NFL Partners With SWAC And MEAC To Create Job Opportunities

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On Friday, the NFL announced a new partnership with two of the leading historically black college and universities (HBCUs) conferences, Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and Mideastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), in order to create job opportunities for ethnic minorities both for professionals and current students at black colleges, reported USA Today.

“Our partnership with the HBCUs is not only important for our pipeline of qualified individuals at all levels of football, but also to improve the NFL’s goals for diversity and inclusion,” said NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Troy Vincent. “With our HBCU partnership, we are making steady progress in developing future coaches, officials, scouts, managers, front office personnel and others through effective football resources, educational programs and internships.”

The partnership bridges the gap on a much-needed support system from the NFL. Because of this partnership MEAC and SWAC will be able to offer current and future athletes in their conferences with an opportunity to intern with the NFL. Athletes will also be able to work as athletic trainers, video directors, or equipment managers to gain the hands on experience in the NFL, thanks to the partnership.

MEAC commissioner Dennis Thomas said, “We are elated to continue our partnership with the National Football League, which includes our current officiating involvement, to advancing the NFL’s diversity and inclusion initiatives with a strategic plan to increase diversity in all areas of employment at the league office and the clubs.”

SWAC Commissioner Duer Sharp was excited with the partnership, saying, “The Southwestern Athletic Conference is excited to partner with the NFL and MEAC to ensure that our student-athletes and students have exposure to superior professionals development and the difference career contingencies that the NFL and professional sports to offer.”

Stanley Nelson’s Film On Historically Black Colleges And Universities Set To Release In 2017

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In early 2016, filmmaker Stanley Nelson announced he will examine the history and legacy of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) for his next two-hour doc, reported Jet magazine.

The documentary is titled “Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Historically Black Colleges of Universities” and is set to premier on PBS in 2017.

“To tell this important and complex story, it is essential that our documentary highlights personal accounts, letters, diaries, photographs, and even home movies of the people who have lived the HBCU experience,” Nelson said.

From Shadow and Act:

“Titled “Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Historically Black Colleges and Universities,” the PBS documentary (and multimedia project) will dig into the significance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in American history, culture, and national identity, via the many stories from HBCU students, faculty, staff, and alumni. The documentary will tell stories of Americans who would not be denied a higher education, demonstrating how the 150-year history of HBCUs have influenced generations of Americans and shaped the landscape of the country.”

According to Paul Quinn President Michael Sorrell, the school and students will make an appearance in the film.

“The Quinnite Nation is proud to participate,” Sorrell said.

Rival FCS Conferences MEAC And SWAC Will Once Again Kick Off College Football Postseason In Celebration Bowl

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AFR-CelebrationBowl_LogoLast year, the first-ever Celebration Bowl, which showcases the heritage, legacy, pageantry and tradition of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), aired live on ABC—and it was a huge success. The North Carolina A&T Aggies beat the Alcorn State Braves by a touchdown in a thriller at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. 35,000 fans attended the matchup that pits the conference champion from the MEAC against the SWAC.

Yesterday, SWAC Commissioner Duer Sharp announced the postseason college football bowl game will kick off once again at noon ET on Saturday, Dec. 17, according to a news release. “By all objective measures, the inaugural 2015 bowl was a huge success and I am confident that the 2016 Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl will be even better,” he said. “I am even more excited about the bowl experience that the institutions, student-athletes and coaches will have on a national platform.”

Celebration Bowl Executive Director John Grant said he is pleased to announce the bowl game and said it will “expose millions of fans to the excitement of championship football,” reported ESPN.

“We would like to commend ESPN for their commitment to the MEAC and SWAC Champions for this postseason bowl game,” Sharp said.

More information on tickets for the game, and more will be available this summer.

Morgan State Named As ‘National Treasure’ By National Trust for Historic Preservation

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Washington (May 3, 2016) –In the latest significant effort towards preserving the rich cultural legacy of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), the National Trust for Historic Preservation today named Morgan State University a National Treasure. The National Trust and Morgan State University have partnered to develop a preservation plan that stewards the many historic buildings on campus, while planning wisely for the university’s future.

“The National Trust believes Historically Black Colleges and Universities tell an important and often overlooked American story,” said Stephanie Meeks, president and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “We are proud to partner with Morgan State University– a nationally-recognized innovator and education leader– to demonstrate how the preservation of their remarkable older buildings can be a springboard for growth, rejuvenation, and revitalization.”

Founded in 1867 as one of the nation’s earliest institutions to offer post-secondary education for African Americans and the largest in the state of Maryland, Morgan State University’s urban campus has an impressive collection of historic buildings. The University’s varied built landscape now features 20 contributing structures—ranging from Classical and Italianate to Modern and Brutalist—eligible for listing on the National Register. Buildings on the campus were designed by pioneering and celebrated black architects such as Albert Cassell, Hilyard Robinson, Louis Fry, and Leon Bridges.

“We have known of Morgan’s significance on the higher education stage for many years and now, as we prepare to celebrate our 150thanniversary, the world will know that, in fact, this university is a national treasure,” said David Wilson, president of Morgan State University. “We are very excited and honored by this designation from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. In many ways, it is recognition of the value we have placed on caring for and preserving the history of the great Morgan State University.”

Under the leadership of President David Wilson and Dean Akers of the School of Architecture, the University has made positive strides to preserve portions of the campus, including the restoration of University Chapel, the only building individually listed on the National Register at present. In addition, Morgan State University is home to one of six HBCU accredited architecture programs and the only one actively seeking accreditation in historic preservation.

This designation by the nation’s leading preservation organization recognizes Morgan State University’s historic significance as an HBCU and its status as a compelling example of the challenges that colleges across the country face in stewarding their historic buildings while redeveloping their historic campuses.

As a National Treasure, Morgan State joins a growing portfolio of historic sites and marks the second HBCU, along with Howard University in Washington, D.C., where the National Trust for Historic Preservation is actively working. The National Trust for Historic Preservation’s dedicated involvement with America’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities dates back to 1998 when HBCUs across the country made the America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places list. Additionally, the National Trust has worked over the years with Congress to get Historic Preservation Funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities reauthorized—securing more than $61 million in the restoration of historic buildings on HBCU campuses.

To learn more about the Morgan State University National Treasure, visit www.savingplaces.org.

Twitter User Says Spelman College Tried To Silence Her After She Was Raped By Group Of Morehouse Students

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How many times do we have to go through this?

Tweets alleging four Morehouse College students gang raping a Spelman College student rocked the black college community on Monday. The tweets by an anonymous Twitter account led to the “rape by Morehouse” hashtag—and started a conversation about sexual violence on campus at HBCUs.

In a heart breaking series of tweets that recounts the incident in vivid detail, an anonymous Twitter user criticizes Spelman for refusing to do anything about it and says this is her first and last year at the school.

“This is my freshmen year at Spelman and my last year because I decided to leave after what happened to me,” tweeted the anonymous Twitter account.

“I went to a party with my friends there were a lot of people there and it was really fun so we decided to drink with the upperclassmen. I was drunk but that doesn’t mean I forgot about what happened. I went to the bathroom upstairs to throw up and when I opened the door I was surrounded by four Morehouse students who took me to another room and took turns raping me.”

Photo credit: AJC.com

The owner of the account said she was in shock about what had happened and won’t be attending Spelman in the future because she feels she was silenced.

“It’s sad that I have to create a page to express myself,” she said, “rather than tweeting from my real account because AUC students blame and bash victims.

Spelman College President Mary Schmidt Campbell reached out to the owner of the Twitter account, expressing her personal support for her.

“Our hearts go out to you @RapedAtSpelman. Please identify yourself to me, so that I may offer you my full support and assistance,” Campbell said.

TMCF Is Proud To Announce Partnership With The NBA

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The organization that is transforming the lives of students at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) is now providing one talented and enthusiastic student an opportunity to make his or her college experience more worthwhile.

The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) is announcing a partnership with the National Basketball Association (NBA) that will help one student to “enhance his or her studies at a college or university of his or her choice” including HBCUs, the statement read. “The recipient will receive a 3-year renewable scholarship at $10,000 per year (for a total not to exceed $30,000),” according to TMCF.

In addition, the chosen student for the program will also have the opportunity to work directly under Commissioner Emeritus David Stern by applying to intern at the NBA league office.

TMCF is looking students who are currently enrolled at a four-year college or university that will be classified as a sophomore as of the beginning of Fall 2016. The scholarship is open to all majors, students must also have interest in sports. To learn more about the scholarship criteria, the application process, and how to apply click here.

“The increased costs of college, along with stricter grant and loan requirements, make scholarships like this all the more important to help students get to and through college,” said TMCF President & CEO Johnny C. Taylor, Jr. “The NBA has been a great supporter of TMCF and continues to demonstrate its commitment to improve education and build tomorrow’s leaders.”

The deadline to apply for this year’s David J. Stern Scholarship Program is June 30, 2016.

NCCU Student Found Dead in Ben Ruffin Residence Hall Dorm

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Investigation is underway after a student was found dead inside Ben Ruffin Residence Hall, a dorm at North Carolina Central University, according to WTVD.

Authorities said 22-year-old Kewanne Malik Lee of Durham was found unresponsive in his room around 10 a.m. Officials say his death is not being investigated as suspicious. It is unclear what caused his sudden death. Lee was a junior majoring in Health Education.

Grief counselors from Student Health and Counseling Services are available at Ruffin Hall and the Student Health Building. Leaders from the Office of Spiritual Development and Dialogue are also there to assist with grief counseling.

Honorable Judge Horace T. Ward To Be Funeralized at Morehouse College’s King Chapel

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Judge-Horace-Ward-Article-201604251144-600x372ATLANTA, April 29, 2016 – The Morehouse College community joins other Georgians as we mourn the loss of legal, political and civil rights trailblazer, the Honorable Judge Horace T. Ward, a member of the class of 1949. He was 88.

Following Ward’s wishes, his funeral will be held at Morehouse College in the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel on Tuesday, May 3 at 11 a.m. The service is open to the public.  A wake, which will also be open to the public, will be held Monday, May 2, 6 – 8 p.m. in the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel.

Ward, who died April 23, was the first African American judge to serve on the U.S. District Court in Georgia after he was appointed by President Jimmy Carter in 1979 and was Georgia’s second African American to serve in the state legislature after Reconstruction. The first was his Morehouse classmate, Leroy Johnson

After graduating from Morehouse, Ward’s application to law school at the University of Georgia triggered a long court battle, as he would have become the first African American to attend UGA. Ward eventually earned his law degree at Northwestern University. But he helped break down the doors of segregation at UGA as part of the legal team that successfully fought to get Hamilton E. Holmes and Charlayne Hunter admitted as UGA’s first African American students.

“Judge Ward was a Morehouse Man in every sense,” said Morehouse President John Silvanus Wilson Jr. “Our students and alumni strive to live consequential lives that make a difference in our world. I am proud to say that Horace T. Ward did that and so much more. He will be missed and his legacy will live on.”

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Ranked America’s fifth “Most Entrepreneurial College” by Forbes Magazine in 2015, Morehouse College is the nation’s largest liberal arts college for men. Founded in 1867, the College enrolls approximately 2,100 students and historically has conferred more bachelor’s degrees on black men than any other institution in the world. Morehouse College has produced more Rhodes Scholars than any other HBCU.  Prominent alumni include Martin Luther King Jr., Nobel Peace Prize laureate; Dr. David Satcher, former U.S. Surgeon General; Shelton “Spike” Lee, American filmmaker; Maynard H. Jackson, the first African American mayor of Atlanta, Ga.; and Jeh Johnson, the Secretary of Homeland Security.

Kyle O’Quinn Of The NY Knicks To Receive Bachelor’s Degree From Norfolk State

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112715knicksmiami001acnyFormer Norfolk State University basketball standout Kyle O’Quinn, now of the NBA’s New York Knicks, will be among the university’s more than 600 students expected to graduate on May 7 at the Norfolk Scope.

O’Quinn, 26, will return to the Scope to walk across the stage and receive his bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies.

As a student-athlete, the Queens, New York, native led Norfolk State to its only NCAA Division I Tournament win in school history, an 86-84 win over No. 2 seed Missouri in 2012 which propelled NSU into the national spotlight and helped the center get drafted in the second round of the 2012 NBA Draft. While training for the draft, O’Quinn finished his senior year a few credits shy of completing his degree. The hoops star said he finished his degree through NSU’s School of Extended Learning online to help fulfill a promise that he made to his family.

“My parents were always big on education,” O’Quinn said. “Graduating from Norfolk State was a promise I kept to my mom and dad and is something I wanted to uphold.”

O’Quinn, who just completed his fourth season in the NBA, was drafted by the Orlando Magic, where he spent three seasons. Prior to the 2015-2016 season, O’Quinn returned to his hometown and signed a free-agent contract with the Knicks, where he averaged 4.8 points and 3.8 rebounds per game this past year.

Though the 82-game season is taxing on any NBA player, O’Quinn never forgot about his ties to Norfolk State. He helped to raise money for the University’s “I AM NSU” donor campaign and has also served as a mentor to players on the NSU basketball teams.

In February, the Norfolk State University Athletics Department held a Kyle O’Quinn Bobblehead Night and distributed more than 600 bobblehead dolls to attendees. O’Quinn was in attendance and signed autographs for guests. The player remains one of Norfolk State’s most popular former student-athletes.

Norfolk State Grad Jeneé Osterheldt Named Harvard Nieman Fellow

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Jeneé Osterheldt, The Star’s lifestyle and culture columnist, has been accepted to the Nieman Foundation for Journalism program at Boston’s Harvard University. She is one of 24 journalists — ranging from reporters to editors to digital strategists — in the Nieman class of 2017, announced Tuesday.

As a fellow, Osterheldt plans to study “theories of discrimination and their application to storytelling on diverse subjects. Her research will include black and women’s studies, as well as the history of feminism.”

Osterheldt is a Virginia native and graduated from Norfolk State University with a bachelor’s in journalism in 2001.

She has been a Knight Ridder rotating intern, launched “The Scenario” nightlife column at The Star and has spent nearly nine years as a columnist who is not afraid to fly at the new iFly and not afraid to write about how post-racial America is not a reality for many blacks — as evidenced by the deaths in Charleston, Baltimore, Ferguson, New York and many other cities.

The Nieman fellows will begin their residency at Harvard this fall for an academic year.

Jackson State University Launches “Silence The Negative” Community Challenge For Students Of HBCUs

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Jackson State University students will get the opportunity to address negative perceptions about the university, and in particular the 107 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the country. The aim to discuss important topics like post-graduate careers, and negative remarks towards HBCUs, and how to overcome these things.

“I have been at Jackson State University for three years, and have been able to see the good and the bad,” Kendall Bunch, 2016-2017 Student Government President on campus, told me in a recent interview. “I have also been able to learn from great instructors and mentors. The love I have for my university is why it is hard to hear so many speak about it in a negative light.”

“So often we hear about all the negative issues that plague our universities without providing viable solutions,” he said. “The goal of this campaign–which I hope many other HBCUs that deal with similar situations will adopt–is to assure that we show JSU as the thriving university that it is despite our issues and circumstances.

Bunch added, “No student is ignorant to the issues we face, and now is the time yes for student leaders to stand and push for the change needed.”

Bunch said Jackson State students want to lessen the amount of external negative talk, while they internally work to make sure these issues do not continue. “Many times our negative remarks can negatively impact those who come after us and that is what we must cease,” he said. “HBCU graduates face so many issues post-graduation when attempting to secure a job.”

“One of those issues that we can put an end to is employers questioning a candidate based on the reputation of the university the student attended. The movements of the past have travel and are heard by many. I hope this will do the same.”

It is the goal of Jackson State’s student government and student body that other HBCUs will catch on to the vision being cast and cause a chain reaction that not only addresses the issues of HBCUs but demand change to on the “swept under the rug” problems.

For more information be sure to follow Jackson State’s Student Government Instagram, @jsusga.

Howard University Bison Sign Deal With Under Armour

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Washington, DC (May, 2 2016) — Howard University today announces partnership with Under Armour (NYSE: UA), the global leader in performance footwear, apparel and equipment. As part of the partnership, Under Armour will exclusively design and supply apparel and accessories for training and game-day uniforms for all 19 of the University’s men’s and women’s varsity athletics teams.

“I am absolutely thrilled about our new partnership with Under Armour,” Howard University Director of Athletics Kery Davis said. “Under Armour is a brand that fits perfectly with the Bison athletics story and culture. Our primary focus at Howard is, of course, our student-athletes, and Under Armour’s passion and commitment to high quality and innovation will benefit our student-athletes for years to come. Our entire department is looking forward to a long and mutually productive relationship with the Under Armour team.”

“Howard University is an institution built on the highest values of academic excellence, and we are extremely proud to be teaming up with one of the most vibrant, distinctive and historic programs in the country to help elevate the performance of all Bison student-athletes with innovative apparel,” said Ryan Kuehl, Vice President, Sports Marketing, Under Armour.

This new affiliation further expands Under Armour’s leadership in providing proven performance benefits to college athletes on all playing fields. Howard University is the brand’s first HBCU partnership.

About Under Armour, Inc.
Under Armour (NYSE: UA), the originator of performance footwear, apparel and equipment, revolutionized how athletes across the world dress. Designed to make all athletes better, the brand’s innovative products are sold worldwide to athletes at all levels. The Under Armour Connected Fitness™ platform powers the world’s largest digital health and fitness community through a suite of applications: UA Record, MapMyFitness, Endomondo and MyFitnessPal. The Under Armour global headquarters is in Baltimore, Maryland. For further information, please visit the Company’s website at www.uabiz.com.

About Howard
Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 13 schools and colleges. Students pursue studies in more than 120 areas leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. Since 1998, the University has produced two Rhodes Scholars, two Truman Scholars, two Marshall Scholars, 30 Fulbright Scholars and 11 Pickering Fellows. Howard also produces more on campus African-American Ph.D. recipients than any other University in the United States. For more information on Howard University, call (202) 238-2330, or visit the University’s Web site at www.howard.edu.

Stillman College Announces Former Secretary Of State Condoleeza Rice Will Speak At 140th Anniversary Celebration

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Former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice will speak at Stillman College during the school’s 140th anniversary celebration on May 19.

It will be a homecoming for Rice—she’s an Alabama native who was born in Birmingham and grew up in Tuscaloosa. As a teenager living in Tuscaloosa, her father at one point became dean of students at the black college, reported Tuscaloosa News.

According to the school’s website, tickets for the event are $140. The family and friends of graduating students will be able to buy tickets online or at the black college. “Stillman said it would release details about the day’s schedule later,” according to the news release:

“The theme of the 140th-anniversary celebration is “A Foundation for Life.” The celebration will also feature comments from other special guests and music. Stillman was founded in 1876 by the Rev. Charles Allen Stillman, pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Tuscaloosa.”

From 2005-2009, Rice served as Secretary of State under George W. Bush. She currently serves as the Denning Professor in Global Business and the Economy at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Correction: We made an error. Condoleeza Rice will only speak at Stillman during the school’s 140th anniversary celebration, and not Commencement as said in previous headline. We apologize for the error.

Bernie Sanders’ National HBCU Outreach Director Danny Glover Shares His Story

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Danny D. Glover is a young black politician with a bright future. He earned a Bachelors in Political Science at historically black Tennessee State University in 2011, and was named the National Historically Black Colleges and University’s Outreach Director for Sen. Bernie Sanders, and spearheaded Sanders’ “Feel The Burn HBCU” tour.

In an interview with The New York Times, Bernie Sanders announced that his campaign is dramatically downsizing—the Vermont senator can’t win the Democratic nomination but is still in the race. Glover says, though he was one of the 325 to 350 workers the campaign is laying off, he is “extremely grateful for the opportunity.” He shared his incredible experience Thursday night on Twitter.

Watch: NCCU’s Ryan Smith Gets Biggest Call Of His Life And Becomes Newest Member Of The Tampa Bay Bucs

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We wrote about how NCCU’s standout cornerback was one of only three HBCU athletes selected in this year’s NFL Draft, you can check it out here. But in the video above, we find out Smith’s reaction when he gets a call at his home in Upper Marlboro, Maryland that changes his life. Congratulations, Ryan!
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How To Calculate A College Spending Plan That Won’t Hurt Your Pockets

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Like many financial journalists I know, it moves me deeply to see the ways in which America’s more than $1 trillion in student loan debt is impacting people’s lives.

I was recently speaking to a group of Millennials at a college, and was unsettled to learn how many have given up dreams of getting married, starting a family, or buying a home all because of the financial burden of student loans.

There are many often untapped options to pay off student loan debt:

  • Income-based repayment for federal loans, which keeps your monthly payment down to 10% of your discretionary income.
  • Loan Forgiveness: You can get public service loan forgiveness for federal student loans if you work in government or a non-profit, after you make 120 payments, and it doesn’t have to be consecutive. Some jobs like teaching also have loan forgiveness options.
  • The Federal Student Loan Program will pay $10,000 a year towards your student loan debt, maxing out at $60,000 for many government jobs.
  • Ask your employer to pay: More and more employers are willing to pay your student loan debt if you commit to working for them for a certain number of years. Be sure to ask when you’re interviewing for your job.

Still, not taking on too much student loan debt in the first place remains the cornerstone of a sound financial plan for paying for higher education.

The general rule of thumb for student loans is that you should not have to borrow more than you expect to make as an annual salary for your first job out of school. Go to sites like Salary.com to research salaries. Also, talk and network with other young people in your field. Your college alumni office can be a good resource to open up those networks.

It’s also important to be clear on costs. The National Center for Education Statistics has a website that can help you calculate costs. CNN Money’s College Cost Calculator is a great resource. There is also an interesting site called.

CollegeRiskReport.com that a University of Arkansas grad put together to help people figure out if their degree is worth their financial investment.

In addition, be sure to put together a realistic budget, including tuition and fees, books and supplies, housing and food, as well as transportation and personal expenses.

Other things to keep in mind:

  • Pay close attention to the amount of time it will take you to get your degree. Some schools may have a lower sticker price, but it would take you 5 years to get the degree you want – that’s a year you’re not working.
  • Also get very clear with your family on the “Expected Family Contribution.” Parents need to be realistic about what they can really afford, and keep in mind that they should never compromise saving for their own retirement. You can borrow money for college, but not retirement.
  • There are scholarship options for just about everything. Zinch.com and Fastweb.com are good sites to help you find them.

Despite a challenging economic recovery, and student loan debt problems, a college degree is a worthwhile endeavor. Someone with a bachelor’s degree will earn, on average, twice as much as someone without a degree over a lifetime.

Stacey Tisdale is a author at Black Enterprise. This article was written by Stacey Tisdale and originally posted on Black Enterprise. It is reprinted here with permission.