Delaware State University Will Celebrate Graduating Class With Joe Biden, Erykah Badu, Billy Porter And Others

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The coronavirus pandemic has cancelled a lot — including the most influential milestone for Delaware State University’s (DSU) largest graduating class in 129 years — but the celebration is still happening, with a different approach.

“We knew better than to try to copy the traditional ceremony at Alumni Field,” said Dr. Francine Edwards, who is co-chairing the planning committee. “So we set out to create a memorable and surprising experience that the Class of 2020 will treasure forever as their own unique celebration.”

The University leaned on many Alumni in the planning. Nicole Dye-Anderson, class of 2003 and an Executive with Barclays Bank, was particularly helpful in securing a number of the featured guests, “DelState gave so much to me. Whatever I can do to show my appreciation will be done. I am proud to work for a company that knows the value of HBCUs and gives me the freedom to help showcase them around the world.”

A press release from the university shares, “In addition to celebrating nearly 700 graduates of the largest class ever, the university also graduates its first cohort of Dreamers — children of undocumented workers under the DACA program. Recipients of full scholarships awarded by TheDream.US, more Dreamers, choose to attend Delaware State University than any other University in the country. During the ceremony, Mr. Donald Graham, founder of TheDream.US and former publisher of the Washington Post, will have an honorary degree conferred in recognition of his humanitarian efforts.”

DSU was among the first institutions in the country to actually welcome Dreamers to its campus. To continue to honor and celebrate their achievements, DSU invited 25 cultural influencers from around the nation – including actors, musicians and even a former Vice President of the U.S. – to appear in its May 16 virtual Commencement celebration.

Outgoing students can expect appearances and words of encouragement from the likes of VP Joe Biden, Tina Knowles Lawson, Vanessa Williams, Billy Porter, Erykah Badu, Wayne Brady and many others.

Check out what Erykah Badu had to say to the Class of 2020:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeMCz67bzok]

Graduating Senior and Student Government President Usman Tijani, whose mother has been diagnosed with COVID-19, agreed, “In an instant, I went from graduating Senior trying to complete everything to get to the finish line, to head of household trying to take care of my son, little brother, and mother. As a Hornet for life, I’m looking forward to this year’s commencement and, more importantly, what happens next.”

We look forward to joining in the graduation festivities. Congratulations to the Delaware State University Class of 2020.

President Burnette’s Farewell Letter To Her Huston-Tillotson University Graduating Seniors

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“To my dear genius generation, my mighty Rams,” begins a heartfelt letter from Huston-Tillotson University President Colette Pierce Burnette to the graduates.

President Burnette let her students know that she understands how we are all experiencing unprecedented times and she reminded the seniors that they “continued Huston-Tillotson University’s legacy of 145 years of excellence.” She also shared that she missed them, but the world needs them, and knowing this helps her cope.

The Austin, Texas historically-Black college university (HBCU) is the oldest institution of higher education and the only HBCU in Austin.

“You have a dream that is no longer deferred, I salute you”

Congratulations to the Huston-Tillotson University Class of 2020.

A Tuskegee University Love Story: State Attorney Marilyn Mosby And State Delegate Nick Mosby

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Essence dives into the creation of an HBCU love story at Tuskegee University:

Marilyn Mosby wasn’t always known as the no-nonsense State’s Attorney shaking things up at the top of Baltimore’s criminal justice system. Before she became the youngest chief prosecutor of any American city, she was an ambitious high school student from inner-city Boston with dreams of attending a historically Black college hundreds of miles from home. The bright young woman who took part in one of the country’s longest-running desegregation programs,  had no idea then that her insistence to be educated among Black peers would lead her to one of her life’s greatest joys. 

“We met in the student union and I actually met him before but didn’t pay any attention to him,” Mosby tells ESSENCE of the day she fell for husband Nick Mosby. “It wasn’t until me and a couple of girlfriends and a couple of his guy friends, linked up in the student union, bored on a Saturday and we just started talking about politics and music. I met this intriguing guy who I didn’t pay attention to before, but for some reason, he was cute that day and it had more to do with his intellect than anything else.”

Marilyn Mosby with her husband, Nick J. Mosby, as a college student. The Baltimore State’s Attorney met her mate of 21 years as a teen.

A star student herself, Mosby, who went by Marilyn James at the time, was attracted to Nick for not only his mind but also the things that seemed to matter to him. “The fact that he loved the city of Baltimore and he wanted to come back and do something for his community,” is what Mosby says sealed the deal. She was 18.

Growing up, the young prosecutor, most readily associated with her role in the Freddie Gray case, was bused an hour away from her Boston home to what she calls “one of the richest towns in Massachusetts.” When she started the program in the second grade she was noticeably the only Black child in the entire school. And early on she determined that she could either be a positive representation for Black people or be bitter about the misconceptions and stereotypical views that some people held about who they thought she was.  

From six years old on to high school Mosby says she gladly took on the responsibility that came with choosing the former. “I was in all honors classes, was in SGA, co-editor of the school newspaper, and bringing diversity workshops to the school,” Mosby recalls. But when it came time for college, the high-achiever wanted something entirely different.

“I only applied to three schools, which was Tuskegee, Spelman and Hampton. I knew that I wanted to go down to the South. I knew I wanted to attend an HBCU and I wanted the Black experience.”

Read the full story.

Star Basketball Recruit Trace Young Commits To Alabama State University

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Directly following the announcement of new head coach Mo Williams, from the NBA, Alabama State University announces another star will be joining the the Alabama State University Hornet family; Trace Young.

The former Wyoming University player and three-star recruit, announced he will be transferring to ASU on Fox Sports Radio late Tuesday night. Watch Young’s historical announcement:

Earlier this year, Young made an unprecedented decision to only consider historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU), a move few of his athletic talent have made at this point in their career.

Young narrowed his selection down to 6 HBCUs in the MEAC and SWAC sports conferences: Prairie View A&M University, Mississippi Valley State University, Howard University, Jackson State University, North Carolina A&T State University and Norfolk State University.

We are excited to welcome Trace Young to the HBCU family and look forward to Alabama State University’s official announcement.

New Documentary Uncovers Cultural Significance Of DJs At Howard University

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DJs play an integral role to the African American community, they are the masterminds behind the soundtrack to our lives. With every spin, DJs usher us into a good mood and deliver us from a bad one. A new documentary, “In The Mix,” follows the stories of over 20 years of DJ’s at Howard University and their impact on the industry and world around them.

“Inspired by that group, I show this legacy, how I got in, and how it connects us all. I self directed this entire film from the editing to the soundtrack,” says creator Dionne ‘DJ Magic’ Ledbetter, to HBCU Buzz. Ledbetter just graduated from Howard University and she released the documentary May 9th, her commencement day.

In The Mix features 20 years of Howard DJs including DJ Magic (member of Alpha Kappa Alpha), DJ Premonition (member of Alpha Phi Alpha), DJ Chubb E. Swagg, DJ Anonymous, Jae Murphy (member of Kappa Alpha Psi), Chase B, DJ Detroyt, DJ LR, DJ Ill Advised, DJ Kaptain (member of Kappa Alpha Psi), DJ Swerve, DJ Jordan Jetson, DJ Noble (member of Alpha Phi Alpha), DJ SuchNSuch (member of Alpha Phi Alpha), DJ KiddKam and DJ Zeaux. 

Dive into the culture and check out ‘In The Mix’:

Former NBA Guard Mo Williams Named Alabama State Head Basketball Coach

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Historically Black College, Alabama State University named former NBA point guard Mo Williams as its head coach Tuesday.

“It’s a great day to be a Hornet,” Williams said. “I am extremely excited to become part of the family, and I am looking forward to the challenge. Go Hornets!”

The fourteen-year NBA veteran, Williams has spent the past two seasons at Cal State University Northridge as an assistant with Mark Gottfried, his former coach at Alabama. He replaces Lewis Jackson, who resigned in March after 15 years as coach of the Hornets.

We are excited about the direction of our men’s basketball program as we moved forward into this new era,” Alabama State athletic director Jennifer Lynne Williams. “Mo Williams checked the boxes that we were looking for in the next head coach of Alabama State men’s basketball, and his passion and leadership speak volumes. He is no stranger to the South, having played high school basketball in Mississippi and college basketball in Alabama.”

Prior to his pro career, Williams played for Gottfried at Alabama from 2001-03 where he helped lead the Crimson Tide to the SEC regular season title as a freshman. He was named Sporting News National Freshman of the Year and SEC Freshman of the Year in 2002, as he guided the team to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. He would go on to post a career-best 16.4 points per game during his sophomore season before entering the 2003 NBA Draft.

Meet Howard Law School Grad L. Chris Stewart Esq., Attorney Representing Family Of Ahmaud Arbery

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Justice will be served for the family of Ahmaud Arbery, who was tragically murdered in a hate crime earlier this year. Why? Because one of the attorneys representing Arbery’s family is L. Chris Stewart Esq., a graduate of the Howard University School of Law.

Unarmed Ahmaud Arbery was minding his business on a jog 2 miles from his home in Brunswick, Georgia on February 23, when Gregory McMichael, 64, and his son, Travis, 34 terrorized, shot and killed him. A video of the tragic episode surfaced. The pair was arrested months later on May 7, charged with murder and aggravated assault.

L. Chris Stewart Esq. is a product of the Howard University School of Law, which consistently produces the world’s leading Black attorney’s such as Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, Former Mayor Kasim Reed, Former Governor Douglas Wilder, civil rights leader and former Presidential Advisor Vernon Jordan and the nation’s first African American female lawyer, Charlotte E. Ray. His firm, Stewart Trial Attorneys is based in Georgia and specializes in a variety of cases including wrongful death, civil rights, shootings, and sexual assaults.

Stewart known as “Mr. Billion-Dollar Justice.” He is recognized as one of the top injury trial lawyers in Georgia. Howard University shares his achievements in a lengthy lineup of notable alumni saying, “In 2014, Chris received the Esquire Award from the National Bar Association’s Small Firms/Solo Practitioners Division for his professional achievements, numerous political/social causes affecting the African-American community, and mentorship of other attorneys. He was selected as a 2011-2015 Super Lawyer for the State of Georgia. In addition, in 2012 Chris was named on the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s list of Who’s Who in Law as a top Georgia attorney. He was also a finalist for Nation’s Best Advocates: 40 Lawyers under 40, selected for the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association’s LEAD program for most promising future leaders in law. Chris is also a member of the Atlanta Bar Association Judicial Selection and Tenure Committee. Chris formerly worked for the law firm of Morgan & Morgan where at the age of 29 he made partner. While at Morgan & Morgan, Chris represented over 2500 clients and has the Atlanta offices largest jury verdict. Chris has litigated cases in over twenty-five counties in Georgia and has taken over 1500 depositions.”

His practice’s website shares, more accolades, “Chris has been honored to receive numerous legal and civic awards. Attorney Stewart is one of the most decorated African-American lawyers in the country having received the 2019 Southern Center For Human Rights Vanguard Award, 2018 Julia Humbles’ Civil Rights Award, the National Bar Association’s Wiley Branton Award for Leadership, the 2018 Outstanding Citizen Award for the State of Georgia, the 2018 Georgia Senate Outstanding Public Service Proclamation, the 2018 Pinnacle Leadership Award, the 2018 Georgia Legislative Black Caucus Chairman’s Award, the 2016 recipient of the R.E. Thomas Civil Rights Award, the first and only African-American voted 2016 Attorney of the Year for the State of Georgia, and the 2014 Esquire Award.”

Stewart is also a graduate of historically-Black Xavier University and is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Most recent updates in the case include the release of the following statement was released from his office in conjunction with other lawyers on the case which include Ben Crump, Esq and S. Lee Merritt, Esq.:

Our office has reviewed the surveillance video which appears to show a person, believed to be Ahmaud Arbery, entering a property under construction. The individual remains on the property for under 3 minutes before continuing to jog down the road. This video is consistent with the evidence already known to us.

Ahmaud Arbery was out for a jog. He stopped by a property under construction where he engaged in no illegal activity and remained for only a brief period. Ahmaud did not take anything from the construction site. He did not cause any damage to the property. He remained for a brief period of time and was not instructed by any one to leave but rather left on his own accord to continue his jog. Ahmaud’s actions at this empty home under construction were in no way a felony under Georgia law.

This video confirms that Mr. Arbery’s murder was not justified and the actions of the men who pursued him and ambushed him were unjustified. We reiterate, Ahmaud Arbery did not take part in ANY felony, had no illegal substances in his system, was not armed yet was shot three times with a shotgun at close
range.

With this award-winning HBCU-educated attorney representing the Arbery family, one can anticipate the deliverance of justice. Sincerest condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of Ahmaud Arbery.

Meet Morehouse College Alumnus S. Lee Merritt Esq., Attorney Seeking Justice For Ahmaud Arbery

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Are you surprised? S. Lee Merritt Esq. graduated cum laude from Morehouse College and if there is anyone who can secure justice for the Ahmaud Arbery who was murdered in broad daylight, Merritt seems to be the right man for the job.

Unarmed Ahmaud Arbery was minding his business on a jog 2 miles from his home in Brunswick, Georgia on February 23, when Gregory McMichael, 64, and his son, Travis, 34 terrorized, shot and killed him. A video of the tragic episode surfaced. The pair was arrested months later on May 7, charged with murder and aggravated assault.

S. Lee Merritt Esq., also known as “the people attorney,” is a proud attorney and activist. He began his legal career with the Cochran Firm Philadelphia before going into private practice. Merritt now practices law through his federally-based practice, Merritt Law Firm. He holds licenses in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the State of New Jersey, federally in Eastern District of Pennsylvania and US District Court of the Northern District of Texas.

Merritt is a proud member of Omega Psi Fraternity Inc. and is an “emerging as an influential new voice in the fight for Social Justice. A Civil Right’s activist and attorney, Merritt runs a high profile practice focusing on victims of police brutality, hate crimes and corporate discrimination.” His website continues, “As an activist, he has championed police reform and community empowerment. His office has led the way in reform in Texas, a state notorious for its failure to prosecute police officer, advocating for the first murder indictments of officers in the state in over 40 years. Following the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey in the Summer of 2017, Merritt helped to launch the American Black Cross, a disaster relief organization geared to serve the most vulnerable sectors of society.”

In 2017 Merritt was recognized as one of the top 10 most influential African Americans in the country ages 18 to 45 by The Root. The National Black Caucus of State Legislators awarded Merritt the prestigious “Nation Builder” award, adding him to an elite list of recipients including President Barrack Obama, Shirley Chisholm and Vernon Jordan.

Today, the following statement was released from his office in conjunction with other lawyers on the case which include Ben Crump, Esq and L. Chris Stewart, Esq.:

Our office has reviewed the surveillance video which appears to show a person, believed to be Ahmaud Arbery, entering a property under construction. The individual remains on the property for under 3 minutes before continuing to jog down the road. This video is consistent with the evidence already known to us.

Ahmaud Arbery was out for a jog. He stopped by a property under construction where he engaged in no illegal activity and remained for only a brief period. Ahmaud did not take anything from the construction site. He did not cause any damage to the property. He remained for a brief period of time and was not instructed by any one to leave but rather left on his own accord to continue his jog. Ahmaud’s actions at this empty home under construction were in no way a felony under Georgia law.

This video confirms that Mr. Arbery’s murder was not justified and the actions of the men who pursued him and ambushed him were unjustified. We reiterate, Ahmaud Arbery did not take part in ANY felony, had no illegal substances in his system, was not armed yet was shot three times with a shotgun at close
range.

In a press release shared on Sunday, May 10, Attorney General Chris Carr shared, “We are committed to a complete and transparent review of how the Ahmaud Arbery case was handled from the outset.”

With Merritt on the case, they will not have any other option. Sincerest condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of Ahmaud Arbery.

Morgan State University Students Win $10k Each In NBA’s ‘Innovate The Future’ Business Competition

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Morgan State University’s newsroom shared an exciting announcement about 3 of its students who each won $10,000 scholarships:

photo: Morgan State University

The National Basketball Association has a tough question. How can the NBA profitably increase engagement of its fans in international markets where its games are televised outside of normal viewing hours? Fortunately for the $8-billion-a-year pro sports giant, three students from Morgan State University (MSU) have an intriguing answer: an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered application designed to make it easy for NBA fans to interact with one another beyond viewing games. With the N-Gage App, fans who wish to be active and play basketball can link up anytime with local friends wanting to do the same. N-Gage scans your area and identifies basketball courts near you, as well as people who are ‘down to hoop.’ Not feeling like being active? N-Gage makes it easy to challenge friends with open-source-augmented virtual reality games and quizzes.

That was the dream scenario that came to life in early April at the Thurgood Marshall College Fund-NBA“Innovate the Future”business competition, where the MSU team composed of senior Finance major Evan Robertson, senior Electrical Engineering major Victor Oyare Oko and junior Electrical Engineering major Martins Umeh took top honors. Each of Morgan’s winning competitors took home a $10,000 scholarship and NBA and Thurgood Marshall College Fund merchandise from the one-and-a-half-day event, which was created to inspire innovative and entrepreneurial-minded students of publicly supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities to change the world through business and technology. Kofi Nyarko, Ph.D., associate professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at MSU, was the faculty advisor for Morgan’s students. Teams from Alabama A&M University, Fayetteville State University, Florida A&M University and Grambling State University also participated in the competition by presenting their solutions to one of the event’s three case studies.

The three Morgan champions are all high academic achievers with cumulative grade point averages of 3.7 or higher, but they believe it was their drive to succeed that gave them the edge in the arena. “We were determined to win the competition from the time that we submitted the application,” said Team Leader Robertson, a native of Baltimore, Maryland. “We made plans to meet as a team every week before we even knew if we would be advancing to the next round. We set up team calls with NBA employees, NBA fans who would potentially benefit from our solution, and a number of experienced advisors. Read the full article.

University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff Celebrates 37 Student-Athletes In Spring 2020 Graduating Class

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The University of Arkansas At Pine Bluff Athletic Department is proud to recognize 37 student-athlete graduates who were honored as graduates for the 2020 spring commencement.

Due to the cancellation of all university events because of the COVID-19 pandemic, UAPB canceled its commencement ceremony this spring. The university plans to invite the student-athletes back to a special traditional commencement ceremony in December.

Below is a full listing of Golden Lion student-athlete graduates:

Spring 2020 Graduates

Baseball (10) Dalton Acosta (Social Science/Sociology), Darrian Aldridge (Social Science/Sociology), Carlos Benoit (General Studies), Kacy Higgins (Industrial Technology), Austin Krzeminski (General Studies), Antoine Luster (Health/Leisure Rec/Wellness), Alvin O’Guinn (Industrial Technology), Bryce Roesch (General Studies), Larry Sims (Health/Leisure Rec/Wellness), Andrew Szalkowski (Health/Leisure Rec/Wellness)
 
Men’s Basketball (5) Issac Bassey (General Studies), Khalid Campbell (Health/Leisure Rec/Wellness), Marquell Carter (Health/Leisure Rec/Wellness), Zavian Jackson (Health/Leisure Rec/Wellness), Jordan McNair (Health/Leisure Rec/Wellness)
 
Women’s Basketball (3) Aiya El Hassan (Biology/Medicine), Noe’ll Taylor (Human Science/Nutrition/Food Science), Shakendra Tilley (Health/Leisure Rec/Wellness)
 
Football (8) Samuel Beavers (Social Science/Political Science), Bradley Burrell (General Studies), Jayden Glover (Industrial Technology), Kolby McNeal (Health/Leisure Recreation/Wellness), Paul Reeves (Health/Leisure Recreation/Wellness), Christopher Robinson (Social Science/Political Science), Raynald St.Jour (Criminal Justice), Josh Wilkes (Health/Leisure Recreation/Wellness)
 
Soccer (4) Sariah Orocu (General Studies), Crystal Ruiz (Biology) Haleigh Russell (Elementary ED K-6) Shannon Seymour (General Studies)
 
Softball (2) Ann Jones (Business Marketing), Ann Gerwitz (Social Science)
 
Men’s Tennis (1) Le’Darrien Ledbetter (Accounting)
 
Men’s Track & Field (1) Shevon Phipps (Rehabilitation Services)
 
Women’s Track & Field (2) Camiya Knight (Psychology), Haley Grice (Industrial Technology)                                     
 
Volleyball (1) Micayla Pope (General Studies)

This article was originally shared to the UAPB Athletics newsroom.

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Little League World Series Winner Mo’ne Davis Reflects On Freshman Season At Hampton University

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Mo’ne Davis doesn’t remember everything from her shutout victory against Nashville in the Little League World Series in 2014. The Philadelphia native only recently rewatched the historic game in March.

Davis revealed as much on Inquirer Live at Lunch Monday while discussing her team’s LLWS run to the brink of the U.S. championship game, how life has changed in nearly six years since 2014 and how she is dealing with the coronavirus pandemic in Philadelphia after finishing her freshman year at Hampton University.

“That was the first time I watched the game fully through,” Davis said. “I didn’t remember [the first through fifth innings] at all. The last inning is the one I remember the most.”

The 2014 Little League World Series catapulted Davis into stardom as the first African-American girl to play in the organization’s history, and she didn’t disappoint. Her most notable performance for South Philadelphia’s Taney Dragons came against Nashville in a shutout effort. At 13, Davis pitched a complete game, struck out eight batters and allowed just two hits.

Davis is now playing softball at Hampton University. As a freshman, she started all 19 games at second base while batting .333 with eight RBIs and five stolen bases. Hampton had one of its best starts in program history with a 15-4 record.

“Next year we will make those numbers increase,” Davis said.

Her first dream was to play basketball at UConn, where Maya Moore was her favorite player growing up. The NCAA notably cited UConn for minor violations for head coach Geno Auriemma contacting Davis during the 2014 LLWS.

Now at 18 years old, Davis enjoys the comforts of attending a historically black college/university (HBCU) and pursuing her undergraduate degree in communications.

“Now that I go to an HBCU, I always encourage my friends from high school to look at an HBCU because you’ll actually enjoy it,” she said. “I just have a lot of fun being around people that you can relate to but different backgrounds, it’s pretty cool. I would say my favorite thing is definitely homecoming. That’s just a different atmosphere.”

Read the entire original article by Damichael Cole.

First Black Male Valedictorian At Thurgood Marshall School Of Law In 13 Years

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Congratulations are in order for Nnamdi Ezenwa. For the first time in 13 years, the highest performing person in the graduating class at the historically-Black, Thurgood Marshall School of Law is a Black man.

In 1978, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, agreed to name formally the “Law School of Texas Southern University,” the “Thurgood Marshall School of Law. (TMSL)” Each year, the Law School ranks in the top five (5) in the nation in the number of African-American law graduates. In addition, it ranks in the top twenty-five (25) in the number of Mexican-American or Chicano graduates.

This month, TMSL recognizes the next class of leaders, led by Ezenwa. He shares:

“Academics has been important to my family and has been important to me for my entire life. It’s an amazing feeling to be recognized like this. I wanted to get my law degree and be a positive example to others. I wanted to prove it can be done and it an be something anyone can achieve with hard work and a great work ethic.”

Without question, Ezenwa proved his point. Although he leads his class, he was also active on campus, participating in Honor Court and the African Law Student Association. He also finds time to be one of the editors for the Thurgood Marshall Law Review.

In high school and college, Ezenwa played basketball, like his father Francis, and had ‘hoop dreams’. He even went on to sign with an agent. When professional basketball didn’t work out, he took another route. Lucky for him (and his future clients), another major plan was in store.

“Continuing my career in basketball didn’t work out and that’s OK,” says Ezenwa. “Sometimes life takes us in another direction and I’d love to stay involved in sports with my law degree and there are multiple possibilities I can do that. I’ll take the Texas bar exam and then we’ll see where I go from there.”

Congratulations again to Nnamdi Ezenwa and all of his colleagues.

Update: May 13, 2020 11am EST: “18 years” has been changed to “13 years” to recognize the valedictorian in 2007.

Nick Cannon Is Now A Howard University Graduate

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Over the weekend, Nick Cannon announced that he graduated from Howard University, historically black college in Washington DC. Here’s what the HBCU Alumni had to say:

“I graduated from Howard University @howarduniversity1867 today! Received a degree in Criminology / Administration of Justice and a minor in Africana Studies! Had the opportunity to speak at the virtual ceremony, Masters and PHD is next! #HU2020,” he wrote alongside a video of himself wearing his cap and gown.

After sharing the exciting news with fans, the Drumline actor was congratulated in the comments section. Back in 2016, Cannon announced that he enrolled in the well-accredited HBCU. In a post to Twitter, the father of two explained the reasoning behind furthering his education. “Nelson Mandela once said, ‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,’ and with that said I have officially enrolled at Howard University.”

He continued, “I am always seeking new challenges and continual growth and decided to obtain my first college degree from an institution that had a proven legacy of producing great minds. I have friends, mentors and colleagues who attended Howard University. I look forward to this new journey in my life and am excited about the possibilities ahead.”

In addition to receiving his degree and gearing up for the release of his upcoming documentary, Cannon is also set to host a daytime talk show, which airs in September. “My goal is to be the most powerful person in the media,” Cannon said in a statement regarding his new venture. “Being able to have a multi-platform empire is really what I have been focusing on. Create household legacies and brands, from radio to digital to daily television, I just feel like I can really do things [that] no one else has ever done before.”

Take a look at Nick Cannon’s virtual ceremony below.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_8wDDLBSqY/
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HBCU Student Megan Thee Stallion Is Gunning For No. 1 With ‘Savage’

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Texas Southern University student Megan Thee Stallion could gallop to No. 1 on next week’s Billboard Hot 100 given that everything goes to plan for her.

Her song “Savage” is currently battling Doja Cat’s “Say So” for the highest perch.

From Billboard.com:

According to projections based on building Nielsen Music/MRC Data figures, Megan Thee Stallion‘s “Savage” and Doja Cat‘s “Say So” should both challenge for the summit of the May 16-dated Hot 100, thanks to notable gains. On the most recently published chart, dated May 9, the former ranks at No. 4, a new high, and the latter places at No. 6, after reaching No. 5.

The tracks are aiming to dethrone “The Scotts,” by The Scotts, Travis Scott and Kid Cudi, as the collaboration is likely to depart the top spot after it launched at No. 1on the May 9-dated chart.

The Hot 100 blends all-genre U.S. streaming, radio airplay and digital sales data. The top 10 of the May 16-dated chart is scheduled to be revealed Monday (May 11), with all surveys updating on Billboard.com Tuesday (May 12). The May 16-dated Hot 100 will reflect the streaming and sales tracking week ending May 7 and the airplay week ending May 10.

Per preliminary data, “Savage” and “Say So” appear set for a tight battle for No. 1. “Savage” (released on 1501 Certified/300) could draw over 40 million U.S. streams and 40 million in radio airplay audience and sell over 50,000 downloads in the tracking week. “Say So” (on Kemosabe/RCA) could sport over 90 million in radio reach, 25 million streams and 80,000 sold in the same span.

The high-profile remixes of the song have definitely benefited Meg and Doja Cat too.

Beyonce made an appearance with four original verses on “Savage Remix” and Nicki Minaj jumped on “Say So Remix” to drop some dope verses, respectively.

Obamas Will Host A Virtual Graduation Event For HBCUs

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On May 16, former president Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama will host a virtual graduation event for seniors of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), reported Business Insider. The virtual graduation is called ‘Show Me Your Walk, HBCU Edition.’

It is one of three similar commencement addresses the Obamas will participate in. Also on May 16, the Obamas will participate in an event for graduating high school seniors. And on June 6, Barack Obama will deliver a general commencement address for graduating students from both high schools and colleges.

The programs are meant to lift the spirits of students who are unable to participate in in-person graduation ceremonies which have been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“I’ve always loved joining commencements––the culmination of years of hard work and sacrifice,” tweeted the former president. “Even if we can’t get together in person this year, Michelle and I are excited to celebrate the nationwide Class of 2020 and recognize this milestone with you and your loved ones.”

Read full via Diverseeducation.com

Pharrell Williams Surprises Graduates Of Norfolk State

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Norfolk State University students were “Happy” Saturday when singer and producer Pharrell Williams was the surprise commencement speaker at their virtual graduation. Like many colleges and secondary schools across the country, the historically black university in southeastern Virginia moved to virtual classrooms because of the coronavirus pandemic. The school held an online graduation ceremony for the class of 2020 on Saturday.”Even if this is not the norm, you guys and girls still deserve all the praise,” Williams said. “You stuck it through, you made it and today’s your day.”

Patsy Douglas, a graduating mass communications major, said she felt down on her graduation day because she couldn’t have a physical ceremony. But Williams’ message to students lifted her spirits. “His message inspired me to keep going and striving for the highest regardless of the circumstances,” Douglas told CNN via text message. “His words and affirmation to the class of 2020 will be forever carried in all of our hearts.”

Read full via CNN.com