Talladega College Marching Tornados – Honda Battle of the Bands (2015) – Heavyweight Edition – Subscribe to HBCUBANDS.COM on Youtube
SU Marching Band – Honda Battle of the Bands (2015) – Heavyweight Edition
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Tennessee State Marching Band – Honda Battle of the Bands (2015) – Heavyweight Edition by HBCU Bands via Youtube
(LEXUS PR) – Lexus is proud to announce 19 recipients of the 2014 Lexus Verses and Flow Scholarship. The new scholarship program is presented in partnership with ten of the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and is an expansion of the groundbreaking “Verses and Flow” program, featuring poetry, spoken word and music. Each scholarship recipient will be awarded $5,000 in recognition of their community leadership and academic excellence.
The recipients of the Lexus Verses and Flow scholarship are:
- Clark Atlanta University – Adisha Penn and Marquea Alexander
- Florida A&M University (Tallahassee, Fla.) – Tatyana Smith and Zemoria Johnson
- Grambling State University (Grambling, La.) – Tamaika LaRocque and Prentiss Smiley
- Hampton University (Hampton, Va.) – Tommie Collins
- Howard University (Washington D.C.) – Alana Jones and Ayanna McFarland
- LeMoyne-Owen College (Memphis, Tenn.) – Ashanti Carr and Tashika JamesMorehouse College (Atlanta) – Oren Davidson and Timothy Tukes
- North Carolina A&T University (Greensboro, N.C.) – Adriana Sawyer and Garner Stewart
- Spelman College (Atlanta) – Chelsea Banks and Shelby Smith
- Xavier University (New Orleans) – Anh Nguyen and Hallie O’Quine
“In alignment with the Lexus Pursuit of Potential initiative to support our youth, we are proud of the work these scholarship recipients are doing in school and in their communities,” said Brian Smith, Lexus vice president, marketing. “These HBCU student leaders have the tools to succeed and we expect they’ll do great things for society in the future.”
The launch of the scholarship coincided with the fourth season of “Lexus Verses and Flow,” the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Image Award-nominated variety show. Lexus Verses and Flow was broadcast on TV One. Blending electrifying musical and soul-stirring spoken word performances, the eight-episode season featured mega-watt stars Maxwell, K. Michelle, Joe, Johnny Gill, Ruben Studdard, Candice Glover, Gary Clark Jr., Sebastian Mikael, Leela James, Anthony Hamilton, Alice Smith, and Mali Music alongside more than 25 of the best up-and-coming poets http://lexus.us/1BUyohA .
For complete information about the Lexus Verses and Flow Scholarship and a list of the participating HBCUs please visit: http://luxuryawaits.com.
About Lexus
Lexus launched in 1989 with two luxury sedans and a commitment to pursue perfection. Since that time, Lexus has expanded its line-up to meet the needs of global luxury customers. Lexus is now going beyond its reputation for high quality vehicles with the integration of innovative technology, emotional exterior and interior designs, and engaging driving dynamics and performance. With six models incorporating Lexus Hybrid Drive, Lexus is the luxury hybrid leader. Lexus also offers seven F SPORT models and one F performance model. In the United States, Lexus vehicles are sold through 234 dealers who are committed to exemplary customer service.
SOURCE Lexus
This story is a part of the series “Presidents Corner” about the unique experiences, vision and leadership styles of each president at our nation’s 107 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
Dr. Beverly Tatum is the ninth (9th) president of Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. She earned a Bachelors Degree from Wesleyan University, Master’s Degree from Hartford Seminary and Master’s Degree and Ph.D. from University of Michigan.
The Buzz recently talked with Dr. Tatum about advising Higher Ed policies, updating her publications, and her outlook on future HBCU leaders.
Here’s our conversation…
Robert: Congratulations on 13 years of great leadership to Spelman. You told Diverse Ed in an interview that you want to update your book: “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?” And Other Conversations about Race after retirement.
Dr. Tatum: I have at least two writing projects I plan to pursue after I retire from the presidency in June. The first is to revisit “Why Are All the Black Kids…” which was originally published in 1997. Though still widely read, in 2017 it will be 20 years old. Current readers tell me that the book is still relevant, which is gratifying. Nevertheless, I imagine writing a new introduction and perhaps an epilogue in which I would like to reflect on events of the last two decades, including the impact of changing demographics, the election of President Barack Obama, and the recent events in Ferguson on how we think about race and racial identity today. My second writing project will probably be based on my experiences as a college president.
Robert: As the seasons are changing, HBCU leadership, and quite often it seems, is changing, too. What advice would you give to the next leaders of the country’s 107 Black colleges?
Dr. Tatum: It is a challenging time to be an HBCU college or university president because of the countervailing pressures to remain affordable and accessible to underserved students and the rising cost of providing a high-quality education experience that supports student success. Despite these challenges, the opportunity to shape institutions that change the lives of so many people through the transformative power of education is a tremendous privilege and responsibility.
There is no one set of experiences that qualifies you to become a president. Most began their careers as professors and moved into college administration as their academic careers progressed, going from department chair to dean to provost or other vice president role before becoming a president. However, there are many examples of presidents who took alternate routes- some coming from careers in business or government prior to assuming a college presidency or from the administrative side of higher education such as chief financial officers or chief advancement officers who eventually became presidents. The common ingredient for success is to establish a reputation for excellence in one’s chosen field, and to demonstrate a proven track record of leadership success in the positions previously held. Unless you are really good at what you are currently doing, it is unlikely that you will be asked to take on even greater responsibilities. If you choose the path of becoming a professor with the goal of moving through the academic ranks, a doctorate in your chosen academic discipline is essential. The answer to whether that degree should be a Ph.D. or an Ed.D. depends on the choice of discipline.
No matter what the degree credential is, because Historically Black Colleges and Universities are under-resourced and serve large numbers of economically disadvantaged students, presidents of HBCUs must be very creative and entrepreneurial in their efforts to generate the resources they need. They also must be excellent communicators because the need to make the case for support of HBCUs in general, and your own institution in particular, to broad audiences is critical for success.
Robert: You serve on the Advisory Board for the White House Initiative on HBCUs. Talk more about your role.
Dr. Tatum: The Advisory Board for the White House Initiative on HBCUs is just that – advisory. We are not a policy-making body, but we can and do articulate the needs of HBCUs to federal agencies and vigorously advocate for policy change when needed.
Anyone who offers advice knows that it is not always taken and that can be frustrating. Change comes from persisting anyway.
ECSU Lady Viking Jadda Jefferies is CIAA Player of the Week for the third time this season.
Jefferies, a ECSU senior from Burlington North Carolina, has received the honor for a third time, not even weeks after snatching the accolade for her second.
She matched her career high last week of 30 points against the Chowan Lady Hawks. The point guard is currently leading in scoring in the conference and also most minutes played.
“It’s a great honor to be named CIAA player of the week for the 3rd time this season,” Jefferies told HBCU Buzz. “It’s all about preparation, teamwork & God’s given talent.”
We see you Jadda!
Updated 3:08 pm EST, 1/25/2015
It looks like Hampton University and the BET network will bring together historically black college or university (HBCU) students for an exclusive screening and panel discussion on The Book of Negroes, kicking off Black History Month during the month of February.
The event will take place Feb. 4th at 6:30 pm in Ogden Hall located on Hampton’s campus, according to Hampton reps.
From the Hampton website, “Following the screening will be a panel discussion and Q&A hosted by WHRO’s Barbara Hamm Lee and HU student Margie Merritt and featuring miniseries star Aunjanue Ellis.
More: “In addition to her recurring role on the hit CBS drama, “NCIS: Los Angeles”, Ellis was seen in Lifetime’s “Abducted: The Carlina White Story. Ellis earned a SAG Award for her performance in The Help. She returned for director Tate Taylor’s follow up, Get On Up,” according to the school’s website.
“Do not lose hope. You can too make something beautiful, but first you must be free.” – Aminata Diallo
The Book of Negroes is set to air Feb. 16th-18th on BET.
Updated 2:06 pm EST, 1/25/2015
The two men responsible for firing several bullets into an eastern New Orleans home, killing an 18-year-old and Dillard University nursing student and injuring her boyfriend, now faces charges of second-degree murder. Myron Jackson, 28, and Jeffrey Washington, 23, trial begins this week.
Dillard student Marguerite Washington was killed in the incident that occurred in 2012 after being struck by a “stray bullet fired” through the window of her boyfriend’s Branch Drive home, according to reports.
From NOLA.com, “Police said the bullets fired were meant for Washington’s boyfriend, Justin Alexander, and not her.”
“Marguerite Washington — who is not related to Jeffrey Washington — “was definitely in the wrong place at the wrong time” Assistant District Attorney Rhonda Goode-Douglas told a group of jurors seated in the trial Wednesday (Jan. 21) morning,” according to NOLA.com.
The trial, which starts this week, is expected to last several days, reports says.
Updated 1:50 pm EST, 1/25/2015
It was a tragic way to spend Founder’s day for some of the reality television stars on VH1’s show ‘Sorority Sisters’. Alabama State alumna’s Priyanka Banks and Lydia Mitchell, who were initiated through the Beta Eta chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., have now been expelled from the organization.
According to the sorority’s website on January 13, which is also the founding date of Delta Sigma Theta, Banks and Mitchell will no longer have rights or privileges as members, and the two are prohibited from representing the organization in any capacity, attending any Greek or National Pan-Hellenic Council events as Deltas and from wearing paraphernalia with insignia related to the sorority.
During their collegiate years attending Alabama State University, Banks served as Miss ASU 2009 and she studied theatre, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts. Mitchell was a member of the Stingettes dance team, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications.
Sorority Sisters was a constant topic of controversy and was held in contempt from each member of the “Divine Nine”. Airing earlier this year, the series was based on sorority women of various backgrounds and professions, depicting the women’s lives, but also highlighted drama, cat-fights, petty banters and childish insults.
The VH1 production faced a number of petitions all encouraging the network and producer Mona Scott-Young to cease spreading of ‘ignorance’ and stereotypes of Black Greek-lettered organizations. Later, commercial sponsors was forced to pull their advertising funds from the network in slots to be aired during the show after one petition reached 78,000 individual supporters, all signing to express their anger toward the show
Now VH1 is announcing that the show being cancelled.
The last few shows of the series were aired back to back on Jan. 16.
Updated 7:40 pm EST, 1/22/2015
Musical genius Stevie Wonder has some tricks up his sleeve this New Year. The Grammy Award winning Wonder is currently working with NBC on a miniseries about the Underground Railroad.
The miniseries entitled ‘Freedom Run’ will be based on Betty DeRamus’ 2005 Book, Forbidden Fruit: Love Stories from the Underground Railroad.
DeRamus’ book, written in the format of love letters, deals with the issues of rebelling against and fighting to break free from slavery. The miniseries will focus on three couples from the book who find love all while facing the adversity slavery brings, according to Hollywood Reporter and Rolling Stone.
The miniseries in total will be about 8 hours.
Wonder will be executive producer on the project, and NBC has high hopes that he will write the music for the production when it hits the Broadway stage.
NBC Entertainment President Robert Greenblatt told the Television Critics Association panel, “We’re increasingly looking for projects that qualify as television events and these harrowing true stories of courageous young men and women who found love, in spite of the heinousness of slavery, certainly does that…”
Stevie Wonder obviously never sleeps because, here goes another accomplishment he can add to his already extensive list throughout his remarkable career.
Top 5 HBCU Classics to Visit 2015
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All HBCU attendees know that fall semester means football classic time, and we all know that it is so much more than just two rival teams throwing the pigskin around.
At the country’s historically black colleges or universities (HBCUs), no doubt the Classics are about having the livest band, the biggest parades, and the best events to attend.
In no specific order, here are five Black college Classics that reach above and beyond your expectations:
1. Florida Classic
The Florida Classic features Bethune Cookman and Florida A&M, and over 1.5 million people have attended the popular quarrel between the two teams since 1978 to present.
With coverage from ESPNU, people can join in and watch the live broadcast every year.
FAMU leads the series in wins, 21 to 14.
2. Bayou Classic
The 41-year-old showdown between Grambling State and Southern has some of the best events around including the Fan Fest, which features musical celebrities every year.
The Bayou Classic classic attracts some 250,000 people to the city every year and has been televised on NBC every year since 1991.
3. Southern Heritage Classic
Tennessee State and Jackson State has played each other for 25 years now, fighting to see what team can really be called the Tigers (both schools use the same animal as their mascot.)
The Southern Heritage founder Fred Jones Jr. is said to bring together two loves to create the Southern Heritage Classic: The love for his hometown Memphis, Tennessee, where the classic takes place, and his love for producing events together.
4. Chicago Football Classic
Each year two top HBCUs go head to head in the Windy City to take home the Chicago Football Classic. The CFC came about when Larry Huggins, Everett Rand and Tim Rand formed as a non-for-profit organization. Its sole purpose is to support African-American adolescents to reach individual greatness, not to mention to influence the youth to go HBCU.
5. Nation’s Football Classic
The Nation’s Football Classic’s inception is relatively new. Created in 2011, it features HBCU powerhouses Howard University and Morehouse College, who has competed against each other since 1923.
Though this Football classic itself is new to the game, it does not fall short of any of our expectations. Plus, the rivalry between Howard and Morehouse makes this event a golden nugget.
On January 20, Virginia Union launched a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Curriculum and Instruction. The 36 hour degree program is designed for teachers and educators who aspire to serve in leadership and support roles in schools and other agencies that serve school clientele.
The program is designed to be completed between 18-24 months.
The primary focus of the Curriculum and Instruction program is to provide students with opportunities to learn current educational theory and evidence-based best practices, and to conduct research in unique areas of challenges in today’s school environments.
Upon completion of the Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction students will be able to pursue diverse careers including, educational technologist, instructional coordinator, curriculum or reading specialist, literacy or educational consultant, and staff development specialist.
Virginia Union students can now obtain a degree from bachelors to doctoral levels.
Read more at VUU.edu.
Updated 3:53 pm EST, 1/23/2015
Back in December the Andrew W. Melton Foundation gifted Clark Atlanta University with a $100,000 planning grant for the school’s initiative to seek incorporating research in the undergraduate curriculum.
From the school’s website, “This important and timely grant from the Mellon Foundation will enhance the learning potential of CAU students by infusing research into the undergraduate experience beginning in the first year and through to graduation. We are grateful to the Mellon Foundation for its ongoing support Clark Atlanta University and its confidence in us to develop new mechanisms to infuse research into the curriculum across all disciplines of the university.”
“The expected outcome of this grant will be to implement a model framework for undergraduate student research that is tailored to the unique challenges and needs of Clark Atlanta University,” said CAU’s Asa Ware Endowed Professor of Sociology Obie Clayton, who is also the program’s principal investigator.
“We are looking forward to a productive year of rich, provocative and insightful conversations with other academic leaders from across the nation as we launch efforts to determine and refine best practices in this realm,” Clayton said.
105-Year-Old Graduate Reflects on School’s Impact on Her Life, Career
Beatrice Payne, 105, remembers her days training to become a teacher at the school that would later become Bowie State University.
“I just thought teaching was the grandest thing, and that was what I was going to do,” said Payne, the University’s oldest living graduate. “(Going to Bowie) influenced me from (when I began) teaching until ending. And when I got out of the classroom and into administration, there were still things that were very helpful to me.”
A Baltimore resident, Payne retired after more than 40 years in education, serving as a teaching principal, special education teacher and special education department supervisor in the Baltimore County public schools.
Bowie State University celebrates 150 years since it opened as the first free school in Baltimore, Md. on January 9, 1865. Since then, the school has grown into a comprehensive liberal arts university preparing students for careers in high-demand fields, such as cyber security and information technology. A new 150th anniversary website details the University’s history and a yearlong slate of celebration events.
The original school, School #1, was founded by 46 visionary men committed to establishing schools across Maryland to educate the state’s more than 85,000 newly emancipated slaves. They formed the Baltimore Association for the Moral and Educational Improvement of Colored People and opened dozens of schools around the state at a time when the state refused to fund schools for the black population.
The mission of School #1 was to train African-Americans to become teachers. Only in 1908 did the state of Maryland assume control of the school and relocated it to Bowie, Md. in 1911, where it was known as the Maryland Normal and Industrial School at Bowie.
When Payne attended the school, it was a high school and normal school for teachers. She completed three years of high school and two years of normal school at Bowie, graduating in 1928 with a first-grade teaching certificate. “The teachers at Bowie really taught us and taught us well,” she said.
From there, the school evolved into a state teachers college (1938) and then a liberal arts college (1963), finally achieving university status in 1988. In the same year, Bowie State University joined the newly formed University System of Maryland.
“Bowie State has a commitment to graduating students in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) disciplines to help meet the state’s critical workforce needs and prepare students for job to meet changing needs of society,” said President Mickey L. Burnim. “We remain committed first, however, to excellence in teaching, which is at the heart of what we do. Our faculty’s primary interest and passion is teaching, and that passion is what propels our students’ success.”
This article originally appeared on HBCU.com.
Updated 3:28 pm EST, 1/23/2015
A $4 million lawsuit was recently filed against the Baltimore Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and five of its leaders alleged to conduct and participate in hazing rituals, reports say.
“While the university is not a named defendant in the case, Coppin State University does not tolerate or condone any incident of hazing or abuse and takes accusations of such seriously,” according to a university release on Tuesday.
From WBALTV.com, “The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in Prince George’s County because the victim’s lawyers said the hazing occurred during the nights and early mornings between February and March 2013 at Rogers’ Fort Washington house during the spring membership intake process.”
Johnny Powell II, a former pledge of Kappa Alpha Psi, filed a civil lawsuit against the fraternity and five members, Dedric Rogers, Kenneth Pough, Jose Biaz, Tyree Williams, Mark Briggs, accusing them of “hazing, false imprisonment, negligence and gross negligence,” according to the lawsuit.
Due to injuries suffered from hazing rituals between February and March 2013 at defendant’s Rogers house, Powell at once point in time was admitted for a five-day stay at Franklin Square Hospital.
Powell, who was a student at Stevenson University at the time and played on the varsity volleyball team, was pledging through Coppin State in an attempt to charter a Kappa Alpha Psi chapter at Stevenson.
Updated 2:27 pm EST, 1/23/2015
Spirituality is on an all-time high at Tuskegee University this week.
Tuskegee is set to celebrate spirituality with its ‘Faith Week’ which kicks off this week, starting Thursday honoring the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday and his legacy.
From the school’s website, “King once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is ‘What are you doing for others?’ ” In honor of the slain Civil Rights leader and in lieu of a formal program, the campus community is encouraged to engage in some form of meaningful civic service.”
Here’s the schedule for the remaining of the week:
Wesley Foundation Bible Study
When: Thursday, January 22
Time: 7:30 p.m. CST
Topic: The Book of John
Location: lower level of Chapel
Golden Voices Annual Gospel Music Concert
When: Friday, January 23
Time: 7 p.m. CST
Location: Tuskegee Chapel
Ecumenical Worship Service
When: Sunday, January 25
Time: 9:30 a.m. CST
Speaker: Rev. Dr. Andrew Holtz – pastor, Washington Chapel A.M.E. Church, Tuskegee, Ala.
HBCU Buzz tried contacting Tuskegee to no response.