First-Year NSU Head Coach Latrell Scott is ‘Excited’ About Fan Turnout

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NORFOLK, Va. – Brandon Walker‘s 50-yard interception return for a touchdown, coupled with a stingy second-half defensive effort, lifted the Norfolk State defense to a 39-31 win over the NSU offense in Saturday’s Green & Gold intrasquad scrimmage before roughly 3,000 fans at Dick Price Stadium.

Saturday’s scrimmage, the last day of this year’s spring practice for the Spartans and first-year head coach Latrell Scott, was played using a modified scoring system and consisted of four eight-minute quarters. The offense was awarded points for first downs and reaching the red zone in addition to normal scoring for touchdowns and field goals. The defense earned points for forcing punts, three-and-outs and turnovers, among other things.

Walker’s interception, when he stepped in front of a Terrance Ervin pass and eluded several tacklers en route to the end zone, gave the defense the lead for good late in the second quarter. The defense built a double-digit lead in the third quarter by forcing four consecutive three-and-outs from the offense and held on late. The offense pulled within 39-31 with two first downs on its final drive of the game, but time ran out before the offense could find the end zone.

Walker’s touchdown was the only one in Saturday’s scrimmage. The offense started strong with a 15-play scoring drive to open the game. It appeared the offense found the end zone when Gerard Johnson scampered in from 19 yards out, but the touchdown was negated by a holding penalty. The offense settled for a 32-yard field goal by Cameron Marouf.

But aside from points for first downs, Marouf’s field goal was the only scoring for the offense. The defense forced three turnovers: Walker’s interception, a fumble recovery by linebacker Jay Anderson and another fumble recovery on a muffed punt. The defense also had a fourth-down stop, as the middle of the defense stuffed Shakeem Copeland on a 4th-and-1 run in the first half to earn more points for the defense in the modified scoring system.

Ervin completed 14-of-28 passes for 127 yards to lead the NSU offense. Johnson rushed for 39 yards and Copeland ran for 33.

“We still have a way to go, but I’m really pleased with the effort from our guys this spring,” Scott said. “I was also excited about the (fan) turnout today. I think the community sees that we are building something special here and they want to be a part of it. We can’t wait for the season.”

This post originally appeared on NSUSpartans.com.

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Wiley Sophomore Jeremy Jackson Named UNCF/Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow

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Wiley College Press Release

MARSHALL, Texas — Wiley sophomore Jeremy Jackson has been selected for a prestigious UNCF/Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship. Mr. Jackson is the first UNCF/Mellon Mays Fellow for Wiley College. A biology major, he will conduct research under the guidance of Dr. Ruth Washington, Dean of the Division of Sciences at Wiley, and Dr. Leah Aggison, Instructor of Biology at Wiley.

Mr. Jackson will also be exposed to a community of scholars, over 4,000 Fellows nationally at the undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral levels, who want to make a difference in higher education. As a UNCF/Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow, Mr. Jackson will enjoy the following benefits: mentoring throughout his junior and senior years, $1800 per semester for four semesters, $3900 per summer for two summers, research travel grants up to $1600, graduate school support, loan repayment up to $10,000, and funding and mentoring opportunities during and after graduate school.

The UNCF/Mellon Programs are designed to identify the “best and brightest” students from throughout the UNCF network who are worthy of the name Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow. Those accepted into the Undergraduate program are expected to present themselves as serious scholars.

Accreditation Group’s Review Underway at Wilberforce University

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The Associated Press

WILBERFORCE, Ohio — A review team is visiting the nation’s oldest historically black private university to evaluate whether the school has resolved problems that have threated its accreditation.

A peer review team with the Higher Learning Commission is visiting Wilberforce University during the first part of this week to evaluate whether the school is in compliance with the organization’s accreditation criteria. The commission sent a warning last June requiring Wilberforce to show why accreditation shouldn’t be withdrawn, citing concerns with financial oversight, governance structures and the board of trustees.

The Dayton Daily News reports that the university has raised more than $6 million for improvement projects to save the school’s accreditation.

Without accreditation, the school couldn’t accept international students, and its other students would be ineligible for federal financial aid.

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Michelle Obama to Speak at Tuskegee University Commencement 2015

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051713-national-michelle-obamaThe Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Michelle Obama will deliver the commencement address at Tuskegee University, a historically black university in Alabama.

Michelle Obama Gives Speech At Bowie State University CommencementThe May 9 event is one of three graduation ceremonies the first lady will speak at this year. Mrs. Obama will also deliver remarks at Oberlin College and King College Prep, a high school in her hometown of Chicago.

 

The White House says Oberlin and King were chosen because of their video submissions to two “commencement challenges” issued by Mrs. Obama last fall. Schools had to show their commitment to college mentoring and helping students get financial aid.

Mrs. Obama will speak at Oberlin May 25 and at King College Prep June 9. (The Associated Press)

Remembering Civil Rights Activist Daisy Lee Gatson Bates

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Arkansas is the home of civil rights activist Daisy Lee Gatson Bates. Bates had been affected by racism early in life, her mother was raped and killed by malicious white men; a crime that was unpunished, filled her with hatred that she turned into something beautiful that inspired others. She was known for mentoring and leading the Little Rock Nine through desegregation in the 1950s and also helped integrate public schools in Little Rock, Arkansas. Central High School in Little Rock became one of the first practical tests of the principles enshrined in Brown v. Board of Education. Nine black students showed up for the first day of class, only to be turned away by the Arkansas National Guard. The Brown decision was an extremely significant moment in America’s journey for justice.

When she was 15 she had started courting a Mr. L. C. Daisy; at the time he was an insurance salesman and friend of the family, he later became her husband. They moved to Little Rock in 1941 where they dated for several more months; they later married on March 4, 1942. Bates and her husband were very known and active figures in the African American community. Together they published a local black newspaper, the Arkansas State Press, which focused on the Supreme Court’s desegregation rulings. Bates was very closely involved with the NAACP upon moving to Little Rock. She often expressed in her interviews and explained her history with the organization and that all her “dreams were tied to the organization.

In the State of Arkansas Bates has a very celebrated holiday; “Daisy Gatson Bates Day”, it falls on the third Monday in February. There’s also Daisy L. Gatson Bates Drive (also known as 14th Street) was named in her honor in addition to several buildings in the area. The Drive goes past the north side of Little Rock Central High School and the south side of Philander Smith College. She has a host of honors and awards behind her name; in 1957 she was named woman of the year by the National Council of Negro Women, she was also the only woman to speak at the Lincoln Memorial at the March on Washington in 1963, an honorary member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority, and there’s a school named in her honor, “Daisy Bates Elementary School”, located in Little Rock Arkansas.

Daisy Lee Gatson Bates was born on November 11, 1914; she died on November 4, 1999, but her contributions to this world will live on forever.

This post originally appeared on TheGramblinite.com.

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FAMU Legend’s Home Dedicated as State Landmark

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Former FAMU head football coach Alonzo “Jake” Gaither’s home was honored Friday as hundreds of supporters showed up to the unveiling of the landmark sign in the yard of the home.

Gaither has gained yet another honor to add to his collection with the official honoring of his old residence on Young Street right off of FAMU’s campus. Gaither and his wife Sadie lived there for 40 years as Gaither blazed his path to becoming a legend with a record of 204-36-4, and six black college national championships during his tenure as head Coach.

Andrew Martin, a Tallahassee native grew up in the neighborhood where Gaither resided was nostalgic when speaking on his interactions with the coach, and his impact on the community.

“It’s important for Tallahassee to recognize coach Gaither for all the things he’s done during segregation,” Martin said. “I used to ride my bicycle up and down his street and coach Gaither during his retirement would, call me up the hill and ask me questions.”

Donte Fields a freshman physical therapy student from Tampa, Florida recognizes Gathers historical meaning to FAMU despite not being able to witness it.

“Although, I never met Gaither, I know he was of immense importance to FAMU,” Fields said. “He has a statue, golf course, and gymnasium named after him so his legacy will live on forever.”

Read more at TheFamuanOnline.com.

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Living In A Womanpreneur’s World

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“She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future,” writes Brittney S. Carter on her Instagram page, sharing a glimpse of her personal life, and her ‘womanpreneur’ lifestyle.

What makes B. Carter Solutions unique is that in today’s world, we know that Event Planning, Marketing, and Social Media Management goes hand in hand.

Since being named one of the members of the Top 30 Under 30 2014 list by HBCU Buzz, Brittney S. Carter continues to go above and beyond to exceed her client’s expectations. Carter, a PR pro and also an alumna “from the prestigious Claflin University” says that she is committed to raising the bar and maximizing the value of utilizing cutting edge strategies with her new start-up, B. Carter Solutions that “helps others on the same journey” she once “struggled to overcome,” she told HBCU Buzz’s Editor-in-Chief Tommy G. Meade Jr. via email.

According to her bio, see here, Brittney “is an advocate for empowering individuals for professional success, mentoring young professionals on finding their passion and purpose, while still mastering her craft by learning from other successful entrepreneurs around her.”

[pull_quote_center]I AM COMMITTED TO RAISING THE BAR AND MAXIMIZING THE VALUE OF UTILIZING CUTTING EDGE STRATEGIES AND AN INTEGRATIVE APPROACH TO CULTIVATE BUSINESS SOLUTION TO OFFER CLIENTS THE VERY BEST PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE, WHILE REMAINING HUMBLE AND GRATEFUL FOR WHAT’S IN STORE TO COME.[/pull_quote_center]

Check out the rest of the interview with Brittney where she talks about failure and success, how to be social media savvy, and more about her new start-up, B. Carter Solutions.

Tommy: On first glimpse of http://bcartersolutions.com/ one can easily inquire more about event planning, social media, marketing, and resume writing to build upon a new company, or brand. Was this originally what you had in mind?

Brittney: Yes, I knew I wanted to combine my skill-set into one business that can cultivate solutions for all. I knew I couldn’t have separate businesses for Event Planning, Social Media Management, Marketing AND Resume Writing, so, unquestionably I created a one stop shop solutions company that will cater to the needs of those individuals who are in need of those specific services that I offer.

Tommy: What sets you apart from other communications specialists wanting new clients? What makes B. Carter Solutions unique?

Brittney: I am a Communications Specialist by day, and a CEO by night, and what sets me a part as a business owner seeking new clients is that my company provides:

1. The highest quality of service, process and product knowledge, meaning timeliness and 24 hour support when it comes to delivering results, friendliness at all times rather it’s via e-mail or in person, personal attention to each service requested, cleanliness in the deliverance of all services, knowledgeable in the targeted market, and the subject at matter, and presenting the most reliable service that exceeds a client’s expectation.

2. What makes B. Carter Solutions unique is that in today’s world, we know that Event Planning, Marketing, Social Media Management goes hand in hand, and this company is the only one-stop-shop solutions company in the DMV area that can deliver all of those services to accumulate solutions for those unambiguous clientele.

Displaying FullSizeRender.jpg[pull_quote_left]James 4:10 states, “Humble yourselves before The Lord, and He will exalt you,” my favorite scripture I live by, as I continue to watch God elevate me and my success.[/pull_quote_left]

Tommy: Why is it imperative to be social media savvy, among other things, in today’s global marketing mindset?

Brittney: It’s imperative to be social media savvy in today’s global world, and more importantly in business because you want to know what people are saying about your company, what are they expecting from your company, is your company engaging with its followers, and are you able to gather useful feedback and data that can better inform the decisions you make for your company. What I’ve learned from working in social media for 5 years is that it’s about building relationships, not marketing a product.

Tommy: “Showcase your talents for the world to see and help others on the same journey that you struggled to overcome.” Is this a personal motto for you? Why do you believe it is important to give back, and to help others climb as you climb?

Brittney: Yes, this is a personal motto and personal quote from me that I discovered was very influential as I progressed in my journey. When growing up, coming from a very small, isolated town, I wasn’t brought up with many resources or hopes to be anything other than a statistic. As I made it through college, transitioned to Washington, DC, I changed my perspective on things I’d previously done, and surrounded myself around people who had now made it happen. I started shifting my approach, and explored utilizing the resources that were put out in front of me. I took advantage of attending the workshops, seminars, trainings, and attaining certifications, paid for by my job at the time, and applied the knowledge to my mindset. As I started to generate success, that motivated me to share my journey of where I came from on multiple social media platforms, and to inform others to know that the journey of success starts with a writing down your vision and having an ambitious mindset to keep going.

I’ve failed a lot in my life, but I share my journey to encourage others to not take the same route I did, but to create a different route but keep the same mindset as I have. During my journey, it’s always been instilled in me to give back no matter how high God elevates me. As long as God continues to give me air to breathe, I am going to help the next person succeed with their dreams. It’s imperative to give back and help others climb to the top, because just as it was given to you, it can all be taken away at the blink of an eye. Being arrogant, prideful, and egotistical will only result in failure from the one in Heaven who will all abide by.

To know more about B. Carter Solutions click here http://bcartersolutions.com/.

Photo Credit: Brittney S. Carter

Howard Seniors Look Back On The Soundtrack To Their College Years

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NPR

The class of 2015 is nearing graduation. For students at Howard University in Washington, D.C., that day is May 9.

The Howard Project

NPR’s Weekend Edition is following four college seniors from Howard University in Washington, D.C., as they think about their futures. Catch up on their stories here: The Howard Project.

Seniors are excited — and they are getting antsy.

NPR’s Weekend Edition has been following four of those seniors all semester: Taylor Davis, Ariel Alford, Kevin Peterman, and Leighton Watson.

This week, the four joined NPR’s Rachel Martin in our D.C. studios to talk about the songs that have formed the soundtrack to their college years.

Taylor Davis

On a moment that Lauryn Hill’s “Just Like Water” reminds her of

“When I was on spring break, I went to Miami. And I went to South Beach at night. And I was having this moment just by myself with God. I was just looking at the waters. I was feeling the sand and the sky and the moon. …

“I was just so in awe of creation and it was beautiful. When you’re in a place of God’s presence there’s just total peace. Whenever I’m going through anything crazy at Howard, because crazy things happen all the time, whenever I can just center myself and drown in God’s presence, I know that things are well and all is amazing.”

Read more here. 

Simmons College Celebrates Announcement as Second HBCU in Kentucky

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WDRB

Kentucky is now officially home to a second historically black college.

Administrators at Simmons College of Kentucky made the official announcement during a press conference Monday.

The event was held on the original campus of Simmons, which was built by newly-freed slaves more than a hundred years ago.

In the late 1990s, Simmons fell on hard times and nearly went bankrupt. But President Kevin Cosby, who was sworn in ten years ago, is credited with turning around the college.

School officials spoke about the significance of being designated an HBCU, which qualifies the school for certain grants and funding.

“Simmons is now eligible to apply for title three capital grant monies which are exciting funds that have been designated $1.1 billion designated just for Historically Black Colleges,” Simmons College COO Robert Harvey said.

Although an Historically Black College, school officials say they recruit other ethnic groups — including whites — to create diversity.

Read more here.

Damian Parks, 22, Found Dead on Daytona Beach

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A B-CU student was found dead on Daytona Beach “approximately one day after he was reported missing,” according to police.

Parks’ mother Carolyn Parks told WESH 2 that her son Damian Parks, 22, “wasn’t a good swimmer”. According to the U.S. Coast Guard report, Parks had lost his grip on a friend’s hand in the ocean on early Sunday. Parks and four of his friends were swimming near a popular waterpark, and Daytona Beach Patrol officers says “it’s never a good idea to swim in the ocean without lifeguards on duty.”

[quote_box_center]“I don’t know why it happened, why he would go into the water like this, because he is not a good swimmer. I don’t know what happened. And I had talked to him just before he came out here and he told me he was tired and was going to rest, not knowing he was going to come out here to the beach,” Carolyn Parks said.[/quote_box_center]

“Parks, 22, and four of his friends were swimming near Sun Splash Park in Daytona Beach early Sunday morning when he yelled for help and lost his grip on a friend’s hand in the ocean,” according to the U.S. Coast Guard report.

Carolyn Parks said, “He might be gone in the physical, but (spiritually) he’s always going to do what he wants to do. He’s going to be dancing up there. He’s going to be singing and stepping.”

Bethune-Cookman University, one of the country’s 107 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), posted on its Facebook page “Today, we mourn the loss of a young Wildcat, Mr. Damian Parks. We ask that you keep his family, friends and loved ones in prayer.”

Damian Parks, a student attending Bethune-Cookman, was reported missing since Sunday around 3. a.m., according to the official Facebook account for B-CU. The post continues that the school “is working with the Daytona Beach Police Department and beach patrol on this case.”

[quote_box_center]Bethune-Cookman University student Damian Parks was reported missing around 3 a.m. this morning from the shores of Sun Splash Park on Daytona Beach. The Volusia County Beach Patrol launched a search for the student and, at the time of this statement, have not found him. B-CU staff and students gathered at the beach earlier and are still hopeful for the safe return of Damian Parks. The B-CU Department of Public Safety is working with the Daytona Beach Police Department and beach patrol on this case.‪#‎PrayersforDamian‬[/quote_box_center]

Bethune-Cookman University is offering grief counseling for students.

Delaware State Shooting: Three People Injured, Students Warned To Stay Indoors As Police Hunt Gunman

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delaware-state-university-shootingThree people were shot and injured at a cookout event at the Delaware State University campus Saturday evening. Police are looking for the shooter, according to reports.

The shooting happened at approximately 8 p.m., at a fraternity and sorority event that had been sanctioned by the university. The three injured people were taken to nearby Kent General Hospital, suffering from injuries that were described as not life-threatening by DSU spokesman Carlos Holmes, in an interview with the Associated Press.

A second shooting incident, in which there were no reported injuries, took place in the parking lot of a DSU-run student housing complex several hours later.

School officials sent out an alert to students, notifying them of the second incident, and released a description of a suspect, the News Journal reported.

Police armed with assault rifles, as well as a helicopter and patrol cars responded to the scene.

University officials advised students to remain indoors, in an emergency email sent to all students,WBOC-TV reported. Students who live on campus were told to return to their dorms and visitors were told to leave the grounds, according to a statement released by DSU President Harry L. Williams.

Read full article via bitimes.com

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Harris-Stowe President Wants To Help Students Just Like Him

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Dwuan Warmack says his focus as president of Harris-Stowe State University is hard to forget, because it’s young men just like him.

At Friday’s formal installation in the position that he took over last July, Warmack noted that he didn’t have the best grades or the highest test scores in high school. “All the indicators said I wasn’t college material,” he told a crowd of friends, family and colleagues at the festivities, which included tributes, a bit of history and a video explaining to his young daughter why he wears a bow tie.

He added that people saw in him what he didn’t see in himself and pushed him to succeed. Now, as head of the area’s only historically black college or university, he says it’s time to give back.

“Our mission is to serve an underrepresented population that is in large percentage low socio-economic, first-generation,” Warmack said in an interview after the inauguration ceremony. “Sometimes, that’s the voice unvoiced. So my job is to make sure that population has a voice and that their voice can be heard.

“I think Harris-Stowe has taken a chance on finding diamonds in the rough and provided them an opportunity that allows them to be successful.”

Read more here.

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Bill Cosby: ‘I’m Far From Finished’

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The 77-year-old entertainer Bill Cosby says he’s “far from finished.”

Cosby is a longtime supporter and advocate of our country’s 107 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

In a 10 second video wearing pajamas, Cosby breaks his silence for the first time since up to 20 women claimed that he sexually assaulted them.

He says that he wants his fans to enjoy a wonderful video message filled with laughter.

Says Cosby: “Hey, hey, hey, I’m far from finished.”

He adds that he will be “hilarious” for his show in Wheeling, West Virginia at the Capitol Theatre, also known as the Capitol Music Hall.

Political Commentator and Strategist Donna Brazile to Deliver Spelman Commencement Address

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BeecherJackson Founder/President Yvonne Jackson, C’70, and Apple Vice President of Environmental Initiatives Lisa Jackson to receive honorary degrees, and KIPP Co-Founders Mike Feinberg and Dave Levin to receive National Community Service Awards

ATLANTA (April 14, 2015) — Donna Brazile, an academic, author, syndicated columnist, television political commentator, and political strategist, has been named Commencement speaker for the Spelman College Class of 2015. Brazile, who will receive an honorary degree, will address more than 475 graduates on Sunday, May 17, 2015, at 3 p.m. at the Georgia International Convention Center.

“Donna Brazile has been a trailblazer in the political arena and a staunch advocate for human and civil rights,” said President Beverly Daniel Tatum. “We are pleased she will have an opportunity to impart words of wisdom to Spelman graduates as they begin the next phase of life’s journey, and join the ranks of Spelman alumnae who have made a choice to change the world.”

With a lifelong passion for political progress, Brazile had worked with a candidate every presidential campaign from 1976 through 2000, when she became the first African American to manage a presidential campaign. Today, Brazile is founder and managing director of Brazile & Associates LLC, a general consulting, grassroots advocacy, and training firm based in Washington, D.C. She is also the vice chair of voter registration and participation at the Democratic National Committee and former interim national chair of the political organization.

Author of the best-selling memoir “Cooking with Grease: Stirring the Pots in American Politics,” Brazile is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University, a syndicated newspaper columnist for Universal Uclick, a columnist for Ms. Magazine, and O, The Oprah Magazine, and an on-air contributor to CNN and ABC, where she regularly appears on “This Week.”

Brazile remains active in her hometown of New Orleans, where she was recently appointed to serve on the executive committee of the Tricentennial Commission, responsible for the celebration of the city’s founding in 2018. Last fall, President Barack Obama appointed her to the Fulbright Board – where she helps select candidates in the Caribbean and Latin America that will participate in the Fulbright Program.

Brazile has received honorary doctorate degrees from Louisiana State University, North Carolina A&T State University, Grambling State University, Morehouse School of Medicine, Northeastern Illinois University, Thomas Jefferson School of Nursing and Xavier University of Louisiana.

Honorary Degree Recipient: Yvonne Jackson, C’70, founder and president, BeecherJackson Inc.
Yvonne Jackson is founder and president of BeecherJackson Inc. As president of BeecherJackson Inc., she leads the company’s consulting practice working with and serving public and private company boards on governance, organizational and succession issues. Jackson is also a former senior executive of three Fortune 50 companies and a public company director. She is chair of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges and immediate past chair of Spelman College Board of Trustees, retiring from the board after 15 years. An outspoken leader and spokesperson, she is known as a pioneer in corporate America and in her work as an advocate and developer of programs and initiatives to support the advancement of women and people of color in the workplace. Jackson is an alumna of Spelman College and holds a Management Development Certificate from Harvard Business School.

Honorary Degree Recipient: Lisa Jackson, vice president of environmental initiatives, Apple
Lisa Jackson is vice president of environmental initiatives at Apple. She oversees Apple’s efforts to minimize its impact on the environment by addressing climate change through renewable energy and energy efficiency, using greener materials, and inventing new ways to conserve precious resources. From 2009 to 2013, Jackson served as an administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Appointed by President Barack Obama, she focused on reducing greenhouse gases, protecting air and water quality, preventing exposure to toxic contamination, and expanding outreach to communities on environmental issues. She has also served as chief of staff to New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine and as commissioner of New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection. Jackson holds a master’s degree in chemical engineering from Princeton University and a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Tulane University. She currently sits on the boards of Princeton University, Tulane and the Clinton Foundation.

National Community Service Award Recipient: Mike Feinberg, co-founder of the KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) Foundation and executive vice chair of KIPP Houston
Mike Feinberg is co-founder of the KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) Foundation and executive vice chair of KIPP Houston, which includes 22 public charter schools: ten middle schools, eight primary schools and four high schools serving more than 11,000 children. In 1994, he co-founded KIPP with Dave Levin and established KIPP Academy Houston a year later. In 2000, he co-founded the KIPP Foundation to help take KIPP to scale. Today, KIPP is a network of 162 high-performing public schools around the nation serving nearly 58,000 children. In 2004, Feinberg was named an Ashoka Fellow, awarded to leading social entrepreneurs with innovative solutions and the potential to change patterns across society. Feinberg received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1991 and a master’s degree in education from National-Louis University in 2005. In 2010, Yale University awarded him an honorary doctorate of humane letters.

National Community Service Award Recipient: Dave Levin, co-founder of the KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) Foundation
Dave Levin is co-founder of the KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) Foundation. In 1994, he co-founded the Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) with Mike Feinberg. In the spring of 2000, Levin and Feinberg co-founded the KIPP Foundation, which supports the opening, growth, and evaluation of KIPP schools around the country. Levin currently heads up the KIPP Foundation’s Teaching and Learning Lab focused on instructional innovation, leadership development and teaching training. Passionate about innovative teaching, Levin co-authored KIPP Math, a comprehensive math curriculum for students in grades five through eight that culminates in students completing a two-year high school Algebra I course by the end of eighth grade. Levin is a graduate of Yale University and earned a master’s degree in education from National Louis University.

Baccalaureate Service
Renita J. Weems, Ph.D., a bible scholar and ordained elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, will serve as the baccalaureate speaker for the Class of 2015. Dr. Weems, a former visiting professor at Spelman College, is the author of several acclaimed books on women’s spirituality and wholeness. She has been celebrated by EBONY magazine as one of America’s top 15 preachers and is currently the academic dean and professor of biblical studies at American Baptist College in Nashville, Tenn. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Wellesley College, and her master’s degree and Ph.D. from Princeton Theological Seminary. Dr. Weems’ daughter, Savannah Espinosa, a psychology major, is a member of the Spelman Class of 2015. Baccalaureate service will be held Saturday, May 16, 2015, at 9 a.m. on the Spelman Oval.

Media Contact:
Audrey Arthur
(404) 270-5892 (office)
aarthur3@spelman.edu
Twitter: @SpelmanMedia

NC A&T Receiver Desmond Lawerence Ran An Impressive 4.4 40-Yard Dash, Twice

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Desmond Lawerence isn’t a big name outside of North Caroina, but that may soon change. The NC A&T receiver left a big-time impression on a legendary scout with his performance at the school’s pro day last month.

The 5’9 wide receiver ran a sub 4.4 40 yard dash twice on March 24, impressing long-time NFL scout Gil Brandt.

[quote_box_center]”Wide receiver/return specialist Desmond Lawrence (5-foot-9 5/8, 190 pounds) ran the 40-yard dash in 4.35 and 4.38 seconds, which were very impressive times given that those were run on a less-than-ideal grass surface. He had a 34 1/2-inch vertical jump and a 9-foot-10 broad jump. He did the 20-yard short shuttle in 4.15 seconds and the three-cone drill in 6.93 seconds. He performed 18 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press.

Lawrence is a potential priority free-agent pickup following the conclusion of the 2015 NFL Draft; anybody who can run that well is worth a priority free-agent look.”[/quote_box_center]

Read more at HBCUGameday.com.