For the first time ever, the Hampton University Marching Force band will perform at the legendary Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York! The band will not only be repping its HBCU, but the state of Virginia as well. Get the full story from the official Hampton release below.
Source: Hampton University
The Hampton University Marching Force will perform in a spectacle like no other when the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade® returns this Thanksgiving to usher in the start of the holiday season as performers from across the country take to the streets of New York City. On Thursday, November 25 at 9:00 A.M., the 95th march of the world-famous Parade of Magic will bring the nation together in celebration featuring Macy’s signature mix of giant character helium balloons, fantastic floats, incredible marching bands, jubilant performance groups, whimsical clowns, music stars and the one-and-only Santa Claus.
“For more than nine decades, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has brought joy to millions who gather with friends and family to experience this one-of-a-kind holiday celebration along the streets of New York City and in homes nationwide,” said Will Coss, Executive Producer of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. “For our 95th celebration, Macy’s has created a spectacle to remember, featuring a dazzling array of high-flying balloons, animated floats and incredible performers. We can’t wait to help New York City and the nation kick-off the holiday season with the return of this cherished tradition.”
Each year, the Macy’s Parade Band Committee looks for bands that have the stage presence, as well as musical and marching abilities, to captivate millions of spectators in New York City and across the country. Hampton was selected from more than 100 applicants as one of nine selected bands to march in the 94th edition of the annual holiday spectacle. Unfortunately, that invitation was deferred to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This will mark the first Parade appearance by the Marching Force, which will also represent the state of Virginia.
“Rooted in tradition and with explosive energy, the Hampton University Marching Force delivers outstanding, entertaining shows that time and time again bring the crowd to their feet,” said Wesley Whatley, creative producer Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. “We look forward to introducing the talented students of Hampton University to our Parade audience for the band’s debut in the 2021 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade!”
“‘The Marching Force is an elite group of talented, young musicians and dancers who are academically accomplished. This opportunity will allow Hampton University to once again shine on the world-wide stage in front of the millions in attendance and others watching from across the globe,” said Hampton University President, Dr. William R. Harvey. “Under the direction of Dr. Thomas Jones, The Marching Forcecontinues to uphold THE Standard of Excellence as being one of the best marching bands in the nation.”
The Hampton University Marching Force has spent a significant amount of time planning for its Parade appearance. In addition to rehearsing, they have hosted creative fundraising events that not only brought the school and the community closer, but also prepared the students for the march of a lifetime.
For more than ninety years, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has given thanks to what Macy’s values most –- its loyal fans. More than 5,000 Macy’s employees and dedicated volunteers work tirelessly to create a spectacular event that entertains the cheerful crowds and provides joy to millions at home watching on Thanksgiving Day. Stretching down a more than two-mile-long route in New York City, the spectacle is alive with gleaming color, music and smiles.
Performing at the Macy’s Day Thanksgiving Day Parade is the latest accolade for The Marching Force. The band performed in the 2020 Rome New Year’s Day Parade in Rome, Italy. The Marching Force drumline performed in the 2019 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, prior to the Rose Bowl. In 2018, The Marching Force performed at the 16th Annual Honda Battle of the Bands while over 62,000 fans filled the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. The Marching Force also performed in President Obama’s Inauguration Parade in 2009.
“In a normal year, preparing a band for the Macy’s Parade is stressful and daunting. To do so in the midst of a global pandemic—the challenge is insurmountable. Despite that, we are prepared to not only meet that challenge head-on, but to also excel and make our Hampton University family proud. It is a testament to the hard work of our students and staff, through the support of our fellow faculty and administrators under Dr. Harvey’s unwavering leadership and commitment to excellence,” said Hampton University Director of Bands, Dr. Thomas Jones.
Pepsi Stronger Together – the Brand’s series of grassroots initiatives bringing tailored programming support to communities across the country – is helping to bring Hampton University’s award-winning band to NYC to perform in the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Through a $100,000 donation, Pepsi Stronger Together is providing transportation to and from NYC and practice uniforms for the band.
“I’m so excited Pepsi Stronger Together was able to help make this journey happen for the incredibly talented Hampton Marching Force as they head to perform at this iconic stage,” said Derek Lewis, President, South Division, PepsiCo Beverages North America (PBNA). “From our ‘She Got Now’ internship program to other HBCU-specific donations, and as a Hampton alum myself, I’m so proud to see another piece of PepsiCo’s commitment to supporting HBCUs come to life.”
Attending the Parade
For spectators wishing to enjoy the spectacle live, the 95th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade begins at 9:00 A.M., kicking off from its traditional starting line at 77th Street and Central Park West. From there the procession will march down its signature 2.5-mile route from Central Park West to Columbus Circle, turning onto Central Park South and then marching down 6th Avenue/Avenue of the Americas. At 34th Street, the Parade will make its final turn west and end at 7th Avenue in front of Macy’s Herald Square.
Public viewing will be set up along designated portions of the route and managed by the NYPD. Spectators should avoid bringing large bags, umbrellas, backpacks and strollers. The public entering viewing streets may be subject to a security search. For additional viewing information, please visit macys.com/parade.
Watching the Parade
For decades, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has been one of the nation’s most anticipated and watched holiday celebrations. Viewers nationwide can catch all the action via the special broadcasts on NBC and Telemundo from 9:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. in all time zones. For the first time, fans can also stream the broadcast on Peacock. The TODAY Show’s Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker will host the three-hour telecast for NBC and Peacock. The Spanish language simulcast on Telemundo will be hosted by Ana Jurka and Carlos Adyan, accompanied by Freddy Lomelí reporting live from Sixth Avenue. It will also feature a special appearance by Miss Universe® Andrea Meza.
The newly inaugurated Claflin University president Dr. Dwaun J. Warmack is determined to find innovative ways to bring student engagement to its peak at the university. And he’s only getting started! Get the full story from Times and Democrat staff writer Dionne Gleaton below.
Dr. Dwaun J. Warmack has an unwavering goal to continue the mission of the state’s oldest HBCU to not just survive but thrive even amid the challenges of a global coronavirus pandemic.
Warmack was inaugurated as Claflin University’s ninth president on Nov. 19, more than two years after he began his tenure in August 2019.
It was an occasion delayed by the pandemic, but Warmack said the university has continued to find success despite the array of changes that caused “one of the worst times that I’ve seen in higher education in my 23-plus years.”
Dr. Dwaun J. Warmack was inaugurated as Claflin University’s ninth president on Nov. 19, more than two years after he began his tenure in August 2019. (Credit: Larry Hardy, T&D)
“We’ve been very fortunate the past two years of managing through a global pandemic … when you think about the unprecedented things that hit our colleges and universities across the country, that forced us to shut down, forced us to send a lot of first-generation college students from low socioeconomic backgrounds back to environments that probably weren’t as conducive to their success.
“For us, that made it slightly challenging to say the least. But in spite of that, we said from the beginning our goal wasn’t just to survive, but it was to thrive, and we have indeed been able to do that during that time,” Warmack said.
He recalled students not being able to return back to campus following their spring break in March 2020, something which he said he had never experienced. It caused the university to have to pivot the way it served its students’ needs, including those without broadband access.
“For us to have to pivot immediately to go to 100% online instruction, when you think about one of the top 10 HBCUs in the country, top liberal arts college in the South. We are known for our liberal arts, high-touch environment. When you lose that to a 100% virtual environment, it transforms pedagogy for faculty and teaching, it transforms students from a distance-learning perspective and the ability to be able to have resources to be able to do the things that they need to do to be successful,” he said.
The university succeeded in providing students with the resources they needed in their new academic environment.
“We were able to provide them with adequate resources by request. There were a lot of multiple hot spots, multiple laptops and multiple other devices to ensure our students were able to be successful,” Warmack said, noting that it was eye-opening to realize the broadband challenges many students faced in some areas.
“I did not know the magnitude of the bandwidth challenges in the rural parts of this country. I had my own privilege coming from urban communities. To get here to see students who are less than 20 miles from here and the entire town not having bandwidth,” he said, was mind-blowing.
The president said the university not only had to adjust to broadband challenges but ensure that faculty had the resources needed to teach in the changed environment. He said the university’s faculty “did an amazing job of being not just passionate about a quality education but compassionate for those outstanding scholars.”
Future goals
The Detroit native said his immediate plans for the future will be guided by the university’s strategic plan, but will include the promotion of cutting-edge academic enterprise, continued improvement in student success and student engagement, creative technological and global strategies, and consistent fundraising.
“We have been able to in the midst of a global pandemic not just balance a budget but right-size a budget. We have almost doubled our endowment. We have almost doubled our net assets. We’ve have record fundraising. We’ve had multiple largest gifts in institutional history,” Warmack said.
The president, for example, announced a $20 million gift the university received from billionaire author and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott on Dec. 16, 2020, the largest gift in Claflin’s 151-year history.
Warmack has said there are plans to use it to continue the university’s transformational work in a few specific areas, including academic enterprise, the endowment and strengthening student success and retention.
Claflin plans, for example, include construction of a new state-of-the-art student center.
“Hopefully we’ll break ground in January or February,” Warmack said.
He said the university has also stabilized its enrollment during the pandemic.
“So we have had a lot of success during this time. So for the future, we’re looking to continue to build on the outstanding legacy while we transcend into the future,” the president said.
The 2019-21 President’s Report reveals the university, which has enrollment of roughly 2,000 students, has an endowment of $53 million and has seen increases in several areas, including its total assets, net assets, grants and unrestricted contributions.
The university’s retention rate stands at 76%, with total assets equaling $147,853,775. Net assets stand at $123,271,133, while grants total $19,102,550. Unrestricted contributions stand at $22,273,552.
Warmack said the university’s endowment has grown substantially since his arrival at the university, but work continues to bolster it for the college’s long-term sustainability.
Buildings and fundraising
Warmack has a laser focus on incorporating the community’s success with the university’s success because he said the two are interchangeable.
He said the development of the university’s $23 million student center at the corner of Magnolia Street and Goff Avene will be a place not just for the students, but the community at large.
Its first floor will include a food court and entertainment area with amenities such as an auditorium/movie theater. The second floor will include offices for areas to include, but not be limited to, career services, student activities, residential life and student government. The third floor will include an arcade, E-sports room and a ballroom with a seating capacity of 800.
“We’re part of the community. We have been a pillar in this community for a very long time. If Orangeburg’s successful, Claflin will be successful. So I think we play a dual role in that process. Also, too, our students deserve it (the new student center),” Warmack said.
He said the university recruits students from multiple countries and states who deserve a creative college life experience, particularly since students spend 78 to 82% of their time outside of the classroom.
“If we don’t give them a co-curriculum experience outside of class, then we’ve missed the boat. … We want to invest in the community that we live. We opened our Center for Social Justice downtown. We wanted to make sure that we invested in the community that we live and work. So the Center for Social Justice in downtown Orangeburg is a community-based center providing access and opportunities to individuals,” Warmack said.
He continued, “We’re looking to open up a new building in downtown Orangeburg as well. I’m not at liberty to discuss what that is, but it’s coming very soon, probably the largest building in downtown Orangeburg.”
Academics
Warmack said the quality of faculty and instruction at the university is also noteworthy, with Claflin being home to several amenities, including a one-of-a-kind DNA forensics lab. It was in 2004 when Orangeburg and Claflin University forged a partnership to improve forensic laboratory services in the hope of reducing crime in the area.
“We have quite a few students out of our biotech program that serve as researchers in that space. It is a state-of-the-art lab, and it’s a great collaboration and partnership that’s on this campus,” Warmack said.
He said the college will continue its outstanding work in STEM education.
It was in 2020, for example, that the college and ZOOM announced a commitment to a five-year strategic partnership, with the video communications provider and historically Black university developing a multifaceted foundational program that represents $1.2 million in educational and financial investments.
Program components include, but are not limited to, paid internships during the school year and paid internships as part of Zoom’s summer internship program, along with merit- and need-based scholarships for selected students.
“You’ve seen in the past few years the partnership we announced with Zoom, with Google, with all of these other tech companies. Our students are going out and getting phenomenal jobs within those places. Not just internships, they’re being gainfully employed to go out to do transformational work in society,” Warmack said.
“It just speaks to the volume and the quality of instruction and the faculty and the staff that we have here at Claflin University,” he said.
Warmack said course offerings will increasingly be tailored more to the needs of industry.
“In today’s time, you have to really create your curriculum to industry. What is industry looking for? How do we get students gainfully employed? One thing is recruiting them to being here, but that’s not enough. You recruit students on this continuum: recruitment, matriculation, graduation and then gainful employment. We want every one of our visionaries to be gainfully employed,” the president said.
He continued, “We were the first official Zoom partnership in the country no matter what type of institution. When I went out and had conversations with their COO and the CEO, I said, ‘Hey, you need computer scientists. We have one of the best computer science programs, I would argue, in the country. We will develop our computer science program to have tracks that fit exactly what you’re looking for.’”
He said university’s longtime teacher education program is also noteworthy.
“There’s a need for quality teachers. So we just had the largest induction into our teacher education program. … So it just gives me hope about why it’s important. You can’t have engineers, you can’t have doctors if you don’t have quality teachers. You think about rural South Carolina and what that means. So we continue to have an outstanding teacher education program and the work that comes behind it,” Warmack said.
Going forward, the president said the university will continue its focus on developing a strong Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math, or STEAM, agenda.
Building a foundation
Warmack replaced longtime President Dr. Henry N. Tisdale, a 1965 Claflin honor graduate who retired in 2019 after 25 years of service at his alma mater. Warmack and his wife, LaKisha, have one daughter, Morgan.
The family came to Orangeburg after Warmack served five years as president at Harris-Stowe University in St. Louis.
Prior to his years at Harris-Stowe, Warmack served as the senior vice president of administration and student services at Bethune-Cookman University.
Warmack also served as associate dean of students at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, and held positions at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina, and Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi, his alma mater.
He said he realizes he is standing on the “shoulders of giants” as president of Claflin University.
“There were eight folks that came before me that laid that foundation, and what I’m doing is trying to build on it. Dr. Tisdale was an amazing leader, and the presidents before Dr. Tisdale did great work. All of us have a role to continue to build on the legacy that will transcend into the future,” he said.
U.S. News and World Report has ranked Claflin among the top 10 on its list of the nation’s “best historically Black colleges/universities” for the 11th consecutive year this year, but Warmack said his goal is to move it into the top five.
“I want to be in that top five in the country among HBCUs, but also top five in the region among all institutions no matter what type. Within that same vein, you have a very aggressive growth strategy. It may just not be residential because we’re land-locked in a lot of ways. So we have done an amazing job with our online platform,” Warmack said.
He said there is focus on providing the Claflin experience worldwide without students necessarily having to set foot on campus.
“How do we provide classes in the Caribbean locations? How do we provide it on the continent of Africa? … We’ve just created a new partnership with our biotech program that will be announced. … We’ll announce the notion of a climate change (concentration) in biotechnology and with Africa University in providing that opportunity for scholars all over the world,” Warmack said.
He said the university will still continue to expand its footprint locally.
“I’m not a liberty to discuss that, but we’ve bought a variety of parcels in this community to allow us to have long-term growth within that space as we develop a master plan,” Warmack said.
He said the college will also be announcing an upcoming capital campaign focusing on five areas, including building the university’s new student center, as well as a new innovative and interdisciplinary academic building.
“That building will focus on, I’m thinking, reimagining higher education. So if I’m a biology major and I’m a mass comm major, how do we do collaborative research to come up with this project that changes the world? So most times in academy we are very departmental focused,” Warmack said.
He said building the university’s endowment, building upon its history in social justice and creating need-based scholarships will be other focuses of the capital campaign.
Warmack said it was Claflin’s rich history that attracted him to the university.
“Claflin has an amazing history, and it has a track record of success. … The white noise didn’t matter to me. I knew I had the capability to work, but (I was) coming to an institution that was solid, that was on stable ground and that had a rich history of alums committed to this institution,” he said.
He said he and his wife soon came to the conclusion that they were in the right place.
“This is our ministry. This is where God has us to serve now. I tell people when you’re obedient to what God says, everything else manifests. All of the success we’ve had is because we were obedient to listen to what God told us,” Warmack said.
While the 44-year-old knows God is in ultimate control of his destiny, his plan is to retire after seven more years, which would mark his 30th year in higher education.
“I want to be able to enjoy life. That’s why I’m working so hard right now. I’ve worked my whole life. I started working at 14,” he said, noting that, in the meantime, he’s “grateful I’m able to do God’s work.”
In a close showdown between Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) rivals, Virginia Union took home the early-season victory, defeating reigning CIAA champion Winston-Salem State 59-55 to win the inaugural Chris Paul HBCU Tip-Off.
As the final buzzer sounded on Tuesday, text messages flooded Virginia Union coach Jay Butler’s phone to congratulate him on the victory. Although he didn’t have an opportunity to respond to the messages, he knows his Panthers made the Virginia Union community and Basketball Hall of Famer Ben Wallace proud.
“I’m pretty sure I got a couple of text messages already. I know [Ben] probably watched [the game]. I tried to get him to come up, but we’ll probably celebrate when we get back to Richmond,” Butler said with a smile. “It feels great. First, I got to hand it to [coach] Cleo [Hill Jr.] and Winston-Salem. They’re a great basketball team. You see why they are the defending champs. They played hard for 40 minutes, and they’re not gonna let up. They’re gonna play to the end, but our guys, we fought. Defensively, we were awesome, [but] tonight’s defense kind of let up when they made a run back at us. But we kept fighting. We rebounded the basketball [and] made plays when we needed to. All these guys were great [and] played a good basketball game.”
Although a rarity for Division II historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to play on national television, Virginia Union capitalized on the opportunity.
“We definitely want to come back. If they make the call and say the champions get to come back and defend [the title], we’ll be there. [This classic] is good because it prepares you for the CIAA. It prepares you for conference play,” Butler said. ”This is an awesome event. CP3, Boost Mobile, everybody has been involved. It’s been an amazing tournament. We had gifts and a locker room and they fed us well every day. From top to bottom, this is first-class.
“It’s definitely something we can get accustomed to as a Division II [school]. Sometimes you [are] kind of limited on resources, but they had an opportunity to play on ESPN+ on a national level, [play at] the Mohegan Sun. We were held at the same hotel with North Carolina, Purdue and Villanova, those top teams in Division I. Just to see those guys, how they operate. It was easy for us to see and embrace the moment. Everything’s been awesome.”
Early on in the planning, the tournament was scheduled to host Division I HBCU teams only. At the urging of Paul’s elder brother, Charles “C.J.” Paul, who attended then-Division II South Carolina-Upstate for three years, a Division II tournament was added.
Credit: Basketball HOF/Twitter
“It’s great to see them play. It’s crazy because while this started out as a Division I tournament, which we have next week, I wanted to do something for the Division II schools. I played Division II, and we wanted to show them love,” C.J. Paul said. “My whole thing was I wanted [Division II HBCUs] to get an opportunity that not even the predominantly white institution Division II [schools get]. The only time these [Division II] teams go to tournaments is usually the CIAA or SIAC tournament. So we’re just starting something new just for HBCUs.
“People are talking about it. Every college coach has reached out to me at some point, like, can we get in next year. Just creating a buzz and setting the groundwork for what hopefully the future looks like. I definitely want this to be an every-year thing for Division II schools, as well as Division I schools.”
Paul’s inaugural Boost Mobile HBCU Challenge for Division I schools will air on ESPN platforms on Sunday and Monday, featuring Grambling, Hampton University, Morgan State and Norfolk State.
MOREHOUSE MAN MAKES HISTORY
While the tournament weekend offered HBCU players a chance to see the jerseys of legendary basketball contributors, Morehouse sophomore center Kalin Bennett went to view his own jersey, which hangs in the Basketball Hall of Fame. His No. 50 Kent State jersey is displayed in the “Underdogs” section of the museum, next to the clipboard used during UMBC’s upset over No. 1 seed Virginia in the 2018 NCAA tournament.
Bennett made history in 2018 as the first student-athlete with autism to sign a national letter with a Division I university when he signed with Kent State. He was diagnosed with autism at 9 months old. Bennett was the first autistic student-athlete to score in a Division I game on Nov. 6, 2019, in Kent State’s season-opening win over Hiram College.
“I’m not going to lie, it was kind of breathtaking to see that I’m in the Hall of Fame at such a young age, which is really not heard of,” Bennett said of seeing his jersey for the first time. “It was kind of amazing and understanding how big of a blessing that is to be able to help some other kids and help people understand that they can achieve their dreams no matter what they have. It’s pretty life changing.”
Bennett’s teammates, who affectionately call him “K.B.” and “Big Cheese” because of his gigantic smile and jovial nature, were excited to share and document his special moment.
“Our big guy,” said freshman Amahn Decker with a smile at the mention of his teammate’s name. “I love him. He’s like, I’m just [shorter]. It’s all love over here. We got to record him. It was a fun experience, plus he’s big-time. He’s in the Hall of Fame!”
Kalin Bennett stands in front of the display case containing his Kent State jersey at the Basketball Hall of Fame. (Credit: Morehouse Athletic Department)
Bennett, a 6-foot-10 center, played 17 games that 2019-20 season, finishing with 11 total points. He transferred to Morehouse in February before then-coach Grady Brewer died in May. Described by Morehouse interim head coach Douglas Whittler as a leader and coachable player, Bennett is excited to play for the Maroon Tigers and is prepared to bring his experience playing in the Division I Mid-American Conference to the Division II Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
“My time at Kent State was short, but I learned a lot. Everything I learned and everything I’ve seen, I tried to bring it with me here to Morehouse. I came here for Coach Whittler and Coach Brewer. I know who I came here for. I know who I know who’s going to stick by me, and I’m just here to win. I’m here to do whatever I can to win,” Bennett said.
“Being able to play such a prestigious tournament has been nothing short of a blessing,” Bennett said. “Shout-out to Chris Paul for having such a great idea about this tournament [and] shedding light on the other HBCUs and overlooked HBCUs, especially Morehouse. So being able to be here at this time and represent Morehouse with the M on my chest is really a sense of pride and sense of joy, and I’m glad to be here.”
In 2018, he founded his nonprofit foundation, SpeKTrum50, which he hopes offers inspiration and eventually programs for children with autism and parents of children diagnosed with autism.
“The SpeKTrum50 Foundation is built on helping kids on the autism spectrum feel encouraged and feel as if they can make it throughout the world and also help them, you know, seeing more opportunities,” Bennett said. “It also helps the parents, because when you have an autistic child, it’s not easy because you feel like you’re battling in a fight by yourself. So it’s awesome to help the parents understand like, ‘Hey, we’re here for you. We need somebody to talk to here.’ It’s just community outreach. It’s a dream that I’ve had since I was first able to talk. So being able to do that is really, really awesome.”
Bennett scored six combined points in the two games played at the HBCU Tip-Off. He started his first game of the season in Morehouse’s 71-66 loss to West Virginia State on Tuesday, scoring four points.
“Kalin’s amazing. He’s one of the smartest players that we have. We got to figure out how to get him the ball … we’re trying to feed him. We just got to figure out how to get him the ball,” Whittler said. “We actually [saw] his jersey when we did the Hall of Fame tour. So it’s been a blessing for us to get that guy because he knows what he’s doing. He can play. He’s a big body. I know that once we get to the conference that he’s going to dominate.”
The football program at Jackson State University has been doing well with its recruitment efforts. That’s especially evident now that 5-star player and Florida State commit Travis Hunter is looking at JSU too. Get the full story from Dustin Lewis at SportsIllustrated‘s NoleGameday below.
Credit: Dale Zanine
Hunter spent some time with legendary Seminole Deion Sanders over the weekend.
Jackson State is seeing a resurgence under head coach Deion Sanders. Not just on the football field, where the Tigers currently sit at 10-1, but on the recruiting trail as well. Sanders is doing something we haven’t seen often at HBCU’s, consistently landing top-flight talent. In the 2021 class, JSU brought in multiple four-star prospects out of high school and through the Transfer Portal.
Over the weekend, the top prospect in the 2022 class, defensive back Travis Hunter, made his way up to Mississippi to watch the Tigers face Alcorn State in front of 59K fans. The game was both senior day for Jackson State and it marked Sanders’ return for his first home contest since being hospitalized in late October.
‘22 #ESPN300 5-Star CB Travis Hunter who returned to the field last night following an ankle inj.-was in Jackson, MS today for a visit-Big visit for JSU as the #FSU commit saw them defeat Alcorn St in front of sellout-JSU is coached by former FSU great @DeionSanders@TheUCReportpic.twitter.com/OCSLgNKyHo
While this is certainly a huge visit for Jackson State, it might be even more important to note that the trip meant Hunter was able to spend some time around one of the greatest players in Florida State’s history. Sanders was a Hall of Fame defensive back in Tallahassee and Hunter has noted in the past that he looks up to him and wants to continue the DBU mantra. You can bet that they had a few conversations throughout the weekend.
The Tigers defeated Alcorn State, 24-10, while Hunter was on campus. JSU has won eight straight games with its only loss being to FBS UL-Monroe in September. Sanders is now 14-4 as a head coach.
Hunter returned to the football field on Friday night in Collins Hill’s second playoff game. He’s finally recovered from an ankle injury that he suffered earlier in the season and it showed. Hunter pulled down an interception and recorded an electric 48-yard touchdown in a 48-6 win. He’ll play Lowndes County on Friday night.
The No. 1 prospect was in Tallahassee last weekend to watch the Seminoles take down Miami for the first time in four years. He’s also visited Georgia during the season.
Hunter plans to sign with Florida State during the Early Signing Period in December.
Written by Howard University Student Nyah Hardmon, Presented by Beats By Dre
Maro Itoje is not your typical rugby player; the Saracens club and England national team member is anything but average. Instead, the Nigerian-British athlete plays in a league of his \\own, with his keen sense of self separating him from the pack.
As a Black athlete playing within a predominantly white league, Itoje’s experience differs from that of his teammates. Because the origins of rugby lie within the elitist culture of British gentlemen schooling, the foundation of the sport is rooted in a sense of exclusion. Even the expansion of the practice to new countries was often done under the caveat of colonialism, presenting a complicated relationship with players of color as natives of the land who did not always have access to the game.
In Nigeria, the birthplace of Itoje’s parents, rugby was first introduced with teams primarily composed of white settlers and foreigners. Thus, even with modern formations of more diverse organizations like the London Nigerian Rugby Club, Itoje’s upbringing within the sport has always deviated from the historical norm.
“Being a Black rugby player, you’re often one of the minority in a team,” Itoje admits. “The teams I play for, they’re brilliant and they’re very inclusive but the experience of being the other is an experience that most of my teammates would not necessarily have to experience.”
Yet, Itoje has proven that playing with people who don’t look like him is no challenge for his success within the industry. This ability to float above any cultural obstacles that come his way is something he attributes to his parents and their insistence that he stays grounded in who he is, where he comes from, and what he represents. Instead of trying to blend in with the crowd, Itoje chooses to stand out and stays faithful to himself.
“Within team sport, there’s always a bit of pressure to conform to the team, and it’s necessary to a certain degree otherwise the team wouldn’t be able to function, but there are times when things don’t necessarily mesh too smoothly,” Itoje says. “With those times, it’s about having a strong identity of who you are and the things that are important to you.”
For Itoje, a key part of who he is lies within his Nigerian heritage. With frequent trips to his family’s homeland, Itoje has always been connected to the West African country and its culture. Despite living in England, a nation with a different set of values, norms and traditions, Itoje uses conversations with friends and colleagues to celebrate this facet of his identity and educate others on his heritage.
“Being Nigerian is a very strong part of who I am and I think that whole background has shaped the person I am today,” Itoje says. “I think it’s the lens in which I see the world. It’s shaped me as a man, so that part of my identity is very special to me and it’s a part of my identity that I do hold close to my heart.”
Representing his heritage does not stop once Itoje steps off the field. His ventures outside of rugby and his profession allow him to further his efforts in cultural enlightenment. Through his passion for art, Itoje is able to place African artwork on a pedestal, shining a light on stories often overlooked. In an exhibit he helped curate at London’s Signature African Art Gallery entitled A History Untold, Itoje addresses minority misrepresentation head-on, using the creative medium to highlight Black contributions to society that often go unnoticed. The exhibit, which opened in May, is a love letter to the Black and African cultures Itoje wishes were celebrated more often.
“Art is the love affair that I’ve had for a couple of years now— in particular African art,” Itoje reveals. “I’m still able to use that as a means to celebrate my culture and I’m still able to appreciate the art forms. Even though I’m a rugby player, I still have the time to delve into that passion project of mine.”
While A History Untold exhibit tackles underrepresented populations through art, Itoje’s work with the social enterprise Black Curriculum brings this conversation into schools. The organization aims to widen the scope of Black history education, exposing students to the diversity that composes the Black experience over time. Since Itoje has always valued education, the collaboration was a perfect fit, offering the athlete an opportunity to correct the misrepresentation he experienced when he was younger.
“When I was in school, the only parts of Black history that were taught were the slave trade, the Civil Rights Movement in America and maybe a little bit on colonialism. While those three areas of history are important, it tells a single story with regards to African history, with regards to Black history, it doesn’t tell the full picture and I think that’s problematic on a number of fronts,” Itoje says.
From art to history, Itoje’s interests stretch well beyond the scope of sports, something that more and more teams are beginning to witness as the rise of athlete activism takes form. Itoje chalks up this recent trend to athletes embracing the multitudes of humanity.
Even though rugby is an instrumental part of Itoje’s life, he always restricted the sport to representing a portion of who he is rather than completely defining his persona. This allowed space for other interests like fashion and art, giving them room to flourish
alongside his athleticism. Still, this concept of athletes being multifaceted is an adjustment to leagues unaccustomed to viewing team members outside of their uniforms.
“People always have their beliefs of how you should behave and there’s certain things you do in your life that you’ll always get a little bit of pushback on,” Itoje says. “At the end of the day, you only have one life and you have to navigate that life the way you see fit. The way I’ve always seen it is to make the most of all the opportunities that I have and make sure I’m living life the way I want to live my life as opposed to the way others see I should live my life.”
This pledge to remaining true to himself includes making space for tough conversations. When discussing racism and discrimination, Itoje highlights the differing points of view of others to help them understand experiences outside of their own. He believes that these discussions have a place within rugby especially, as the sport still has room to grow in terms of inclusion and representation.
“Diversity of opinion is good and it should be encouraged, but with things as important as racism and discrimination, I think it’s important to have conversations. I think the moment we stop talking to one another is the moment things start to go in a very very negative way,” Itoje said.
Between dominating on the field, exploring his creativity and educating others, Itoje’s daily routine never lacks diversity. While he may not view himself as the outspoken advocate others paint him as, his presence in the industry adds to the pantheon of athletes who have redefined what it means to be more than an athlete, inspiring a new generation of players unafraid to chase what is important to them without sacrificing their careers. And when he’s not initiating necessary exchanges or using the smooth sounds of Keith Sweat to calm down, Itoje’s focus lies in being a role model for those that come after him.
“I often think of myself as trying to be the individual that I would have looked up to as a young player growing up,” Itoje said. “One thing I’ve always tried to do is always be the authentic ‘Maro,’ because I think when you’re authentic, when you’re yourself, whatever happens you can always walk with your head held high.”
ABOUT THE AUTHORNyah Hardmon is a junior journalism major at Howard University. She has worked as a writing fellow with the Washington Independent Review of Books as well as an on-air personality intern with WHUR. She was also part of the inaugural HBCU internship cohort at Universal Music Group. Nyah is an award winning spoken word poet with her original work featured in PoetryMagazine. She has received national recognition from the YoungArts Foundation and the U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts.
Pre-taped at the campus of Tennessee State University (TSU), which is recognized by the US Department of Education as a Historically Black College and University (HBCU), the country superstar gave fans a look into his Tennessee and Georgia upbringing before he performed “One Mississippi.”
“It feels awesome to represent country music at the AMAs,” Brown said. “I’m not your traditional country artist, but once you crack into what I’m doing, and what a lot of other country artists are doing today, it might make you decide that you want to go back and listen to things before us.”
“Kane Brown is a Tennessee native, and he’s changing the world through his music,” Dr. Glenda Glover, President of Tennessee State University shared. “It’s amazing to have him here. We proudly welcome Kane Brown to Tennessee State University.”
Brown’s performance, which was part of the AMAs new ‘My Hometown’ segment, found the chart-topping hitmaker performing the anthemic song surrounded by TSU students.
Watch his performance below.
Co-written by Brown alongside Jesse Frasure, Levon Gray and Ernest K. Smith and produced by Dann Huff, “One Mississippi” is a “song about a relationship. I don’t know everybody’s had where you make up, and you break up, and you just keep running into each other and then something about that spark in the relationship gets y’all back together and may fall apart again, but he tried it twice at least,” according to the country hitmaker.
The track officially impacted radio on Monday, August 23. “One Mississippi” quickly became the most added song at country radio, with over 112 total stations adding the track into their rotation, marking Brown’s biggest radio impact day to date.
The 2021 American Music Awards also featured performances from Olivia Rodrigo, Bad Bunny with Tainy and Juliete Venegas, Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Lopez, BTS, Coldplay, Silk Sonic, New Edition, New Kids on the Block, Diplo, Måneskin, Mickey Guyton, Tyler, the Creator, Walker Hayes, and Zoe Wees.
The awards ceremony also included a star-studded list of presenters, including Machine Gun Kelly, Brandy, Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler, Anthony Ramos, Billy Porter, D-Nice, Drew Lachey, Joey Fatone and Shawn Stockman, JB Smoove, JoJo Siwa, Liza Koshy, Marsai Martin, Madelyn Cline, Michelle Young, and Winnie Harlow.
Sponsored by Xfinity, the 2021 American Music Awards is produced by MRC Live & Alternative and Jesse Collins Entertainment.
Hosted by Cardi B, the American Music Awards aired live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles at 8/7c on ABC.
The show will stream again on Monday, November 22, 2021, via Hulu.
Top seeded Howard University women’s volleyball team claimed its sixth Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championship in seven seasons after a 3-1 victory (22-25, 25-21, 25-20, 25-20) over No. 2 Delaware State (DSU) at Burr Gymnasium.
With the historic victory, HU (18-12) is now tied with Florida A&M for the most volleyball titles in MEAC history (13 total).
Freshman Cimone Woodard (Missouri City, Texas) led the Bison with 10 kills, eight digs and six total blocks (three solo). For her efforts, the Texas native was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
The Bison experienced a rocky start in set one with five service errors, but found some momentum throughout game one. But ultimately, HU lost the first set, 20-25.
Heading into set two, the Bison immediately found some momentum with back-to-back aces from junior setter Kayla Diaz (Nanuet, N.Y.). The New York product finished with three total services aces on the night.
Kills from C. Woodard and Dami Awojobi (Hempstead, N.Y.) thrusted the Bison to an 18-12 lead midway through the set, before Delaware State was forced to call a timeout.
A kill from MEAC Rookie of the Year Bria Woodard (Missouri City, Texas) then gave the Bison set point (24-21). Next play, an attack error from DSU sealed the game, 25-21, and tied the contest at one apiece. B. Woodard produced a double-double (11 digs & 10 kills), along with a pair of service aces, in the win.
The Bison took control in set three, starting with a kill by C. Woodard to open the set. A pair of service aces from senior Busisiwe Banda (Cedar Park, Texas) gave the Bison a 17-9 lead midway through the game.
After a DSU service error, the Bison moved to within one point of set point. The Hornets forced six set points, but another service error allowed the Bison to claim set three, 25-20.
In set four, Howard lost momentum in the beginning and trailed early, 2-6; however, a service ace from B. Woodard helped HU tie the game, 7-7. With a block from C. Woodard and Awojobi, the Bison kept the set tight early, 9-9. HU finished with 13 total blocks in the match.
After finding the first lead of the set with a kill from C. Woodard, the Bison then went on cruise control and captured set point and match point after a solo block from C. Woodard (25-20).
Junior middle blocker Tamar Wells (Apopka, Fla.) joined the Woodard sisters on the All-Tournament Team. The Florida native recorded eight kills and seven total blocks (one solo) in the win.
Senior Kailyn Williams (Arlington, Texas), who played her final match at The Burr, added nine kills and two digs in the victory.
“We dropped the first set and learned from our mistakes,” said Williams. “We knew the last three sets that we had to take of business. We fought and gave so much energy. We went for it and came away champions.”
Bison volleyball head coach Shaun Kupferberg was named MEAC Outstanding Coach.
Valeria Otero led the Delaware State Hornets (26-4) with 10 kills, seven digs, and one service ace.
The 2021 NCAA DI women’s volleyball championship bracket will be announced Sunday, Nov. 28 at 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPNU.
Student athletes at North Carolina A&T State University have an entrepreneur and member of Alpha Phi Alpha to thank for a significant recent donation and new opportunities! Get the full story from the N.C. A&T release below.
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is naming its track at Truist Stadium for entrepreneur Marcus T. Johnson in recognition of his philanthropic contributions that directly benefit students of color and support of minority-owned and -operated nonprofits.
The Aggies acknowledged Johnson and his recent $350,000 donation to the university during the football team’s last home game of the season Saturday, Nov. 20.
“We deeply appreciate Marcus Johnson for his generous gift that will benefit not only our track program, but all student athletes,” said Earl Hilton III, director of intercollegiate athletics. “This will help our facility maintain its status as a top track in the nation while also directly supporting student-athletes through scholarships.”
A Beaufort, North Carolina, native, Johnson was reared in Tarboro, North Carolina, where his parents instilled the values of education, hard work and giving back. After graduating from high school, he went on to earn his degree in business administration and finance from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro.
Johnson is an accomplished entrepreneur with enterprises spanning multiple industries. He operates Johnson Automotive Group (JAG) – one of the largest Black-owned franchise dealer groups in the country with locations in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
A proud husband and father, Johnson is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. who prioritizes meaningful community involvement and continues to serve on various boards in the Carolinas.
Additionally, as a champion for minority advancement in leadership and commerce, Johnson is devoted to closing the wealth gap through opportunity and access.
“I believe representation is important. This by no means levels the playing field, but it helps address persisting disparities,” said Johnson. “It is an honor to invest in our scholar-athletes as they continue the pursuit of excellence.”
The track at A&T – now known as Marcus T. Johnson Track – has produced stellar athletic success in recent years, most recently with Trevor Stewart ‘20 and Randolph Ross Jr. becoming the university’s first Olympic gold medalists after leading the United States to the medal round of the men’s 4×400-meter relay in Tokyo on Aug. 7. Stewart made history as the first Aggie to earn a medal in the Olympics, securing a bronze medal for the United States in the inaugural mixed 4×400-meter relay in Tokyo on Aug. 1.
The Aggies claimed national titles in the men’s 4×400-meter relay and 400-meter race and the women’s 100-meter and 200-meter races at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships in June. Ross Jr., who won the 400-meter race, joined Stewart, Daniel Stokes and Akeem Sirleaf to claim the 4×400-meter relay victory. Cambrea Sturgis won the 100-meter and 200-meter races, marking only the 13th time in NCAA history a runner accomplished the feat and becoming the first to do it in five years.
The 2021 list of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.’s latest Honorary Members has just been released! Get the full scoop on who made the list in the Black Enterprise story by Tai Saint-Louis below.
On day two of its 55th National Convention, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. released its list of 2021 Honorary Members, which includes journalists Joy-Ann Reidand Abby Phillip, and singer Ledisi.
The complete list of honorary sorors, revealed via the organization’s Instagram page on Saturday morning, also includes former Navy Admiral Michelle J. Howard, Ambassador Attallah Shabbazz and Collette V. Smith, the NFL’s 1st Black female coach.
“Honorary Membership is the highest honor extended to women who have made significant contributions to society while excelling in their chosen fields,” the social media post read. “It is with joy that we welcome these exemplary women into our beloved sisterhood!”
Each of these women have received a multitude of accolades in their respective fields, which range from sports to politics to the military.
Ledisi has been nominated for multiple awards over the course of her 21-year career, including 13 Grammy nominations. Earlier this year, she took home the Grammy for the song “Anything For You.”
Reid has been a mainstay in political coverage over the last few years, working as a national correspondent for MSNBC. Her spotlight grew even more when her latest platform at the network, The ReidOut took over the 7p.m. timeslot formerly held by Chris Matthews’ Hardball. CNN Senior Political Correspondent Abby Phillip is the host of Inside Politics and led several 2020 elections-related specials for the network.
During her military career, Howard broke several barriers, including becoming the first African-American woman to command a United States Navy ship. As a four-star admiral, not only did Howard retire as the highest ranked woman in US Naval history, she was also the first female four-star admiral to command active operational forces.
After having achieved her own recognition as an author, activist and speaker, in 2002 Shabazz – the daughter of Malcolm X – was asked by the Prime Minister of Belize to serve as an Ambassador-At-Large representing the Central American nation in perpetuity.
Rounding out the list of newest members is Smith, who became the first female coach within the NFL when she coached the New York Jets‘ defensive backs during the 2017-2018 season. According to The Daily Drip, he now works with the Women’s Football League Association.
As Honorary Members of DST, the women are following in the footsteps of Angela Bassett, Ruby Dee, Aretha Franklin, and Cicely Tyson, to name a few.
American Baptist College board member Rosetta Perry has helped to open a store in the Nashville International Airport! Learn about the store, which will feature HBCU gear, in the story by Ms. June in The Tennessee Tribune below.
Nashville International Airport (BNA), Skyport Hospitality, The Tennessee Tribune, and Chaux Consulting announce the opening of the Tennessee Tribune Store by changing the landscape of airport retail properties on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021. Over 40 diverse vendors and HBCU collegiate apparel will be included in the inventory. The arduous process which began over three years ago started with 432 applications desiring to join Fraport-USA’s efforts to convert the Nashville airport into the crown jewel of airports.
Nashville’s culture resonates for tourists and BNA is a destination location for international travelers, and an entertainment paradise accessible also to Nashville’s minorities and African Americans. The Tennessee Tribune store is among many Nashville favorites including: 360 Degrees, Vino Fiesta, Party Fowl, Acme Feed and Seed, The Southern, Swett’s and a host of other popular concepts that will fill the 133,000 square feet through the year 2029. The Tennessee Tribune is part of the local innovators and independent operators transforming the BNA environment and providing travelers with a truly authentic Southern hospitality experience.
Many local vendors such as Tim’s Southern Tea, Maggie Allen Candy, Kandles by Kierra, Winfrey Family Foods, What My Shirt Say, Bryla J. Couture, Nashville Roast Coffee and more can be found in the custom designed store that captures the history of the Tennessee Tribune.
Local authors and HBCUs collegiate apparel as well as popular genres will also have a presence. Bishop Joseph W. Walker, III, Dr. Ruben Cockrell, Dr. Jewell Winn & Dr. Walton Minton, Seanne Wilson, Renukah Christoph and Rosetta Miller-Perry, among the diverse list of authors with literary works in the store.
With over 14 million travelers expected to visit BNA, Mrs. Miller-Perry stated that “she’s ready to embark on this retail journey and continue the non-stop legacy of the Tennessee Tribune.” The 1,800 square foot Tennessee Tribune store, which is the first of two locations, can be accessed in the South Terminal near Southwest Airlines between terminals C and D. The second location that will be 1,200 square feet is expected to open in the Spring of 2022 and will be pre-security with grab and go offerings, similar wares from the first store and other novelty items.
A gaming company with dealings all over the country has earmarked an additional $4 million to support HBCUs! Learn about how Penn National Gaming, Inc. has already supported 33 HBCUs, and its plans for these additional funds in the release below.
Credit: Bowie State University
Penn National Gaming, Inc. (Nasdaq: PENN)(“Penn National” or the “Company”) announced today that it has launched a new Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (“STEM”) Scholarship Program in partnership with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (“HBCUs”) in states where it operates. Through this initiative, Penn National will dedicate more than $4 million over five years to fund STEM scholarships and internship opportunities at the Company. The initial participating HBCUs include Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia, Bowie State University in Bowie, Maryland, and Wilberforce University in Wilberforce, Ohio.
“Last year, we formed the Penn Diversity Committee to help put our Company’s longstanding support of diversity and inclusion into action,” said Jay Snowden, President and CEO of Penn National. “The Committee, which reports directly to me, includes a broad range of team members from underrepresented communities and at varying levels in our organization. Their guidance led to the Company launching a $1 million annual Diversity Scholarship Program for children of Penn National team members in furtherance of the Company’s commitment to equity in post-secondary education opportunities. This year 58 scholarships were awarded to eligible candidates, 57% of whom are first-generation students.
“The hard work of our Diversity Committee continues to help identify opportunities for new initiatives, including today’s announced commitment towards STEM scholarships and internships for students at HBCUs. Increasing access to STEM opportunities for HBCU students is another important step to promote social and economic equity, as well as diversity, inclusion and belonging. Penn National is well positioned to be North America’s leading digital, entertainment, sports content, gaming, and technology company, and we look forward to supplementing these scholarships with real-life technical skills development for the STEM internship recipients.”
Penn National’s commitment to fund STEM scholarships and internship opportunities is an extension of the Company’s established partnerships with 33 HBCUs across the country. The ongoing collaboration with HBCUs facilitates career opportunities at Penn National’s properties while increasing participation in its Leadership Excellence at Penn National Gaming (“LEAP”) Program, which provides hands-on training, mentoring, and real world experience to new or recent college graduates who are interested in building a long term career in the gaming industry.
We are incredibly proud of our partnerships with HBCUs across the country,” said Justin Carter, Senior Vice President of Regional Operations for Penn National and Chairman of the Company’s Diversity Committee. “The STEM Scholarship Program is another important step in narrowing the representation gap in STEM fields among certain underrepresented communities.”
In honor of powerhouse lawyer and Howard University alumnus Vernon E. Jordan Jr., a well-known law firm will not only be renaming a library on campus, but adding several fellowships too! Get the full story from the Howard release below.
(Source: Howard University)
Akin Gump announced the launch of the Vernon E. Jordan Jr. Fellowship, which will offer a paid internship for two third-year Howard University law students – one in the Fall semester, and one in the Spring – to work with the firm’s public law and policy practice in Washington. The fellowship is named in honor of the late Howard University School of Law alumnus, civil rights icon and longtime Akin Gump partner. The firm also announced it had made a commitment to donate $1 million in support of the Howard School of Law’s Vernon E. Jordan Jr. Law Library.
“Despite Vernon Jordan’s singular influence and his vast individual capabilities, he recognized that the pursuit of one’s personal mission requires external support. Throughout his life, he was a humble recipient of help, especially as he so often worked behind the scenes on important projects, and he was always willing to lend a helping hand. No matter how high he climbed, he would always reach back to pull others forward,” said Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick, president of Howard University. “We could not be more pleased to partner with Akin Gump through the Vernon E. Jordan Fellowship, and we are deeply appreciative of the firm’s generous donation to our law library. Through these actions, Akin Gump is helping preserve Vernon’s legacy of service and commitment to lifting up those around him.”
The University announced the renaming of its law library in honor of Jordan in March 2021, following his passing on March 1. Akin Gump’s donation will provide substantial support for preserving the rich collection and innovating the library for future generations of scholars.
“We are honored to have Akin Gump establish this prestigious fellowship in honor of Howard law alumnus Vernon Jordan Jr.,” said Howard University’s School of Law Dean Danielle Holley-Walker. “Mr. Jordan was a giant in the legal field and an inspiration for our law school community. He loved the law school and continues to be a guiding light for our students, faculty and alumni. We are deeply committed to celebrating Mr. Jordan’s legacy of excellence through this fellowship.”
Following his graduation from Howard School of Law, Jordan served as executive director of the United Negro College Fund and president of the National Urban League before joining Akin Gump in 1981, where he remained until his passing. Throughout his career, he served as a trusted adviser to presidents, governments and CEOs and was recognized as a towering figure in both the civil rights arena and corporate America.
Additional tributes to Mr. Jordan will include an endowed chair at Howard University’s School of Law in his honor to be announced at a later date.
Howard University President Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick (left) and Vernon E. Jordan Jr. Esq. (right) (Source: Howard University)
“Vernon Jordan left behind a rich and unequaled legacy of service and mentorship. Through his life’s work and boundless generosity, he touched the lives of so many, and I consider myself so fortunate to have called him my mentor and friend,” said Akin Gump chairperson Kim Koopersmith. “Through this fellowship and donation, we proudly support the Howard University School of Law’s efforts to carry forward Vernon’s tremendous legacy and ensure that his vision, commitment and sense of purpose will live on in the many students and future leaders who will pass through its doors.”
“Throughout his career, Vernon held a unique place at the nexus of the law, business and politics – and he did so while paving the way for me and so many others to follow in his footsteps and achieve success,” said Tony Pierce, partner in charge of Akin Gump’s Washington, D.C. office. “I cannot think of a better way to honor his remarkable legacy than by the establishment of this fellowship and this donation that will help support and nurture future generations of leaders.”
The Vernon E. Jordan Jr. Law Library’s mission is to excel in service by strengthening the Howard University School of Law community’s legal, research and educational goals through innovative programming, practice-oriented instruction and a collection across traditional and evolving formats. More information about the library may be found here.
“A fellowship in my father’s honor at Howard University School of Law, sponsored by Akin Gump, brings his love of the law and his work for economic equality together to benefit any number of current and future Howard law students,” said Vickee Jordan Adams, daughter of Vernon Jordan. “I speak for my stepmother, Ann, and our entire family when I say that we are proud to see this donation and commitment to aspiring professionals. My father took great pride in mentoring and supporting future generations, and I know he would be very pleased to see Howard University and Akin Gump— two institutions about which he cared deeply—following his lead with the Vernon E. Jordan Jr. Fellowship and donation.”
The Vernon E. Jordan Fellowship is one of several talent recruitment programs hosted by Akin Gump. These include the Akin Gump/Robert S. Strauss Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship Program, which brings promising law students to the firm to gain important substantive experience. This year, the firm welcomed its largest-ever class of Strauss Scholars. (Learn more here.)
A Tennessee State University student who will cross the stage and graduate this upcoming weekend is leaving a lasting mark on his community. While studying, he created an app that will help children with special needs create relationships that will impact them for a lifetime! Get the full story from Lucas Johnson in the TSU Newsroom release below.
Aram Abubaker was presented with a challenge. A friend who worked with children with special needs was looking for something that would help enhance their social skills. Abubaker responded: He made an app for that.
Credit: Tennessee State University/Twitter
On Saturday, Abubaker will join nearly 800 undergraduate and graduate students receiving various degrees at Tennessee State University’s Fall Commencement ceremony. Abubaker is getting a doctorate in computer engineering, where he improved his software developing skills that aided him in making the PeerKnect app.
According to the app’s website, 93 percent of parents or therapists say their child or client has difficulty finding social interactions. The app is intended to provide children with opportunities for connection and to help develop social skills which can increase confidence and autonomy.
“Many parents with special needs children have a problem finding play dates or finding friends for their kids because they have some kind of special need,” says Abubaker. “The app facilitates the process of connecting parents, therapists, and businesses that work with children with special needs.”
By teaching or enhancing their social skills, Abubaker says the kids can become “more engaged, and feel less isolated.”
Emily Bruce is a board-certified behavior analyst and Abubaker’s business partner. In her therapy practice, she says many parents with special needs children ask about ways for them to connect socially, have a play date. She says many of them were unaware of sensory friendly events in their area, like a local mall in Nashville, Tennessee, that allows kids with special needs to take pictures with Santa Claus on a certain day and time in December.
Source: Braille Works
“There are a lot of businesses out there that will host these events because they want families of children with special needs to be included,” says Bruce. “So, we wanted to add that as a feature (to the app) where businesses can post their events. And then of course we wanted to get these families connected either with another parent, or with a therapist. We’re getting users every day, and it’s really wonderful to see people respond to this.”
Roseanna Martinez is a special education teacher in Phoenix, Arizona, who has been teaching special needs children for more than 20 years. She says she likes the connectivity the app provides.
“I think it’s a really neat idea,” says Martinez. “One of the things I find interesting is that parents can link up with other families with kids like theirs. That not only gives kids an opportunity to socialize with people who understand them, but it also gives parents a bigger community to work with.”
“The other thing that appealed to me is the sensory friendly places,” adds Martinez. “That’s a big deal. You never know till you get to a place how it’s going to be and how the kids are going to react. So, it’s nice that they (parents) have a little insight into that before they take their kids out.”
Dr. Robbie Melton is dean of TSU’s Graduate School and Professional Studies and associate vice president of the university’s SMART Global Technology Innovation Center. She encouraged Abubaker to participate in the center’s “Everyone Can Code & Create” initiative, a partnership with Apple. The initiative improved Abubaker’s problem-solving skills, and aided him in finding solutions, such as developing PeerKnect.
“The Graduate School takes pride in providing both a supporting academic and social environment in helping students like Aram surpass their potential,” says Melton. “Aram is truly a role model!”
Abubaker says developing the app was hard work, but he believes it will help many people.
“I’ve spent hours working on this, and I’ve enjoyed the process, because I believe this is going to change people’s lives,” he says.
After a grueling lawsuit on behalf of Maryland HBCUs that lasted over a decade, HBCUs and nonprofits all over the country will receive funds from the ruling. Get the breaking news from Pamela Wood at The Baltimore Sun below.
Michael D. Jones, partner with Kirkland & Ellis in Washington, D.C. April 3, 2018. (Credit: Diego M. Radzinschi/ALM)
The law firm that represented Maryland’s historically Black universities in a long-running lawsuit against the state is donating $12.5 million to colleges and nonprofits from the fees it was awarded when the case settled.
The Kirkland & Ellis firm, led by attorney Michael D. Jones, represented alumni and supporters of Maryland’s historically Black colleges and universities as they challenged systemic underfunding of the schools by the state government. After a 15-year legal and political saga, the case was settled this year when state lawmakers approved hundreds of millions of dollars in extra funding for the HBCUs in future state budgets.
As part of the settlement, the state agreed to pay $22 million in legal fees and costs, with $12.5 million going to Kirkland & Ellis. The remainder went to the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law, which also provided legal representation for plaintiffs in the lawsuit.
Kirkland & Ellis is now sending all of the money it received back into the community because it took the lawsuit on a pro bono, or charitable, basis.
“So many of us became lawyers to fight injustice and give our clients a fair shake not only in the courtroom, but also in society. This case has allowed me, and my colleagues, to do just that,” Jones said in a statement. “I’m gratified by this entire experience, including knowing that this donation will go directly to helping future lawyers gain valuable experience and to fight for justice for others.”
People protesting at Morgan State University (Credit: Morgan State University)
$5 million to the Dillard University Center for Racial Justice in New Orleans to create an endowment that will fund paid internships for students at civil rights and public interest organizations.
$3 million to Morgan State University’s Robert M. Bell Center for Civil Rights in Education to fund the center’s racial justice initiatives and fellowships for students.
$2 million for the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law to establish a fellowship program for students including those studying law at HBCUs.
$1 million to the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education for fellowships and internships, particularly on Capitol Hill.
$600,000 to Howard University’s Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights Center.
$600,000 to the Coalition for Equity and Excellence in Maryland Higher Education, which is the group that brought the HBCU lawsuit in Maryland.
$250,000 to the African Methodist Episcopal Church Second District for advocacy work and scholarships for HBCU students.
Under the law sponsored by House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones that was passed this year, for the next decade, an extra $57.7 million per year will be divided among the state’s four public HBCUs: Coppin State University and Morgan State University in Baltimore, Bowie State University and the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore in Princess Anne.
University leaders have been working on plans for how to spend the money, which will start flowing in 2023. Ideas include expanding academic programs for in-demand fields such as technology and healthcare, providing more services and financial aid to low-income students and expanding graduate and certificate programs.
Florida A&M University football isn’t looking to slow down anytime soon! Get the full story about their chart-topping success in the story from Kylah Thompson at The Famuan below.
Credit: Florida A&M University
After seven straight wins, FAMU Football boasts the best record (8-2) for any college football team in Florida for the 2021 season. FAMU football also earned national acclaim after ranking 25th in the CBS Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Power Rankings for week 11.
According to CBS, FAMU has what it takes to be bound for the playoffs despite experiencing a lag in early season momentum.
“The Rattlers have excellent speed on the perimeter,” reads the Top 25 list. “[They are] proving to be a matchup problem for anyone they face.”
According to Coach Willie Simmons, despite recent influxes of praise, the team has no plans to slow down anytime soon. He credits the team’s unwavering success to players’ discipline and focus both on and off the field.
“It’s about not being complacent,” Simmons said. “For us, it’s about setting our eyes on the process and not only the result. I feel like if we do that we’ll continue to have the results that take us higher.”
Rattlers and foes alike have praised Simmons for his tenacity that gets results. Simmons also acknowledged the quality of his players and their commitment to the legacy of FAMU Football.
“Recruiting defensive athletes is a huge part of what we do,” Simmons said. “When these young men can see the FAMU brand being highlighted on national television and major networks, it only helps our cause in attracting top athletes.”
Defensive Cornerback Guysen Bohler couldn’t be happier that he brought his talents to the FAMU football program to play for Simmons.
“I chose FAMU for the HBCU atmosphere,” Bohler said. “I’ve always wanted to be a part of the local culture to enjoy the experience and everything has met my expectations.”
Bohler also reflected on the chemistry that exists within the team that has helped them to maintain stride. He noted their resilience after making mistakes as their greatest strength at the moment.
“Team morale is high,” Bohler said. “Despite our two losses, we’ve been getting right with the little things, and honing in on our fundamentals.”
Bohler also expressed that the team’s ascent to being a national hot topic once again is as exciting as it is affirming. He wants the country to know that HBCUs are hotbeds for athletic greatness like no other.
“It’s a surreal feeling,” Bohler said. “It makes you feel like you’re at one of those big-time schools because we are. We’re just as capable and just as talented, and the only thing stopping us is us.”
The administration and accreditation committee members celebrated the news of Oakwood’s initial accreditation in 1958 by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. (Credit: Oakwood University)
November 16, 1896, is a date that will forever live in the sacred history of Seventh-day Adventist mission. On this date, the Oakwood Industrial School in Huntsville, Alabama, United States, opened its doors to 16 students.
On November 16, 2021, Oakwood University is celebrating its 125th birthday. For more than a century, Oakwood University has launched thousands of graduates into orbits of service around the corner and the world.
Today, Oakwood University, a historically Black Seventh-day Adventist institution of higher learning, offers high-quality Christian education that emphasizes academic excellence; promotes harmonious development of mind, body, and spirit; and prepares leaders in service for God and humanity.
The school’s motto, shared by faculty and students, is Enter to Learn, Depart to Serve. In everything it does, the school believes and practices God First, its current slogan. Consistent with its mission statement, Oakwood University is in the business of transforming lives — both for now and, more importantly, for eternity.
While the many accomplishments of Oakwood University are legendary, at its very beginning, prospects were less than promising. In 1895, church leaders G. A. Irwin, O. A. Olsen, and N. Lindsey traveled to Huntsville, Alabama, looking for land for an industrial school authorized by the General Conference. From the start, Adventist Church co-founder Ellen White championed Oakwood’s cause and is unquestionably worthy of the title “co-founder of Oakwood.”
In a letter (no. 313) written in 1904, White wrote, “It was in the providence of God that the Huntsville school farm was purchased.” As it grew from its meager beginnings, she continuously spoke out for the school, doing all in her power to make sure it prospered. She wrote, visited, prodded, sacrificed, prayed, donated, advocated, and cried for the fledgling institution to ever fulfill its God-given destiny.
A Plantation Farmer’s Property
The more than 350 acres purchased in 1896 were property owned by plantation farmer Peter Blow. Among the slaves owned by Blow was one named Dred, who would become famous for his role in the Dred Scott case. (Blow’s son, Taylor, gave Dred Scott his freedom in 1857.)
On the former slave plantation, the Alabama landscape was sloping and uneven; the red clay was hard as granite; the soil was barren from having been overworked; dense brush encircled the property; tree limbs sagged. It took vision and faith to see a future in this unpromising plot in the heart of the American South, 30 years after the Civil War.
The 65 towering oak trees on the original property inspired the name of this new institution. The Oakwood Industrial School opened its doors on November 16, 1896, with a principal, three teachers, and 16 students. As academic offerings expanded over the years and the number of students and staff increased, so Oakwood underwent changes in its name.
The school was named the Oakwood Industrial School from 1896 to 1904, and then it became known as the Oakwood Manual Training School, the name from 1904 to 1917. Then the school was called Oakwood Junior College from 1917 to 1945 and was Oakwood College from 1945 to 2008.
In 1943, Oakwood received its first accreditation, as a junior college, while already in the process of seeking senior college status. Fifteen years later, in 1958, it was accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate and baccalaureate degrees.
The institution was named Oakwood University on January 1, 2008, when the school achieved university status after adding its first graduate program, the Master of Arts degree in pastoral studies.
As the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) member institution in northern Alabama, Oakwood participates in and benefits from UNCF’s fund-raising campaigns, including scholarships, as well as access to international educational opportunities.
Oakwood University continues to view education as indispensable in preparation for wider service to God and the human family. Oakwood University president Leslie Pollard said, “For 125 years, Oakwood has advanced the mission of Seventh-day Adventist education, creating competent Christian professionals for servant leadership. Since 1896 we have been in the blessed business of transforming lives.”
Principal administrators from Oakwood’s early, pre-college years were Solon Jacobs (1896), H. S. Shaw (1897-1899), B. E. Nicola (1899-1904), F. R. Rogers (1904-1905), G. H. Baber (1905-1906), W. J. Blake (1906-1911), and Clarence J. Boyd (1911-1917).
Presidential administrators of Oakwood’s college and university years were J. I. Beardsley (1917-1923), James L. Moran (1932-1945), Frank L. Peterson (1945-1954), Garland J. Millet (1954-1963), Addison V. Pinkney (1963-1966), Frank W. Hale (1966-1971), Calvin B. Rock (1971-1985), Emerson A. Cooper (Fall 1985), Benjamin F. Reaves (1985-1996), Delbert W. Baker (1996-2010), Mervyn A. Warren (Fall 2010), and Leslie N. Pollard (2011 to present).
Community Impact
The university has tremendous impact on the local community, hosting, since 1946, the annual Camp Meeting for the South Central Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, a 10-day spiritual, educational, and recreational retreat, accommodating 8,000 to 10,000 attendees in pre-pandemic years.
From its inception through the late 1960s, Oakwood operated a variety of businesses, including a laundry that supported both Huntsville and the Redstone Arsenal. “As part of the school’s industry recovery initiative, Oakwood operates two Edible Arrangements franchise stores, the Oakwood Farms Market, and the Oakwood University Memorial Gardens Cemetery. This initiative helps the university keep its tuition low by turning funds back to the campus, employing students, and teaching them the value of entrepreneurship,” Pollard noted. “One of the university’s goals is to reduce reliance on student tuition as the sole source of revenue. Profits from these industries support student scholarships and overall educational needs.”
Returning to its agricultural roots in 2017, Oakwood opened an organic urban farm, set to become the largest of its kind in northern Alabama. Oakwood intends to contribute to the natural food options in the surrounding community, which has been labeled a “food desert.” The university also opened the Oakwood Farms Market in 2020, which offers fresh produce and a variety of plant-based products. The market is a practical way of promoting a healthy lifestyle based on biblical principles.
Oakwood University’s initiative is part of a larger contemporary trend that highlights the importance of organic vegetable farming for human health and general well-being. Following advice by church co-founder Ellen White, Seventh-day Adventists have long advocated for a plant-based diet and useful outdoor work as ways of keeping body and mind healthy.
Oakwood University president Leslie Pollard and his wife, Prudence , stand near the Oakwood University mobile Market, which helps to address food insecurities in Huntsville, Alabama (Credit: Oakwood University)
Recent Developments
Healthy Campus 2020 (HC2020) is Oakwood University’s organized initiative to empower students to make healthy choices. This program was established as a response to the problem of preventable diseases, which affect the students. Healthy Campus 2020 has helped educate the campus regarding healthy lifestyle decisions, utilizing the eight laws of health to foster a holistic approach to a healthy mind, body, and soul. The goal of Healthy Campus 2020 is to make Oakwood University the healthiest campus in America.
The university has expanded the initiative to Healthy Campus, Healthy Community, by partnering with the Huntsville Hospital System to build and operate the Oakwood University Community Health Action Center adjacent to the campus at the corner of Sparkman Drive and Bronco Circle.
The center will encompass an ambulatory care clinic operated by the Huntsville Hospital within the Health Action Center. Oakwood students, employees, and community residents will have access to high-quality care at the walk-in clinic. Establishing this facility will also allow continuity of care from the walk-in clinic to in-patient care at Huntsville Hospital.
“Huntsville Hospital Health System is very pleased to work with Oakwood University in bringing this dream to fruition. The clinic will provide important health services to people throughout this community,” David Spillers, CEO of Huntsville Hospital Health System, said at a lease-signing event in February 2021.
“The Community Health Action Center launches Oakwood’s community-facing phase of our nationally-recognized Healthy Campus 2020 campus wellness initiative,” Pollard said. “Our event today underscores our Healthy Campus, Healthy Community commitment to our community. This vision began with a request from yours truly to the CEO of Huntsville Hospital to consider a partnership with Oakwood to transform the health outcomes of Northwest Huntsville.
“Oakwood University has been in the Huntsville community for 125 years, and so has Huntsville Hospital. Together, we plan to bring health and healing to the morbidities affecting the citizens of northwest Huntsville. The partnership today between Huntsville Hospital and Oakwood University is designed to improve the health status of underserved citizens of the city of Huntsville,” Pollard said.
“The completion of Oakwood’s 10,000-square-foot Community Health Action Center does not only deliver health care on one side of our facility — the other side of our facility houses real-life service-learning activities for our students and faculty as they deliver health education, nutrition education, job skills training, and the services of our Mobile Food Market. Faculty have planned life-skills classes, and after-school learning supports to children,” Pollard said.
