Senate Passes FLIGHT Act To Help HBCU ROTC Programs

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HBCU students interested in aviation and Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) programs may have much needed support heading their way. The U.S. Senate just recently passed the FLIGHT Act, which was created specifically to drive diversity efforts in military leadership and in highly-skilled sectors like aviation. Now, the bill is heading straight to the President’s desk for signature!

An aviation program student at Delaware State University

HBCUs like Delaware State University with an aviation program will definitely want to take advantage. According to local Delaware station 47ABC, DSU’s President Dr. Tony Allen shared that “for us to use the flight act to help defray cost for those students means we’re going to get more students running to what we believe is a great career and we want to be able to extend that both in commercial airlines and in the military.”

Delaware Senator Chris Coons and Representative Lisa Blunt-Rochester sponsored the bill, after agreeing with other lawmakers that people of color are underrepresented in American military leadership, and particularly in aviation. The funding that will be provided in this bill will boost career prospects for potential HBCU military pilots by offering undergraduate pilot training. See below for Senator Chris Coons’ outline of this great new bill!

The FLIGHT Act aims to expand diversity in the military by increasing opportunities at our nation’s HBCUs. People of color are underrepresented in American military leadership—particularly at higher ranks and in high-investment, training-intensive specialties like aviation. As a whole, the Air Force is almost 20% African-American. But that diversity is deceptive: only 1.7% of Air Force pilots (and less than 3% of civilian pilots) are black. Similar asymmetries affect other branches of the Armed Forces.

Aspiring military aviators can significantly improve their career prospects with undergraduate pilot training, but ROTC scholarships do not cover flight training costs. This makes it more difficult for low-income students to become pilots. The FLIGHT Actaddresses this byestablishing two new programs.

Representative Lisa Blunt-Rochester and Senator Chris Coons

The goals of the FLIGHT Act include:

  • Lowering the barriers to ROTC participation for students at HBCUs and minority institutions. Many ROTC students at HBCUs must commute to host institutions for classes—often over long distances. This bill would provide funding and resources to mitigate these barriers, in part by encouraging partnerships between the institutions and nearby military bases.
  • Supplementing flight training costs for ROTC members enrolled at HBCUs. While the funds appropriated by the FLIGHT Act can be used at commercial flight schools, priority is given to students who would also receive their flight training at HBCUs. This program also includes the students participating in the Coast Guard’s College Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative program.

“Now more than ever, we are reminded how vital it is that our leaders, our guardians, and our role models reflect the diversity of America itself,” said Senator Coons. “Our servicemembers come from all walks of life, but people of color remain underrepresented at the military’s highest levels. This undermines both our military readiness and our society as a whole. Today’s military aviators will become tomorrow’s best-trained commercial pilots. Our current officers in uniform will become our policy experts, our CEOs, and often our political leaders. The FLIGHT Act is just one of many steps we must take to ensure that those who lead our country also fully represent it.” 

“We must do more to support the best and brightest that want to answer the call to serve as a military pilot,” said Representative Blunt Rochester. “For some, barriers like distance from ROTC units or financial challenges stymie their efforts to serve in the military.  Ultimately, we must ensure those afforded the opportunity to serve reflect the racial, ethnic, and geographic diversity of the country. That’s why I am proud to lead with my colleagues in the House and Senate in the introduction of the FLIGHT Act. The FLIGHT Act will give students at historically black colleges and universities like Delaware State University seeking to be military pilots the ability to train to be an officer and afford the flight training programs needed to fly some of the world’s most advanced aircraft. Bills like this give all Americans the chance to serve their country in the capacity we need to safeguarding our national security.”

“Our military brings together brave men and women from across this nation to serve,”said Representative Brown. “Those leading our service members should reflect the power of this diversity. Minority groups are severely underrepresented in our officer corps, and even more so among military pilots and other critical units. This bill taps into the talent present at our HBCUs and other minority institutions by reducing barriers to participation in ROTC, creating partnerships between those schools and neighboring military installations and encouraging the pursuit of flight training prior to accession to train the next generation of pilots.”

“The formation of a more perfect union is an ideal that we must constantly strive to meet,” said Senator Carper. “As we as a nation continue to take important steps in promoting equality, we cannot overstate the importance of removing the barriers to serving in a leadership role in our military. As a former ROTC student who went on to serve as a naval flight officer, I understand the positive impacts that ROTC and aviation training, in particular, have on our nation. Today, the students at Delaware State University and at HBCUs across our country have a similar opportunity, and, with the FLIGHT Act, they’ll have a greater chance to succeed and serve in leadership roles in the military and in their civilian careers, as well. I want to thank Senator Coons and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester for leading the charge and introducing this bill, and I look forward to continue working to make sure that students who are eager to take flight and serve their nation will reap the benefits.”

Delaware State University’s Michael Casson, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Business, said: “Any increased focus and resourcing for ROTC Aviation Program participants at HBCUs like Delaware State University has the potential to return significant benefits to the female and minority success rates of pilot candidates, resulting in greater diversity among military pilots.” Casson noted that cultural competency among instructors often undermines flight instruction of female and minority candidates, citing a 2018 RAND study. “The necessary cultural competency of flight instructors at HBCUs or Minority-Serving Institutions is rated significantly higher than those providing the same instruction at US Air Force bases.” He concluded: “Aviation programs at HBCUs and Minority-Serving Institutions represent a strong, recommended investment in more successfully diversifying the cadre of military pilots by successfully retaining female and minority candidates. Delaware State University’s experience over the last thirty years directly supports this conclusion, both qualitatively and quantitatively, and we strongly support the assignment of greater resources to the programs best able to use them in a positive manner.”

“The FLIGHT Act recognizes America’s diversity and pluralism as key components of her competitive edge,” said Lezli Baskerville, President & CEO of the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education. “America cannot effectively defend the Nation’s security or its citizenry without a strong, diverse, and just military. If the leadership corps in the military does not fully reflect the diversity of those on the front lines of the enlisted ranks, and those across America, our military and our Nation will not thrive, and the world will not be at peace. The FLIGHT Act will better position HBCUs to help America to be her better self.”

“Any student that has a dream to serve in the United States Armed Forces should be able to carry out that dream and have every opportunity and resource available to them to be successful regardless of where they attend college, this is especially true for our students at our nation’s HBCUs. Because minorities are underrepresented in American military leadership, ROTC serves as a gateway to that level of leadership, and HBCU students should have easier access to the opportunity to not only serve in our military but to lead. UNCF is happy to endorse the Fostering Leadership and Inclusion by Growing HBCU Training (FLIGHT) Act and urges Congress to consider this bill in the next iteration of the National Defense Authorization Act,” said Dr. Michael L. Lomax, President and CEO, UNCF (United Negro College Fund, Inc.).

Wilberforce University Partners With Community Action to Support Distance Learning

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Working from home has been a dream for some, but a nightmare for others. Ultimately, it is the necessary access to a computer and reliable internet that makes all the difference. A recent partnership with Wilberforce University in Ohio and Community Action has made the study process easier for several students, with even a special extra resource added. In fact, the Ohio Association of Community Action provides education, training, and emergency services to about 600,000 low income Ohio residents a year. Read more below for the full details.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies partnered with Wilberforce University to provide much-needed technology to support students’ remote learning. The pilot project will allow 100 eligible students, who have been impacted by the pandemic, access to a personal laptop enabling them to continue their studies through distance learning. 

Wilberforce University students

“When the pandemic hit earlier this year, many of us were thrust into working or studying offsite,” said Philip E. Cole, executive director of OACAA. “We saw a need and are happy to fill that need to better equip students and help maintain their path to graduation.”

Thanks to the partnership, the selected number of enrolled Wilberforce University students will receive new laptops to use for their studies during and beyond the school’s remote learning protocol. The students will be selected automatically based on eligibility criteria. 

“OACAA is an ideal partner in Wilberforce’s endeavor to address the Digital Divide,” said Dr. Tashia Bradley, executive vice president and chief innovation officer at Wilberforce University. “Black communities have been grappling with gaps in accessing devices and Wi-Fi. These are the types of gifts that help reduce that gap and help support the university’s commitment to ensuring student success. We are appreciative of OACAA for partnering with us to address this issue.”

In addition to the computers, students will have access to preloaded Apportis software that supports access to mental health resources for the remainder of the school year. The resources and content will be available without connecting to a local Wi-Fi network. Similar partnerships between OACAA and local colleges and universities are expected to be developed following this pilot project’s successful roll-out. 

Wilberforce University

Hampton Partners With Apple and Tennessee State University On Coding Initiative

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Hampton University joined 25 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to take part in Apple’s Community Education Initiative and Tennessee State University’s HBCU C2 initiative. The initiatives are ultimately created to bring coding and creativity opportunities to HBCUs, in addition to workforce development opportunities! See below for more details straight from Hampton.

In celebration of Computer Science Education Week, Hampton University announced it will become a community center for Coding and Creativity as part of Apple’s Community Education Initiative and Tennessee State University’s HBCU C2 initiative designed to bring coding and creativity experiences to historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and their communities.

Hampton University

“Our founder, General Samuel Chapman Armstrong wanted to prioritize two tenets for Hampton University; the first was a strong academic offering, which today would be called workforce development. The second was the development of character. We continue to remain on the cutting edge of technology and workforce development, as they both are vital for the success of our future digital world and the economy,” said Hampton University President, Dr. William R. Harvey.

Faculty leaders from Hampton University will participate in Apple’s ongoing Community Education Initiative Learning Series to learn about coding and app development. As part of that ongoing professional development, educators will explore innovative ways to engage with learners using Apple’s comprehensive curriculum, which utilizes its easy-to-learn Swift programming language.

“The Department of Computer Science at Hampton University is committed to bringing technology and specifically access to coding for all throughout Hampton Roads.  It is a privilege to participate with Apple and Tennessee State’s HBCU C2 initiative to ensure students, within our community as well as internal to Hampton University across all disciplines. It is important that all students are prepared for the every rising demand of technology through learning to code and create,” said Dr. Jean Muhammad, Chair of the Department of Computer Science.

As part of its Community Education Initiative, Apple is supporting Hampton University with equipment and professional development to help the university become the pre-eminent HBCU C2 community center to bring coding and creativity to Hampton Roads.

Current hubs include:

  • Arkansas Baptist College
  • Central State University
  • Claflin University
  • Lawson State Community College
  • Morehouse College
  • Prairie View A&M University
  • Southern University at Shreveport
  • Tougaloo College

Current centers include:

  • Benedict College
  • Bethune Cookman University
  • Bowie State University
  • Delaware State University
  • Denmark Technical College
  • Dillard University
  • Drake State Community & Technical College
  • Fisk University
  • Grambling State University
  • Hampton University
  • Huston-Tillotson University
  • Jarvis Christian College
  • Johnson C. Smith University
  • Miles College
  • Morris Brown College
  • Norfolk State University
  • Saint Augustine’s University
  • Shaw University
  • Shorter College
  • Talladega College
  • Tuskegee University
  • University of Maryland Eastern Shore
  • University of the District of Columbia
  • Wilberforce University
  • Wiley College

Congress Poised to Forgive HBCU Debt, Shorten FAFSA

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Significant changes are coming to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are among the groups to benefit most, in addition to FAFSA applicants who may be filling out 36 questions rather than the current 108. See the National Public Radio (NPR)’s further information on the changes below.

U.S. lawmakers have announced an agreement on a handful of higher education measures that would provide meaningful help to marginalized students, students of color and many of the schools that serve them. The aid is part of a broad new set of legislation, meant to fund the federal government through fiscal year 2021. Lawmakers are expected to vote on the proposed changes this week. 

“This bipartisan agreement is a significant step toward making higher education more affordable for millions of Americans,” Rep. Bobby Scott, the Democratic chairman of the House education committee, said in a statement Sunday night. 

The higher education measures include further simplifying the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), discharging federal loans given to help historically black colleges and universities pay for campus improvements, expanding the Pell Grant program for low-income college students and restoring Pell Grant eligibility for would-be students who are incarcerated. 

Here’s a closer look at what lawmakers say they have negotiated:

A shorter FAFSA

This move will be the latest in a series of efforts in recent years to make the FAFSA less of an obstacle. The 108-question form is required for any student who wants help paying for college. This latest round of changes would shorten the form by removing dozens of questions that don’t apply to most students and that may confuse borrowers who don’t have help filling it out. The deal also expands outreach, to help at-risk students complete the form.

Sen. Lamar Alexander, the outgoing Republican chairman of the Senate education committee, has long advocated for making the FAFSA easier.

Sen. Lamar Alexander

“After nearly seven years of work, Congress and the President will simplify federal student aid for 20 million families who fill out these unnecessarily complicated forms every year,” Alexander said in a statement Sunday night. “Reducing the FAFSA from 108 questions to 36 will remove the biggest barrier to helping more low-income students pursue higher education.”

In a Dec. 3 letter to congressional leaders, Justin Draeger, head of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, wrote that low-income students complete the FAFSA at a rate 7 percentage points lower than their higher-income peers and that “the timing for FAFSA simplification could not be more urgent… with FAFSA completions among high school seniors currently down 15% compared to this time last year.” 

Canceling HBCU debt

In 2018, a review by the U.S. Government Accountability Office estimated that nearly half of all historically black colleges and universities’ building space was in need of either repair or replacement. The HBCU Capital Financing Program was designed to give these schools “access to capital financing or refinancing for the repair, renovation, and construction of classrooms, libraries, laboratories, dormitories, instructional equipment, and research instrumentation,” according to the Department of Education. For example, in October, Morgan State University, a prominent HBCU in Baltimore, borrowed nearly $70 million to build a new dining hall and help pay for a new, 670-bed dorm. 

Under this new agreement, Congress would cancel all remaining debt obligations stemming from the roughly 80 outstanding loans made through the program, benefitting more than 40 HBCUs to the tune of more than $1 billion. 

Expanding Pell Grants

The federal Pell Grant program was meant to help low-income students pay for college without having to rely solely on loans. For the 2020-2021 award year, students who qualify can receive a maximum grant of $6,345 — money that does not need to be paid back. But student advocates have argued that the formula for calculating Pell eligibility, which depends on a student’s “Expected Family Contribution,” is too complex and makes it difficult to know how much help a student will get before they fill out the FAFSA. 

Under this new compromise, Pell eligibility would be simpler to predict and pegged to federal poverty guidelines. The hope is, if it’s clearer to potential students that they’ll qualify for upwards of $6,000 in Pell aid, they’ll be more likely to complete the FAFSA. According to Nerdwallet, the high school class of 2018 missed out on $2.6 billion in Pell Grants because they didn’t complete the FAFSA. 

The proposed change would not only expand the pool of students who apply for and benefit from the Pell program, it would also make the program itself more generous. 

According to a statement from Alexander, the expansion would “enable an additional 555,000 students qualify for Pell grants each year; and enable an additional 1.7 million students qualify to receive the maximum Pell grant award each year.”

Reinstating Pell Grants for people in prison

For the past 26 years, one sentence in federal law has withheld federal Pell Grants from the nearly 1.5 million people in state and federal prison. The proposed change would strike this line from the law, and allow incarcerated people eligibility to use federal dollars to pay for college while in prison. This change was already approved by the U.S. House in July.

The ban stems from the 1994 crime bill, which was signed into law by President Bill Clinton. Without that federal funding, higher education programs in prisons began to disappear. That’s despite research that’s shown education to be one of the most cost-effective ways to keep people from returning to prison once they’re released. The Vera Institute of Justice estimates restoring Pell for inmates would open the grant up to about half a million people — and there’s growing interest among higher education providers to once again offer credentials and classes to incarcerated people.

Over the last three years about 17,000 people have enrolled in higher ed classes while in prison, according to the Vera Institute. That’s thanks to a pilot program, started by the Obama administration, called Second Chance Pell. The program made Pell Grants available to a handful of college-in-prison programs across the country, and has won the support of both Democrats and Republicans.

Three Grambling Basketball Players Score Double Figures In Latest Game

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The HBCU basketball season is heating up, and Grambling State University men’s basketball team showed it has the top talent it needs to come out on top this season. By the end of the game, the Grambling State Tigers‘ had 3 scorers on their team with 10 or more points.

The Grambling State University men’s basketball team produced three scorers in double figures and outrebounded its opponent, but it wasn’t enough as the Tigers fell 77-65 to Tulane University at the Avron B. Fogelman Arena in Devlin Fieldhouse.

As a team Grambling shot 9-of-18 from downtown while Tulane nailed 14 of its 27 shots from three-point land. Senior guard Prince Moss led the Tigers with a team-high 18 points on 4-of-6 shooting from downtown while teammate Cameron Christon added 16 points and connected on four of his seven three-point attempts

Grambling State University’s Prince Moss scores against Tulane University.

“Hats off to Tulane,” said Grambling State head coach Donte Jackson. “Today they shot the ball extremely well. Our guys competed really well but the difference in the game was us taking care of the ball and their three-point shooting.”

Senior Kelton Edwards chipped in with 10 points in 22 minutes of action for Grambling.

Jaylen Forbes led the way with a game-high 21 points and buried five 3-pointers for the Green Wave.

Inside the Numbers

> Grambling State was 22-of-45 (49 percent) shooting from the field and 12-of-16 (75 percent) from the charity stripe

> Tulane shot 44 percent (24-of-55) from the field and 79 percent (15-of-19) from the free-throw line

> The Tigers registered 30 rebounds, including 24 on the defensive glass

> The Green Wave pulled down 28 rebounds, with nine coming on the offensive end

> GSU finished with 23 bench points, 22 points in the paint, 11 points off turnovers, eight second-chance points and seven fast break points

>TU tallied eight points in the paint, 14 points off turnovers, 15 bench points, four second-chance points and 12 fast break points

The Grambling State University Tigers

Billionaire Robert F. Smith Opening School Based On HBCU Principles

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Billionaire investor and philanthropist Robert F. Smith has been relentlessly pouring his resources into Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) for years. Now, he is opening up a school in their honor.

Many are still floored by Smith’s last ground-breaking philanthropic move for an HBCU: his pledge to pay off the debt of all 2019 Morehouse College graduates. The move was estimated to eliminate a staggering $39 million in debt. He then took the move a step further by also offering to wipe out debt for the students’ parents and guardians.

Robert F. Smith

Now, Robert F. Smith is opening up a school of his own. The Robert F. Smith STEAM Academy is a high school open up in his hometown of Denver, Colorado. According, to CBS Denver, the academy will embrace science, technology, engineering, arts and math.

“Founded upon the principles of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), this school is grounded in three central components that are embedded in the design of each aspect of the school: Blackness: An understanding of and pride in one’s self, history of Black people and culture in the world. Inclusion: Normalizing difference and creative collaboration in the classroom and community. An Interdisciplinary Focus: The ability to see connections between different subject areas and develop solutions that create lasting change. Our high school experience honors students’ history, individuality, cultural experiences, and future potential.”

“When I think about what it took to create the STEAM Academy, it occurs to me it wasn’t actually about starting a school. It was about building a village,” said Robert F. Smith.

Robert F. Smith Speaks at Morehouse College’s Commencement

The academy’s principal, Shakira Abney-Wisdom, is actually an HBCU graduate from Florida A&M University! She hopes that the school will encourage students to seek the same gratifying HBCU experience that she had.

“From the time I was in pre-K through graduate school I went to predominantly white institutions. Just stepping on the campus at A&M, it felt like I belonged, just seeing students who looked like me, professors who looked like me,” said Abney-Wisdom. It’s something that’s difficult to articulate if you haven’t experienced it, but it’s just that sense of community and family.

We get excited about the places where we belong. When we feel that me matter in space and what we bring is valuable, we show up as our full selves. That’s the piece for me that’s so important. It shows up in engagement and course performance,” said Abney-Wisdom.

The academy has the potential to change not just education in the Denver community, but the amount of professionals of color within the world.

“The demographics of people who make up the majority of the STEM professions are not people of color. HBCUs are the number one producers of black professionals in STEM fields. The hope is that the access piece would give students the opportunity to test out and see if they want to be an engineer, or researcher or scientist,” said Abney-Wisdom.

The first class at Robert F. Smith STEAM Academy will be welcomed in August 2021 to begin the 2021-2022 school year.

TikTok Donates $1 Million to 8 HBCUs

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Considering the COVID-19 pandemic, this year in particular has highlighted the importance of not only honoring our health care workers, but supporting the career pipeline for them. Recently, support for creating more health care workers came from an unlikely source: the popular video social network TikTok. According to CNN, the company chose to donate to $10 million to 10 schools specifically to support both undergraduate and graduate scholarships for students pursuing careers in medicine, public health or other health-related fields. Each school on the list received $1 million, and 8 HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) made the list!

The 8 HBCUs are as follows:

  • Delaware State University
  • Florida A&M University
  • North Carolina Central University
  • North Carolina A&T University
  • South Carolina State University
  • Tougaloo College
  • Virginia Union University
  • Xavier University of Louisiana
Delaware State University

The other 2 schools are the University of South Dakota and Laredo College, which is in Texas. In a statement titled “Powering the Next Generation of #HealthHeroes, TikTok shared why this $10 million donation was so important, especially to HBCUs:

2020 has been a difficult year for many, but through it all there’s been an unwavering symbol of hope and humanity shining through: healthcare workers. From epidemiologists to doctors to surge staff, front line healthcare workers are deserving heroes across the country – and these #healthheroes are equally lauded figures within the TikTok community, which is part of why we donated $150 million earlier this year through our Health Heroes Relief Fund.

Today, as a continuation of our commitment to supporting the efforts of healthcare workers, we’re donating $10 million to 10 academic institutions that serve underrepresented students with programs focused on public health and professions in the medical and healthcare fields. Each school will receive $1 million in funding to support undergraduate and graduate scholarships for students pursuing medical careers or other health related fields, helping to ensure the success of future Black, Latinx, and Indigenous health heroes. 

According to a 2018 article in Harvard Business Review, Black people make up 13 percent of the US population; but only four percent of US doctors and less than seven percent of US medical students self-identify as Black. In a qualitative study of Black students’ perspectives on careers in medicine in the Journal of the National Medical Association, students reported financial constraints as one of the major barriers in pursuing a career in medicine. We believe investing in the next generation of Black, Latinx, and Indigenous doctors, nurses, pediatricians, surgeons, and other essential health care workers is one of the best ways to invest in the future of America. 

“We are grateful to TikTok for recognizing the power of everyday health heroes like the ones we are developing on our campus in combatting the COVID-19 pandemic. The University’s Public and Allied Health Department, chaired by Dr. Robert C. Mason, and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Michelle Fisher RN managed a small army of employee and student volunteer who came out every test day – rain or shine – to administer the 35,000 tests necessary to keep us all safe. There were dozens of them on duty every day, and these are our heroes.” – Dr. Tony Allen, President of Delaware State University

“Many Xavierites have excelled to become the health heroes that are in high demand during the global pandemic. This gift from TikTok allows talented young women and men with dreams to sharpen their gifts and succeed at becoming change agents in our community and across the nation through education.” – Reynold Verret, President of Xavier University of Louisiana

The gift benefits Xavier University of Louisiana, Tougaloo College, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina A&T University, South Carolina State University, Laredo College, University of South Dakota, Florida A&M, Delaware State, and Virginia Union University. The $1 million scholarships to each school will help ensure that students have access to the exceptional education in the medical and health fields offered at each of these institutions. These 10 gifts are an investment in the future of the next generation of #healthheroes, who will reflect the diverse patchwork of American healthcare workers. 

Morehouse Dean Takes Coronavirus Vaccine Live On TV To Build Trust In Her Community

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The Black community is often hesitant to trust healthcare systems and officials, for reasons that date back decades. From the Tuskegee experiment to increased the mortality rates among Black mothers, medical disparities have historically lead the Black community to have trepidations about treatment or even visiting doctors. To combat this mistrust amid the pandemic, the president and dean of the Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) took a significant step to build trust in her community. Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice used herself as an example to show the coronavirus vaccine is safe by recently taking it herself on live television.

Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice

The first doses of the highly-anticipated Pfizer vaccine were administered December 13, 2020. To discuss the vaccine as a part of prevention for COVID-19, Rice came together with world-renowned Dr. Sanjay Gupta during a segment on CNN. She shared that she made her big move because she wouldn’t recommend a vaccine to her community that she didn’t trust herself. It was very important to her to highlight that not only had she done her personal research on the vaccine, but healthcare professionals of color were involved in the creation of the vaccine itself. There are Black scientists and doctors that have sat on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) advisory boards in addition to developing the vaccine.

“We are in the rooms where it’s happening,” said Rice. “So we clearly are not going to go against ourselves. Because we understand how critical this is for Black America and Latinx America who have been disproportionately impacted by the virus.”

Among the first to take the vaccine have been thousands of frontline healthcare workers, and other hospitals and clinics professionals.

Located in Atlanta, Georgia, Morehouse School of Medicine lauds itself as an HBCU (Historically Black College or University) that is among the nation’s leading educators of primary care physicians and was recently recognized as the top institution among U.S. medical schools. 

As someone who has been the lead investigator of COVID-19 vaccines at MSM, Lilly Immergluck shared that she believes Morehouse should be one of the leaders of the vaccine research and promotions because of the trusted role that the school has in the Black community. Currently, the college is actively recruiting people of color to participate in clinical trials for another coronavirus vaccine, called Novavax vaccine.

“We want to be that source of information that people can rely on and know that we are going to do our very best by them in order for us to all get out of this pandemic,” Immergluck said.

Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice

WATCH: HBCU Soul Roundtable with Jamie Foxx, Kemp Powers & HBCU Students

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To be a leader on an HBCU (Historically Black College and University) campus is to be busy and in demand all the time. Many wouldn’t be able to handle the pressure, if not for their strong internal desire to succeed and leave their HBCU better than how they found it. Successful people like Jamie Foxx and Kemp Powers mirror this drive in their own careers, but where does it come from? 

Their new project “Soul” is all about how to find and follow your gift in life, and we just had to know more. On Wednesday, December 16, we hosted an eye-opening HBCU roundtable hosted by Terrence J and invited 10 talented HBCU students to speak to these legendary men and learn what it takes to live out their dreams! 

Soul is an inspiring Disney and Pixar film that introduces Joe Gardner (voice of Jamie Foxx) – a middle-school band teacher who gets the chance of a lifetime to play at the best jazz club in town. But one small misstep takes him from the streets of New York City to The Great Before – a fantastical place where new souls get their personalities, quirks and interests before they go to Earth. Determined to return to his life, Joe teams up with a precocious soul, 22 (voiced by Tina Fey), who has never understood the appeal of the human experience. As Joe desperately tries to show 22 what’s great about living, he may just discover the answers to some of life’s most important questions.

Aside from the talent, the panel was truly filled with exceptional representations of HBCU excellence! Host Terrence J, who attended North Carolina A&T State University, kept everyone’s energy up with some good laughs. The students who were present were Victor Solomon, the 14th Mister North Carolina A&T State University; Tuskegee University junior and SGA President Daniel Ryan; Dre’Shawn Spearman of Morehouse College, who landed in our top 5 of HBCU Buzz’s 2020 Best HBCU DJs list;  and aspiring host and junior Broadcast Journalism major Ciara White-Sparks of Hampton University. Other exceptional students  on the roundtable hailed from Fisk University, Texas Southern University, Florida A&M University, Howard University, Morgan State University, and Prairie View A&M University!

There are so many gems in this roundtable! In the film, Jamie Foxx’s character follows his passion for music, even when others discourage him. This seemed to get to Howard University student Jordyn Allen, who is an Honors International Business major. 

“We often see students who are interested in pursuing the arts being put down for their career choices. What would you say to the child out there that wants to pursue the arts, but is told it’s just not profitable?”

As a man from a small town who is now the first Black lead in a Pixar film, Jamie had the perfect response. 

“Forget all that man you go get it!” This is the time to go get it right now! Especially for your generation man to be honest with you, the social media thing, if I had THAT back in the day? The fact that I could just turn my camera on and anybody could see me? Listen this is the time to go pursue all the dreams…”

He went on to tell a story about his legendary house parties, which he would throw just to meet other up and coming entertainers like Jay-Z, Pharrell Williams of the Neptunes, Kanye West, and more. It was that thirst for being surrounded by and collaborating with greatness that has helped bring his career to where it is today! 

But Jamie wasn’t the only one making friends for life. Kemp Powers spoke to the students about how his experience at Howard University gave him a friend group that has found success alongside him.

“Our entire floor at Drew Hall at Howard, that’s my peer group today. My boy Douglas Kearney was down the hall, he’s a nationally recognized poet. His roommate was Young Guru, who ended up being Jay-Z’s engineer… You guys have a built-in peer group amongst your friends…”Watch our roundtable here and prepare to be motivated! Then on December 25, you can stream Soul on Disney+ and see why we were all inspired!

MacKenzie Scott Becomes Single Largest Donor To More HBCUs With Latest Donations

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Author and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott is making history at across Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in a monumental way. She first began her donations earlier this year to at least 6 HBCUs. This month, she doubled back to give even more millions. Scott has donated such significant funds to Black higher education, that for many HBCUs her gift is the largest from a single donor in their history.

MacKenzie Scott has been named one of the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women for 2020 by Forbes Magazine. She has continued to establish herself as a powerhouse dedicated to taking action against racial inequality, especially when it comes to education. She has found a direct way to make immeasurable impacts through her donations to HBCUs. Earlier this year, Scott donated millions to other HBCUs including Hampton University, Howard University, Morehouse College, Spelman College, Tuskegee University and Xavier University of Louisiana. It has been estimated that Scott has donated $160 million to HBCUs and HBCU advocacy organizations, with this week’s donations adding even more to that tally.

MacKenzie Scott

Prairie View A&M University received one of the largest donations from Scott in her latest round of giving. At $50 million, the gift even stunned the Prairie View’s President, as she shared in a statement. It is the school’s largest donation ever.

Ruth J. Simmons, President of Prairie View, commented, “This is a historic gift for Prairie View, coming at a time when the University had already decided and begun to invest heavily in key areas to strengthen its academic programs and improve student success. The timing of this gift could, therefore, not be better.” 

She later said  “I was stunned and, for a time, speechless. At first I thought I had surely misheard the amount, and I asked them to repeat it; they clarified that it would be ‘$50 (five zero) million.’”

Scott just donated a whopping $40 million to Morgan State University to be spread across the university’s programs. According to a statement from Morgan State, the unrestricted funds will be used toward the school’s largest endowment in history, among other important programs.

“This monumental gift will change lives and shape futures. I thank Ms. Scott for her due diligence and acknowledgement of the substantive value Morgan offers to so many throughout this nation and around the world, and entrusting that we will ensure the enduring impact of her generosity is truly transformational for many years to come,” said Morgan State President David Wilson. “Long considered as a gem in the crown of Baltimore City and the state of Maryland, Morgan’s dedication to improving the lives of the communities we serve is highly regarded. The receipt of this gift is clear evidence that the rest of the world is also taking notice in Morgan too.”

This week Norfolk State University shared that it also received $40 million, becoming its largest single-donor gift in its 85-year history from Scott. The school is the largest HBCU in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Norfolk State President Javaune Adams-Gaston shared more details in a statement. “We are pleased to receive this level of support for transforming the curious thoughts of our students into the brightest minds of our world.” Norfolk State was identified as an institution that has “…strong leadership teams and results, with special attention to those operating in communities facing high projected food insecurity, high measures of racial inequity, high local poverty rates, and low access to philanthropic capital…” 

Virginia State University received $30 million from Scott, making it the largest donation the school has ever received in its 138-year history. In a statement, the school outlined that the funds would support those suffering from the economic crisis through scholarship support. It would also prioritize leadership and professional development, career planning, and experiential learning. 

“Ms. Scott’s legacy and generosity will touch the lives of Virginia State University students for years to come,” says VSU President, Dr. Makola M. Abdullah. “Thanks to her investment in VSU, a generation of students who are living through the challenges of a pandemic, a social justice movement, and reduced scholarship funding will have additional resources as they continue to pursue their dreams of a world class education at Virginia State University.”

Claflin University received $20 million from Scott this week, setting another record for the largest investment to the school. The funds will go towards scholarships, a sustainability endowment, workforce, and infrastructure improvements.

In a statement, Claflin University President Dr. Dwaun J. Warmack shared what the donation meant to the school. “We are grateful to Ms. Scott for her generous recognition of Claflin’s exemplary leadership and record of innovation in producing stellar academic outcomes,” he said. “This gift will have an immediate, transformational impact, not only on the university but on the greater Orangeburg, South Carolina community and the state. We are also inspired by the long-term impact it will have in preparing students to champion and shape the nation and world we all need – one that is more just, fair and equitable.”

Dillard University received $5 million from Scott this week, again making it the university’s largest donation from a single donor. 

Dillard’s President and Vice President shared how this donation would make a difference at their institution in a statement. 

“Ms. Scott is assisting many organizations to carry out their important missions. All of us at Dillard University are incredibly grateful to be among those,” said Dr. Walter Kimbrough, President of Dillard University.

“This gift will enable us to carry out strategic initiatives that will be beneficial not only during the pandemic, but will also position Dillard to reach greater heights well into the future” said Dr. Marc Barnes, Vice President for Institutional Advancement.

Dillard University

MacKenzie Scott is one of the world’s richest women. After her divorce to Amazon founder Jeff Besos, who has risen to the world’s richest man, she was given $38 billion as part of their settlement according to NewsOne. She is now said to have wealth amounting to an estimated $60 billion, taking into account her current stock in Amazon amid a boom in pandemic sales. 

Scott shared through her article on Medium that she has donated $4,158,500,000 in gifts to 384 organizations across all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington D.C. in the last four months. She not only has the funds, but the heart to back it up.

“This pandemic has been a wrecking ball in the lives of Americans already struggling. Economic losses and health outcomes alike have been worse for women, for people of color, and for people living in poverty,” Scott wrote. “Meanwhile, it has substantially increased the wealth of billionaires.

Though I’m far from completing my pledge, this year of giving began with exposure to leaders from historically marginalized groups fighting inequities, and ended with exposure to thousands of organizations working to alleviate suffering for those hardest hit by the pandemic,” she declared.

She went on to list several of the organizations she has donated to, which of course included several HBCUs.

“If you’re craving a way to use your time, voice, or money to help others at the end of this difficult year, I highly recommend a gift to one of the thousands of organizations doing remarkable work all across the country. Every one of them could benefit from more resources to share with the communities they’re serving. And the hope you feed with your gift is likely to feed your own.”

We truly commend Scott, who has taken a historic stand to redistribute wealth to a cause that will undoubtedly impact generations to come.

FAMU’s Randolph Scores Career High 27-Point Game In First Victory of the Season

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The men’s basketball team at Florida A&M University has started their basketball season off with a bang. The FAMU Rattlers snagged their first win of the season in a 76-70 triumph over the Austin Peay Governors (4-3, 0-1 OVC) inside the Winfield Dunn Center on Tuesday night. Junior MJ Randolph scored 27 points, the highest in his career. He also had six assists, five steals and two rebounds. See below for the full story.

The Rattlers had its best shooting performance so far this season, shooting 55.6 percent from the field (30-of-54) and 50 percent from three-point range (7-of-14).
 
On the defensive end, FAMU stifled the Governors, holding them to shooting just 39.7 percent from the floor (23-of-58) and 24.7 percent from behind the arc.
 
The Rattlers held ASPU leading scorer, Terry Taylor, to 13 points on the evening.  Taylor was averaging 20.8 points per game entering Tuesday’s contest. 


How It Happened
 
The first half of play was an even affair with both teams making big plays. 
 
Florida A&M opened the game on fire, opening up a quick 10-5 lead with 15:22 left to play in the first half.
 
MJ Randolph opened the scoring with a driving layup at the 18:16 mark.
 
Austin Peay built their largest lead of the game, 27-20, on a Carlos Paez three-pointer with 6:00 left in the first half.
 
FAMU clawed its way back and ended the half on 14-7 run, to send both teams into the break tied at 34.
 
In the second half, the Rattlers would keep the pressure on the Governors. 
 
For much of the season, Florida A&M struggled to shoot the three-ball consistently, however, shots from long distance were just what the doctor ordered for the Rattlers.
 
Johnny Brown splashed two three-pointers early in the second half. 
 
Brown’s first second half deep ball gave the Rattlers a 39-36 lead with 18:28 left to play. His next three-pointer put the Rattlers up 44-40 with 16:08 left. 
 
APSU grabbed a 51-50 lead with 9:41 left to play, thanks to a mid-range jumper by DJ Peavy.
 
However, that would be the last lead the Governors would hold over the Rattlers, as FAMU went on an 18-6 run, highlighted by a Jai Clark three-pointer to give FAMU a 68-57 lead with 4:29 left to play.
 
The Governors made one final push, cutting the FAMU advantage to 72-70 with 34 seconds left to play, but the Rattlers salted the game away at the free-throw line to claim a 76-70 victory. 
 
Inside the Numbers
> MJ Randolph scored a career-high 27 points (previous high was 21 points)
> FAMU shot 55.6 percent from the field (30-of-54) 
> APSU shot 39.7 percent from the field (23-of-58)
> FAMU shot 50 percent from three-point range (7-of-14)
> APSU shot 24.7 percent from three-point range (6-of-25)
> FAMU went 9-of-14 on free throw attempts (64.3 percent)
> APSU went 18-of-22 on free throw attempts (81.8 percent)
> FAMU out-rebounded APSU 34-29
> FAMU scored 18 points off turnovers compared to APSU’s 19
> FAMU outscored APSU 36-30 on points in the paint
> ASPU’s bench outscored FAMU’s bench 32-23
> FAMU held the lead for a total of 22:36

Morehouse’s Valedictorian Highlights Golden Opportunities at HBCUs

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Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have helped countless students make a way out of no way. Golden Daka is one of those students, and he decided early on that as long as he was determined, he could earn a better life for he and his family. His remarkable story began in Zambia, and many of the Class of 2020 valedictorian’s dreams were fulfilled at Morehouse College. Read his inspiring full story from Morehouse’s blog “Inside” below.

Golden Daka was loading his suitcase into the trunk of an Uber bound for the MegaBus Station in Washington, D.C., when his Zambian mother leaned into him and said in her native tongue before scurrying back into their tiny home: I’m sorry that I couldn’t afford to make your Morehouse dream come true.

It was up to him to take his future in his own hands. Daka had a one-way ticket to Atlanta and no way to pay for his full tuition. But he knew that classes were starting soon. And he was determined to graduate as a Morehouse Man.

On Sunday, Dec. 13, Daka did just that—graduating as class valedictorian with a degree in psychology.

“I was taught to hit the world hard,” he said.

You see, Daka had come into the world with resilience. From the womb, he had had to fight to survive as a miracle baby born prematurely. It’s how he earned his name as a “golden” child. And the name would serve him well through tough times after his family left Lusaka, Zambia, to come to live in a home in Maryland with seven people, and sometimes no electricity for two months.

Daka was 4 at the time. And his mother’s salary as a nurse was stretched thin with two families in the house.

Daka remembers how his grandmother would buy candles to illuminate the darkness. He and his twin brother did their homework, brushed their teeth, and ate their meals by candlelight. Those days helped Daka to develop a relentless will to survive, to focus on his lessons amid chaos, to work harder than the rest, and to be thankful for the roof over his head even if it leaked. And to count his blessings when the lights came back on.

“What kept me going was my grandmother,” Daka said. “I had an absent father. She was really pivotal in molding me and helping me. She was like, man up and just do it.” Succeed.

That will pushed him to walk miles to work and Community College after graduating from high school because he was saving money for Morehouse, not a car. Two years later, he took the $500 he had made at Baskin-Robbins, his college credits, and a one-way bus ticket that a mentor had purchased for him and headed to Morehouse. 

He shipped two big boxes of belongings to the room of the Morehouse SGA president who happened to be from his hometown. Golden didn’t know exactly what he needed to pack  for college, but he stuffed them with what he could afford to buy—sheets, towels, books to read, and the limited selection of clothes in his closet. It would be a Morehouse brother who would buy him his first business suit and tie.

Soon after Daka arrived, he walked into the Office of Alumni Engagement to see Henry Goodgame, who was the executive director at that time. The room was abuzz with students, frantic for financial aid. Goodgame was busy on the phone trying to make magic happen for them.

Daka sat and waited and waited and wouldn’t leave. You see, he had met Goodgame in Washington, D.C., during a swanky Morehouse fundraiser a few years before, when Daka was working as a volunteer. And the alumni who passed by that day were impressive—doctors, lawyers, judges, politicians, engineers, and more. 

Daka collected their business cards. Goodgame had given him one, too, and invited him to visit the campus. So, Daka came, hoping Goodgame would remember the invitation.

Daka said when Goodgame got off the phone and focused his attention on him, he just kept talking until he made the administrator believe in him. The only money that Daka had brought with him was a small transfer scholarship for a few thousand dollars. Tuition was $30,000 a year.

“Goodgame asked me ‘Where are your parents?’,” Daka recalled. “I told him that my dad is in Zambia somewhere, I don’t know where. My mom is in Maryland right now completing an 11-hour shift. He told me if I am going to help you out, I need to see A’s. I said to myself, A’s that is all I have to do to stay in college? I can do that. I took it to heart. I think he got the shorter end of the stick.”

It just so happened that more scholarship money had recently become available that day. Daka promised Goodgame, Morehouse, and the himself, that if the College invested in him, he would get straight A’s. Goodgame made some calls, and Daka got the money that he needed for his entire education, Daka said. 

After that, Daka became a regular in the Office of Alumni Engagement. In fact, he was there so often that some people mistook him for staff. He would check in with Goodgame and the other employees in the room to talk about his grades, his internship offers, and his plans after college.

During Daka’s entire Morehouse journey, he maintained straight A’s. He developed his leadership skills in classes, watching Goodgame and his staff, and serving as a member of the Student Government Association. Daka also joined the social activism outreach LYTEHouse that fed the homeless, organized marches, and held community forums.

He was junior captain of the Moot Court Team and won a regional first-place award for his oratory skills at the Atchafalaya Swamp Classic,  and the recognition of being the 16th best orator out of 950 entrants to qualify for the American Moot Court Association National Championship. Daka had the gift of gab, and Morehouse helped him to develop an impressive vocabulary to go with it.

Daka figured that talent would serve him well as a lawyer or businessman someday. He plans to go to law school in the future.

“Morehouse gave a really good space to express who I was and who I wanted to be,” he said. “I could be vulnerable and not have to be scared of what someone thought about me or my circumstances. The College had encourage me to become the best version of myself as possible.”

By senior year, Daka had a resume filled with accolades. He had been inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. He was one of 20 participants selected in 2019 to participate in the Harvard/New York University Law Trials Program, where he learned about law under the tutelage of Harvard professors. And from the summer of his freshman year through his junior year, he worked in the law office of William C. McCaskill. Another Washington D.C. alum, Durand Ford, the Morehouse Man paid for his bus ticket to come to Morehouse.

“He told me to get down there and in three years you will have a great story about how you got to Morehouse,” Daka recalled “He was right. I was either going to be homeless or a Morehouse Man.

Then, on top of that, Daka got more honors as a Morehouse graduate, including the Top Ranking Senior in Psychology Major Award, the Harry and Sophie Rosenman Award in Psychology, and departmental honors. During senior year, after he spoke about his life at Morehouse’s annual scholarship benefit, A “Candle in the Dark” Gala, a $1 million donation was made from a philantrhopist who was moved by his story. And finally, Daka received the James Dunn Memorial Scholarship, which enabled him to work for the Illinois Governor’s Office for a year. After he finishes his fellowship in February, he will begin a job as a business analyst with McKinsey & Company in New Jersey. 

Daka says his mother, who is still in Maryland, is proud of him, and he is certain his grandmother is, too. She moved back to Zambia when he graduated from high school. 

And on the day he was named as the valedictorian of Morehouse with a 4.0 GPA after graduating from high school with a 2.9, she passed away. But Daka is sure that she is celebrating the accomplishment with him in heaven.

“I think my grandmother would say job well done, but not to let the wins get to my head,” he said. “She would tell me to give back by paying it forward to people in Zambia and Africa who need my help the most.”   

Daka says he will return to his native land in Zambia, a place that he hasn’t seen since he was a toddler, to help build the infrastructure there for technology, and to support schools, and provide jobs. He will do it for her—and himself.

“We have an AIDS and HIV problem in Zambia; girls are dropping out in middle school. Only 18 percent have access to internet in a digital age,” he said. “I want to help.”

Shilo Sanders Follows Deion and Shedeur Sanders To Jackson State

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The men’s football program at Jackson State University is building an epic team thanks to the Sanders family. Nicknamed “Prime Time,” Hall of Famer Deion Sanders joined as Head Football Coach earlier this year. His son quarterback Shedeur Sanders signed to the team shortly after. The team is now making way for another star recruit: Deion’s other son Shilo Sanders.

According to Gameday Down South, Shilo’s transferring from Gamecock program he was initially in at University of South Carolina is not unexpected, and comes on the heels of the recent firing of coach Will Muschamp. However, you can expect that the he will fit right in at Jackson State, considering his father and now coach Deion has been preparing him for a career in football most of his life. He will also now be much closer to his hometown of Cedar, Texas.

Shilo Sanders

According to Jackson State University, the 6-foot sophomore has been building up his stats in preparation for this opportunity.

“Ranked by 247Sports Composite as the No. 62 cornerback in the country, the 83rd-ranked player in the Lone Star State. and number 668 overall… ranked No. 287 in the ESPN300… helped the Tigers to a perfect 14-0 season and a TAPPS Division II state championship in 2018… played cornerback, receiver, punted and returned kicks… recorded 19 tackles and five interceptions as a senior… on offense, he had 13 catches for 199 yards and three touchdowns… returned two kickoffs for touchdowns… was an Under Armour All-American… also played baseball…in 2019, at South Carolina, Appeared in four games as a true freshman, using the NCAA rule to retain the year of eligibility… saw his most action against Charleston Southern, but also appeared briefly against Georgia, Florida and Tennessee…credited with one tackle in the CSU game… named to the SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll.”

We can’t wait to see all that the Jackson State University Tigers have in store this upcoming season!

Central State University Extension Signs Historic Partnership With Ohio Colleges

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Since 1887, Wilberforce, Ohio-based Central State University has worked to establish itself as an HBCU with resources not only for its students, but its community at large. Now, through a new partnership with other colleges in the Ohio areas of North Canton, Piqua, and Nelsonville, Central State’s resources will now go a lot further. Read the press release below for all the details!

Presidents from Central State University, Hocking College, Edison State Community College, and Stark State College signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will further advance the mission of Central State University Extension to implement extension outreach and research-based programs in each college’s community. 

Central State University

A key component of the agreement allows Central State Extension to house Regional Coordinators at each campus.  Regional coordinators will work with each college president as well as key community stakeholders to design and implement programs based on community need as well as current research. 

According to Dr. Subramania I. Sritharan, Interim Dean, College of Engineering, Science, Technology, and Agriculture and Interim Director, Land-Grant Programs, Central State University became a Land-Grant Institution in 2014.  The designation enables Central State to establish and develop Research and Extension programs which focus on sustainable agriculture practices, water resources management, youth development, community and economic development, and health and nutritional disparities.

“According to the most recent US Census, more than 1.7 million Ohioans live in poverty – approximately 15.8% of the state,” stated Dr. Sritharan during his remarks. “The CSU 1890 Land-Grant Extension Program addresses the needs of socially disadvantaged, limited-resourced, and under-served Ohioans through four program areas which include Agriculture and Natural Resources, Community and Economic Development, Family and Consumer Sciences, and 4-H Youth Development and by utilizing Ohio’s existing infrastructure present at local community colleges within each region, we have the opportunity to compliment one-another in serving many of these underserved populations.”

Stark State College

Central State University president Dr. Jack Thomas gave a brief overview of Central State University’s history as a land-grant institution. “This is truly exciting because as we (Central State) are expanding our footprint across the state of Ohio, partnerships with colleges like Stark, Edison State, and Hocking are significant and meaningful. Such partnerships allow us to meet the needs of so many more Ohioans, not only with programs and outreach, but with opportunities for continuing education; ultimately improving the lives of the citizens of this great state!”

Hocking College President Dr. Betty Young thanked Central State for selecting the Hocking College Perry Campus as a site for meeting the mission of a land grant university and for reaching into our rural communities. “We are proud to be part of this strategic priority of Central State and to be your partner.” Dr. Young in her remarks further acknowledged the importance of agricultural and technical education and its importance to the economic growth our Ohio.

“Alongside our overall economic partnerships in Preble and Darke Counties, this next level of collaboration with the Central State University Extension Office supports increased options for our Agri-business students in particular, but also forms a foundation for new pathways for all Edison State students in all of our service counties,” stated Edison State College president Dr. Doreen Larson. “Central State University President, Dr. Jack Thomas, has certainly hit the ground running and wasted no time in promoting strategic partnerships. The presence of Trustees Mehaffie and Fletcher at the signing event speaks volumes in terms of Edison State’s commitment to support of the Agricultural industry in Ohio.” 

“Stark State College is delighted to partner with Central State University (CSU) to provide educational opportunities to students in the region, and we are pleased that CSU’s Northeast Ohio outreach office is located at our Downtown Canton facility,” said Stark State President Para M. Jones, Ph.D. “We look forward to joining Central State in reaching out to urban, suburban and rural residents and employers with programs on nutrition, health and wellness; agriculture; and other extension services related to Central State’s land-grant mission.”

Representatives from all 4 schools were present at the virtual MOU signing ceremony included Dr. Jack Thomas, President of Central State University; Dr. Betty Young, President of Hocking College; Dr. Para Jones, President of Stark State College; Dr. Doreen Larson, President of Edison State Community College and more!

Biden Appoints NCAT Alum Michael Regan To Lead EPA

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Since becoming the 46th President-Elect of the United States, Joe Biden has had his hands full with filling his cabinet. He has been very intentional about assembling an administration that is both diverse and highly-qualified. We are happy to announce that he has found the leadership he was looking for in North Carolina A&T State University graduate Michael Regan.

As the newly appointed head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Michael Regan is well prepared to roll up his sleeves and get to work. According to the Washington Post, the Goldsboro, North Carolina native studied earth and environmental science at NCAT, and then later followed up with a master’s degree in public administration from George Washington University. He is not the only notable HBCU grad in the Biden Administration. Howard University alumna Kamala Harris made history as the first female and first Black Vice President-Elect.

According to NBC, if Michael Regan is confirmed by the Senate, he will be the first Black man to head the EPA. He will be only the second Black EPA chief in the organization’s history. Lisa Jackson, who held the position during President Barack Obama’s presidency, was the first. Regan previously worked for the EPA under the Bill Clinton and George W. Bush administrations.

Photo courtesy of Michael Regan

During his time at the EPA, Regan designed programs to reduce pollution and improve air quality and energy efficiency as a national program manager. In his new position at the EPA, he will be tasked with overseeing Biden’s ambitious plans to combat climate change, invest in green energy and address environmental injustice. Regan currently leads the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality.

Regan’s previous work has already spoken for itself, as environmental organizations nationwide are rejoicing in his appointment.

“We are confident Michael Regan will rebuild the EPA, restore the central role of science, and advance health protections for people and the air, water and land upon which we depend to thrive,” Tiernan Sittenfeld, an official with the League of Conservation Voters, said.

“We support Biden’s choice of Regan, an experienced and dedicated environmental leader, as EPA administrator. Biden’s collaboration with Regan will be key to fulfilling the administration’s mandate to face the accelerating climate crisis at scale, starting first with the reversal of the Trump administration’s harmful rollbacks,” the climate group 350.org’s associate director of policy, Natalie Mebane, said.

We look forward to all the change Michael Regan will forge for our both our nation’s environment and for the world.

CIAA Cancels 2021 Basketball Season

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The 2021 sports world is already being affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. This week, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) has already pulled the plug on next year’s men’s and women’s basketball seasons. The organization manages not only basketball, but football, bowling, cross country, golf, softball, volleyball, women’s tennis, indoor and outdoor track and field.

Many were excited to see the start of the 2021 basketball season, which was scheduled to begin in less than a month on January 9, 2021. However, with Covid cases on the rise nationwide, the association was forced to start making difficult decisions. According to the News & Observer, the football season was already canceled, and next year’s volleyball season —which was already moved from fall to spring— was totally cancelled too.

Jacqie McWilliams

“Unfortunately, the COVID-19 continues to challenge the conference’s ability to see a clear path to move forward collectively,” said CIAA commissioner Jacqie McWilliams in a statement. “I want to commend our Board of Directors for exemplifying courageous leadership in college sports to ensure the well-being of the CIAA as well as the health and safety of our student-athletes and communities.”

Unfortunately for the conference, schools have been pulling out as well. Virginia State University, for example, announced the cancellation of its basketball season at the beginning of this month. Many were fearing the rest of the conference would follow suit.

Virginia State President and CIAA Board Chair Makola Abdullah came together to make a statement on the unfolding events. “This was not an easy decision or one that was taken lightly by the CIAA Board. We all want to have a season, and we want our student-athletes, coaches and staff to have a season. However, the data, which changes almost daily, does not support such a decision. The potential risk outweighs the desire to play,” they said.

The effects of the pandemic have been devastating, and the future is still uncertain. Baltimore, which was set to host next year’s week-long basketball tournament, has been deeply impacted by a reduction in tourism. A virtual experience is being planned to substitute the tournament week itself.

For now, schools can still play any booked or contracted non-conference games up until January 9. However, sadly no CIAA schools are being permitted to play any games after that date until further notice.