released regarding one Tennessee State University‘s star basketball players: Hercy Miller is out for the rest of the season due to an injury. Get the full story from TMZ Sports below.
Credit: Getty
TMZ Sports spoke to Hercy Miller’s dad — AKA Master P — about his star freshman hoops playing son. P revealed Hercy had been dealing with the lower leg injury for some time … and tried to play through the pain.
Master P says HBCUs need more funding to bring their medical services up to par with powerhouse basketball programs across the country.
P also told us universities have been attempting to re-recruit Hercy now that he has been granted 4 years of college eligibility … despite playing in a handful of games for Tennessee State.
Sad news from Hercy Miller — Master P‘s Tennessee State hoops star son is out for the rest of the year after suffering a season-ending injury.
The freshman guard made the announcement on Tuesday … saying, “Due to a lower-body injury I’ll be out for the ’21-’22 season.”
But, don’t worry, Tigers fans … the 19-year-old says he’s already looking forward to his comeback campaign.
“I’ll be back next year for the show! Stronger and better,” he added.
The 6’3″ guard averaged 10 minutes in 6 appearances for the Tigers … scoring an overall total of 13 points. TSU is currently 1-5.
“THANK YOU, to all the fans,” Miller said, “and everyone who supported me this season.”
Miller — who was a 3-start recruit from Minnehaha Academy — picked the HBCU earlier this year over UCLA, LSU and other Power 5 programs.
As we previously reported, Hercy signed a multi-million dollar endorsement deal after the NIL policy change … telling us in July, he learned from his dad.
“I signed a deal with an American technology company. Like my dad said, it’s a blessing,” Miller said.
“I learned from my dad, I’m gonna start off by giving back to the community and everyone around me.”
Delaware StateUniversity has hit new enrollment records at rates that have never been seen before! Get the full story from the DSU release below.
In a continuation of the unrelenting growth trajectory that has seen the institution expand by 40% between 2009-2019, Delaware State University has once again established multiple enrollment records during the Fall 2021 Semester, including the largest student body ever (5,649), surpassing its previous record of 5,054 in 2019.
The University also achieved records in the categories of undergraduate students (4,848), graduate students (801), and online enrollment (317). The 9.7% rise in undergraduate enrollment (an increase of 429) was a major factor in achieving the record total enrollment figure.
The new Freshman class totals 1,023 students, including 445 in-state students, 298 of whom received the state-funded Inspire Scholarship. This represents a 67% increase in Inspire Scholars driven, according to school officials, by the expansion of the scholarship to cover full tuition for all four years of attendance. This undergraduate success has also been bolstered by a Freshman retention rate that has stayed above 70% for the past seven years, with the latest figure being a record-breaking 75.1%.
“We are thrilled to be bucking some major national trends,” said Antonio Boyle, Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Management. “According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, higher education numbers around the country are down in all those categories this fall.”
Boyle noted that these increases also correspond with the expansion of the University’s footprint with the acquisition last summer of the former Wesley College, now renamed DSU Downtown and serving as the home of the Wesley College of Health and Behavioral Sciences. Wesley legacy undergraduates account for 334 new enrollees at Delaware State University, over two-thirds of those eligible to continue their progress toward degrees at significantly reduced tuition rates.
The graduate enrollment record – 193 students over the previous year – is largely a result of the University’s strengthened emphasis on its master’s and doctoral programs, which has accounted for enrollment increases over 20% for each of the last four years. Graduate Dean Dr. Patrice Gilliam-Johnson credited much of the growth to “everyone on the faculty and staff being personally engaged in recruiting and spreading the word about the tremendous value of our low-cost, high-quality degree programs.”
Gilliam-Johnson said that much of the enrollment growth could be attributed to the School of Graduate, Adult, and Extended Studies’ most popular majors, including Social Work (230 students), Educational Leadership (148 students), and the Master of Occupational Therapy (93 students), which came to Delaware State University this year from Wesley College. “Our MSW and MOT programs are unique in the state,” she said, “and have become major attractors for students interested in starting new careers with strong growth potential.”
Graduate enrollment also received a boost from the University’s international programs, where 108 students are now enrolled in new Educational Leadership degrees in Changchun, China, and in Jamaica.
The total international enrollment, either in residence in Delaware or offered through partner institutions abroad, rose by 173 to a record 623 students, with enrollment in the University’s Accounting and Computer Science programs at Ningbo University of Technology in China likewise hitting a new record with 449 students. This 38% growth stands in sharp contrast to a 21% average decline in international enrollment nationwide, which has suffered primarily due to travel restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
President Dr. Tony Allen emphasized that achieving such increases across the board during a global pandemic has required thoughtful planning, administrative flexibility, and careful marketing of the University’s value proposition.
“In so doing, we have had to grow responsibly and with clear intention. Investments like the Inspire Scholarship, the Early College High School, and the acquisition of Wesley College have helped us move the needle,” Allen said. “Still, execution is always at the forefront of our minds. Our students come to us not simply for quality education, but to literally change the trajectory of their lives for themselves, their families, and their communities. They deserve our very best in helping them do exactly that.”
Former Kentucky State University Regent Lester Mimms is being memorialized with a hiking trail in a historic state park! Get the beautiful full story from Madisonville, Kentucky’s The Messenger below.
Credit: Cherokee State Historic Park/Facebook
They called him “Professor.”
From the testimonials of his students, Lester Mimms earned the cognomen as more than just a sign of respect, but also as a term of endearment.
At the time of his death in October 1991, a former student who later worked with Mimms as a teacher, Marion Gill said, “He thought it was necessary for every boy and girl to have an education. He was always interested in his students. He was very good to his students, and his students loved him.
The long-time Hopkins County educator and civic leader was recognized Thursday as a hiking trail at Kenlake State Park was named for him in honor of his service to the young people of Earlington.
The two-mile long trail connects Cherokee State Park with Kenlake Campground in Marshall County.
The trail’s significance mirrors that of Mimm’s own career. Cherokee, now part of Kenlake State Park, was built in 1951 as the only segregated state park in the South, and one of only three such resorts in the entire country. The 300 acres housed a 200-seat dining hall—which was renovated in 2009—a restaurant, cottages, and a bath house. Upon the desegregation of travel and lodging in the 1960s, Cherokee became part of Kenlake. Most of the cabins at Cherokee were relocated and many other structures were abandoned.
Mimms guided the students of J. W. Million High School into the era of desegregation by becoming Kentucky’s first Black principal of an integrated school, Earlington High School, in 1967.
Credit: Kentucky State University/Twitter
The Professor was the third and final principal of Million, serving in that role from 1943 until its closure in 1965. He taught one year at Earlington before taking the administrative position from which he would retire in 1970.
Mimms was also an outstanding basketball coach.
Gill recalled the excitement the students felt for the Million team.
“”He kept everybody enthusiastic about basketball,” she said. “When we had a game you could hear us all the way to the company store.”
Nora McClain, another former teacher who worked alongside Mimms, recalled in 1989 just how exceptional a job Mimms did with the program.
“He never had more than twelve members on a team, and he never had a losing season,” she said.
She added that Mimms had led the Purple Waves to three appearances in the Kentucky state basketball tournament between 1935 to 1965.
Mimms was named Coach of the Year by The Messenger for the 1963-64 season.
In 1969, the educator was commissioned as a Kentucky Colonel by Gov. Louie Nunn, who also named Mimms to the Board of Regents of Kentucky State University in 1970. He served the Frankfort-based school from 1970 to 1974.
Mimms later became coordinator of Head Start in Hopkins and Muhlenberg counties, and opened several such centers. He also organized and developed the Senior Citizens Center for Hopkins County.
In 1978, Gov. Julian Carroll named him to the State Building and Housing programs.
Simmons Bible College in Louisville awarded Mimms an honorary doctorate in humanities in 1980.
Two HBCU bands will be getting their shine thanks to a new ad from Pepsi! The ad is a win not only for Florida A&M University‘s Marching 100 and for Jackson State University‘s Sonic Boom of the South, but for all HBCU bands. Get the full story from Garfield Hylton at the Orlando Sentinel below.
The FAMU and B-CU marching bands are part of the appeal of the annual Florida Classic at the Citrus Bowl. (Credit: Donald Montague/Orlando Sentinel)
Pepsi and FAMU worked together to shoot the first-ever ad highlighting HBCU band culture for one of the biggest college football games of the season.
The 60-second ad is called “The Halftime Game,” according to a PepsiCo press release.
HBCU album Alan Ferguson directed the ad in partnership with the Creators League, Pepsi’s in-house studio led by Lou Arbetter.
The ad features FAMU and Jackson State Unversity’s band while highlighting “the electricity and history they bring to game day,” according to the press release.
Pepsi spent more than $3 million on the ad, which is set to run across media for the Southwest Atlantic Conference (SWAC), ABC’s Celebration BOWL, and other national media outlets throughout the end of December.
“This ad campaign provides a fitting showcase for two exceptional music programs,” said Dr. Shelby Chipman, FAMU Director of Bands. “Our marching band students are committed to excellence in the classroom and performing on the field. This campaign celebrates their dedication and talent. Fans of the incomparable Marching ‘100′ will be pleased.”
PepsiCo says the ad illustrates their commitment to racial equality, according to the press release.
In 2020, as part of the company’s Racial Equality Journey, they announced a commitment of more than $570 million over the next five years to “elevate diverse voices within the company, supply chain partners, and communities, while helping to address issues of inequality and create opportunity,” according to the press release.
The Florida A&M “Marching 100” performs during the Battle of the Bands at the Amway Center on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021 in Orlando, Fla. (Credit: Chasity Maynard/Orlando Sentinel)
Dr. Roderick Little, JSU Director of Bands, called the ad “an outstanding opportunity for our students, band, and university, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge what this affiliation means for all HBCU band programs regarding exposure that could garner the support of future donors and corporate sponsors.”
Dr. Little added his belief that the future was bright for HBCU band programs because of opportunities like Pepsi provided.
FAMU will play Jackson State University in the championship game at 4 p.m. Saturday in Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson, Mississippi.
Tennessee State University alumnus S. Keith Hargrove is transferring HBCUs to become Tuskegee University’s new Provost & Vice President of Academic Affairs. Learn more about him and his previous work at his alma mater in the TU release below.
Tuskegee University has appointed S. Keith Hargrove, Ph.D., CMfgE, PE, MBA, as Provost & Vice President of Academic Affairs effective January 1, 2022. Hargrove currently serves as dean of the College of Engineering at Tennessee State University.
“I am deeply honored and humbled to return to Tuskegee University and serve in this leadership role that impacts academic programs, support faculty, and the engagement of students for success beyond their college experience,” said Dr. Hargrove. As Provost and Chief Academic Officer, he will be responsible for helping to implement the recently announced 5-Year Strategic Plan, supporting faculty, promoting continuous growth in research activity, and ensuring a rich student experience.
In his role as dean of the College of Engineering for over a decade, Hargrove has increased enrollment, research funding and implemented new academic programs to prepare students for industry, government, study abroad, and entrepreneurship. In 2017, his college was recognized as the Best HBCU STEM Program by HBCU Digest. He previously served as Chairperson of the Department of Industrial, Manufacturing & Information Engineering in the Clarence Mitchell, Jr. School of Engineering at Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD. Hargrove also completed a one-year Administrative Fellowship at Harvard University and was Assistant to the Dean and Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the College of Engineering, Architecture & Physical Sciences at Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Alabama.
Hargrove has worked for Boeing as a Welliver Fellow and General Electric upon completing the Manufacturing Management Program as a manufacturing engineer in the Electronic Systems Division and Transportation Systems. As a research engineer, he has worked for Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and Y12/Oak Ridge Laboratory. He also worked as a research professor/post-doctoral at the University of Michigan for the NSF Engineering Research Center for Reconfigurable Manufacturing Systems.
Hargrove has received research funding from the National Science Foundation and conducted research projects with Lockheed Martin, Sikorsky Aircraft, Boeing, NASA, US Navy, and the US Army in systems engineering, design, virtual and augmented reality, advanced manufacturing, and minority engineering education, and has more than 100+ publications and presentations, and attracted more than $14M in external funding. He is the founding Director of the TIGER (TSU Interdisciplinary Graduate Engineering Research) Institute at Tennessee State University, a group of laboratories funded by external grants and contracts. The TIGER Institute has collaborated with other disciplines such as health sciences, psychology, and education. He has received several awards for teaching, research, and mentoring.
He is an Associate Member of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, Institute of Industrial Engineers, American Society of Engineering Education, Tennessee Academy of Science, and the Tennessee Society of Professional Engineers. He is recognized as a Certified Manufacturing Engineer (CMfgE), registered professional engineer (PE), and recently certified as a Professional in Engineering Management (CPEM).
Hargrove received his Ph.D. from the University of Iowa as a CIC Fellow. He received his BS in Mechanical Engineering from Tennessee State University as a General Motors Fellow, MS from the Missouri University of Science & Technology in Rolla, MO, as a National GEM Consortium Fellow. He is recognized as the first GEM Fellow to obtain a Ph.D. He completed the Higher Education Leadership Foundation (HELF) program and the Becoming a Provost Academy, sponsored by the American Society of State Colleges and Universities (AACSCU).
A firm believer in K12 STEM education, he is a founding board member of STEM Preparatory Academy, a local charter school in Nashville, Board Member of Smithson Craighead Academy, Advisory Board in Engineering for Stratford STEM Magnet High School, and served on the advisory board of Union Elementary STEM School. At TSU, he received the Community Service Award for Administrators to engage with the local community and K12 schools. Dr. Hargrove is also a strong advocate for mentoring tenure-track and minority faculty throughout their academic careers, and Co-Editor and contributor of “Navigating Academia: A Guide for Women and Minority STEM Faculty,” published by Academic Press (Elsevier), and author of “In Search of Academic Leadership: A Primer for Faculty Development.”
Stacey Abrams launched a campaign for Georgia governor Wednesday with a pledge to fight for economic equality and expand health care access, setting up a potential rematch against Republican Gov. Brian Kemp in one of the nation’s most competitive political battlegrounds.
The Democrat announced her campaign with a video that highlighted her work in the state since her narrow 2018 defeat to Kemp, along with a message that “opportunity and success in Georgia shouldn’t be determined by your ZIP code, background or access to power.”
Her decision, long expected by local Democrats, clears the way for what could be a titanic showdown between two longtime political rivals. That is, if Kemp survives a fight for the GOP nomination first.
Abrams lost to Kemp by less than 1.4 percentage points in 2018, the closest Georgia gubernatorial election in decades, and her refusal to concede defeat because of what she called an “erosion” of voting rights made her an icon to many Democrats and a villain to conservatives.
If Abrams prevails, she would become the first Black governor in Georgia and the first Black woman elected governor in U.S. history. She would also end a string of Republican victories in gubernatorial contests dating to Sonny Perdue’s upset win in 2002 over Democratic Gov. Roy Barnes.
She’s running in a tough political environment. Despite statewide victories in the last election cycle, Georgia Democrats will be on the defensive during the 2022 midterms, when U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock is also on the ballot. Abrams’ campaign countered by noting Democratic gains in this year’s mayoral elections, including flips of several Republican-held seats this week.
Kemp might as well have ripped a page from his 2018 playbook with his reaction to her announcement, which repeated a stark warning that Abrams’ “far-left agenda” doesn’t reflect Georgia’s values.
“Next November’s election for governor is a battle for the soul of our state,” he said. “I’m in the fight against Stacey Abrams, the failed Biden agenda and their woke allies to keep Georgia the best place to live, work and raise a family.”
‘One Georgia’
Abrams’ announcement ends a guessing game among some Georgians about what she would do next. A former Democratic leader in the Georgia House, Abrams is now a nationally known politician who has been talked about as a future White House contender.
But she’s also maintained a foothold in state politics, pummeling Kemp for his approach to combating the coronavirus pandemic, his support for an overhaul of the state’s voting laws and his refusal to expand Medicaid. Her campaign launch video emphasized her Georgia focus.
“Regardless of the pandemic or the storms, the obstacles in our way or the forces determined to divide us, my job has been to just put my head down and keep working toward one Georgia,” she said. “Because in the end, we are one Georgia.”
The campaign, which filed paperwork Wednesday, will be led by her longtime aide Lauren Groh-Wargo. A major statewide launch is in the works for next year, but Abrams’ initial steps are expected to involve small-scale meetings with Georgians and fundraising events.
Abrams can count on a unified Democratic Party behind her candidacy. No other credible Democratic contender has entered the race, and her fundraising record and visibility allowed her to wait until December to announce. The timing gives her a full month to raise funds in 2021.
There’s no doubt that Abrams and her allies also aim to exploit ongoing feuding among Georgia Republicans, who have been engaged in a yearslong battle between various pro-Trump factions.
Trump and his loyalists have vowed to exact revenge on Kemp after he refused to overturn 2020 election results in Georgia, and the former president suggested at a September rally that he would have preferred if Abrams was governor.
Former U.S. Sen. David Perdue is seriously considering a primary challenge against Kemp with Trump’s support. He’s told donors and activists that he’s tempted to enter the race because he fears Kemp will get trounced by Abrams next year.
Several other Republicans have already launched campaigns premised on their loyalty to Trump, including former Democratic state Rep. Vernon Jones.
An epic rematch
With her 2022 campaign, Abrams is hoping to harness a Democratic surge she helped engineer.
She and her allies spent most of the past decade mobilizing liberals with a campaign as an “unapologetic progressive” with vows to oppose abortion limits, support new gun restrictions and take other stances that many other statewide Democratic candidates avoided.
But she also embraced initiatives with more widespread public support, such as expanding the Medicaid program, a policy that Kemp and other Republican leaders have long opposed as too costly.
Her narrow 2018 defeat showed Democrats a new path to victory that relied on maximizing turnout among voters of color who often skipped midterm elections while also appealing to suburban voters alienated by Trump.
Biden captured the state in November, marking the first time Georgia voted Democratic in a presidential election since 1992. Nine weeks later, Jon Ossoff and Warnock ousted Sens. Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, flipping control of the chamber.
The victories were particularly sweet for Abrams, who passed on her own bid for the U.S. Senate and helped recruit Warnock to run instead. Back then, she said “Georgia will always be at the center of my plans” even as she was coy about her next step.
Still, there was little mystery among her closest friends about whether she’d mount another run for governor. She’s long been drawn toward executive office and often acknowledges that she wants to eventually run for president.
Stacey Abrams bumps elbows with Raphael Warnock during his campaign last year for the U.S. Senate. Abrams passed up her own opportunity to run for the seat and recruited Warnock as a candidate. (Credit: Drew Angerer/Getty Images/TNS)
An aide said that if she’s elected governor she will serve the full four-year term in office, adding that the buzz about a potential 2024 White House bid is “the talk of folks who don’t know her desire to lead Georgia.”
‘Unifying’
Her ambitions will also be used against her. Kemp and other Republicans have derided Abrams as a “celebrity” candidate with little long-term interest in Georgia. And Republicans have tried to blame her for Major League Baseball’s decision to yank the All-Star game from Atlanta, though she discouraged boycotts over the new voting law.
“Over the past four years, Gov. Kemp has exhibited courageous leadership for Georgians and guided his state through a turbulent time,” said Maddie Anderson of the Republican Governors Association. “Stacey Abrams spent her time touring the country in search of fame and fortune.”
She’s also been accused of hypocrisy for assailing Trump when he didn’t concede to Biden while she issued a nonconcession speech that criticized the “systemic disenfranchisement, disinvestment and incompetence” of Georgia’s election system under Kemp’s watch. Kemp has denied any wrongdoing when he was secretary of state.
Unlike Trump, Abrams never tried to reverse her election defeat and instead filed litigation seeking to expand access to the ballot. The Democrat also acknowledged that Kemp had won the election and that she was not the governor.
She settled another issue that dogged her during the 2018 campaign. Abrams paid off the roughly $54,000 she owed to the Internal Revenue Service, along with other credit card and student loan debt she reported during her first election run.
This campaign, Abrams would also be supported by the powerful Fair Fight political organization that she launched even as she ended her 2018 campaign.
The group has grown into a fundraising behemoth, collecting more than $100 million since its inception, and it has blitzed the airwaves with criticism of Kemp. It has become such a formidable force that Loeffler recently started her own group, Greater Georgia, to counteract its influence.
Gov. Brian Kemp, shown campaigning in 2018, responded to Democrat Stacey Abrams’ announcement that she will run next year for governor by saying her “far-left agenda” does not reflect the values of Georgians. “Next November’s election for governor is a battle for the soul of our state,” he said. (Credit: Ryon Horne, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Many Republicans have eagerly expected Abrams’ entry, and some were running against her long before she announced. Candidates for obscure political offices have targeted her, and a group called Stop Stacey stocked with Kemp campaign strategists aims to keep her in front of a GOP battering ram.
No one, of course, mentions Abrams as often as Kemp, who essentially never stopped campaigning against her. He said Wednesday that every political step she takes is calculated “in service to her ultimate ambition of becoming president of the United States.”
Stephen Lawson, a veteran Republican strategist, is among the political foes who have long awaited her announcement. He said she offers the divided state GOP a common adversary.
“Never underestimate the unifying power Stacey Abrams can bring to Republicans in Georgia.”
Looking to relive the financial burdens of students this holiday season, Meharry Medical College sent nearly 1,000 medical students $10,000. Check out the incredible story from Jeffrey McKinney at Black Enterprise below.
Future medical professionals attending Meharry Medical College could have a merrier Christmas after receiving a $10,000 gift from the HBCU.
Presented unconditionally and aimed to ease financial hardship heading into the holiday season, Meharry President Dr. James E.K. Hildreth announced the Thanksgiving gift on Nov. 22 in a video shared with students at the historically Black college in Nashville, Tennessee.
According to the Tennessean, Meharry’s 956 students each received the donation. The money came from federal COVID relief funds sent to higher education institutions for financial aid.
The CARES Act dispersed some $14 billion to help schools handle the coronavirus pandemic’s financial strain. It also assisted students with academic debts and the clearing of tuition costs. Meharry landed a $20 million grant to be used partly to bolster its medical curriculum with virtual simulation and telemedicine training. The bounteous student gifts applied nearly $9.6 million of those funds.
“In the past year-and-a-half we’ve all had to learn as it says in scripture to give thanks in all circumstances and keep thankfulness in our hearts,” Hildreth reflected as part of a holiday message.
He added, “I’m thankful for you students and the future of healthcare, public health, and research that is entrusted to you. That future looks bright.”
Meharry’s medical professionals-in-training helped administer COVID-19 tests and provided information and strategies to mitigate further spread of the novel virus throughout 2020. “You heard me right. We’re making these gifts out of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds, which Meharry received as part of the CARES Act,” Hildreth explained.
The money was transferred into the bank accountants of students with direct deposit on Thanksgiving Eve. Others were able to pick up their check on campus. Hildreth advised students to use the money to pay costs tied to their education instead of being tempted to use it for Black Friday shopping.
Students completing up to four years of matriculation in the school of medicine or dentistry graduate with roughly over $280,000 in debt based on an analysis of tuition and fees for the 2021-2022 school year. Several other Black higher education institutions, such as Atlanta’s Morehouse College and Clark Atlanta University, sought to help students with their academic-related financial burdens by clearing debts.
Austin’s housing crisis is becoming a problem for college students across several colleges and universities. To counter that impact on students, 2 Huston-Tillotson University students are sitting on a student-led commission to fight against the pressing housing disparity. Get the full story from Daniel Martin at KXAN below.
As Austin’s city council prepares to talk housing affordability at a meeting Tuesday, a special commission is working to make sure college students who struggle with rent have a seat at the table, too.
Huston-Tillotson University students pose before getting ready to volunteer for EarthDay ATX 2017 (Credit: Julianne Hanckel)
The City of Austin’s College Student Commission is comprised of 15 members representing UT Austin, St. Edwards University, Huston-Tillotson University, Concordia University Texas, and Austin Community College. The Concordia seats are currently unfilled.
The group plans to finalize a list of affordable housing recommendations to pass along to city leaders, giving students a voice in the discussion.
Commissioner Edwin Bautista, a UT graduate student studying urban planning, told KXAN some of the commission’s ideas include creating student neighborhoods similar to UT’s West Campus around other local universities, but adding tight city rent control measures to keep costs down.
“One of the goals for the commission is to help push the city into kind of creating those residential districts,” Bautista said, adding that as a student, himself, he also struggles with rent.
“I work part-time, and I make a quarter of the median household income,” he said. “That forces me to live in a reality of low-income status while also having to find housing.”
After a year at a sorority house, UT student Kennedy Lightfoot told KXAN she’s moving to a new West Campus high-rise next year, where she’ll pay more than $1,200 per month for a bed in a shared unit.
“It’s ridiculous, I think my parking is like over $200 a month,” she said. “There are cheaper options, but a lot of times the cheaper options don’t feel safe.”
In East Austin, affordable housing options are quickly vanishing for students at Huston-Tillotson. The historically Black university has seen the neighborhood around it transform as pricey custom homes replace older houses, many of them rentals.
Austin City Council Member Greg Casar said he feels the city’s development code needs a refresh.
“Right now, what we really encourage is tearing down an existing apartment complex and building an expensive new one on top of it or tearing down a little old house and building one big one in its place,” he said. “That’s going to oftentimes lead to more expensive options.”
Meanwhile, students like Lighthouse are calling for middle ground.
“Something where you’re not worried the quality of the place in which you’re living, but you’re not worried about how much you’re paying,” she said.
Dr. Melissa N. Stuckey, an associate professor at Elizabeth City State University, has let her curiosity lead her down a new road of history and research. Learn more about her story from Lauren Howard at the Spectrum Local News article below.
From the 1930s to the 1960s The Negro Motorist Green Book became the go-to guide for African-American travelers across the country.
In a new exhibit called “Navigating Jim Crow: The Green Book and Oasis Spaces in North Carolina” at the Museum of the Albemarle explores what life was like for black travelers.
A group at Elizabeth Cty State University is revisiting those safe havens that were vital to the Black community.
Assistant professor Dr. Melissa N. Stuckey drove by countless abandoned buildings and vacant lots on her way to work and became curious about the history behind them.
“I drive a particular route down this road to my job every day at Elizabeth City State University, and I saw so many empty lots and so many older homes, and I just wanted to know the story,” Stuckey said.
She and her students began their research by looking up old city directories and the Green Book, which included two locations, The Blue Duck Inn and Mr. Overtone’s filling station.
The filling station no longer exists and The Blue Duck was torn down and replaced by a grocery store.
This is indicative of the way so much of Black history and Elizabeth City history have been forgotten.
“African-American men and women and men owned plenty of essential businesses in Elizabeth City. People had their churches, restaurants, their rooming houses, their businesses, everything was within walking distance, even their places of entertainment. So they were able to have a full life even in a segregated city,” Stuckey said.
The Gaiety Theatre is one of the only structures still standing. It was a Black-operated, white-owned cinema.
“The very idea that there’s an African American-operated cinema in your neighborhood walking distance, means it’s a place young people are going to gather, families are gonna come to. Whether it’s after church or on the weekends, it was a very popular place to be,” Stuckey said.
She said there’s so much rich history in the city, but it’s covered by new development and scattered. But with the help of her research she hopes to see the history commemorated for future generations.
“There’s a community that has substance that’s been in Elizabeth City for that long, and their stories are begging to be told. I want people to see the longer story of each building, of each dweller, of each resident. Even each empty lot, right? They all have a story,” Stuckey said.
Howard University alumna and successful actress Ashley Blaine Featherson-Jenkins has used her education to propel her career. A new interview she had with Ebony is explaining how. Get the full story from Kenya N. Byrd at Ebony below.
Don’t ever knock the hustle and grind of collegiate life. If you’re really about that life then understand this: institutions are mere microcosms of the real world—where the educated are groomed to accept societal prerequisites to work, live and socialize with people from diverse ethnic, cultural, economic, political and social backgrounds. Let’s keep it all-the-way real: it’s also the pivotal period that shapes and defines a scholar’s life and challenges who he or she might become through the development of critical thinking, creativity, interpersonal skills and a profound sense of social responsibility. For the last four years, Netflix’s Dear White People has depicted the college-bound in all its complexity and explored the blurred lines of demarcation between Blacks and Whites, the haves and the have-nots, racists and activists. There to breathe life into it all was actress Ashley Blaine Featherson-Jenkins who reprised her silver screen role as the frank yet loyal, pre-med radical Joelle Brooks.
EBONY caught up with Featherson-Jenkins who spoke candidly about offering graduating seniors of Howard University’s theater arts program a headstart, the role of HBCUs nurturing today’s new school of Black leaders and why Black folks need therapy.
EBONY: How did you relate and/or not relate to your character Joelle Brooks of Winchester University on Dear White People?
Ashley Blaine Featherson-Jenkins: From the beginning the character resonated with me. Embracing Joelle was easy because of her ambition, her Black [pride] and simply being a true naturalista.
I’m extremely proud of my character’s evolution because she found her voice, peace and love. By the end of the fourth season she’s fully [immersed] in her career. As an actor-stan of the show, I love what we all were able to [witness]. She’s one of my proudest accomplishments that I’ll always fondly keep in my heart.
Because you had a Black college experience did you ever feel awkward breathing life into Joelle Brooks?
Hmmmm….not really. In [the show], Joelle was a pre-med major and I studied musical theater at Howard so no comparison. In fact, the biggest challenge was learning the medical terms.
Is it true that one major difference between Black and White colleges is how fashion-forward the Black student body is at all times?
Yes! At Howard the students are always very well-dressed. Every day was like a walking fashion show. The the majority of us dress up all day, every day. The difference between [the fictional] Winchester and Howard universities is that there is more of a range and each character had its individual style that suited [him or her].
Undoubtedly, there are profound cultural differences in the way Blacks and Whites live either by choice or circumstance. How do you believe that race and/or even colorism has affected which opportunities you’ve been presented?
I can’t lie. I know I haven’t been afforded certain opportunities because of the color of my skin. Sometimes there’s a perception that I’m not as valuable as others. It’s harder for a magazine to put me on the cover or for a studio or network to believe that someone who looks like me can lead a show, film or even be portrayed as truly smart, powerful and beautiful. These are still tropes that we need to combat but I’m never tired of the battle. I will always fight for us to be seen and heard in the fullness of who we are—educated and innovative.
For the past 97 years, Howard homecoming festivities have always been legendary until last year’s cancellation due to COVID-19. Still, despite a global pandemic under the Ashley Blaine Featherson Early Grant you donated 25K to your alma mater. Why now?
Howard has so genuinely poured into me and given me so much. It was the place and time that shaped and molded me as I [pursued] my career. It’s the reason I chose to donate to an early-career grant for the [theater arts’ graduating seniors] who need [relocation funds] to pursue an acting career. This money will allow graduates to find their footing as they begin their careers. It’s extremely difficult to miss out on an audition because you need coins to do the laundry, or gas to drive to the audition or many other miscellaneous expenses. This grant will allow the recipients to have a little more stability as they pursue a fickle career that’s inconsistent and unforgiving. I hope this will make them feel a bit more confident and secure as they follow their [acting] dreams. I would have appreciated such a fund but it wasn’t available.
When jumpstarting your career, which hardships did you encounter?
I experienced Hard times where I thought, How can I do both—pursue this career and work a full-time job?That’s a hard place to be when you’re an artist. It’s very rare that an artist has the chance to start out [with no financial burdens]. In the early days, I was more worried about how much money was in my bank account and less about celebrating the small or large movements I made in my career. The reality is that when you’re in survival mode it’s an everyday struggle. I realize I don’t want to fight for survival. I want to fight to live the life I want to live happily and not be contemplating, Ok maybe I can stay in this apartment one more month before I have to move? I understand it’s part of the game, but again why this fund is so important because if there is any way for me to alleviate even a little of that burden from a young actor beginning their career I’m happy to help.
What do HBCUs offer Black students that white institutions simply can’t?
Culture. For me one of the most amazing parts of attending Howard was that I was able to be surrounded by successful, brilliant, ambitious, beautiful, fun, cool and successful multi-faceted people who looked like me. Even the attention given to Black history and learning the resiliency of our people is [unique]. That sense of Black pride can only be found at an HBCU.
How essential are HBCU’s in shaping the next generation of Black leaders?
Extremely. My mother, sister, nana and great aunt all attended HBCUs. We all found it to be essential in our growth as Black women and as Black people. Black universities were created because there was a time that we didn’t have another place to go [for our education]. Today, HBCUs are still be thriving and producing the most influential Black leaders today.
As an advocate for women’s mental health awareness why does this issue hit home for you?
It’s a near and dear issue to me because in a lot of ways therapy saved my life. I know its power to change lives if people are given proper and reasonable access to it. I think Black and Brown people specifically are dealing with a lot of generational trauma that we don’t even know how we’re dealing with it. For all the trauma we endured in this country, we deserve access to free mental healthcare which should be a part of our reparations.
What advice would you give someone who proclaims “Black folk don’t do therapy”?
Don’t let a myth disrupt your life and prevent you from taking charge and healing. Seeking therapy is not showing weakness but strength in reclaiming your power and controlling your life’s narrative. In recent years, the perception surrounding seizing control of one’s mental health has become relatively more common in our community.
Agreed. When were you introduced to therapy for better self-understanding and healing?
Eight years ago, I was talking to a friend and she mentioned talking to a therapist. It was rare because nobody was talking about [therapy]. Seeking [a therapist] changed my life for the better. When all is said and done I want to leave an imprint and always be a source of inspiration and I hope people will say that in some small way I made the world abetter place.
Thanks to a new partnership, undergraduate students at Harris-Stowe State University will be able to enjoy a bioinformatics program! Get the full story from the HSSU release below.
The United Health Foundation, the philanthropic foundation of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), has awarded a $2 million, three-year grant to Harris-Stowe State University (HSSU) to create a bioinformatics program for undergraduate students at the historically Black university located in St. Louis. Bioinformatics is an emerging field that combines science, physics, math, and biology to aid in the diagnosis, treatment, and discovery of new therapeutic advancements. An example of bioinformatics is the use of computer analysis on the Human Genome Project, which has recorded the three billion basic pairs of the human DNA system.
HSSU will develop a new undergraduate program to train students for careers as bioinformatics professionals. HSSU will use the support to:
· Develop new curricula combining coursework and experiential learning opportunities;
· Expose high school students in surrounding school districts to the field of bioinformatics through a summer bioinformatics “boot camp” program; and
· Offer academic scholarships for up to 25 students each year.
“In the past decade, Harris-Stowe State University has emerged as a leader in training students for high-tech careers. This new program will help us to build on that important work, as well as continue to fulfill our mission of serving historically underrepresented students,” said Dr. Latonia Collins Smith, Interim President of HSSU. “Bioinformatics is a rapidly growing field of study, and it is vital for all people to play a role in its advancement.”
Studies have shown that there is a substantial gap in the number of diverse college students trained in biomedical sciences. Black, Hispanic, and Native American people account for only 7.1% of the employed biological/biomedical and life sciences workforce. A diverse health workforce is needed to provide personalized, culturally competent care to the diverse populations served.
“The United Health Foundation is honored to collaborate with Harris-Stowe State University to increase the diversity of the life sciences workforce. We are excited about HSSU training students who will make discoveries, develop therapies, and advance health care for all,” said Patrick Quinn, CEO of UnitedHealthcare Missouri, a UnitedHealth Group company. “This partnership illustrates UnitedHealth Group’s commitment to health equity and to building a diverse health workforce reflective of our society.”
The commitment in Missouri is one of many ways UnitedHealth Group is working to advance health equity by diversifying the health workforce of the future. The United Health Foundation’s Diverse Scholars Initiative, for example, partners with nine nonprofit and civic organizations and has provided over 3,000 scholarships to diverse students studying medicine and public health across the U.S. since 2007. Optum Technology, a UnitedHealth Group Company, offers a mentor-led STEM program that has provided science, technology, engineering, and mathematics training to over 7,000 diverse and underrepresented students at 103 middle and high schools since 2019.
Football at Lincoln University of Missouri will receive new leadership thanks to the selection of a new head coach! Get the full story from the Lincoln release below.
Credit: Lincoln University of Missouri
The Lincoln Athletic Department announced on Monday (Nov. 29) that Jermaine Gales will be the next head coach of the Blue Tiger football program.
“Coach Gales is the right leader to move LU Football forward,” said Kevin Wilson, Vice President of Advancement, Athletics, and Campus Recreation. “Despite limited resources, he’s recruited high-level student-athletes who became alumni and productive citizens, maximized talent to achieve what others thought to be improbable, and engineered successful programs. I look forward to celebrating many milestones with Coach Gales at the helm.”
Gales, who has nearly 20 years of experience as an assistant coach at the NCAA Division I and Division II levels, has established a proven track record of building and developing successful programs. Gales was hired in November of 2020 as the Associate Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach at Bluefield State, a school that had discontinued its football program in 1981. This past fall, in the Big Blue’s first football season in 40 years, Gales helped lead the program to a 4-3 record.
“I am beyond excited about joining the Ambush,” Gales said. “The opportunity to impact the lives of young men as a head football coach has been a dream of mine since blowing my whistle for the first time. This is an opportunity to build something special and do something that has never been done before, in a community like Jefferson City, with an athletic director and president who are committed to developing our young men. I couldn’t be more excited to become the leader of the Blue Tigers. My family and I look forward to sharing the journey with the Lincoln University community, alumni, and fans.”
Before building the program at Bluefield State, Gales spent two seasons at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, where, as the offensive coordinator, he took a team that hadn’t won more than two games in a season since 2014 and helped lead it to a winning record in 2019. That season, Gales directed an offense that averaged 443.4 yards per game, the third-most in the Southwestern Athletic Conference and the 17th-most in NCAA Division I FCS. In his first year with the team in 2018, Gales devised an offense that ranked third in the SWAC with 423.5 yards per game, an improvement of over 100 yards per contest from the previous season.
In 2016 and 2017, Gales was the wide receivers coach at North Carolina Central and helped the Eagles win 17 games in that span. In 2016, Gales directed a receiving corps that scored 19 touchdowns, finished 18thin the FCS in yards per completion. The Eagles went undefeated in conference play that season and played in the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl. NCCU again posted a winning record in 2017 and ranked fourth in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in total offense, with Jacen Murphy leading the league in receptions per game while finishing third in total receiving yards.
Gales worked as the wide receivers coach at Mars Hill from 2006-09 and again from 2013-15. In between those stints, Gales served as the offensive coordinator and coached the running backs and receivers at Saint Augustine’s, helping the program twice break season records for points per game. In 2010, Gales helped lead the Falcons to a win in the Pioneer Bowl, marking the first postseason victory in program history.
Jermaine Gales (second from right) was introduced as Lincoln’s new football head coach during a press conference Monday morning in the President’s Suite at The Linc. Also pictured are his wife, Kizzy Gales (second from left), Lincoln vice president of advancement, athletics and campus recreation Kevin Wilson (far left) and Lincoln interim president John Moseley (far right). (Credit: Greg Jackson/News Tribune).
Gales graduated from Southern Arkansas in 2002 with a bachelor of science degree in biology and a minor in human performance and recreation. He later earned a master of education degree in kinesiology from SAU in 2005.
Before entering the coaching ranks, Gales spent two seasons playing at Mt. San Antonio as a receiver before transferring to Southern Arkansas, where he helped the Muleriders win the 1997 Gulf South Conference championship. Gales served as an assistant at SAU from 2003-05, helping develop the program’s receivers.
Gales and his wife, Kizzy, have been married for 17 years and have six children: Devaughn, Kassidy, Braeden, Tailagua, Ettastajia, and Darius. Gales also has three grandchildren: Jhase, De’Mauri and Ava.
What Others Are Saying About Coach Jermaine Gales
“Jermaine was a key component of us building a championship caliber program and culture at North Carolina Central. His Offensive Coordinator & Associate Head Coach experience helped me tremendously. He has always put the student-athlete first and looked at programs from a 10,000 feet perspective. I’m excited to see his vision, leadership, and exciting offense for Lincoln.” – Jerry Mack, Running Backs Coach, Tennessee
“Coach Gales’ energy, coaching success, and passion for turning a program around makes him an excellent choice to lead the Lincoln University football program. Across the country, he is recognized as one of the top up-and-coming coaches in the nation. Gales is someone who is a relentless, proven recruiter who has seen remarkable success. On top of that, he places a high value on culture and developing student-athletes.” – Christopher Robinson, Athletic Director, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
“Jermaine and I have been friends for well over a decade, and it was a blessing to have him as our offensive coordinator & associate head coach. Outside of his proven skills as an OC, we could not have accomplished the things we did here. He was invaluable to me as a confidant in my first year as a head coach and will always be a great friend! Coach Gales truly cares about the development of young men off the field as well as on it. Lincoln University is getting a great one and he is ready for this opportunity! It is long overdue!” – Tony Coaxum, Head Coach, Bluefield State
“There is no doubt Coach Gales will be successful and amazing as the leader of the Lincoln football program. He is a relentless recruiter and has an outstanding offensive mind that will bring relevance and credibility to this football program. The future looks very bright.” – Toriano Morgan, Head Coach, Edward Waters
“Jermaine Gales is an excellent football coach and a great leader of men. Lincoln University is fortunate to have a man of Coach Gales’ character to lead their football program. Lincoln’s program will improve the moment he steps foot on campus.” – Tim Clifton, Head Coach, Mars Hill
The National Football League (NFL) announced its 2nd annual Madden NFL 22 x HBCU Tournament with EA to celebrate the impact of HBCUs headlined with a competitive tournament and career development opportunities both on and off the field. The goal is to inspire students at all Historically Black Colleges and Universities to get involved and represent their schools with competition and networking.
Registration officially is open through Dec. 3, 2021, with limited slots for an online single elimination qualifier tournament on December 5, 2021 with the top 16 finalists advancing to compete in the NFL Madden x HBCU Showcase during Super Bowl Week in Los Angeles. Players can register to compete in the tournament here.
The 16 finalists will also participate in an “experienceship” by spending time with the EA staff to engage them in various departments, and they will tour the NFL’s new west coast headquarters and shadow NFL leaders for a day to provide development and networking experiences to the students.
The top two finalists will be playing for cash prizes at the NFL’s west coast headquarters located next to SoFi Stadium in Hollywood Park, home of Super Bowl LVI. Their match up will be available to watch on both the NFL YouTube and Twitch channels on February 12, 2022.
“We are so thrilled to bring back this tournament for HBCU students and offer a once-in-a-lifetime experience to come to Los Angeles during Super Bowl LVI Week,” said Natara Holloway, Vice President, Football Strategy at the NFL. “We want to expand the League’s efforts to create inclusive opportunities for the next generation of talent with partners like EA providing not only a chance for students to compete, but also the chance to learn the business of football through practical learning and shadowing experiences.”
The NFL will partner with GCN, Inc. (Gaming Community Network), part of the GameSquare Esports group of companies, who will manage all operations including registration, online tournament execution, player communications, competitive integrity and a professional broadcast during the week of Super Bowl LVI.
“We are so honored to be working with the NFL on this incredibly important initiative to capture the passion of gaming among HBCU students,” said Chris Kindt, CMO for GCN. “We are confident our team with deep roots in esports and gaming will deliver an exciting tournament capped off by the exhilaration of competing during Super Bowl LVI.”
About the NFL HBCU Initiative
In May 2016, the NFL launched Strength of HBCUs, Impacting Pro Football Since 1948 in partnership with two prominent HBCU athletic conferences — the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). The initiative has since expanded to also include other conferences and schools to recognize and strengthen its relationships with HBCUs across the country. Through these relationships, the NFL has developed several HBCU-focused programs to educate and connect students to careers in football administration and the sports industry at large.
About Gaming Community Network: GCN, Inc. (Gaming Community Network) is the only independent media group completely dedicated to gaming and esports across community sites, content producers, influencers and tournament/event operators. Bridging the gap between traditional media and gaming with a “Gamer First” promise, GCN’s aggregated & integrated proprietary media network reaches 65M+ MAU’s in the US (115M+ MAUs globally) driving scale for premium content designed to provoke and share conversations. GCN builds bespoke strategy solutions from content creation to full-scale tournaments for any endpoint be it social, broadcast TV or live stream. As a GameSquare Esports Inc. (stock: GSQ, Canadian Stock Exchange) subsidiary, GCN collaborates with its partners to deliver memorable experiences for gamers and brands.To learn more, visit GCN.gg or follow on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/GamingCommunityNetwork/
About GameSquare Esports Inc. GameSquare Esports Inc. is an international gaming and esports company headquartered in Toronto,Canada. The Company is seeking to acquire additional assets and entities serving the gaming and esports markets and, more broadly, in sports and entertainment. GameSquare’s acquisition of Code Red Esports Ltd. (“Code Red”), an esports talent agency, provided an initial foothold in Europe through its UKoperations. Code Red represents leading on-screen talent, players and influencers and works with leading global brands to develop influencer campaigns and esports marketing strategies. The Company’s second acquisition of Reciprocity Corp. provides access to Asia, Latin America and North America. Its gaming and esports assets include: a CrossFire franchise in China that it owns with its partner LGD Gaming, a 40% interest in a League of Legends team that competes in Latin America, and its wholly owned subsidiary corporation, GCN, a digital media company focusing on the gaming and esports audience based in Los Angeles. GameSquare continued building a global esports powerhouse when it acquired Complexity Gaming, one of America’s premier and longest standing esports organizations. With access to GameSquare’s content creation, sales, marketing, and branding expertise, Complexity will be able to expand the franchise’s international footprint.
