Akon’s back, but this time he’s got his eye on more than just the smash single of the summer.
The Sengalese-American singer announced on Thursday that he’s launching a new “Solar Academy” in Africa as part of his Akon Lighting Africa initiative, which aims to provide electricity to 600 million people across the continent, according to a Reuters report. The academy is set to open in Bamako, the capital of Mali, this summer, and will teach African engineers and entrepreneurs how to produce solar power. European experts will be on hand to help with training and equipment.
The academy’s main goal is teaching participants how to install and maintain solar-powered electricity and microgrids, which Akon Lighting Africa says “are really taking off in Africa.” Harnessing solar power is the ideal way for those without electricity to obtain it, because Africa has 320 days of sunshine a year. Read more at Paste.
Four people who cheered — allegedly excessively — for their loved ones at a high school graduation ceremony in Senatobia, Mississippi, say they’ve now been slapped with an excessive punishment.
Two weeks after watching her niece walk across the stage at Senatobia High School’s graduation ceremony on May 21, Ursula Miller received a warrant for her arrest for disturbing the peace.
“I just called her name out. ‘Lakaydra,’ Just like that,” Miller told CNN affiliate WREG.
Now, Miller said, she has to appear in court or could face at least a $500 fine.
Henry Walker waved a towel and yelled, “You did it baby,” to his sister as he walked out of the ceremony. He is another one of the four who also received the warrant.
“It’s crazy,” Walker told WREG. “The fact that I might have to bond out of jail, pay court costs … for expressing my love — it’s ridiculous, man.”
Superintendent Jay Foster doesn’t think the punishment is ridiculous at all, especially after he said he reminded audience members repeatedly to hold their applause until the end of the ceremony.
“The goal was to allow all graduates to have the privilege of hearing their name called,” Foster said. So, the reminder was also printed in the program.
After four people disobeyed the request, Foster asked the Northwest Mississippi Community College’s police chief if there was any further action he could take in light of what happened on campus where graduation was held. Please read more here.
Launched back in 2014, the myHamptonU App is ‘a must-have’ for incoming freshmen students and transfers arriving at historically black Hampton University later this fall, and also for recent grads and alumni keeping tabs on the university wanting to know the latest news and events happening on the yard.
According to the app description, myHamptonU “helps you stay connected to Hampton University from wherever you are. Get access to your grades, Week at a Glance, class schedule, stay informed with the latest campus happenings and more.”
“…I can say that this mobile application has several great tools that will help students navigate through the Hampton experience,” writes a reviewer. “If you haven’t already, go download the new myHamptonU app. It’ll keep you up to par with the latest University news, help manage your student account, let you register for classes and even shows your midterm and final grades all from the app!”
[quote_box_center]Main Features:
News: Keep up with all the happenings on and off campus with events from Hampton University.
ERP Apps: myHamptonU users can now get their ERP related information on this mobile App.
Address Update: View your current address, update them and modify them with a click on go.
Holds: Check your holds on move.
Create favorites for one click access to preferred apps.
OS Supported – Android 2.3+[/quote_box_center]
Another reviewer says the app is “Very useful,” and, “A great way for alumni to follow upcoming events.”
Hamptonians will be able to use their student ID number and Infotech password to login.
ORANGEBURG, S.C. – In May, members of the 2015 South Carolina State softball team participated in a community service initiative called “Giving Back to the Community”, in which the team was challenged to find ways to give back to the Orangeburg Community.
The initiative was started by interim head softball coach Ron York and spearheaded by sophomore middle infielder Jasmine Harris as a way to return the support that the local Orangeburg Community provides to the softball team.
Photo credit: MEACSports.com
The team partnered with CASA/Family Systems to find ways to assist with CASA’s mission of providing for the under-served youth in the Orangeburg community. The team made a monetary donation to assist in CASA’s work and was just one of the first steps in fulfilling the teams’ community service obligations set forth by York.
“The community consistently supported our softball program this year, whether it was by coming to campus to watch games or sending us well wishes while seeing us in the community,” Harris said. “Helping those in need in our community was just one way to show our individual and collective appreciation.”
The Prairie View A&M Department of Athletics is proud to announce the formation of the Athletic Director’s Club. The club is the official fundraising arm of PVAMU Athletics with a mission to raise funds to support more than 350 Panther and Lady Panther student-athletes in competition on and off the field.
A link to the club’s frequently asked questions and membership levels has been provided above as the club offers members an opportunity to participate in athletic functions, receive apparel discounts, rights to purchase primary seating, public recognition and team travel based on the level of giving. Membership levels vary, starting with annual gifts from $50 all the way up to $15,000. Each level of membership comes with its own unique membership benefits as discounts will be offered for PVAMU National Alumni Association Life Members and campus employees.
For more information, please contact Associate Athletic Director Monique Carroll at (936) 261-9141 or mvcarroll@pvamu.edu.
Congratulations to Central State University Trustee Mark Hatcher, who has been named one of Savoy Magazine’s 2015 Most Influential Black Lawyers. Hatcher is a partner with the law firm Baker & Hostetler, LLP in Columbus, Ohio. He specializes in corporate and commercial law transactions, healthcare transactions, and regulatory compliance.
Mark Hatcher pictured. (Photo credit: BakerLaw.com)
He has been named one of Ohio’s Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” and recognized in Who’s Who in Black Columbus where he received the renowned Emerging Leaders Award.
Trustee Hatcher was appointed to the CSU Board of Trustees in December, 2014 by Governor John Kasich. Savoy Magazine is an African-American lifestyle magazine, which focuses on fashion, business, technology, and style.
On Saturday, June 6, 2015, Howard University Hospital and the Howard University Cancer Center will join local residents and community groups to raise awareness and call for community action to fight prostate cancer. The annual 5K walk will take place at Hains Point/East Potomac Park from 6:45 a.m. to 9 a.m.. Proceeds from the walk will be donated to the Howard University Cancer Center.
For more information, contact Clinton Burnside, Howard University Cancer Center, 202.863.4653, or via email at clinton.burnside@howard.edu.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Two FAMU golfers will make their television debuts on June 15, on the Golf Channel. Wesley “Wes” Yates and Shepherd “Shep” Archie III, both graduates of FAMU and former members of the Rattler golf team, will be paired together as contestants on a new reality show and golf competition called “Altered Course.”
The show features extraordinary hole layouts, exceeding 700 yards, while racing against time. The show will challenge the players’ golf skills, physical fitness and strength in strategy. The two were in town recently, with a Golf Channel camera crew in tow, filming a preview segment for the show.
Photo credit: GolfChannel.com
Coach Marvin Green was elated to see his former players get the opportunity to showcase their skills on the big stage. “I’m excited for them. They were both really big on golf, playing all their lives. Both of these talented players got golf scholarships and have competed all their lives. They both have aspirations to compete on the next level, and to be on a worldwide stage to showcase their talents and personalities, I think it’s a great opportunity for them,” Green said.
Yates, was a member of the Rattler Golf Team from 2007- 2011. Of the pair, Yates’ strength is his driver. He is long and accurate from the tee, which will be his strength on the team.
Archie’s strength is in his short game. Approach shots and chipping are the areas he will lead the duo in. He played on the Rattler squad from 2008-2012. His high school success resulted in being invited to play in the Wal-Mart Open of Pebble Beach. He earned eight wins his senior season.
Archie and Yates both hail from Georgia, with Yates being from the Atlanta area (Fairburn/Lady of Mercy High School), while Archie resided in Augusta (The Academy of Richmond County). They were both products of First Tee programs in their respective areas. The two were roommates in college, every since the arrival of Archie, one year behind Yates.
The inseparable pair have grown together like brothers. It extends even to a call placed to them for this article, as they were still at the Golf Channel studios after an appearance on the “Morning Drive,” golf channel morning show. Talking over each other at times, it was impossible to distinguish which of the two the comments can be attributed to.
“This experience has been surreal. We kind of were not prepared for all of this, but it has been fun. Playing at FAMU, having to carry our own bags, without the luxury of carts, has prepared us well for this challenge. In college we had to workout at 6 a.m. in the gym. That preparation has been huge for us, as this show certainly challenges you physically, even more so than a regular round of golf. This experience of being in a situation with the added challenges and different pressure added should prepare us for making a run at professional golf. We’ve been watching social media and we’re seeing an incredible amount of support. From this point we are seeing a lot of support,” Yates and Archie said.
The lack of diversity in the technology industry is a hot-button issue right now.
Ever since the major tech companies disclosed their dismal diversity numbers the national spotlight has been on Silicon Valley for all the wrong reasons.
In a nutshell, giant technology firms heavily skew towards male, white and Asian. Disparity is even more lopsided when it comes to the demographics of black and Latina women in technical and senior managerial roles. Similarly, there’s an underrepresentation of female and minority tech entrepreneurs and they struggle to access networks, resources and funding.
Still, in recent months there’s been progress. The top players are publicly committing to diversity initiatives, with Intel, Apple and Google all pledging millions of dollars behind efforts to make the tech sector more representative of the people they serve.
The Spelman College conference focused on women in the digital space
Photo credit: UrbanGeekz.com
As awareness and dialogue continues, this month’s Spelman College Leadership and Women of Color Conference aptly focused on the opportunities and challenges facing women in technology, specifically female leaders in the digital era.
Now in its 11th year, the two-day event at Atlanta’s Georgia International Convention Center brought together an esteemed group of leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs, to discuss ways to build and sustain success in the digital space and rapidly growing tech economy.
“This year’s conference was a success,” said Dr. Jane Smith, Ed.D., executive director of the Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement at Spelman. “The ultimate goal of the conference is to connect women of color from different demographics and backgrounds. Digital trendsetters were able to share strategies on how to use the digital era to combat the injustices of the world and remain at the forefront of technology.”
Prominent leaders across all facets of technology and digital industries shared their experience and knowledge to highlight key principles to achieve personal and professional success in leadership roles. Guest speakers included Washington Post’s Doris Truong; Azizah Kahera, COO for AzizahMagazine; and Ronnie Tyler, co-creator, BlackandMarriedwithKids.com.
What was refreshing was the frankness and transparency of the (mainly female) speakers, something rarely experienced at comparable conventions.
With over 300 people in attendance, the conference attracted a diverse crowd from high-ranking executives to recent graduates, with guests participating in seminars, interactive workshops and networking opportunities with honorees, speakers and sponsors.
Some of the issues discussed were the importance of being digitally fluent, skill set and platforms to build and sustain success, and the effects of technology and digital culture as it relates to leadership on a global level. Popular conference topics included: What it Takes to Balance and Thrive in the Digital Era, Civic Engagement in the Digital Era and Expanding Opportunities in the Digital Era as an Entrepreneur.
SAVANNAH – Savannah State University (SSU) has been approved to offer in-state tuition rates to residents of border states. This includes residents of Florida, Alabama and South Carolina.
The effort is part of the Complete College Georgia initiative. The University System of Georgia (USG) Board of Regents (BOR) notes in its guidance document that “providing out-of-state tuition waivers for these select institutions expands the potential student body we can recruit for these institutions. … [and] allows us to take advantage of our existing USG infrastructure and capabilities to grow our enrollment.”
Savannah State students
Savannah State University is one of ten institutions to be approved for the waiver. The program is in place for the next three academic years. Additionally, students who enroll under the waiver will be able to maintain in-state tuition rates for the duration of their studies, even if the program is not extended, as long as they continuously meet the eligibility requirement.
The waiver is available beginning with the Fall 2015 semester. Students interested in eligibility for the waiver should contact the SSU Office of Admissions at 912-358-4338.
About 70 Central State University scholars were honored today as some of the state’s most promising students at the Choose Ohio First Scholar Showcase.
The event, which occurred at Columbus State Community College, honors Choose Ohio First scholarship recipients who are studying in several of the most innovative Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine education programs in the country. Students from Ohio’s 46 public and private universities and colleges were present with Ohio Chancellor John Carey and Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted.
For Saint Augustine’s University graduates Shaquitta Monique Clark and Antwoine Lamont Coleman Jr., it was not a matter of being accepted to law school. Their biggest decisions were which ones to attend.
Clark was admitted to 11 law schools. Coleman was admitted to eight law schools.
After much deliberation, Clark, a native of District Heights, Md., is headed to Atlanta, Ga. in August to Emory University. Clark also received offers from Michigan State, The Ohio State University and the University of Maryland to name a few.
Shaquitta Monique Clark and Antwoine Lamont Coleman Jr. pictured. (Photo credit: HBCULifestyle.com)
Coleman, a native of Richmond, Va., decided to attendNorth Carolina Central University. He also received admission offers from schools such as Michigan State,Florida A&M University, Campbell University and Florida Coastal University.
Clark, who has been a presidential scholar for all four years, shared her initial reaction when she received her first acceptance letter.
[quote_box_center]”I felt a sense of relief,” said Clark, who has a 4.0 grade point average. “when I received my second acceptance letter, my third, my fourth and so on, I was so excited and screamed that I am going to law school. Prayer definitely works!”[/quote_box_center]
However, being accepted has not always been easy for Clark.
In one of her personal statements that she submitted to a law school, Clark revealed how her father had to choose between cocaine and her.
[quote_box_center]”My father chose cocaine,” wrote Clark in her statement. “My grandparents stepped in and saved me. A few years later, my grandfather was murdered–by his son, my uncle. I was forced to move back in with my mother, who worked 60 hours a week. I speak of these experiences not as sob stories or as pity seeking, but as proof of my belief in the following statement:there is almost nothing that I cannot overcome. Growing up, I had no voice; I could not speak for myself, and there was no one to speak for me, to give advice or to advocate for me. My passion for law burns out of this silence.”[/quote_box_center]
SAVANNAH – Savannah State University (SSU) will honor two high-achieving students during its commencement ceremony on Saturday. Both Brittany Bush, a biology major, and Kyoung Hoon Cho, an accounting major, will be celebrated for their academic excellence.
Bush is a Minority Access to Research Careers, Undergraduate Student Training in Academic Research (MARC U-STAR) Program scholar. Bush plans to become a specialist in obstetrics and gynecology. Last summer, she engaged in research at University of California, Davis, related to reproductive biology.
Brittany Bush pictured.
Bush is also Savannah State’s 2015 Board of Regents Academic Achievement Award recipient. Resolutions from both the House of Representatives and Senate naming her as such were read on the floor of the Georgia General Assembly and entered into the official record.
Cho, a native of Korea, began studying English as a second language before enrolling at Savannah State. Despite his self-described aversion to mathematics, he has excelled in the field of accounting in the College of Business Administration.
Cho was awarded a gold medallion in 2014 and 2015 and has earned President’s List standing for the last five semesters.
Established in 1890, Savannah State University is the oldest public historically black college or university in Georgia and the oldest institution of higher learning in the city of Savannah. The university’s 4,900 students select majors from 27 undergraduate and five graduate programs in three colleges — Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, Business Administration and Sciences and Technology — and the School of Teacher Education.
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases awarded a Translational Science Research Award to CSU Associate Professor Dr. Greta Winbush for research using health information technology.
The Health Empowerment Technologies (HET) Project, headed by Dr. Winbush and Dr. Leon McDougle of the Ohio State University College of Medicine, is a research project meant to help eliminate health disparities. The HET Project was established through a grant from the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparity.
Photo credit: AtlantaBlackStar.com
The first HET study involved the development of a mobile web-based health intervention aimed at older African-American patients with diabetes and hypertension and their doctors. One goal was to improve patient-doctor relationships. It allowed patients, using customized mobile web-based health technology, to review health information and have access to a portal to view their medical records, request prescription refills, and communicate with their health care provider. The results showed an increase in health literacy for the patients and an increase in cultural sensitivity by the doctors.
The award was presented at the National Institutes of Health Network of Minority Research Investigators (NMRI) Annual Workshop, in Bethesda, MD, April 2015.
Dr. Winbush’s research team consisted of two Central State graduating psychology majors – Javier Woodall and Stantavius Buckner; an undergraduate public health major at University of Kentucky, Amaris Winbush; and medical student Lynda Labranche of the OSU College of Medicine.
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Department of Performing and Fine Arts at Fayetteville State University (FSU) has announced the creation of the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Visual Arts and the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music. The two new degree programs will begin in the fall 2015 semester. Both programs will have a teaching and non-teaching concentration so students will still have the option to pursue a career in art or music education.
These two new programs replace the art education and music education degrees that FSU previously offered. The change in the programs will affect all incoming freshmen or any returning student that has been out of school for two consecutive semesters. All other students will continue to follow the curriculum for their respective degrees as posted in the 2014-2015 or earlier catalogs. The new degrees will give students more flexibility in choosing a curriculum that meets their career aspirations while being more efficient with resources.
Photo credit: WorkingClassroom.org
“We are pleased to be able to offer these options for students wishing to pursue a degree in art or music,” said Dr. Jon Young, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. “These academic offerings in visual arts and music will benefit students who wish to work both inside and outside of the classroom or who wish to utilize their degree in other areas of the performing and fine arts.”
The creation of a new art program comes at an opportune time for The Department of Performing and Fine Arts. Last week, the department was notified that the Bachelor of Arts program had received accreditation from the National Association for Schools of Art and Design. The music program is accredited by the National Association for Schools of Music.
FSU is a constituent institution of The University of North Carolina and the second-oldest public institution of higher education in the state. FSU offers nearly 60 degrees at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. With more than 6,000 students, Fayetteville State University is among the most diverse institutions in the nation.
RALEIGH – Shaw University appointed Tashni-Ann Dubroy as its next president Saturday. The Historically Black University’s Board of Trustees selected Dubroy to replace interim president Dr. Gaddis Faulcon beginning August 1.
Dubroy is deeply familiar with Shaw. She attended Shaw as a student, was the Chair of the Natural Sciences and Math Department for three years and served as Special Assistant to the President for the past year and a half. In addition to her education at Shaw, Dubroy has a PhD in chemistry from North Carolina State University and an MBA from Rutgers.
Dubroy’s experience is not limited to academia, though. With experience as an entrepreneur, nonprofit founder, chemist and corporate manager, Dubroy has the type of well-rounded profile it takes to lead a university in a fast-growing city.
“Shaw needed a president with a fresh vision to take us in a new direction,” said Board of Trustees Chairman Joe Bell. “At different points in history, different types of leaders are needed and for Shaw, this is the time for someone with a solid business background. An entrepreneur. A solid academic. Dr. Dubroy is all that and more,” he added.
