How A Black Woman Shut Down Racist Border Patrol Agents

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When possible, we all have to find ways to resist. Whether it is filming police assaulting an unarmed man, peacefully protesting by kneeling, or what a young woman did on a Greyhound bus — shutting down some clearly racist border patrol agents.

On June 7, Tiana Smalls wrote on her Facebook that she was on a Greyhound bus from Bakersfield, California to Las Vegas, Nevada. When crossing the state line over to Nevada, the bus driver made an announcement,  “We are being boarded by Border Patrol. Please be prepared to show your documentation upon request.”

“Show us your documentation” sounds very much like “Show us your papers” — Tiana was not here for it. According to her, she stood up loudly and said, “This a violation of your Fourth Amendment rights. You don’t have to show them sh*t. This is illegal. We are We are not within 100 miles of an international border so that (sic) have no authority to ask you for anything. Tell them to f*ck off!”

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Dr. David “Scott” Gines Announced as New Athletic Director at DSU

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Dover, Del. — Delaware State University announced today the appointment of Dr. David “Scott” Gines as its new Director of Athletics.

A veteran of more than three decades in collegiate athletics administration and coaching, Gines joins the Hornets after serving since 2013 as Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics and Campus Recreation at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, a member of the NCAA Div. II Lone Star Conference. He was the school’s Vice President for Institutional Advancement from July 2009 through December 2012, overseeing the departments of Athletics, Career Services, Alumni, Development, Marketing and Communications. His tenure at TAMUK began as the school’s Director of Athletics from 2007-09.

“In hiring Dr. Scott Gines as the new DSU Director of Athletics, the institution has gained an executive with a diverse and proven background in overseeing intercollegiate sports departments as well as fundraising,” said DSU Interim President Wilma Mishoe. “We have high hopes and expectations for the University’s Athletics Department under his capable leadership.”

Gines said he is honored and gratified for this opportunity to lead, build and advance Delaware State Athletics. “As a Land Grant, flagship HBCU in a capital city, DSU can become a Division I prototype for classroom, community and competitive success,” Gines said. “I am moved by President Mishoe’s passion and vision for DSU. She embraces the value of successful college athletics and how it can positively impact campus and community culture.”

During his recent tenure overseeing TAMUK athletics, the Javelinas posted their most successful six-year period of departmentwide competitive success. The highlights include 28 NCAA postseason appearances, eight national top 10 finishes, four Lone Star Conference Championships, one national runner-up, two team national championships, a College World Series appearance, a Live United Bowl victory, and 25 NCAA Division II individual national champions.

Also, Gines spearheaded the development of TAMUK’s comprehensive gender equity plan and launched women’s golf, tennis, and beach volleyball, while nearly doubling women’s student-athlete participation during his tenure.

Boeing Partners with TMCF to Invest $6 Million in HBCUs

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Continuing with its commitment to diversify its own internal workforce and available talent in the aerospace marketplace, Boeing is partnering with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) to invest $6 million in historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

When Congress passed its $1.5 trillion Tax Cuts and Jobs Act last December, Boeing Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg praised it as a “critical driver of business, economic growth and innovation” in a news release.

“On behalf of all of our stakeholders, we applaud and thank Congress and the administration for their leadership in seizing this opportunity to unleash economic energy in the United States,” Muilenburg said. “It’s the single-most important thing we can do to drive innovation, support quality jobs, and accelerate capital investment in our country.”

The new tax law he praised unequivocally gives corporations a massive permanent tax break, temporary rates to individuals and of course, repeals the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate, but Muilenburg made a $300 million commitment to invest in additional employee-related and charitable investments, as a result of the new law.

A few months later, the company is making good on its promise. With $100 million already earmarked to be invested internally through its employee development initiatives, Boeing will also commit $6 million to HBCUs through its partnership with TMCF, the nation’s largest organization exclusively representing the Black College Community.

Boeing’s partnership with TMCF comes as no surprise. Theodore Colbert, the architect of the partnership with TMCF, is a senior executive at Boeing; an HBCU alum of Morehouse College; and he sits on TMCF’s board of directors. The nonprofit also has a stellar record of providing programming and financial assistance to its member-schools since its inception in 1987. Named after the first African American Supreme Court Justice, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund has been a source for employers seeking top talent for competitive internships and jobs. It has also awarded more than $300 million to HBCUs and predominantly black institutions (PBIs). In addition to scholarships, TMCF provides programmatic, capacity building, public policy and advocacy support for its 47 member-schools and the nearly 300,000 students who attend them.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2017 median pay for an aerospace engineer starts at $113,030 per year or $54.34 per hour. Projected percentage change in employement over the next eight years is at 7%, which makes the new investment all the more important to HBCUs and students of color looking to break into the industry.

Boeing’s $6 million investment in HBCUs isn’t its first. Dating back more than a decade, the aerospace company has been partnering with minority colleges as part of its strategy to develop beneficial and patent relationships that it believed will drive its future business and customer growth enterprisewide. Its strategy is also a derivative of the 1978 law passed by Congress that ensured a fair share of contract awards were awarded by federal agencies to HBCUs and minority colleges.

In 2001, for example, the company donated unused patents relating to optical logic and optical computing technology to the Alabama A&M University Research Institute. In 2003, Boeing donated two unused patents relating to engine pollution control technology to Florida A&M University and donated five patents to California State University Long Beach. In 2003, Boeing awarded subcontracts valued at more than $2 million to HBCU/MIs.

“This $6 million from Boeing into TMCF is more than a gift, it is the programmatic manifestation of a longtime strategic partnership that will change the trajectory of so many innovative, intelligent, and deserving HBCU students,” said Dr. Harry L. Williams, president and CEO of TMCF.

The financial investment will be spread across eight HBCU partners that Boeing pre-selected: Alabama A&M University, Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Spelman College, Howard University, Morgan State University, North Carolina A&T State University, and Tuskegee University. It will fund scholarships, internships, on-campus engagements, and immersive “boot camp” programs that will introduce students to Boeing’s culture and career paths. Students will also benefit from the program’s on-campus engagements that provide high-touch opportunities for students, faculty, and administrators.

“This investment is another example of how we are building a diverse pipeline of future talent,” said Michael Ford, Boeing vice president of Global Diversity and Inclusion. “Through scholarships, internships, on-campus engagements, and immersive opportunities at Boeing, we hope to inspire and enable HBCU students to pursue careers in the aerospace industry.”

Students from other HBCUs may also benefit from the investment through special immersion opportunities to source top student leaders through TMCF’s award-winning Leadership Institute. Other historically black colleges and universities such as South Carolina State University, Southern University, Prairie View A&M University, Florida A&M University, and Tennessee State University will continue to receive investments from Boeing focused on infrastructure and capability building

Four From HBCUs Picked in Major League Baseball Draft

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HBCUs provided four draftees in rounds 19-29 of the 2018 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft.

Randy Norris

Winston-Salem State junior outfielder Randy Norris led the group with his selection by the San Francisco Giants in the 19th round.

Darrien Williams

Prairie View A&M senior pitcher Darrien Williams was picked in the 26th round by the Los Angeles Angels.

Marshawn Taylor

The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Grambling State senior shortstop Marshawn Taylor in the 28th round.

Ray Hernandez

Alabama State senior third baseman Ray Hernandez closed out the HBCU draftees with his selection by the Atlanta Braves in the 29th round.

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Norris has had an historic career at Winston-Salem State. He has played three years with the Rams and is currently the team’s career leader in hits (231), at-bats (608), and stolen bases (92). He is coming off of a stellar junior season that including finishing the season ranked fourth in the nation with a .437 batting average. He is also tied for ninth in the nation in stolen bases with 34. Last season, Norris led the nation with 47 stolen bases.

Williams is the first PVAMU baseball player since 2009 to be selected in the draft. He was a four-year player for the Panthers, and began his career as both an outfielder. He became a pitcher in year two before solely focusing on the mound during his final two years.

Taylor, who spent two seasons in the GSU Black and Gold, earned several accolades, including being named the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Player of the Year, Hitter of the Year and Newcomer of the Year in 2017. He is a two-time All-SWAC First Team shortstop and earned All-SWAC Tournament Team honors after Grambling State finished runner-up to Texas Southern in the 2018 Baseball Tournament.

Hernandez was among the nations best in several categories as he led Alabama State to the East Division championship in the SWAC this season. He finished the season hitting .379 with 11 home runs – both team highs for the Hornets – and finished with 45 runs batted in and 46 runs scored. He also connected on 12 doubles and led the team with a .601 slugging percentage as the Hornets made the semifinals of the conference tournament.

CNN: DeVos, Trump, and what we’re missing about HBCUs

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(CNN) Once again, leaders at historically black colleges and universities find themselves in the news responding to a move by the Trump administration. Wednesday, it was Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’ commencement address at Bethune-Cookman, where, over a din of boos, she “reaffirm[ed] this administration’s commitment to and support for [historically black colleges and universities] and the students they serve.”

Students and alumni had already tried to pressure the school to cancel DeVos’ address because of her later-recanted statement that founders of HBCUs were “real pioneers” of school choice (when, in reality, HBCUs were founded during segregation when black students were barred from attending many white colleges).
But perhaps some of the booing also stemmed from the contrast between her comments about “support,” in light of President Trump’s comments the week before, in which he questioned the constitutionality of HBCU construction financing. On Friday, officials at Texas Southern University in Houston canceled a planned speech by GOP Sen. John Cornyn after strong student protest.
Even though Trump later said he has “unwavering support” for them, he and his staff have on multiple occasions generated controversy when it comes to the history and mission of HBCUs.
These fundamental missteps and misunderstandings matter to HBCUs because of just how much of their funding comes from the federal government. Direct federal investments and student aid make up 25% of HBCU revenue. So, engaging federal policymakers is not something HBCU leaders and their advocates can avoid or ignore — nor should the federal policymakers be taking their responsibility to HBCUs lightly.

Jackson State Makes HBCU History With NASA Partnership

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Bynum said the partnership will aid in recruitment efforts because

“a big part of this program is about getting a lot of internship opportunities for our students. This will let people know that Jackson State University produces an outstanding product and outstanding students and has the capability to work with an organization like NASA. We’re extremely excited about what this means to our students and their future endeavors.”

“We understand we need HBCUs. … We know that there’s a lot of opportunity and technology that we haven’t thought about. … We’re asking for your help to be able to achieve that,” Kalisa said. “Working with Enterprise Services and other prime contractors helps us add technology to our missions.”

NASA has plans far beyond Earth and is enlisting JSU’s expertise.

“We’re looking at Mars and beyond, and we need your help,” Kalisa said. “We’re looking at your enterprise services, infrastructure and students to be able to help us with our needs.”

She reminded the audience that JSU hosted the NASA Road Tour last year, and “JSU showed us what they can do and what they can bring to the table. … You have the capacity.”

Kalisa said NASA’s success would be measured by having “more money coming in to Jackson State University and more technology coming out of NASA. We’re trying to find innovative ways to “make it lucrative for prime contractors.”

Joseph A. Whittaker, associate provost at JSU, described the signing ceremony as “the beginning and the foundation for which we move forward; we have come a long way historically. This is one step in the process.”

Whittaker emphasized that this partnership “goes beyond just leveraging our knowledge and existing capabilities of the university — the technical capital and knowledge capital.”

He said, “The important thing about this is that it’s for everyone. Staff, faculty and students will benefit from these capabilities and the potential skill set that will come from this agreement with Enterprise Services.” However, he said at some point Enterprise will “let us go, and we’re going to take the lead.”

Whittaker added, “As a university, we don’t always think about doing business in a way like our corporate partners. But part of this is to help us to grow in that direction.”

He said all of JSU’s stakeholders will benefit from the partnership. “There are no limits to what we can do.”

Matthew Welsh is vice president of Space and Science at Enterprise Services, which is primarily a government-focused organization that delivers IT solutions and early transformation technology to customers.

Welsh said, “It’s really an exciting time be in government IT and supporting our public sector. … There are so many transformation opportunities,” including mobile technology that will make the world a better place.

He said Enterprise Services supports scientific and IT missions, and he wants to align with the mission of JSU by empowering people and solving real world problems.

“NASA is one of the best customers I’ve had the chance to work with. When you think about the NASA mission and NASA history they really are a bunch of dreamers. … This is absolutely paramount when you talk about academic partnerships. Every student who walks through the doors are really just trying to do the same thing,” Welsh said.

He’s especially excited about bringing the scientific perspective into the academic space and said the success of the partnership with JSU will look like this: providing a robust pipeline of opportunity both from Enterprise Services and JSU.

Welsh said his organization has 14,000 employees and is always looking for people who are highly trained, highly motivated and willing to make difference.

Meanwhile, JSU also recognized Troy E. Miller for his pivotal role in securing a spot for JSU as a protégé in the NASA program. Miller works as a specialist for NASA’s Office of Small Business Programs.

He indicated that establishing the partnership was not easy.

“It’s been a long struggle to get to this point. It started two years ago. We had to do some relationship-building with Enterprise Services and with Jackson State,” Miller said.

Mahmoud A. Manzoul, a JSU professor of Electrical and Computing Engineering, serves as the technical point of contact for the partnership. He handled the initial conversation about a possible relationship with NASA two years ago.

“We’re excited about this,” Manzoul said. “This agreement is not limited to our department. It’s for all the other departments in CSET as well as the entire university.”

FAMU Marching 100 Band Prepares For Busy Summer

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) – The Incomparable FAMU Marching 100 visited Second Cup on Thursday as they prepare to celebrate their anniversary, for Summer Band Camp, and for their debut at the Tournament of Roses Parade.

Joining WTXL’s Christine Souders are Director of Bands Shelby Chipman and drum major Aaron Torres.

The dates of the events: Anniversary is June 1, Summer Band Camp is July 7-14, and the Tournament of Roses is Jan. 1 in Pasadena, California.

The band is seeking donations to support the band’s trip to the Tournament of Roses parade.

‘Black-ish’ Creator Kenya Barris Just Gave $1 Million To This HBCU

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After donating a huge gift to their alma mater, it’s clear Black-ishcreator Kenya Barris, and his wife, Dr. Rainbow Barris live by the motto, “To whom much has been given, much shall be required.”

On Monday, the Barris family donated $1 million to Clark Atlanta University to kick off the institution’s year-long 30th anniversary celebration. The generous gift has been named the Kenya and Rainbow Barris Annual Scholarship Award, and will be split between students studying mass media arts and biology.

Clark Atlanta University President Dr. Ronald A. Johnson praised the couple for using their powerful voice to support their “beloved institution.”

“Mr. Barris has lifted his powerful voice in the entertainment industry to explore issues of classism and racism in creative and humorous ways,” Johnson said. “In giving back to their alma mater, he has again used his powerful voice to articulate the importance of supporting this beloved institution that is giving our students the skills and confidence to find and lift their own voices in the field of their choice.”

Kenya and Rainbow Barris both graduated from CAU in 1996 with degrees in mass media arts and biology respectively.

 

Tuskegee University Launches First Cybersecurity Focused Engineering Degree

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Tuskegee University launched what it is calling the first of its kind computer engineering program focusing on cybersecurity at a Historically Black Colleges and University (HBCU).

The new bachelor’s degree will begin this fall and was approved by the Board of Trustees at its March 2018 meeting.

Those teaching in the new degree program will hold cybersecurity certifications that include Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP), Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), and Certified Information Privacy Professional/Government (CIPP/G) —among others.

“Our new computer engineering program positions Tuskegee University in a unique niche to provide leadership in cybersecurity studies,” said Dr. Heshmat Aglan, dean of the College of Engineering said in a press release.

“Additionally, this program will provide the platform to expand into other emerging engineering specialties, including artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, machine learning, deep learning, autonomous vehicle technology, and embedded robotics.”

The degree offering comes at a time when the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that there were more than 209,000 cybersecurity jobs that went unfilled in 2016.

Nine Top Cincinnati High School Students Commit to TSU

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NASHVILLE, TN (TSU News Service) — Tennessee State University continues to attract the best and brightest from across the nation.

Nine graduating seniors, each with a 4.0 grade point average from Mt. Healthy High School in Cincinnati, have committed to attend TSU this fall.

TSU President Glenda Glover and university officials welcomed three of the students, who along with their school principal, Thomas Hill, visited the campus Thursday.

The other six students will visit TSU after their school’s graduation ceremony on May 26, Hill said. They are all being admitted with full scholarships.

Glover described the students’ visit as “a great day” for Tennessee State University.

“These high achievers made a great choice by selecting to come to Tennessee State University,” she said. “They are part of the elite scholars we continue to attract who value the world-class programs and quality education offered here in a caring community of faculty, staff and administrators who are committed to excellence.”

The three students — Jierre Franklin, Gelanie Jones and Derrick Sanders — said a special bond they share led them to attend the same college. They grew up in the same neighborhood, attended the same elementary and middle schools, and are about to graduate from the same high school.

“We have been friends for 10 years,” said Sanders, who plans to major in business, as well as join the gospel choir. “This school has a great legacy with graduates like Oprah Winfrey, Duke Ellington. I saw the choir perform with Jennifer Hudson, one of my favorite singers, and that really impressed me.”

Another attraction for the students is that they all wanted to attend an HBCU, according to Hill.

“I am a first-year principal in a school with a predominantly African-American student population,” said Hill, who is Caucasian. “We have kids who can compete with anybody in the country, and their desire to attend an HBCU was a preference of theirs. I look at them as my children. All of the students coming here are honor students and I am extremely proud of them.”

For Franklin, a percussionist in her school band, who plans to major in biology and join the TSU marching band, her interest in an HBCU started as a freshman when she accompanied a relative on a college tour.

“That tour was an HBCU college tour and I remember the environment was exactly somewhere I wanted to be,” Franklin said. “Here at TSU it feels like family, and I like the band here.”

Jones, who also plans to major in biology and play on the tennis team, is not a stranger to TSU. His older sister is a junior here, and he said that will help keep him focused.

“I think my sister being here is going to help me to stay on track,” said Jones, the second of three children. “I have been here plenty of times. I have attended Homecoming. I love everything about this school. It’s like a family.”

Audrey Strafford is TSU’s assistant director of Institutional Support (One-Stop Shop), and formerly a longtime financial aid staff, who received the students from Cincinnati. She thinks the students’ “unique” relationship gives them a big advantage to succeed.

“When I find students like these, it makes my heart beat faster because this is what TSU is made of  … this is our legacy,” Strafford said. “I am just so proud they have a principal who would extend himself to make sure these students get a quality education.”

Terrance Izzard, TSU’s associate vice president for Enrollment Management and Student Success, said TSU is “a perfect place for them to grow and to soar.”

“The fact that TSU is a place for family, it makes it wholesome that these young people, who have been knowing each other from grade school and now they are matriculating through college together, are joining our family here at TSU. It is going to be a great experience for all of them.”

Franklin, Jones and Sanders come to TSU as part of a millennial generation of high achieving students that the university continues to strategically recruit in its effort to improve retention and graduation rates. This comes on the heels of sweeping changes TSU President Glover announced in 2016 that raised admission standards to attract the best and brightest.

This article was originally published via TNS

Southern University Set to Launch First Medical Marijuana Program

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Southern University and Agricultural and Medicinal College, a historically black university in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has solidified its stake in Louisiana’s medical marijuana industry.

On Friday, the school’s board of supervisors approved a contract with Advanced Biomedics, a Louisiana-based company specializing in pharmaceutical-grade marijuana products, to partner on the cultivation and production of medical marijuana at Southern’s research facilities.

“This is a momentous event,” said Bobby R. Phills, chancellor of the Southern University Agricultural Center and dean of the school’s College of Agricultural, Family and Consumer Sciences, in a news release Friday. “We are extremely excited to be able to provide quality medicine for the citizens of Louisiana.”

The HBCU and Louisiana State University are the first public universities in the country set to produce and research marijuana at their facilities. Presently, the institutions are the only two legal growers and researchers of medical marijuana in the state.

“This groundbreaking research opportunity will also provide revenue for the University and economic development in North Baton Rouge,” Phillis added.

Southern’s product will be ready for distribution at Louisiana dispensaries in early 2019. Medical marijuana is legal in Louisiana, but recreational use is still prohibited. Nine pharmacies selected by the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy will be distributing medicinal marijuana as early as summer 2018.

Under Friday’s deal, Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center, which will oversee the program, will receive more than $6 million, according the university. Advanced Biomedics can automatically renew its contract with the HBCU for two subsequent five-year periods, unless there is a cause for termination. Southern will receive a $1 million signing bonus with each contract renewal.

The Agricultural Research and Extension Center is one of five campuses in Southern’s system, and focuses on livestock and agricultural research and community education, including a leadership program empowering small farmers who have limited resources throughout the South. Read full at MIC

NCAA Committee Issues Numerous Penalties Against N.C. Central

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The NCAA Committee on Infractions issued numerous penalties against N.C. Central on Wednesday, citing “improper eligibility certifications” at the school and “the institution’s failure to monitor its certification process,” which are Level II violations, according to the NCAA.

Those penalties include vacating wins within the men’s basketball, football and baseball programs.

The NCAA’s case against N.C. Central involved 22 student-athletes in seven sports, including men’s and women’s cross country and track and field teams, and baseball, football and men’s basketball teams from 2012-17.

N.C. Central officials declined to comment.
According to the NCAA’s public infractions decision, “The improper certifications came from a single, but repeated, error of counting foundational courses toward student-athletes’ percentage-of-degree completion. Outdated degree auditing and academic advising systems were another factor that contributed to the violations. Additionally, the academic support and certification groups did not have enough staff to oversee the certification process. Because of the improper certifications, 22 student-athletes competed while ineligible. The university also did not withhold six of the student-athletes from competition before they were reinstated.”

“The NCAA enforcement staff significantly noted in its report that ‘the violations were unintentional and the institution otherwise maintained appropriate certification, rules education, and monitoring policies and procedures,’ ”

N.C. Central said in a statement. Read full here

Texas Southern Baseball Defeats Grambling State for SWAC Champ Title

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Texas Southern was too much for Grambling in an 18-3 rout in the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament championship Sunday at Wesley Barrow Field.

TSU exploded for nine runs in the third inning and cruised to its second straight conference title and third in four years under coach Michael Robertson.

“It was the vision at the beginning of the year to see if we can come back and do it again, especially for the group of individuals that we have in this program,” Robertson said. “We wanted to get back here and to finish what we started, and so we had a lot of pressure on us as a coaching staff. … We had 11 seniors, and they’ve really worked hard since they’ve been here and they’ve done a good job for us, so this is a very emotional championship for me.”

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Texas Southern’s Olajide Oloruntimilehin was named tournament MVP of the tournament and was speechless after the team’s win.

“We grind for this all season — the fall, we show up to 6:30 a.m. practices out in the heat, cold and whatever weather,” said Oloruntimilehin, who was 2 for 6 with four RBIs Sunday. “We’ve been practicing for this moment, and I’m just glad that everything that we trained for led up to this championship. It’s amazing. I want to thank my teammates, my coaches; I couldn’t have done it without them. I want to thank God. I’m at a loss of words; I’m just so happy we got it done.”

Aaron Solis got the win on the mound and said his offense aided his performance.

“It’s almost like I’m throwing a bullpen up there when I have the support that I have,” said Solis, who allowed two earned runs in five innings with six strikeouts. “I’m just trying to locate my pitches and not trying to do too much.”

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Grambling (26-26) led 2-1 after two innings but couldn’t stem the Texas Southern offense. Grambling coach James Cooper said some of his team’s mistakes — the Tigers committed four errors and left 14 runners on base — had to do with fatigue after Grambling played twice Saturday.

“They have a group of seniors that has been to the SWAC championship game four consecutive years now,” Cooper said. “They got a group of guys that have won three out of four championships, so with all that being said you can’t make four errors and have 14 hits and only score three runs against a team of that caliber, because they’re that freaking good.”

Texas Southern (27-26) earned the SWAC’s bid to the NCAA regionals.

“We want to be able to have good pitching, good defense and timely hitting, and if we do that I think we can beat anybody,” Robertson said. “We’ll get back to Houston, and we’ll try to keep these guys sharp and find out where our next destiny is.”

North Carolina A&T State University Wins 2018 MEAC Baseball Championship

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 20, 2018) – In the summer of 2014, the North Carolina A&T baseball program hired an assistant coach named Ben Hall. Two months later he was N.C. A&T’s interim head coach. His team included a few freshmen he recently met named Myles Sowell, Adan Ordonez, Milton Rivera, A.J. Hunt and K.J. McAlister.

Hall and those group of players experienced a 10-win season in 2015 and did not qualify for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championship Baseball Tournament. They won 13 games in 2016 and did not qualify for the tournament. In 2017, they reached the tournament and were one win shy of making the championship game.

On Sunday, May 20, 2018, the senior group of Sowell, Ordonez, Rivera, Hunt and McAlister along with Hall and the rest of the Aggies baseball program won the 2018 MEAC championship with a 12-9 win over their longtime nemesis in the tournament, the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats.

Four years removed from that 10-win season, the 2018 Aggies broke the school record for wins (32-23) and won the program’s fourth MEAC title and the first since 2005. Sophomore Zach McLean was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player and McLean, junior Dawnoven Smith, Rivera, and Sowell were named to the all-tournament team.

“First off, those young men are quality people,” said Hall who won the title in his hometown of Daytona Beach, Fla., after leading the Aggies to a school-record 16 conference wins.

“They trusted we would put good players around them. Leadership is important. Senior leadership is imperative,” Hall continued. “Those guys getting tournament experience last year for the first was important because we learned from it and grew from it. So, what happened is we returned a team full of hungry kids who wanted to do nothing but win. They had one purpose and that’s not to leave Daytona Beach without a championship.”

N.C. A&T came into Sunday’s game still in the winner’s bracket, therefore, the Aggies needed to only win once to claim the title while the Wildcats (24-34) had to win twice to claim the title. Hall said he did not want his team thinking about playing a second game on Sunday.

That feat became difficult when the Wildcats took a 5-0 lead in the third and an 8-4 lead going into the bottom of the fifth. The Aggies fifth saw the Wildcats replace right-hand starter Tyler Norris, who was pitching on short rest after throwing three innings against Norfolk State on Wednesday, with RHP Brandon Wilkes. Wilkes opened by hitting junior Jarrett Norman with 1-1 pitch. McLean then blasted a two-run homer to left to cut the Wildcats lead to 8-6. It was McLean’s third homer of the tournament with all three going to left. He also finished with a whopping 11 RBI in three games.

“I think Zach’s home run against their bullpen guy let our guys know we were going to be okay,” said Hall. “Their starter competed his tail off. He was tough on our guys. But when Zach destroyed that fastball, as long as we were able to put some zeroes up (on the scoreboard), we really had no doubt in the dugout we were going to win.”

N.C. A&T added another run in the fifth on an RBI single from Forest Kimbrell to make it an 8-7 game. The Aggies manufactured a run in the seventh to tie the game at 8, as sophomore Ryne Stanley walked, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Sowell and reached third on a groundout by Rivera. Stanley then came home on a wild pitch by RHP Tyler Krull.

A four-run eighth gave the Aggies the lead for good. With runners on first and second, McLean’s RBI double to left gave the Aggies their first lead of the game. Another wild pitch, this time from B-CU LHP Joseph Calamita, allowed another Aggies run to score as Norman crossed the plate for a 10-8 Aggies lead. McLean later scored on a passed ball. The last run of the inning was scored from a second rally the Aggies mounted after the bases were cleared.

Sowell reached on a fielder’s choice and Rivera and senior Greg White were hit by pitches. B-CU reliever David Matta (RHP) forced in a run when he walked Kimbrell on six pitches for a 12-8 Aggies advantage. By this time, the game was in the hands of the Aggies bullpen who has been excellent all season. Junior reliever Leon Hunter (RHP) and senior reliever Josh Bottenfield (RHP) did not disappoint.

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“We knew we had our pitching set up the way we wanted,” said Hall. “We wanted to be in a position where we could turn the game over to Bott and let him finish it. I thought Leon Hunter was huge for us and Bott was a tough matchup for them. Those guys went out and executed the game plan.”

Hunter pitched 2.1 innings of scoreless relief and Bottenfield (6-3), the nation’s leader in appearances with 38, got the win by pitching 2.1 innings and striking out two.

N.C. A&T will now ready itself for the NCAA Regionals scheduled for June 1-4. The selection show is 12 p.m., Monday, May 28 on ESPNU.

The last time the Aggies were in the NCAA Regionals they opened against Clemson. Clemson’s second baseman that day was named Ben Hall. Yes, that same young assistant coach turned interim head coach from 2014.

For more information on Aggie Athletics, visit here.

2018 MOBE Symposium Connected Major Brands to the Nearly 1.2 Trillion Dollar Buying Power 

Posted by HBCU Editors
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Newark, New Jersey, May 16, 2018 – More than 250 entrepreneurs, marketing and advertising executives attended the 2018 Marketing Opportunities in Business and Entertainment (MOBE) Symposium recently at Kiyo Sakaguchi Hall in the Prudential Tower, Newark, New Jersey. The event was sponsored by Prudential Financial, Inc and co-sponsored by P&G.

Welcome remarks were presented by host Dorinda Walker, vice president of Cultural Insights and Activation, Brand Marketing and Advertising, at Prudential. She was joined by Yvette Moyo, Co-founder of MOBE and Real Men Cook; Curtis Symonds, Conference Chairman and CEO & Founder of HBCUX Network; and Lela Coffey, Brand Director, Beauty – Multicultural of P&G, the Symposium’s co-sponsor.

“Prudential was honored to host the 2018 MOBE Symposium in our hometown of Newark, NJ! We understand MOBE’s mission – the importance of bringing together entrepreneurs and large corporations to cultivate strategic business alliances – and value being a part of efforts that support the economic progress of the black community,” said Walker.

Legendary cable executive Leo Hindery of InterMedia Partners, Alfred Edmond Jr, SVP of Black Enterprise and Louis Carr, President, Sales at BET presented keynote addresses. Panelists included senior executives from BET Her, Essence, Morgan Stanley, iOne Digital/Hello Beautiful, American Heart Association, BlackDoctor.org, NBA Players Association, WNBA, NFL, NASCAR and the Newark Office of Film and Television.

The inaugural MOBE Awards recognized veteran advertising and marketing executives. Each award recipient was presented with a piece of framed artwork donated by the Harlem Fine Arts Show. The distinguished honorees included:

  • Pepper Miller, President of The Hunter Miller Group and Ken Smikle, President & Founder of Target Market News received The Spirit Of D. Parke Gibson Award.
  • Chuck Morrison, former executive of UniWorld Group, Burrell Advertising and Coca-Cola USA and Carol H. Williams, President of Carol H. Williams Advertising received the MOBE Legends Award.
  • Long-time MOBE supporter Clyde Allen, President & Founder of Allen & Partners, received the MOBE Corporate Pioneer Award.

MOBE Symposium Founder, Yvette Moyo stated, “Sharing information, acknowledging our brilliance and that we drive the tone and tenor of this country in entertainment, fashion, and sports; this is the MOBE Way. Understand that our power to work together, to recognize and leverage our buying power, to celebrate and do business with each other and those who respect our value will be the key to our financial survival.”

The next MOBE Symposium will be held in April 2019 and smaller events are being planned during the year. Updated information can be found on their website, www.mobesymposium.com

About MOBE: MOBE (Pronounced “moe-bee”) delivers business building, education and mentoring resources to African-American marketing, technology, sports & entertainment professionals with growing businesses. The MOBE Symposium provides a place to initiate strategic alliances with larger corporations.

MOBE is where Marketing, Technology, Sports & Entertainment professionals converge with early- stage/growing businesses, business professionals and corporations. Since 1992, the MOBE series has delivered business building, education and mentoring resources for African-American professionals; sports, entertainment and other entrepreneurs. The organization has facilitated deals between young companies and large corporations to grow their businesses. MOBE’s registrants have directly influenced the spending power and impacted a vastly larger urban consumer base. An estimated $200 million in business was generated to African-American companies as a direct result of associations conceived at MOBE symposiums.

About Prudential: Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial services leader with more than $1 trillion of assets under management as of March 31, 2018, has operations in the United States, Asia,

Europe, and Latin America. Prudential’s diverse and talented employees are committed to helping individual and institutional customers grow and protect their wealth through a variety of products and services, including life insurance, annuities, retirement-related services, mutual funds and investment management. In the U.S., Prudential’s iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit www.news.prudential.com.

Media contact: Robin Beaman, 312-751-9689, rbeaman@beamaninc.comSymposium

contact: Pat Shields, 310-568-9091, mobesymposium@gmail.com

Graduation Season 2018: On Being Black and “GOALD” and Proud

Posted by Erin Keith, Esq.
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It’s graduation season and if your social media timelines look anything like mine, you too are witnessing a photo flood of newly minted HBCU alums, flourishing in their cap and gowns.

From first-generation grads and studying single parents, to those overcoming “imposter syndrome” or financial hardships to earn their degrees, the stories of perseverance, tenacity, and resilience are inspiring.

There is truly no better time than now to celebrate what it means to dream, work hard, and achieve! But in the wake of our current climate, where it seems some of “our cousins” conveniently forget or even renounce their blackness once they reach excellence (cc: Kanye West and Ben Carson), we also need to celebrate what it means to be black and goal-oriented and proud of both identities.

In the midst of my Saturday afternoon scroll on Insta, a non-cap-and-gown pic announcing the launch of a new clothing line, Black and GOALD, immediately caught my eye. As I learned more about the message behind the brand—celebrating blackness and goal-setting while remaining committed to one’s community—I definitely let out an audible “yassssss” to show my approval. The empowerment lifestyle apparel focuses on “inspiring black people to dominate their goals and level up,” while lifting up others! The line was started by Howard alum, Erin Winters and co-owner Cameron White, as a reminder of their collective pledge to do just that! In fact, Erin and Cameron are committed to giving a percentage of each sale back to the community through scholarships, black business partnerships, and service. The two are very adamant that Black and GOALD is not just another trendy t-shirt line, it’s a movement.

Founders and co-owners of Black and GOALD LLC, Cameron White and Erin Winters.

Thinking about the mission of Black and GOALD caused me to reflect on my own experiences since my time in undergrad and law school. To state it plainly, being “black and goald” won’t always be easy. As I’m sure many other alums will tell you, the years after graduation, ain’t no “crystal stair.” *Langston Hughes voice.*

There will be times when, despite your fancy hoods, degrees and resume, you will question your place and your purpose. There will be times when others will doubt and underestimate you, as the only person of color in the boardroom or courtroom. There will be times when you will be advised to diminish your blackness to make your rise to success easier—your presence more palatable. But, it is during these experiences that you will learn what you’re made of and hone your true essence. It during these moments that you will lean on your HBCU community to keep you grounded, motivated, focused and supported.

To me, being “black and goald” means never forgetting who you are in your pursuit of excellence. It is a reminder that to whom much is given, much is required—a call to be very black, very driven, and very proud in all spaces and at all times. And really, outside of that expensive piece of paper, isn’t that the best gift our HBCUs can give any of us? The confidence to relish in our goals and our blackness.

With that said, congrats to all the 2018 graduates! The best for each of you is truly yet to come. As for this Howard alum, I know I’ll be jumping on the “black and goald” bandwagon. Will you?

For more info on the Black and GOALD movement check them out on Instagram  (@black_and_goald) or Facebook (Black and GOALD).