ECSU Granted $1.3 Million for Talent Search Program Preparing Middle And High School Students

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Amid its journey to support more middle and high school students in higher education, Elizabeth City State University has received a $1.3 million grant! Get the full story from the ECSU release by Robert Kelly-Goss below.

Elizabeth City State University has been awarded a $1.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to implement the TRiO Talent Search Program, a program to assist middle and high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds to succeed in higher education. 

“This is an exciting grant and supports ECSU’s mission to educate future generations of students in Northeastern North Carolina,” said the director of the Office of Sponsored Programs, Annemarie Delgado. “Antonio Rook, the grant’s principal investigator, and Dr. Kim Stanley, the co-investigator, are to be congratulated for their hard work on this important grant and program.”

The Talent Search program, according to Mr. Rook, is designed to give middle and high school students who would be first-generation college students the opportunity to gain academic knowledge and an understanding of financial aid and the college application process. 

The program will provide students with financial literacy training, “that will ensure that they can make appropriate decisions regarding their financial future.” A priority will be placed on STEM education due to, according to Mr. Rook, “a need to increase the number of students who successfully pursue degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.”

The focus of this grant is also being placed on students living in disadvantaged counties within Northeastern North Carolina. Many of the students come from low-income households and would be first-generation college students and require mentoring and guidance to achieve success in higher education.

“We will be implementing services at schools for 500 students in Bertie, Beaufort, Tyrrell and Washington counties,” he said. 

Dr. Stanley says these students will receive the services through their schools and will be provided with tutoring and academic counseling through full time advisors. Staff, she said, will be employed to deliver instruction and other services to the students. 

In addition to in-school services, the program will offer students a summer program. The program, to be held on the ECSU campus, will provide students with STEM academic and career guidance, and personal and social development programs. 

Mr. Rook says this is a five-year-cycle grant and will fund the program through 2026. This is also not the first time ECSU has received the TRiO Talent Search grant. Mr. Rook says that the program was successful at ECSU in the past and he looks forward to future success in assisting first-generation college students in achieving their goals and dreams. 

The Talent Search program is one-of-eight federal TRiO programs authorized by the Higher Education Act to help college students succeed in higher education. It recognizes that students whose parents do not have a college degree have more difficulties navigating the complexity of decisions that college requires for success. 

Last year, ECSU was awarded $1.8 million for a TRiO student success program. That program aims to support student success efforts for first-generation Vikings currently enrolled at ECSU. 

Delaware State University Signs Historic Agreement With USAID

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Delaware State University has entered into an agriculture-focused agreement with the government agency USAID, and it’s a partnership unlike any of its kind! Get the full story from the DSU release below.

Samantha Power, Administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. Sen. Chris Coons, and University President Tony Allen celebrate the signed agreement between Del State and the USAID that will facilitate collaborative efforts that will uplift disadvantaged communities throughout the world with solutions to challenges of food safety, agricuture, capacity building and many other areas.

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Samantha Power joined Delaware State University President Tony Allen today on the Dover campus to sign the first-ever Memorandum of Understanding between that agency and one of the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to “advance agriculture-led economic growth, resilience, nutrition, and water security, sanitation, and hygiene” in conjunction with the USAID “Feed the Future” Research Initiative.

The MOU details a broad scope for collaboration between the partners over the next four years that are aimed at “enabling disadvantaged communities and individuals to share in a future of economic prosperity based on sustainable practices and the benefits of environmental and natural resource security. These solutions include: improvement of crops and livestock, food safety, reduction of post-harvest losses, research on fruits and vegetables, improved agronomic practices, extension, capacity building, and access to clean water.”

“This historic partnership grows from our shared commitment to having a global impact on food security, water security, development, and human rights” said Dr. Allen. “As the nation’s most diverse, contemporary HBCU, we understand how to meld cutting-edge research with our expertise at working efficiently with diverse, low-resource communities. With Administrator Power’s visionary leadership, we have found the perfect partner for those endeavors in USAID.”

The collaboration will involve USAID in facilitating new curricular and learning opportunities for Delaware State University students as well as facilitating student and faculty participation in leading research fellowships (such as the Jefferson Science Fellowship, the American Association for the Advancement of Science [AAAS] Fellowship, Donald M. Payne International Development Graduate Fellowship, etc.). It will also link University research to the USAID’s RFS Innovation Lab Network, a Farmer-to-Farmer international volunteer coaching/placement program, and sub-award opportunities for Minority Serving Institutions across RFS’s university research and volunteer programs.

“These are critical collaborations,” said Dr. Michael Casson, Dean of the College of Business and Interim Director of the Global Institute for Equity, Inclusion, and Civil Rights, which will be coordinating most activities from the University side. “We know that both food and water insecurities around the world are spiking upward again, and that here in America we are not immune to the challenges impacting Africa, Asia, and Latin America.”

Samantha Power (in front) stopped by the Water Analysis Lab and met chemistry students.

The MOU envisions Delaware State University facilitating additional USAID collaborations with the other eighteen 1890 Land Grant universities and HBCUs by collaborating on special projects such as workshops, conferences, forums, and other community outreach initiatives.

Professor Ezrah Aharone, Director of the Center for Global Africa, emphasized that the USAID partnership will build on existing initiatives at the University: “Agribusiness was central to our recent CGA-APRM Conference that was opened by Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone.  The CGA is now piloting initiatives in Sierra Leone to strengthen intersections between COVID-19, food security, and nutrition.  Capacity-building support from USAID will help to scale and replicate our operating model in the 41 nations that comprise our alliance with the African Peer Review Mechanism.”

“I am pleased to see the formation of this partnership between USAID and Delaware State University that will harness the skills and expertise that DSU has to offer to help tackle critical global challenges of poverty, food and water insecurity, climate change, and backsliding on democracy and human rights,” commented U.S. Sen. Chris Coons. “These collaborations are critical for deepening the American people’s understanding about the importance of these issues and diversifying the talent pool working to address them. I hope to see similar partnerships with other Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Serving Institutions across the country, and I am proud to see President Allen and Administrator Power leading the way.”

“Developing this collaboration was the work of many months,” said Marikis Alvarez, Associate Dean for Research in the College of Agriculture, Science, and Technology. “USAID entered these discussions with a thorough grounding in the specific strengths that Delaware State University and other HBCUs bring to the table, especially with regard to working successfully with diverse, low-resource communities around the globe.” He noted the importance of the September 2021 HBCU International Development Conference in raising general awareness of HBCU interest and capacities with respect to global development.

Michael B. Jordan And Serena Williams Partner In $1 Million HBCU Venture Capital Competition

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Two celebrity allies of the HBCU community are announcing a competition where students and alumni can win up to $1 million. Get the full story from Tomas Kasshun at Blavity below.

Credit: Getty Images

Jordan and Williams will award the winners during halftime of the Invesco QQQ Legacy Classic Basketball Showcase.

Aspiring business founders who are current students or alumni from HBCU have a chance to win up to $1 million from Michael B. Jordan’s Invesco QQQ Legacy Classic competition. The contest, which requires participants to submit innovative business proposals, is launching in partnership with venture capital firm MaC Venture Capital, as well as Serena Williams’ investment company, Serena Ventures. 

Jordan and Williams will award the winners during halftime of the Invesco QQQ Legacy Classic Basketball Showcase Finals in New Jersey on Dec. 18, the organization said in a statement to Blavity. Hampton University, North Carolina Central University, Howard University and North Carolina A&T University will be the schools featured at the HBCU college basketball showcase, which will air on TNT.

Executives from MaC Ventures, Serena Ventures, Invesco, Thirty Five Ventures, Harlem Capital Partners and Cake Ventures will continue to work with the winners in the coming months.

“HBCUs are an integral part of our educational ecosystem and have long been centers of entrepreneurial excellence. We are thrilled to be partnering with Michael B. Jordan and MaC Ventures on highlighting the brilliant student and alumni founders,” Serena Ventures General Partner Alison Stillman said in a press release.

MaC Venture Capital General Partner Michael Palank also commented in the release: “Talent is ubiquitous but access to opportunity is not.”

“Two of our partners are HBCU alumni and we could not be more excited to uncover and support the amazing entrepreneurial talent we know is thriving at these universities,” Palank continued.

Leading up to the basketball showcase, Invesco QQQ Legacy Classic will partner with the Esport nonprofit, Cxmmunity, to host an NBA 2K tournament. The event, scheduled for Dec. 13, will also feature a band showcase and a live musical performance, as well as college and career opportunities.

Tickets for the basketball portion of the Invesco QQQ Legacy Classic start at $25. Proceeds from the event support organizations which aim to advance HBCUs, as well as the local Newark community in New Jersey. 

“I am thrilled to finally announce the four HBCUs that will be competing in the inaugural Legacy Classic,” Jordan said, according to Variety. “Invesco QQQ and Turner Sports have been amazing partners in helping bring this experience to life. I grew up watching basketball games on TNT, so I am confident they will deliver this set of games to a true audience of basketball fans and their families in an exciting way.”

Jordan was seen in a recent ad for the NBA‘s 75th-anniversary celebration. The actor drives a bus full of children in the ad and takes them through “NBA Lane,” an imaginary neighborhood that includes current NBA stars and iconic basketball legends.

Kate Jhaveri, chief marketing officer at NBA, said Jordan “has an authentic love for the game of basketball.”

“Moreover, his participation in ‘NBA Lane’ stems from our shared commitment in spotlighting HBCUs,” Jhaveri told Adweek. “He’s working on his upcoming Invesco QQQ Legacy Classic on Saturday, Dec. 18, on TNT that will feature a HBCU doubleheader, while highlighting HBCU life and culture. We’re fortunate to work with our ‘NBA Lane bus driver’ who not only has a strong connection with our fanbase, but equally shares the values of our league and fans.”

Biden-⁠Harris Administration Releases Fact Sheet On Strategy For HBCUs

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The Biden-Harris Administration is setting the record straight on its historic investments and support for HBCUs and we’re all ears. The White House has worked to be transparent in its efforts as an ally to HBCUs, from U.S. Trade Ambassador Katherine Tai’s recent visit to Johnson C. Smith University to Kamala Harris’ attendance at Hampton University in honor of National HBCU Week. Recently, our own HBCU Buzz founder Luke Lawal sat down with Cedric Richmond, who is a Morehouse College alumnus and serves as Senior Advisor to the President and Director of the White House Office Of Public Engagement. During the conversation, Richmond dispelled myths about White House support toward HBCUs and clarified how the Administration’s additional aid will materialize into real benefits for the HBCU community. Check out that footage, and the Administration’s fact sheet below.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have a proud history and legacy of achievement. In the face of discrimination against Black Americans by many institutions of higher education, HBCUs fostered academic excellence and created pathways to opportunity for Black students throughout our Nation. HBCUs vary in size and academic focus and serve a range of diverse students and communities in urban, rural, and suburban settings.

HBCU graduates are leaders in every field and include barrier-breaking public servants, scientists, artists, lawyers, engineers, educators, and business owners. There are several HBCU graduates serving in senior roles in the Biden-Harris Administration, including Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement Cedric Richmond, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan, and Vice President Kamala Harris – the first HBCU graduate ever to serve as Vice President of the United States.

Despite this record of success, disparities in resources and opportunities for HBCUs and their students persist, and the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted continuing and new challenges for HBCUs. In order to promote our shared prosperity and advance equity for all Americans, the Biden-Harris Administration has prioritized and delivered historic levels of investment in and support for HCBUs. Those actions include:

Historic Investments in Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)

  • American Rescue Plan. The American Rescue Plan and other pandemic relief funds provided nearly $3.7 billion in relief funding to HBCUs. This is in addition to approximately $1.6 billion in debt relief to 45 HBCUs (13 public institutions and 32 private institutions) earlier this year.
  • FY 21 Grant Funding. In FY21, the Department of Education awarded a total of $1 billion to build the capacity of institutions that serve large numbers of students of color and low-income students. $500 million of this funding went directly to HBCUs.
  • FY 22 Budget Request. The President’s FY22 budget requests a total of $1.06 billion for HBCU-specific funding in Higher Education Act (HEA)—an increase of $239 million over last year’s level. The budget would triple the mandatory Title III funding at the Department of Education— for a total of $252 million. Title III mandatory funds provide formula grants to all HBCUs to invest in capacity-building initiatives and student success programs. The President’s budget request includes funding for research opportunities at HBCUs, labs, IT infrastructure, workforce development programs in STEM, and DOJ funding for Violence Against Women Act programs at HBCUs, among other priorities.
  • Teacher Quality Funding. Through the FY22 budget request and the Build Back Better plan, President Biden has proposed $60 million for the Augustus Hawkins Centers of Excellence Program to support teacher preparation programs at HBCUs and minority-serving institutions (MSIs).

Strengthening the White House Initiative on HBCUs

  • In September, President Biden signed an Executive Order to re-establish the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity through HBCUs and issued a proclamationrecognizing National HBCU Week.
  • The President’s Executive Order calls for a whole of government approach to support HBCUs in responding to and recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and bolster HBCUs in a number of ways, including by breaking down barriers and improving access to Federal funding and other programs, particularly in areas of research and development.
  • The Order specifically directs senior officials in the Executive Office of the President and the Office of the Vice President to consult and collaborate with the Initiative on policy priorities for HBCUs.
  • Federal agencies must submit plans by February 1st of each year to describe how they are increasing HBCU access to Federal programs and improving Federal recruitment activities at HBCUs to build pathways to Federal employment.
  • During HBCU week, President Biden also named Tony Allen, President of Delaware State University, as Chair of the President’s Board of Advisors on HBCUs. The Board, originally established by the Carter Administration, is meant to engage key stakeholders in fields such as education, business, and philanthropy to advance the goals of the HBCU Initiative.

Ensuring Continued Support for HBCUs through the Build Back Better Plan

  • The President’s Build Back Better plan would provide tuition subsidies to students who attend HBCUs with a family income below $125,000. It would also provide free community college to students who attend one of the 11 HBCUs that are also community colleges.
  • Build Back Better also includes a $5 billion increase in funding for HEA Title III and Title V, which can be used by HBCUs, Tribal colleges and universities (TCUs), and MSIs to strengthen their academic, administrative, and fiscal capabilities, including by creating or expanding educational programs in high-demand fields (e.g., STEM, computer sciences, nursing, and allied health). Build Back Better would direct an additional $2 billion toward building a pipeline of skilled health care workers with graduate degrees from HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs.
  • Recognizing the historic underfunding of HBCUs and other institutions that serve large numbers of students of color, the President’s plan also would invest $40 billion in upgrading research infrastructure, half which would be reserved for HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs.
  • The President also proposed creating a new national lab focused on climate that would be affiliated with an HBCU.

ESSENCE’s Girls United Summit Was Jam-Packed With Great Conversations and Great People

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This Year Marks the First In-Person Summit

If you want a one-stop-shop to talk about all things girls, look no further than the Girls United brand! On October 9th, GU hosted its 2021 Girls United Summit presented by CBS Original The Equalizer and sponsored by American Airlines and McDonald’s, and it was the place to be! The first in-person event from the girl power incubator covered the hot-button issues on everyone’s mind in one event, including relationships, mental health, career outlook, social activism, and gender identity. Created by ESSENCE, most known for its 51-year-old magazine, Girls United has created a space for young girls and women of color to discuss important issues affecting them, learn about helpful resources and opportunities, and to be inspired by the hard work of those who look like them.

Credit: Derek White

Girls United lined up a solid list of leading ladies as panelists and contributors of this year’s GU Summit. The Summit was hosted by rapper and actress Jazz Anderson. Other guests included Marsha Barnes, Founder of The Finance Bar; Tammy Bins, a Boeing 737 First Officer; actress and poet Ernestine Johnson; singer and songwriter KeiyaA; Chelsea Miller, who is an organizer and co-founder of Freedom March NYC; DJ Miss Milan; McDonald’s Owner/Operator Danesha Smith, Cierra Thompson, the executive director of Miss Black International Ambassador Pageant, and many more!  To top things off, leaders representing Girls United were also leading efforts. They included GU co-creators Rechelle Dennis and Sophia Dennis, plus associate editors D’Shonda Brown and Brooklyn White. 

The features of the summit kept participants engaged all day! With the Boss Up Workshops, you could level up any area of your life. They included Entrepreneurship 101: How To Start Minding The Business That Pays You; GU Sister Circle: What I Wished I Knew About Money In My 20s; Life In 4K: How To Create The Content Of Your Dreams; Embracing and Releasing Emotions; and Paying Homage to Black and Brown LGBTQIA+ Icons. While the summit was streamed online, those who attended in person enjoyed a mocktail bar, aura photography and reading experience, plus a customizable jewelry bar! 

Credit: ESSENCE.com

Be on the lookout for the next Girls United Summit in 2022! You can surely expect great people, great conversations, and a great time! Watch the replay of this year’s GU Summit on demand at www.essence.com/gusummit!

Fort Valley State University To Teach Students, Community About STEM With ‘Fab Lab’

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Fort Valley State University will be opening the eyes of students, teachers, and more in its community with an innovative Fab Lab! Learn about how the engaging digital fabrication lab came about thanks to Chevron in the FVSU release below.

Credit: Fort Valley State University

The Chevron Corporation announced a major financial contribution in support of two long-standing community partners, Fab Foundation and Fort Valley State University (FVSU), to create a digital fabrication lab for the middle Georgia community.

Fab labs are designed to foster innovation, learning and invention: a place to play, to create, to learn, to mentor and to invent. Fab labs, with their suite of digital fabrication tools and prototyping machines — including laser cutters, 3-D printers, vinyl cutters and milling machines — are inspiring young people across the United States, to learn about science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

“Working with leading education organizations such as The Fab Foundation and Fort Valley State University, we have a tremendous opportunity to support students, teachers and the middle Georgia community to advance their learning and innovation experience through digital fabrication and prototyping,” said Melissa Rosenblatt, Chevron Social Investment Manager. “This collaborative partnership is part of our $15 million racial equity commitment that will also provide career and technical training that can lead to well-paying jobs for young people of every race, gender and socioeconomic status.”

“The Fab Foundation has partnered with Chevron since 2014 and launched fab labs across the United States to support STEM education,” said Sonya Pryor-Jones, Fab Foundation Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer. “We are excited to continue this partnership and support Chevron’s HBCU Social Equity project. This new project will expand our work together with the intention to provide access to advanced technologies and create more equity in STEM. We hope to complement the rich history and commitment of HBCUs to serve the educational needs of Black Americans and, together accelerate opportunities for African American students in STEM and digital fabrication.”

“Fort Valley State University is proud of its 30-year partnership with Chevron through its Cooperative Development Energy Program,” said Dr. Paul Jones, Fort Valley State University President. “This expanded partnership will allow us to build on this relationship and to promote innovation, entrepreneurship, and STEM education in the middle Georgia community.”

Chevron-supported fab labs include facilities in: Bakersfield, Richmond and Santa Clara, California; New Orleans, Louisiana; Pascagoula, Mississippi; Houston and Odessa/Midland, Texas; and Washington, D.C.. These labs have served more than 50,000 people so far.

Bowie State University Takes Part In Expanding Data Science Infrastructure

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Bowie State University is taking part in a collaboration with the National Institutes of Health as well as 11 other institutions to create equity in the data science and analytics space. Learn about the key details in the recent Bowie release below!

Credit: Bowie State University

Bowie State University will expand its expertise in data science by joining with 11 other institutions, including the University of Maryland Baltimore County, Harvard Medical School and Vanderbilt University, to form an artificial intelligence/machine learning consortium (AI/ML) aimed at advancing health equity and researcher diversity through the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Artificial intelligence and machine learning is the next level of data science and analytics. Artificial intelligence is the development of computer systems able to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, while machine learning is the concept that a computer program can learn and adapt to new data without human interference.

The NIH AIM-AHEAD program seeks to expand representation of researchers and communities underrepresented in AI/ML modeling and applications through mutually beneficial partnerships. Faculty and students in Bowie State’s Computer Technology program will help build the computing infrastructure to support training, research, and assessment of the large-scale data being collected by HBCUs and minority serving institutions (MSIs) to better assess the health care needs of underrepresented populations.

“A lot of opportunities developed as a result of what was observed among different communities regarding the impact of health disparities in the incidence of COVID-19,” said Dr. Anika Bissahoyo, Assistant Director for Research, BSU Office of Research and Sponsored Programs. “This initiative is a broader opportunity to support those communities by building a consortium of organizations and partners that already focus on underrepresented communities.”

The AIM-AHEAD coordinating center team consists of four core sections: leadership, data science training, infrastructure, and data and research, which will work in tandem. Bowie State will serve as the only HBCU on the infrastructure core team and will support the National Alliance against Disparities in Patient Health (NADPH) to achieve several milestones, including engaging HBCUs and MSIs to determine their existing data infrastructure. The program is expected to improve the capabilities of emerging technology, but also help HBCUs and MSIs build their capacity in machine learning, data, and analysis to make an impact on health equity issues.

Bowie State offers five curriculum modules used by faculty members within their classes to include data curation, data management, data visualization, data analytics, and machine learning, which has impacted 1,400 students so far. The modules, developed by a multidisciplinary team of faculty, lead by the College of Business and funded by the National Science Foundation, were infused in the areas of accounting, finance, economics, information systems, biology, psychology, and sociology. BSU students who are studying machine learning, artificial intelligence, and data science and analytics will directly assist faculty with carrying out the scope of work for Bowie State University.

“Engaging HBCUs and MSIs will prove to be beneficial in achieving the milestones for the infrastructure core,” said Dr. Lethia Jackson, professor chair, BSU Department of Technology & Security, and co-principle investigator for the AIM-AHEAD infrastructure core. “By partnering with these institutions, we will help NIH determine solutions for health disparities through science driven community research, technology, training, and education in the health sciences.”

Pursing the opportunity to become a part of the consortium has been a collaborative effort campus-wide. In addition to Dr. Jackson, the co-principle investigator, other faculty and staff include: subject matter expert Dr. LaTanya Brown-Robertson, special assistant for Research & Development, College of Business; subject matter expert Dr. Azene Zenebe, chair, Management Information Systems Department; Gale Bassette, special assistant to the Provost for Federal Contracts Administration; and Dr. Velma Latson, assistant professor, Department of Technology & Security. Dr. Latson is also co-director of the HBCU Data Science Consortium—an HBCU-led consortium designed to bring together researchers, academics and others in industry around furthering data science opportunities and collaboration among HBCUs. She is also a member of the South Big Data Hub.

Fayetteville State University Acquires Bronco Square Shopping Mall In $5M Deal

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Fayetteville State University has locked in a piece of vital real estate with its recent purchase of the Bronco Square Shopping Mall. Get the full story from Kristen Johnson at The Fayetteville Observer.

Fayetteville State University announced a $5 million acquisition of Bronco Square Shopping Mall on Tuesday, in addition to a new entrepreneurial hub, free-standing Chick-fil-A and a Starbucks on campus.

Chancellor Darrell Allison announced the university’s purchase and expansion at a “Changing of the Keys” ceremony in Bronco Square’s parking lot and said the school now owns 100% of the shopping center debt-free.

“We want to play our part in this city, in this region, in this county so that we can, too, be a more viable partner here,” Allison said. “As Fayetteville State grows, so does Fayetteville, so does Cumberland County, so does this region.”

Fayetteville State University announce the purchase of the Bronco Square strip mall on Murchison Road on Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021. (Credit: Andrew Craft, The Fayetteville Observer)

The university used to own 50% of the shopping mall and Gary Ciccone, a former Fayetteville lawyer, owned the other half. Ciccone also donated $150,000 to the university at the event.

Home to a salon, barber shop and as of last year, a McAllister’s Deli, the Bronco Square Shopping Mall has had several businesses and served as an income stream to the university for 20 years. The school’s book store located at the square will be moved to the library on campus, with the space it occupied being converted into an innovation and entrepreneurship hub for small businesses in the community, Allison said.

The new hub, with a $200,000 investment from the Golden LEAF Foundation and support from the region’s state legislators, is set to open in May. 

FSU’s announcement of the acquisition comes the week of the university’s homecoming, which was canceled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and returns this year with safety guidelines for the school and community participating.

Economic expansion at FSU

County Commmissioner Glenn Adams speaks with FSU Chancellor Darrell Allison before a special event that announced Fayetteville State University’s purchase of the Bronco Square strip mall on Murchison Road. (Credit: The Fayetteville Observer)

Allison said homecomings are an essential part of a university’s economic impact to the school and greater community. In addition to the university being a historically Black university and asset to the city, he said the school is also an “economic engine.” 

“There’s a part that we play,” Allison said. “We want to make sure that we are generating revenue and we are generating jobs, and we are creating opportunities for employment and we are producing in multiple fashions not just producing diplomas but producing dollars and resources.”

Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin, an FSU alumnus, gave remarks at the event, saying he looked forward to working with Allison on the new development. 

“We made a goal as a city to prioritize the development and growing the city of Fayetteville up Murchison Road,” Colvin said. “We know that we can’t do that without meeting the stakeholders and resources.” 

Colvin also said because the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted some of the greater economic and personal challenges in the community, innovation and entrepreneurship were one way to rebuild. 

“The pandemic exposed some things about our community that we are a service-based, hospitality-based community,” Colvin said. “We know that this industry was robbed at the drop of a dime with the pandemic so we have to retrain and retool our people and our workforce.”

Also in attendance at the event were state Sen. Kirk deViere and Reps. Marvin Lucas and Billy Richardson. All are Democrats who respresent Cumberland County.

County Commissioner Glenn Adams, who also is chairman of the FSU board of trustees, praised the legislators’ attendance at the event.

“I think it is important for our delegation, the members of Raleigh, come on this campus and see what’s happening on this campus,” Adams said. “The economic impact of Fayetteville State University to the state of North Carolina and to Cumberland County is just phenomenal and we cannot for any instance think that it doesn’t impact us.” 

Adams said the partnerships between the university, city and county government, and private investors showed that the school was “committed to the Murchison Road corridor” and the vision of Allison and the board of trustees was to “be united with this community, not just this block.”

New restaurants on campus

The new free standing Chick-fil-A will be placed at the corner of Bronco Square and the Starbucks will be built on campus, according to Trevor Ferguson, the president of higher education for Aramark, the university’s food and restaurant partner. 

“The student experience is paramount to driving recruiting and retention to students here at Fayetteville State University, and we’re excited to be apart of it,” said Ferguson at the event. 

The group will be working closely with the university to work out details of the new restaurants In the coming weeks, he said.

Alcorn State University Eyes An End To Mississippi’s Teacher Shortage

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Thousands of Mississippi’s students are being affected by a lack of qualified teachers in the state. According to Alcorn State University Interim Dean Dr. Malinda Butler, the university plans to do something about it. Learn about ASU’s detailed plans to bring more teachers into the workforce in the release below.

A student in the Mississippi Delta raises his hand during class. (Credit: Jackie Mader/The Hechinger Report)

Alcorn State University has joined the fight to end the teacher shortage in Mississippi.

The Mississippi Human Capital Task Force, a group that includes Alcorn’s President, Felecia M. Nave, recently released a report on the state’s teacher shortage along with recommended actions to end the shortage and strengthen the teacher workforce.

The University’s School of Education and Psychology plays a significant role in equipping new teachers to thrive by scheduling tutorial sessions and workshops and offering classes to assist teacher candidates with testing challenges. The School also provides alternate route programs —Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) for certification — at the elementary and secondary levels. This initiative is designed to encourage aspiring educators who hold non-teacher degrees to receive certification at the “AA” level with only 33 credit hours.

The School has developed programs and partnerships with schools within the University, state education agencies, and school districts. To meet the demands for highly qualified new elementary teachers, the School has revised its curriculum to include coursework that addresses the changing demographics of communities and allows for an easier transition of teacher education candidates from community colleges.

Dr. Malinda Butler, interim dean for Alcorn’s School of Education and Psychology, expressed pride in the success of the School’s efforts to combat the teacher shortage in Mississippi.

“These efforts have been very beneficial, and we look forward to increased benefits,” said Butler. “The efforts have increased the number of teacher candidates qualifying for admission and graduating from the program. For example, in spring 2021, the number of undergraduate candidates receiving initial licenses increased from 11 to 16 from 2019-2020, compared to 2020-2021, resulting in a 45 percent increase. Regarding the Alternate Certification Programs (MAT), candidates receiving their “A” level license increased from two the previous year to 17.”

Butler also spoke about the Robert Noyce Scholarship grant that supports recruiting individuals to become STEM teachers. The grant program assists candidates in meeting the testing requirements and pays the student’s tuition up to $10,000 per year during their junior and senior years. Other efforts include moving some class offerings to weekends to accommodate non-traditional and working students, the revision of the School’s recruitment plan, and participating in several local and statewide school districts’ college recruitment fairs and on-campus recruitment activities.

Preparing the next generation for success is at the School’s core, which is why Butler and her staff are adamant about preparing teachers to equip the next generation of professionals for success.

“We prioritize the preparation of highly qualified, proficient, and effective elementary and secondary school teachers and other professional educational personnel. It is our responsibility to address the need to increase the supply based on the demand for teachers. We continue to work with our stakeholders to identify their needs and look for innovative ways to address the teacher shortage.”

New Grambling State Program Caters To Students, Military Community With Quality Trainings

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Grambling State University has entered a new partnership with a company that will help it offer continuing education to students, military members and their families, and the GSU community at large! Get more information from the GSU release below.

Grambling State University’s Office of Continuing Education and Service-Learning has partnered with ProTrain, a leader in continuing education to bring quality training to GSU students and the community that meets national, regional, and local requirements leading to careers in high demand fields. Served industries include: healthcare; information technology; business and leadership; and industrial and skilled trades. Course offerings are ideal for both career entry and career advancement opportunities.

Left to right: Dr. Rory Bedford, Michelle Hopwood and Miloni Perera (Credit: Grambling State University)

The partnership offers various programs for individuals, corporate, and government including Military Tuition Assistance (TA), Military Spouses Scholarship (MyCAA), Wounded Warriors, Veterans, Vocational Rehabilitation, and those that are Unemployed or Underemployed (WIOA).  While all persons who desire to retool or enhance their current educational skills can take advantage of the resources available through the Office of Continuing Education and Service-Learning, the ProTrain agreement provides special opportunities and financial assistance for the military community.

“ProTrain is proud to serve our military and their families in helping them achieve their educational goals,” said ProTrain Chief Operating Officer Kevin M. Smith, a retired U.S. Army colonel.

The partnership also provides an affordable solution for students seeking in-demand careers.

“When we began working on this agreement, we wanted to make sure that we could meet the needs of both the community and the student body as it relates to career readiness,” said Dr. Rory Bedford, director of Continuing Education and Service-Learning. “We are excited that our partnership with ProTrain expands our course offerings towards our goal.”

He said that participants will be able to retool and gain important training to enhance and further their careers in an online format. In addition, students can earn a degree and add certifications that place them in a position to be more marketable than those who do not have certifications.

“When we approached Dr. Connie Walton, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, she worked in concert with us to make sure that the courses and agreement met guidelines provided by the University of Louisiana System,” Bedford said. “President Rick Gallot and the University of Louisiana System recognized the value of the partnership and approved the agreement.”

ProTrain Chief Executive Officer Betty L. Gardner said that education is the key to our future.

“It is the one gift that we can give ourselves that neither the economy nor other forces can take from us,” she said. “Our communities and society continue to benefit from the quality education with which we reward ourselves. ProTrain provides the real-world employer with relevant, highly sought after, training for real people. Education is the bridge to your future.”

Over the past month, Bedford, Miloni Perera, Michelle Hopwood, and others have been meeting with representatives from ProTrain to receive training to launch the program. It officially launched on the GSU website on October 1, 2021.  Access to course information and payment methods are available at https://gram.theknowledgebase.org/  or email hopwoodm@gram.edu or pereram@gram.edu.

New Campaign To Support HBCU Students On Journey To Voter Rights Advocacy

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For decades, HBCU students have been at the forefront of the voter rights movement. Through protesting  they have combated racism, voter suppression, and more to not only get their voice out but meet the needs of the community and make real change!  Now, a new campaign is helping this generation’s voters have a widespread impact.

Credit: James Lawler Duggan / Reuters

With origins rooted in the South, Black Voters Matter (BVM) has made an intentional effort to build up its relationships with Black students at a time where voter suppression is rampant and the grassroots nature of student activism is crucial. Through the campaign, campus activism will be supported through education and assistance in structuring efforts on campus and beyond. BVM will also provide grants as a part of the campaign through its newly established Take The Field Fund, which has amassed a solid $25,000. 50 grants will be disseminated through the fund. Student groups will be able to receive up to $500 each for efforts like campus sit-ins and campus rallies drawing attention to voter suppression. 

The  leadership of Black Voters Matter recently shared why the campaign is so vital to aid in the activism of Black students. “The Take the Field campaign is not just about building Black power; it’s about building youth power, as well,” shared Black Votes Matter co-founder LaTosha Brown. “College campuses, particularly HBCUs, are anchor institutions within our community. As we seek to transform and advance our vision for the Black community we believe that college students are a core constituency group to make this happen. With this campaign, we are empowering our young people to speak up, start a national dialogue about the issues impacting them, and begin building the nation they want to see.”

Cliff Albright, co-founder and executive director of Black Voters Matter, also highlighted how important timing is in the activation of this campaign. “This homecoming season, we’re urging student activists to Take the Field for voting rights,” he said. “College students have been at the forefront of progressive policy change for decades; some of the most powerful and consequential protests in our nation’s history took place on college campuses. We’re proud to launch this campaign with our local, national, and university partners — particularly at HBCUs — to continue that rich tradition and inspire another generation of freedom fighters.”

To apply for a Take The Field grant and learn more about Black Voters Matter, please click here today. Grant applications are due October 31, 2021 so don’t wait to apply!

Megan Thee Stallion Announces Popeyes Partnership, Merch And Franchise Ownership

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“Hot Girl” Megan Thee Stallion just dropped a collaboration with Popeyes and it does not disappoint! The Texas Southern University student will not only have her own sauce, but she will make history as leading the first partnership where Popeye’s ever has offered a house-made addition to its pre-existing chicken sandwich. Learn about her new Popeyes franchise ownership, merch and more in the full story from Carlie Kollath Wells at NOLA.com.

Credit: Popeyes

Popeyes announced it will partner with singer Megan Thee Stallion to promote a new hot sauce and sell merchandise.The commercial for the collab dropped Thursday and has a Western theme. The full “music style short form film” features Megan’s alter ego stealing her hottie sauce and chasing it from her hometown of Houston to Popeyes hometown of New Orleans, company officials said.

Rapper Megan Thee Stallion is now a Popeyes franchise owner, the two said Thursday while announcing a new collaboration.

They are launching a new sauce too  — Megan Thee Hottie Sauce — along with co-branded merchandise.

Popeyes did not say where Megan’s franchise is or if it is open already.

The new sauce is made with honey, cider vinegar and Aleppo pepper, and “flaunts a sweet, yet bold flavor with a hint of spice, inspired by Megan’s sassy personality,” Popeyes said in a statement.

Credit: Popeyes

The “hottie” sauce will be available Oct. 19 as an option for the restaurant’s chicken sandwich and its new chicken nuggets, which were added to the menu earlier this year.

‘A lot in common’

It’s the first time Popeyes has released a variation on its popular chicken sandwich, officials said.

“We have a lot in common with Megan Thee Stallion — from our southern roots, to our shared love for flavor with a lot of spice, she embodies the proud, spirited, joyful and big-hearted personality we embrace with our food and heritage,” Bruno Cardinali, chief marketing officer for Popeyes, said in a statement.

Megan also has partnered with Popeyes for a product line, which includes bikinis, Popeyes chicken tenders plush dog toys, shirts, hats and tumblers.

The commercial for the collab dropped Thursday and has a Western theme. The full “music style short form film” features Megan’s alter ego stealing her hottie sauce and chasing it from her hometown of Houston to Popeyes hometown of New Orleans, company officials said.

The sauce will be available for a limited time, Popeyes said. Here’s the website for the collaboration.

History-Making Marble Statue of B-CU Founder Mary McLeod Bethune On Display

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The Bethune-Cookman University has been marveling the beautiful towering statue of the university’s founder Mary McLeod Bethune all week. Perched inside the building of the News-Journal Center in Daytona Beach, the statue will be on display until it is moved into its final home at the US Capitol. Learn how the statue will make history in the Daytona Beach News-Journal article by Eileen Zaffiro-Kean below.


Little Kameron Turner got a big history lesson Tuesday when he visited the News-Journal Center in Daytona Beach. The 3-year-old’s dad, Karsceal Turner, is a Bethune-Cookman graduate and he used the new statue of Mary McLeod Bethune on display at the News-Journal Center to teach the tyke about Bethune. (Nigel Cook/News-Journal)

For four years, local residents have followed the evolution of the idea to have a Mary McLeod Bethune sculpture representing Florida in the U.S. Capitol Building.

On Tuesday, they got their first chance to stand within a few feet of the new marble work of art that will be on display at the News-Journal Center in Daytona Beach until Dec. 12. They were not disappointed.

“I’m blown away,” said Karsceal Turner, a 2009 graduate of the school Bethune founded, Bethune-Cookman University. “To have Dr. Bethune represent us in Washington, D.C., is a great feeling. I’m proud to be a son of the legacy.”

After hearing about the twists and turns of the statue’s creation, including securing government approvals and raising $850,000, people were eager to see the sculpture in person. There was a line in front of the News-Journal Center before the doors opened shortly after 10 a.m., and a steady stream of visitors continued throughout the morning and into the afternoon.

Once they got in front of the statue, just about everybody had their phones out and started taking pictures and videos.

Early next year, the statue will be crated and trucked up to Washington, D.C., to take its place in the Capitol Building. Bethune will be the first Black person, male or female, to be honored in the Capitol’s state collection of statues.

Turner brought his 3-year-old son to the exhibit Tuesday to start teaching him about the woman who was born to former slaves and went on to become the only Black woman to help the U.S. delegation that created the United Nations charter.

Bethune also created the National Council of Negro Women, directed the Office of Minority Affairs in the National Youth Administration, and helped women gain the right to vote. She was an advisor to five U.S. presidents.

“She opened so many doors, and she’s still opening doors,” Turner said.

Little Kameron Turner wasn’t quite as impressed with the history lesson, or the 11-foot-tall statue that was sculpted in a 1,000-year-old artists’ colony on the Tuscan coast of Italy. After playfully running laps around his father, the tyke just wanted to know if he could ride the escalator in the News-Journal building.

Visitors pose with the statue of Mary McLeod Bethune at the News-Journal Center in Daytona Beach. Tuesday was the first chance for the public to get an up-close look at the impressive statue. (Credit: Nigel Cook/News-Journal)

‘It represents Florida quite well’

Most of the people who decided to check out the Bethune sculpture Tuesday were drinking in the history on display throughout the exhibit. The story of Bethune’s life and the creation of the statue are told throughout the News-Journal Center lobby on dozens of informational displays that include plenty of historic black and white photos.

A short film on Bethune plays in a small room off the lobby, and an audio recording of her speaking can be heard near the statue display.

“I went to Bethune-Cookman University, and this is the first time I’m hearing her voice,” said Caleb Mack Jr., who attended the school from 1980 to 1984.

Bethune’s high-pitched voice with a determined tone is not what many people say they expected to hear. Mack sat under the speaker at the exhibit so he could record the audio on his phone.

“She sounds like Eleanor Roosevelt,” he said, referring to the former First Lady who became a good friend of Bethune. “It’s an eloquent voice; very intelligent. … She needed to talk that way to be accepted.”

Mack was also impressed with the statue, which he said is “excellent” and “a testament to her life.”

“I think it represents Florida quite well so the world can see its glory,” he said. 

Like others seeing the three-ton statue for the first time, Mack was captured by its eyes looking down toward visitors.

“It’s like it stares back at you,” he said.

‘An honor to be in the presence’

There was a mix of people coming to see the statue Tuesday: Black and white, young and old. Some had also come from out of town to see the work of art, including Dorothy and Herman Hart of Miami.

The Harts figured a trip to Daytona Beach was easier than a trip to Washington, D.C. They were glad they made the effort.

“It’s an honor to be in the presence of this beautiful marble statue,” Dorothy Hart said. “We took a lot of pictures.”

She said she knows several people who attended Bethune-Cookman University, so she learned about Bethune through them.

“She has given so much,” Dorothy Hart said.

Jaron Williams, a 2014 graduate of Bethune-Cookman University, said he was feeling Bethune’s presence as he gazed at the towering white marble statue.

“It’s a very lifelike resemblance,” Williams said. “It’s truly a gift as a former student of Bethune-Cookman. This is one of those monumental moments to see your founder back in the city where it started.”

He hopes the statue “brings more of an appreciation for cultural diversity.”

“I recommend people come and learn about the history of the school and Mary McLeod Bethune,” Williams said.

Pamela Douglas was enjoying every minute of seeing the new statue.

“It’s mesmerizing to me,” said Douglas, whose son attended Bethune-Cookman University. “It’s wonderful. It’s lovely. Very inspirational. I couldn’t wait to come. For something that will be in the U.S. Capitol, to have it first in Daytona Beach, I really appreciate that.”

View the statue

WHAT: Public viewing of the Mary McLeod Bethune statue

WHERE: News-Journal Center, 221 N. Beach St., Daytona Beach

WHEN: 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. daily through Dec. 12. Those who want to view the statue will need a free ticket for one of six daily time slots. Tickets are available at mmbstatue.org. Viewings will be held seven days a week.

FAMU Performing Arts Amphitheater To Be Named After Producer And Alumnus Will Packer

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Florida A&M University graduate Will Packer is getting the flowers he deserves from his alma mater! The FAMU alum will not only get his name on a performing arts building, but he will also headline the exciting upcoming Homecoming festivities. Get the full story from Andrew Skerritt at FAMU Forward below.

Will Packer (Credit: Ben Rollins)

Florida A&M University (FAMU) alumnus movie mogul Will Packer will kick-off the Friday, October 29 Homecoming 2021 festivities with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Performing Arts Amphitheater that will be named in his honor.

Events include broadcasts of ESPN’s First Take with Stephen A. Smith and Kevin Hart’s Laugh Out Loudradio show Straight From The Hart on SiriusXM, and the recognition of major donors to the University. 

“We are excited to have alumnus Will Packer celebrate Homecoming with us this year,” said FAMU President Larry Robinson, Ph.D. “Will has set an example for others to follow and has given back to FAMU in so many ways. His name on the Performance Arts Amphitheater for the world to see is a fitting tribute to his generosity and commitment to his alma mater.” 

Packer, who earned an engineering degree at FAMU, started working on his first movie “Chocolate City” with fellow Rattler Rob Hardy while still on campus. The founder and CEO of Will Packer Productions film production company and Will Packer Media, a television, digital and branded content company, Packer wants his donation to motivate others to step forward to invest in students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

“HBCU giving has never been more essential than it is today. I’m honored to give back to the institution that has given so much to me and others over the years,” said Packer, who announced the event in a video released Tuesday. “I hope this accomplishment serves as an inspiration for future generations of FAMUans who will know the success I achieved has its foundations in the same halls, classrooms and dorms where they reside.”

Since he began creating movies, Packer has produced or executive produced a wide range of movies, including such films as “The Photograph,” “Little,” “What Men Want,” “Night School,” “Breaking In,” “Girls Trip,” “Ride Along 2,” “Straight Outta Compton,” “No Good Deed,” “Think Like a Man Too,” “Ride Along,” “Think Like a Man,” and “Takers.”

His television credits include “That Girl Lay Lay,” “Blackballed,” “Ambitions,” “Bigger,” “Being Mary Jane,” “Uncle Buck” and the remake of “Roots,” for which he received an Emmy nomination. Packer has been picked to produce the 94th Oscars next March.

The 8:15 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony begins a full day of activities for FAMFEST, which is part of FAMU Homecoming 2021- An Epic Return.

At 10 a.m., Stephen A. Smith and host Molly Qerim Rose will begin broadcasting First Take live from the Amphitheater stage – their first on-site show since January 2020. The two-hour event will run concurrently with the Homecoming Convocation at the Al Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center and Teaching Gymnasium, which begins at 10:10 a.m. and features comedian/actor Roy Wood Jr. as the keynote speaker.

Smith, an HBCU grad, is delighted to be part of the festivities.

“Ever since I met Will Packer years ago, there was never any doubt that two things were of the utmost importance to him: FAMU and HBCU’s overall,” said Smith. “Will’s commitment to excellence doesn’t halt at just himself. He’s always been motivated to inspire and lead, especially when it comes to the wonderful folks attending FAMU. This unveiling of the amphitheater is just the latest example of how devoted Will Packer is to FAMU and how committed he is to be that shining example who genuinely cares. I’m honored that he asked me to make sure First Take is a part of its sensational event. And even more so to call him my friend.”

Following First Take, Kevin Hart’sLOLradio show Straight from the Hart, featuringKevin Hart & The Plastic Cup Boyz, will tape in front of a live audiencefrom the Amphitheater stage, to air the following Tuesday, November 2, on SiriusXM.

From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., FAMFEST continues to feature live entertainment and donor presentations.

Shawnta Friday-Stroud, Ph.D., vice president for University Advancement and FAMU Foundation executive director, and her staff have been in conversation with Packer for years. He made the donation anonymously in 2019 in anticipation of a 2020 homecoming unveiling, which was derailed by the pandemic. She said this gift is just a reflection of. his passion for his alma mater.

“Will Packer has an unrivalled passion for FAMU. His gift toward naming the Performing Arts Amphitheater is a demonstration of his love for his alma mater and his desire to lead by example in giving back to the institution that means so much to him,” Friday-Stroud said. “We are so thankful to Will for his generosity.”

The Performing Arts Amphitheater concept was developed by the Student Government Association in response to dramatic increase in the activities of student clubs and organizations over the past few years. The Amphitheater is located on “The Set,” which is the heartbeat of the FAMU student experience.

To see the 2021 Homecoming Schedule visit: Homecomingatfamu.com.

Howard University Receives Largest-Ever Alumni Gift In History At $5 Million

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Howard University just received a record-breaking donation from two alumni to support students with financial barriers! Get the full story on why donors Eddie C. Brown and Sylvia Brown value their alma mater so much in the Howard official release below.

Eddie Brown and Sylvia Brown on Howard’s campus (Credit: Howard University)

GIFT FROM ESTEEMED ALUMNI COUPLE MARKS THE LARGEST ALUMNI DONATION IN HOWARD HISTORY

Howard University is pleased to announce a $5 million gift from Eddie C. Brown (B.S.E.E. ’61) and C. Sylvia Brown (B.S. ’62) to support the Graduation Retention Access to Continued Excellence (GRACE) Grant for students facing financial barriers. Eddie Brown is the founder, chairman and CEO of Brown Capital Management, a Baltimore-based asset management firm that is the second oldest African-American-owned investment management firm in the world. This gift marks the largest alumni gift to Howard University in the school’s history.

“We are extremely grateful to Eddie and Sylvia for making this historic gift to Howard University,” said Howard University President Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick. “The GRACE Grant has helped to eliminate financial barriers to education for Howard students, and I am thrilled that the Browns were inspired to commit such a generous gift to this important fund. My hope is that students will be inspired by their story and generosity and that others in our alumni community will consider the many ways they, too, can impact current and future generations of Howard students.”     

The Browns met on Howard University’s campus in 1957. Eddie came to Howard from Allentown, Pennsylvania at just 16 years old as a student in the College of Engineering, and Sylvia came to Howard from King William, Virginia as a student in what was then the College of Liberal Arts. While equally committed to education, the couple recall two very different stories as it pertains to their opportunities to pursue a college education. Whereas Sylvia came from a family of educators and always knew she had the support to pursue higher education, Eddie’s journey to Howard was made possible because of a caring teacher and anonymous “angel” donor.      

“I moved to Allentown, Pennsylvania when I was 15,” said Eddie. “We had a community organizer that would look out for the young Black children in the community. He came to me and my mother one day and said, ‘I was contacted by a woman who wants to help a young African-American student go to college.’ And it was my 10th grade English teacher, actually, who was a graduate of Howard [who] said, ‘You should go to Howard University.’”

At the time, Eddie was one of only seven Black students in his class at Allentown High School. Just three of the seven students were in college preparatory classes, and the other two students had the financial means to go to college. Because he came from a low-income family, Eddie was chosen to receive a scholarship that covered his tuition, room and board, and textbooks during his time at Howard.

This story and their mutual love for Howard is what inspired the couple to contribute the historic gift in support of the GRACE Grant. This gift represents what Sylvia says is not giving back, but “paying it forward.”

“We were very fortunate to be able to go to Howard,” she said. “I had student loans, and I know how hard that is. Being from a family of four, my parents did the best they could, but that was never enough to pay for all the fees. And that’s been our mantra, to give to others and help them at least be able to get an undergraduate degree so they have a good foundation.”

The GRACE Grant was established by President Frederick to help remove any financial barriers for students and encourage on-time graduation for students who successfully completed their freshman year. This need-based program, created in 2014, provides a 100 percent match for students who receive the maximum Federal Pell Grant and provides additional funding for those with an expected family contribution (EFC) of $0.

The impact of the GRACE Grant is clear. Since its inception, GRACE recipients saw an average 17 percent increase in retention and an average four-year graduation rate of 78 percent, a 32 percent increase compared to students in the same financial category who did not receive GRACE funds.

“I remember a minister of ours said something that we never forgot,” said Eddie. “That those who are blessed should be a blessing to someone, especially those less fortunate. We always remember that. I was blessed to receive my college education debt free, and I think it’s important to offer those less fortunate the opportunity to do so as well.”

“Our only hope is that students who benefit from our contribution do their best,” said Sylvia.

Tuskegee Receives Nearly $1M To Teach Minority High School Students IT And Cyber Security

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The Department for Computer Science at Tuskegee University has received nearly $1 million to expand its outreach efforts to high school students! Get the full story from the Tuskegee release below.

Tuskegee University’s computer science department has been awarded a $999,995 grant to train local high school students in information technology and cyber security. Over the next four years, the grant sponsored by the National Science Foundation, Developing and Testing Innovations (DTI) program will provide 40 high school rising sophomores and juniors and ten teachers in the Alabama Black Belt region with technology and cybersecurity experience through the development of mobile-enabled applications. 

Professor Dr. Jay Bhuyan is the principal investigator. Drs. Kai Koong, Fan Wu, Cassandra Thomas, and Li Jiang are co-principal investigators on the collaborative project within the Department of Computer Science.  

“Cybersecurity is the current trend in computer science. This field applies to inter-disciplinary students. While this field is most current, it lacks diversity,” Bhuyan said. “Our project is aimed at generating interest in minority high-school students to pursue this field. Currently, Tuskegee University offers several courses in cybersecurity through an undergraduate degree and a graduate degree in cybersecurity.”

While job growth in STEM fields, specifically in information technology and cybersecurity, has consistently increased, diversity in these workforce fields has not grown at a comparable pace. Under the grant, the proposed project will provide, in a group setting, hands-on training in basic IT concepts through a one-month training program (four-week summer academy) hosted at Tuskegee University, followed by one-semester in-school training on a project of their choice. 

“There is a need to engage minority students in these areas early in their careers,” explained Bhuyan. “The program will offer far-reaching technological experiences through the exciting explorations of secured mobile application development under a Project-Based Learning (PBL) framework,” Bhuyan added.

Participating students will learn to develop mobile applications using MIT APP Inventor, which focuses on developing logical thinking skills, rather than the details of learning a traditional programming language, in a fun-filled way. Students will also learn how their application interacts securely with the Internet.

“The project’s strategy and design will be used to advance the efforts of increasing minority high school students’ motivations and capacities to pursue STEM careers,” noted Bhuyan. 

The project’s work integrates hands-on training in basic information and information technology security concepts. Furthermore, the grant will be used to examine the students’ knowledge, interest, and attitudes towards STEM-related careers. The project co-funded by the Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) program, supports projects that build understandings of practices, program elements, contexts, and processes contributing to increasing students’ knowledge and interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and information and communication technology (ICT) careers. This project is also jointly co-funded by the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR).