Top HBCU DJs 2020

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More than 100 years ago, in 1909, a 16-year-old California resident named Ray Newby used a spark transmitter to play records. Newby was a college student at the time, and he used it to share news and information as well as play records. Many credit Newby as the very first DJ. This makes sense to us because who better understands the importance of lively events and spreading information that a college student? 111 years later and the craft of disc jockeying aka DJing is now more popular than ever.

DJ TM, Tre’Mon Frink

Whether famous or personally, everyone knows at least one Top HBCU DJ. Because historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have a lot of social gatherings, DJs have a critical role to play on campus. Campus is a social marketplace. The feng shui, atmosphere, and mood when campus congregates relies heavily on the music played, and the mind behind the playlist. If the DJ gets it right, attendees are having the time of their lives and are creating college memories that will last forever–and if the DJ messes up, the party isn’t legendary and people will likely leave.

This year, the Top HBCU DJ competition returned better than ever, bringing in more than 95,000 votes– more than any other year. This year’s winner is DJ TM, Tre’Mon Frink, of Winston-Salem State University. Congratulations to the Rams, on another TOP HBCU DJ!

The top 3 DJs alone brought in 73,483 votes, more than 75% of the entire competition. This is a noticeable 20% or 20,000 vote gap between the top 3 DJs and the rest of the Top 5 winners.  For the first time since the competition began in 2014, we were pleased to have female DJs nominated, hailing from Howard University, Morgan State University, Tougaloo College, Savannah State University, Tuskegee University, and Norfolk State University.  

DJ TM – WSSU

Tre’Mon Frink is representing Wilmington, NC and is a junior communications major, speech minor at Winston-Salem State University. Frink received a total of 28,282 votes, amounting to 29.7% of all votes cast this year. The WSSU Rams are no stranger to this competition, as they  have had a TOP HBCU DJ all but one year, since the competition began in 2014. DJ TM takes home the very first, No.1 spot for the university.

“If I was one of the 2020 Top HBCU DJs I would feel accomplished. This achievement will display how my lifestyle as a professional DJ has helped continue to cultivate the culture of HBCUS.”

DJ Ojagga –  NCA&TSU

Obi Nwogbo is from Raleigh, NC, by way of Nigeria at North Carolina A&T State University. Nwogbo will graduate in the fall with a degree in business administration. For the second year in a row, the NCAT Aggies place in the TOP HBCU DJ Competition. In the last competition, DJ K Grady earned the No. 1 spot, with 12,775 votes. This year, DJ Ojagga nearly doubled this number! He walks away with 23,997 votes, 25.2% of the votes cast in this year’s competition. 

“If I was one of the top 2020 TOP HBCU DJs I would use my platform to highlight and push that fact that there many other different cultures“

DJ Ricoveli –  Morehouse

Dre’Shawn Spearman is a junior, sociology major representing Fayetteville, NC. Ricoveli held his position at the top throughout the entire voting period, resulting in 21,204 votes, a very notable 22.3% of all votes submitted for the 2020 Top HBCU DJ. Morehouse College’s president Dr. David A. Thomas even gave DJ Ricoveli his stamp of approval, along with Killer Mike. When Diddy made an infamous visit to Morehouse, none other than Ricoveli was on the one’s and two’s.

 “If I was one of the 2020 Top HBCU DJs, I would begin a campaign that highlights the significance of HBCU-campus culture. I think this contributes to a very imperative correlation between student engagement and student enrollment.”

DJ ASH B – NCCU

Ashton Burns is a graduating senior at North Carolina Central University hailing from Wilmington, NC. Burns is studying business administration with a concentration in marketing. With more than 2,277 votes, DJ AshB received 2.39% of the entire vote! DJ AshB was also nominated more than any HBCU DJ in the history of the competition, beginning in 2014. “If it’s not AshB, it’s trash, B” was regularly DM’d, every single day from Burns’ fellow NCCU eagles and colleagues. 

 “If I was one of the 2020 TOP HBCU DJs: it would mean everything because it was a goal I set for myself back in 2016 when I first got on campus & it would show my hard work & dedication paying off. It would also show my huge support system. It’s an honor to be able to be mentioned because of the ones who paved the way before me, I looked up to are on the TOP DJ’s list years before me.”

 DJ King Kai – Clark Atlanta

Makai Riley is a senior mass media arts major at Clark Atlanta University who is holding his own for Queens, NY. Riley earned a 2.04% of the total vote, an impressive 1,941 votes, total. The Atlanta University Center, (consisting of Spelman College, Morehouse, and CAU), should be proud, as they claim 2 of the Top 5 2020 HBCU DJs.

 “If I was one of the 2020 TOP HBCU DJs it would prove I followed my dream of being both a full-time student and DJ, never giving up my dream no matter how hard it got.”

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We’d like to send an honorable mention to these ladies, for paving the way and wish them a happy Women’s History Month: MorganKTA & DJ Magic – Howard University, DJ Pye – Norfolk State University, DJ Tyrite – Savannah State University, DJ Deshara – Tougaloo College and DJ Thundacat of PVAMU. 

Former HBCU DJs represent the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Hampton University, Howard University, Bowie State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina A&T State University (multiple), Florida A&M University (multiple), Prairie View A&M University, Winston-Salem State University (multiple), North Carolina Central University, Tennessee State University and South Carolina State University. 

This year’s list featured 38 DJs, representing 27 HBCUs, and not all nominees made it to the ballot. Congratulations to all the nominees and the winners. View 2016, 2015 and 2014.

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Kroger Donates $30K To Jackson State University And Tougaloo College Food Pantries

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Kroger recently donated $30,000 to Jackson State University and Tougaloo College Food Pantries, celebrating Black History Month and HBCUs.

“This is an alarming statistic and Mississippi is one of the most food-insecure states in the nation,” that is what Teresa Dickerson, manager of corporate affairs for Kroger’s Delta Division, said.

Dickerson is referring to the 39 percent of student respondents reported being food insecure in the prior 30 days, according to the #RealCollege survey conducted by Temple University’s Hope Center for College.

She said “We are honored to support our HBCUs and the work they are doing to alleviate hunger through campus food pantries.”

According to WLBT.com, the donation will help to address food insecurity and celebrates Black History Month and the achievements of HBCUs. 

Fayetteville State Lady Broncos Beat ECSU, Moving To Semi-Finals

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Fayetteville State — Elizabeth City State and Fayetteville State women’s basketball teams played neck-and-neck basketball for three quarters before the Broncos turned up the intensity in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Vikings 22-10 to take a 64-52 win in their CIAA women’s basketball tournament quarterfinal contest Wednesday afternoon at the Bojangles’ Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The Broncos, the top seed from the southern division, improve to 19-8 overall.  The Vikings, the number four seed in the northern division, conclude their season with a 12-18 mark.  Fayetteville State will play the winner of the Lincoln University/Winston-Salem State University game in the first semi-final contest of the tournament on Friday, February 28, 2020 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte.

Katisha Hyman (Aurora, NC) led four FSU players in double figures with a game high 20 points. Chantel Williams (Charlotte, NC) added 14 points while Aminata Johnson (Durham, NC) chipped in 13.  London Thompson (Lumberton, NC) finished with a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

ECSU’s Devonna Stell also had a double-double with a team high 14 points and 16 rebounds.  Nyasia Blango and Nyasia Davis added eight points apiece.

The two teams exchanged baskets in the first four minutes of action with the Broncos holding a slim 8-7 lead thanks to a pair of three-point baskets from Hyman.  Fayetteville State opened up a seven-point advantage by quarters end outscoring the Vikings 10-4 to take an 18-11 lead into the second quarter.

Read the full article via the Fayetteville State University Newsroom.

Claflin Shows No.1 CIAA Seed, Virginia State Who’s Boss, In Quarterfinals

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Claflin University – Donnell Frayer, Jr. scored a game-high 20 points and Cornellius Reynolds added 13 points as the Claflin University men’s basketball team upset the No. 1 seeded team in the Northern Division Virginia State University (VSU) in the quarterfinal round of the 2020 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) men’s basketball tournament at Bojangles’ Coliseum on Wednesday.

Claflin University Basketball 2019-2020 Team

Claflin, who entered the tournament as the No. 4 seed in the Southern Division, improves to 15-15 and advance to face the winner of the Livingstone/Winston-Salem State game in the semifinal on Friday, Feb. 28 at 9 p.m. at the Spectrum Center.  Virginia State season concludes with a 19-9 record.

Claflin’s Brandon Davis came off the bench to contribute eight points and six rebounds.

Virginia State was led in scoring by Andrew Corum with 19 points with five rebounds.  The Trojans had two players to score in double-figures as Armond Griebe finished with 13 points and a team-high seven rebounds.

The contest was a tail of two halves with Claflin winning the first (35-24) and Virginia State winning the second (34-28).

The second half of the contest was a back-and-forth battle down the stretch.

After going into intermission down 35-24, the Trojans scored the first six points of the second stanza to cut the deficit to five, 35-30, at the 18:31 mark.

Claflin then scored five straight points to push its lead to 10 (40-30) with 17:07 remaining in the contest but Virginia State remained resilient.  The Trojans scored six unanswered points to pull within four (40-36), forcing a Claflin timeout at the 15:18 mark.

Read the full article, originally shared via the Claflin University Newsroom.

JCSU Beats St. Augustine’s To Advance In CIAA

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Johnson C. Smith – Johnson C. Smith University erased a six-point deficit in the second half to outlast Saint Augustine’s University, 70-68 during the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Men’s Basketball Quarterfinal Round Wednesday night in the Bojangles Coliseum. 

In a tightly contested first half, both teams were evenly matched. The Falcons took a 10-8 lead on a 3-pointer from Nilous Hodge at the 13:59 mark. SAU then increased its lead to four points on a jumper from Karaan Clemonts but both teams would go cold from the floor until JCSU’s Trevor Lewis snapped the scoring drought for the Golden Bulls with two made free throws and 9:57 on the game clock.  


The game tied for the fourth time until Saint Augustine’s regained the lead with four-straight points on free throw shots from Rashad George. The Golden Bulls closed the gap to one point twice but over the course of two minutes, the Falcons extended its lead to nine (31-22) – its largest of the half on a 13-7 run to close out the first half with a 31-25 stand over Johnson C. Smith. 

JCSU opened the second half on a 6-0 run to tie the game at 31-even as the Falcons finally scored its first basket of the half at the 16:20 mark with two free throws from Clemonts. In similar fashion of the first half, the second stanza would continue to be a back-and-forth battle between both teams as the game tied six times and four lead changes. 


After the games tenth tie of the night, JCSU took the lead after a Cayse Minor 3-point play that led to the Golden Bulls scoring six straight points to lead 63-57 with 50 seconds remaining in regulation.

Read the full article, originally shared via the JCSU Newsroom.

Homeless To HBCU: Morehouse College Student Takes Care Of Mom, Siblings & Thrives On Campus

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GMA — Graduating from college is difficult, but for Morehouse College student Dacavien Reeves, who is graduating with a job offer from JP Morgan, it’s a milestone beyond his wildest dreams.

“This is a sample of the greatest black minds in America in this room,” said Robert Brown, Reeves’ professor and fellow Morehouse alumnus, of Reeves’ work ethic.

The 22-year-old Reeves went through a lot before even making it to college, becoming homeless after his mom Tasha Graham fell ill in 2012.

  • Dacavien Reeves and with his mom

“We lived in hotels until the money ran out. And we eventually moved into the Salvation Army,” said Reeves.

“I made a promise to myself. I said, ‘I never want to be in this position ever again.’ And so that was my self-motivator. I knew that I was capable. I was hardworking, so I knew college was my way to go.”

He ended up choosing Morehouse College, the prestigious historically black university in Atlanta.

“I remember seeing the students at Morehouse College were well-dressed and they’re able to articulate themselves,” Reeves told “Good Morning America.” “I was like, ‘Wow. I want to be able to talk like that. I want to be able to dress like that. I want to have those experiences.'”

Read the full article, originally shared to Good Morning America.

Student Kameron Langley Breaks NCA&T Assist Record, Aggies Beat UMES

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NCA&T Athletics – The North Carolina A&T men’s basketball team won their 25th-straight home conference game on Monday night inside the Corbett Sports Center, this time against Maryland Eastern-Shore, 83-62.

Kameron Langley (center) broke Thomas Griffis’ (right) school assists record on Monday. // Kevin L. Dorsey

Senior forward Ronald Jackson scored a team-high 20 points to go along with 14 rebounds. It was his 13th double-double of the season and the 15th of his career.

“We’re focusing on winning one game at a time,” said acting head coach Will Jones. “Year-in and year-out, being one of the top teams in the league, winning at home is something that you have to do and I’m proud that these guys were able to get it done.”

Junior guard Kameron Langley broke the school’s all-time assist record, previously held by Thomas Griffis, during the game Monday.

With just under seven minutes remaining in the first half, Langley tossed an in-bounds pass to junior Darus Maddox who was deep inside the paint. Maddox scored on an easy layup to give Langley his 583r career assist, passing Griffis for the record.

At halftime, Griffis presented Langley with ceremonial basketball and a portrait of Langley. Langley said breaking Griffis’ record is special to him because he has known Griffis for many years and competed against him when Griffis was coaching at Grimsley and Langley was at Southwest Guilford.

“Go ahead and put that record away for 400 years,” said Langley when asked what Griffis said to him regarding the record. “So I’m going to try my best. I have one more year, so we’ll see what happens.”

Langley now eyes the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference’s (MEAC) all-time record of 622 held by Larry Yarbray (Coppin State, 1988-92). Langley tied his career-high with 13 assists in the game to go along with 10 points and eight rebounds.

Junior guard Kwe Parker had a career-high 15 points and hauled in a career-high eight rebounds in 30 minutes of action. Seniors Andre Jackson and Devin Haygood both scored in double-figures in their respective last games at Corbett, Jackson with 12 and Haygood with 10.

The Hawks (5-23, 4-9 MEAC) jumped out to a 14-8 advantage to start the game, but the Aggies (15-14, 11-3 MEAC) utilized a 19-5 run over the next eight minutes to claim a 27-19 lead. A&T outscored UMES 16-8 the remainder of the half and take a 43-27 lead into the locker room.

In the second half, A&T jumped out to a 54-33 lead after an Andre Jackson fastbreak layup. The Aggies forced UMES into 17 turnovers and scored 17 points off of them. A&T also outscored the Hawks 48-26 in the paint. The Aggies held their largest lead of the night when they led 83-57 following a 3-pointer from freshman Harry Morrice.

Senior forward AJ Cheeseman was the high man for UMES with 16 points.

N.C. A&T (15-14, 11-3 MEAC) still has a hold on first place with a half-game lead over N.C. Central. The Aggies will have a week to prepare for their next opponent in S.C. State when they head to Orangeburg, S.C. on Monday, March 2 at 7:30 p.m.

This story was originally shared via the NCA&T Aggie Athletics Newsroom.

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Korey Wise Of The Exonerated Five Shares Journey At UMES During Black History Month

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Life Lessons and Life Blessings: Korey Wise urges youth to “listen to your first voice”

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s Ella Fitzgerald Center for the Performing Arts held over 1,000 people who sat in piercing silence as Korey Wise of the Exonerated Five shared his painful and triumphant journey from wrongfully convicted child to exoneree with an Emmy-winning story on Feb. 20. 

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At the age of 16, Wise was one of five New York City teens wrongfully accused and convicted of the 1989 rape of a white female jogger in Central Park. He was the only teen sentenced as an adult to serve five-to-15 years in prison. 

Wise, a criminal justice reform advocate, visited the historically black university in Princess Anne, Md. as the Black History Month guest speaker for the event titled “Life After Injustice: A Conversation with Korey Wise.” Following a student’s introduction, the night began with Wise’s surprise entrance as he emerged from the audience although they were expecting him to make a stage wing entrance. “I have to feel their energy,” he said. Previously, he had been sitting among the crowd during a soulful rendition of “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” the Black National Anthem. 

“This is a once in a lifetime event. His story is true. Him here at an HBCU, we need more stuff like this,” Daronn Wright, an attendee, told local media in anticipation of Wise’s message. 

During the moderated conversation, Wise responded to questions that were submitted by the audience. He began by thanking Matias Reyes, the culprit of the near fatal attack, whose confession removed Wise from nearly 14 years of daily torment.

“If he never said nothing to me, my five to 15 would have turned into 15 to Life,” said Wise.

The audience included local community groups, schools, attendees from Maryland’s Department of Juvenile Services, Salisbury University, and Wor-Wic Community College. 

Luis Garcia

Social media overflowed with messages of gratitude and excitement for the opportunity to hear from Wise. “2.20.20 will go down in the books as one of the best,” said Dom Scott. “I was so hyped that my question was chosen to ask Korey Wise,” said Talonda Brown. 

The question was “what would you say to your 16-year-old self?” 

“Listen to your first voice. Not your second voice, not your third voice. Listen to your first voice,” Wise answered urging the youth in attendance to be careful about decision making and knowing your friends. 

Read more via Tahja Cropper’s original story in the UMES Newsroom.

Following Arrest Of JSU President In Prostitution Sting, Who Will Lead?

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“In the interest of transparency,” writes Joseph Martin Stevenson of Jackson Free Press, ” I write this op-ed commentary with no personal or professional agenda; no acronyms, prefixes or hashtags behind or in front of my name; and no ulterior motives. I write because I love Jackson State University, both its past treasured history and its future potential trajectory. I have no interest in being considered as the next president at Jackson State, but I do have some constructive suggestions and formative recommendations for the Jacksonians who will hopefully be formidably, substantively, significantly, fairly, and actively engaged in selecting the next leader who manifests as the reckoned righteous one for JSU, Jacksonians, Jackson, Mississippi and the larger HBCU community.”

Stevenson continues, “As far as the current circumstances at JSU, let me say that he or she without mistake or misfortune please come forward as a paragon of perfected proclivity for the rest of humankind. I write this to not defend anyone but to encourage everyone to consider praying instead of placing judgement. That is not our place. Let me also define “reckoning” as it has both direct and indirect relevance and applicability to this op-ed. Reckoning is defined as a person’ s viewpoint or the process or action for calculating or estimating something. This column is not only about viewing others possibly placing judgment but about posing actions and processes to calculate the best outcome of optimal leadership at Jackson State.” Read his full story, originally shared via Jackson Free Press:

Pro-action vs. Reaction

Now is the time to be constructively, pointedly and formatively proactive. Much of the criticisms about the past presidential selections at JSU have been mostly afterward and not so much beforehand. Now that another search is being officially conducted, this is a crucial time to examine all the written, memorized, formal, and practiced policies, procedures, and protocols associated with the search and selection process. There will be an acute need to pay close attention to the specific details and probed questioning, especially to apparent ambiguity, potential misunderstanding, sequential process and unclear intent.

I encourage the analysis of “backward design theory.” I strongly encourage the employment and engagement of this theory as a anticipatory framework to make recommendations or suggestions to others of authority or control on how to improve and monitor promulgated policies and practices. This can make the process more inclusive, participatory, transparent, and representative of Jacksonian voices, convictions and values.

Governance and Mission

Although many leaders have developed tenets, pillars or constructs for their leadership strategy, look for those who remain committed to the foundational and fundamental pillars of modern higher education: teaching, research and service. Moreover, at some point, there should be serious discourse in Mississippi about governance. That is, centralized governance versus decentralized governance and state boards versus local boards.

In the three states where I worked previously—New Jersey, Florida, and Tennessee—there has been very successful movement from state boards to local boards. With regard to JSU being a historically black university, I urge Jacksonians to look for leaders who can document their commitment to JSU’s historical foundation but also provide a measurable strategic plan and a way driven by student learning outcomes to build future foundations. That includes adding futurism to the mission to build on the institutional treasured history, given that most companies, organizations, institutions and sectors—where JSU graduates will land and start careers—study their mission-positioning for “futuring” their bottom lines for progress, profit, performance and productivity. JSU and other HBCUs need to add studying futures to the curriculum and brand it as added-value to the degree.

The future president must document how she or he will innovate degrees that are academically rigorous and relevant to today’s student, employer and graduate school interests, and responsive to the global marketplace and the accelerating competitive space that drives it. Read more via Jackson Free Press.

Joseph Martin Stevenson of Madison was the first named provost at JSU and also served as a provost at Mississippi Valley State University. Find his books on higher education here and read more about his provostial work at JSU here.

SWAC Council Of Presidents and Chancellors Extend Commissioner Charles McClelland’s Contract

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BIRMIGHAM, Ala.– The Southwestern Athletic Conference Council of Presidents and Chancellors has voted unanimously on a five-year contract extension for SWAC Commissioner Dr. Charles McClelland.

The extension which will run through 2025 academic year, was announced on Tuesday afternoon.

“In the past two years the Southwestern Athletic Conference has made significant strides under the direction of SWAC Commissioner Dr. Charles McClelland,” said SWAC Council of Presidents and Chancellors Chairman Dr. Andrew Hugine Jr. “We could not be more excited about the future of this historic conference, particularly during its Centennial under the leadership of Dr. McClelland.”

“I’m extremely humbled to have the opportunity to serve as the Commissioner of the Southwestern Athletic Conference,” said McClelland. “I’m also very excited about the what the future holds for the Conference Office and our ten member institutions. As we’ve stated previously our overall objective is to make the SWAC one of the best conferences in the nation. Our membership has my unwavering commitment that we will leave no stone unturned as it relates to achieving that goal.”

SWAC Council of Presidents and Chancellors Announce McClelland Contract Extension

About the SWAC
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams. 

Current championship competition offered by the league includes competition for men in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field and Tennis. 

Women’s competition is offered in the sports of Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Soccer, Softball, Tennis and Volleyball. 

Follow the SWAC
For complete coverage of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, please follow the SWAC on social media at @TheSWAC (Twitter), @TheSWAC (Facebook), and @TheSWAC (Instagram) or visit the official home of the Southwestern Athletic Conference at www.swac.org.

Announcement originally shared via SWAC.

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$57.7M Proposal: Should Maryland Lawmakers Fully Fund Its HBCUs?

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ANNAPOLIS – Kayla Moore testified Tuesday in Annapolis on how she participated in an exchange program while at Coppin State University in Baltimore with students at Frostburg State University.

Moore recalled that the state distributed more money to Frostburg to deal with pregnancy and opioid challenges in their respective communities.

William J. Ford/The Washington Informer

“Our state is struggling to fill our schools with qualified, diverse educators, but we will never meet this need if we continue to essentially divest from our four [historically Black colleges and universities],” said Moore, 23, a second grade teacher at University Park Elementary in Prince George’s County. “Doing so poses a negative impact on graduating high school seniors who want to be educators in Maryland, ultimately stunting the recruitment of diverse educators from our state, for our state.”

Moore joined dozens of other alumni, students and other supporters to tell the House Appropriations Committee to fund Maryland’s four historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Specifically, the group called for the committee to recommend legislation sponsored by House Speaker Adrienne Jones for the governor to include $57.7 million in the state’s operating budget beginning in fiscal 2022 for the state’s HBCUs.

Before testimony continued at the hearing, Del. Maggie McIntosh (D-Baltimore City), who chairs the Appropriations Committee, praised Moore.

“You are an example of what we want to move toward in Maryland,” she said to rousing applause.

The bill is one of the top priorities of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, which seeks to end the ongoing 13-year HBCU lawsuit.

The money would be designated this way: $24 million for Morgan State University, $16.7 million for Bowie State University, $9.6 million for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and $7.2 million for Coppin State University. Read more via Washington Informer.

Claflin Plans To Be First HBCU In State To Offer Nursing Graduate Degree

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Claflin University is planning this year to launch a graduate nursing program and a climate change focus for its graduate biotechnology program.

The university also intends to introduce a graduate and undergraduate certificate program in a new center for artificial intelligence, according to university Provost and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Karl Wright.

Nursing students attending Claflin will be able to receive a master of science in nursing in fall 2020 as the university introduces the program into its degree portfolio, Wright told those gathered for the quarterly meeting of The One Orangeburg County Initiative.

“There is a great need for graduate-level nurses in South Carolina,” Wright said, citing a university-commissioned research study. “They will help meet the nursing needs in the rural communities that are underserved by the health care profession.”

Wright said the program still needs to receive accrediting approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, which the university will hear from in June. If the program is OK’d, Claflin will be the only historically black college or university in the state to have a graduate nursing program. Less than a handful private colleges offer such a program.

Wright said the degree would have two tracks — nurse practitioner and nurse educator.

The graduate degree in nursing would follow on the heels of the university’s launch of a bachelor of science in nursing in 2016.

Claflin is the only HBCU in the state offering a BSN degree.

Since the program’s inception, 52 graduates have completed the 100%-online program.

Claflin’s RN to BSN program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education Board of Commissioners, meaning that the nursing program consistently demonstrates quality in mission and governance, institutional commitment and resources, and curriculum and teaching-learning practices.

The program was also awarded Best Nursing Program at the 2019 HBCU Awards ceremony this past August.

The university is also planning to re-engineer its master of science in biotechnology and turn it into an online delivery format focusing on climate change. The climate change track would include such courses as bio-mathematics, Wright said.

The track most likely will be unveiled after the 2020-21 academic year. Read more via Index Journal.

Contact the writer: gzaleski@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5551. Check out Zaleski on Twitter at @ZaleskiTD. This article originally ran on thetandd.com.

Dallas Mavericks Will Unveil Artist-Inspired Basketball Court Renovation At Paul Quinn College

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Dallas Weekly shares, The Dallas Mavericks are proud to announce the unveiling of its newest basketball court at Paul Quinn College, the only Historically Black College in the City of Dallas and the first Urban Work College in the country.

The court dedication will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020, at Paul Quinn College marking the 27th court donated back to the community by either the Dallas Mavericks or the Mavs Foundation.

Dallas Mavericks legends will join forces with Paul Quinn College leaders for this celebratory event to officially unveil the court, created to generate excitement for students and surrounding community.

Paul Quinn College president, Dr. Michael J. Sorrell, will attend along with Mavs special guests, Cedric Ceballos, Erick Strickland and Randy White.

The Paul Quinn College court is especially unique to the city because the design was inspired by
renowned Dallas street artist, Tex Moton.

Image result for tex moton


Sport Court® technology installed a professional-grade quality basketball court that is known around the world for its safety and performance. The surface is splashed with an abstract masterpiece designed by Moton that includes a one-of-a-kind custom mural painting. The university also received other cosmetic upgrades like new basketball goals and bleachers. Read more via Dallas Weekly.

For 50 years, One Foster Dad Has Kept The Heat On At One Of The Nation’s First HBCUs

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Stephanie Farr of the Philadelphia Inquirer shares a heartfelt article about one special man’s dedication to one of the nations oldest historically black colleges and universities:

  • JESSICA GRIFFIN / Philadelphia Inquirer Staff Photographer

Meet Michael Ruff, foster dad and boiler tech at Lincoln University, where he’s worked for 50 years.

• Retirement options: “I often think ‘What am I going to do if I retire?’” Ruff said. “I’d rather be working.”

• Foster care and concern: Ruff and his longtime partner have fostered between 20 and 30 children. “It’s exciting but it’s also scary,” he said. “You hope you get the right kids to fit you.”

Michael Ruff was a senior at Avon Grove High School when he went to Lincoln University for the first time. It was a trip with his high school sweetheart to pick up her mom from work.

The university’s housekeeping foreman saw Ruff on campus and asked if he was looking for a job.

“Yes,” his girlfriend’s mother answered for him.

No matter that Ruff already had a job at a knitting mill in West Grove — his girlfriend’s mom obviously thought this one was better.

As it turned out, Ruff’s hours were getting cut back at the mill and he did need something more stable. So in December 1969, he took a job in housekeeping at Lincoln University — one of the country’s first Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

Ruff couldn’t have known then just how stable the job at Lincoln would be. He doesn’t have that girlfriend anymore, but 50 years later, he still has a job at the university, where he now works as a boiler tech. He is the longest-serving employee on Lincoln’s campus. Read more via Philadelphia Inquirer.

News One: List Of 20 HBCU Graduates Who Are Changing The World

Posted by Tommy G. Meade Jr.
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News One has the latest news from a black perspective with stories and opinions you would not read anywhere else — but should and it seems that they are always creating moments for the culture.

Yesterday, the black news site released a list of 20 HBCU graduates who are basically changing the world, celebrating the country’s historically black colleges and the professionals who have attended those institutions.

  1. Stacey Abrams, Spelman College

2. Rev. William Barber II, N.C. Central University

3. Kenya Barris, Clark Atlanta University

4. Rosalind G. Brewer, Spelman College

5. Ruth Carter, Hampton University

6. Raashaun “DJ Envy” Casey, Hampton University

7. Louis Farrakhan, Sr., Winston-Salem State University

8. Andrew Gillum, Florida A&M University

9. Rep Al Green, Howard University, Texas Southern University, Tuskegee University

10. Kamala Harris, Howard University

11. Jesse Jackson, North Carolina A&T University

12. Samuel L. Jackson, Morehouse College

13. Letitia James, Howard University

14. Kweisi Mfume, Morgan State University

15. Marilyn Mosby, Tuskegee University

16. Bakari Sellers, Morehouse College

17. Ruth Simmons, Dillard University

18. Stephen A. Smith, Winston-Salem State University

19. Wanda Sykes, Hampton University

20. Oprah Winfrey, Tennessee State University

The list includes HBCU graduates from the arenas of politics to entertainment to corporate America and well beyond.

NASA Mathematician, HBCU Alumna Katherine Johnson Passes Away

Posted by Brittany Ireland
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Katherine Johnson, a notable African American, NASA Mathematician, and one of the 3 legendary women depicted in film Hidden Figures, passes away at 101-years-old.

Image: NASA space scientist and mathematician Katherine Johnson at Langley Research Center in Va., in 1966.
NASA / Getty Images file: Katherine Johnson at Langley Research Center in 1966

Johnson attended West Virginia State University (then WV State College), enrolling at the age of 15. Given her trailblazing legacy, it is unsurprising to learn how quickly she excelled, graduating summa cum laude in 1937 at 18-years-old with bachelor’s degrees in both mathematics and French. Johnson was a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Inc.

“You got the best education there could be at the time (in Institute),” Johnson recalled recently in the documentary ‘Rise Up West Virginia.’ “You knew everybody. It was a small high school and it was pleasant to be there, but everybody knew you. Everybody in the high school knew everybody in the college and it was just like being at home.”

Patrick Wymore / ABC via Getty Images file

Notable moments on Johnson’s career include:

  • Becoming the first woman in the Flight Research Division to receive credit as an author of a research report for her work with Ted Skopinski on detailing the equations describing an orbital spaceflight
  • According to NASA, when Johnson was asked to discuss her greatest contribution to space exploration,she reflects on the calculations that helped synchronize Project Apollo’s Lunar Lander with the moon-orbiting Command and Service Module
  • Becoming one of the first African American women to work at National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), calculating the trajectory for Alan Shepard, the first American in space
  • Being names Mathematician of the Year in 1997 by the National Technical Association.
  • Receiving an honorary Doctor of Law degree from the State University of New York and honorary Doctor of Science degrees from Capitol College in Maryland and Old Dominion University in Virginia

In the film Hidden Figures she was portrayed by fellow HBCU alumna, Taraji P. Henson. Actresses Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monae portrayed her trailblazing “co-legends,” Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, respectively. Henson shares,:

When Johnson was honored by President Barack Obama in 2015, NASA shared:

WVSU shared, “In bestowing the award, President Barack Obama called Johnson, “a pioneer in American space history,” whose mathematical calculations “influenced every major space program from Mercury through the Shuttle program.”

Katherine Johnson
NASA

Katherine Johnson was 5 years shy of being a 100-years-old when she was recognized by President Obama—some 30 years after she retired from NASA.

“The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the Nation’s highest civilian honor, presented to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors…” writes NASA.

In a statement released earlier this morning, NASA shares, “Our NASA family is sad to learn the news that Katherine Johnson passed away this morning at 101 years old,” NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine posted to Twitter. “She was an American hero and her pioneering legacy will never be forgotten.”

One of Johnson’s wishes included educating those who come after her. Click “here for lessons Katherine would like to pass on to the next generation,” shares NASA.

Our heartfelt condolences to the Johnson family and her loved ones.