Willie Simmons Named PVAMU Head Football Coach

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rp_primary_DSC_0291(PVAMU) Renowned offensive coordinator Willie Simmons has been selected as the 32nd head football coach in Prairie View A&M history on December 16, 2014.

Simmons comes to Prairie View A&M after an impressive three-year stint as the offensive coordinator at Alcorn State, which recently won the SWAC and SBN Black College National Championships.  With Simmons on staff, Alcorn State fielded one of the most potent offenses in the country as they led the SWAC in seven offensive categories while also finishing second in the nation amongst Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) teams in scoring offense with 44 points per game during the 2014 season.

Alcorn State quarterback John Gibbs, Jr. flourished in Simmons’ offense as he was named SWAC Co-Offensive Player of the Year while breaking several long-standing records held by ASU legend and former NFL standout Steve “Air” McNair.  In addition to Gibbs’ accolades, ASU had four players who rushed for at least 691 yards and a balanced wide receiving corps which featured four players catching 22-plus receptions. READ FULL

NCAT Faculty Members Selected as Carnegie African Diaspora Fellows

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nc_a_t_aggies_flag_69188smaTwo N.C A&T faculty members have been selected as Carnegie African Diaspora Fellows and will travel to African universities to conduct joint projects.

Dr. Joshua Idassi of the Cooperative Extension Program will work with the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology in Tanzania. Their project is titled, “Collaborative Research on Community Based Small Scale Irrigation Technologies in Agroforestry and Co-development of Agroforestry Curriculum for New Master Concentration in Sustainable Agriculture.”

Idassi is a natural resources specialist with Cooperative Extension. He develops outreach and applied research in agroforestry to assist underserved and limited resources farmers and woodland owners in North Carolina to establish sustainable farming practices to enhance their livelihoods.

Dr. Paul Ankomah of the Department of Human Performance and Leisure Studies will work with the University of Energy and Natural Resources in Ghana. Their project is titled, “Curriculum Development for Distance Learning Program in Ecotourism and Mentoring of Young Lecturers and Students.”

Read Full at NCAT NEWS

Wilberforce University Continues Fight to Survive

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16588181-mmmainBy Karen Farkas, Northeast – Wilberforce University submitted more than 3,000 pages of documents this week as it fights to keep its accreditation.

The oldest private historically black university in the nation hopes to show the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, the regional accrediting agency, that it has overcome serious problems, including a lack of leadership, a deteriorating campus, a decline in enrollment and financial issues.

The problems were outlined in a “Show-Cause Order” letter sent June 23.  The university had until Monday to respond. Commission officials will visit Feb. 9.

Since receiving the letter, the university has named a new president, realigned its board of directors, undertaken fundraising efforts and gathered experts to help  craft a response to the accrediting agency.

Millions are needed in order for the university, about 30 miles east of Dayton, to survive and maintain its accreditation. Without accreditation, the school could not offer federal grants and loans. READ FULL

VSU’s Latrell Scott will be Named Norfolk State Coach

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548748946c7e3.imageNorfolk State will name Richmond native Latrell Scott football coach today, The Times-Dispatch learned Monday night.

NSU, which plays at the FCS level as a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference member, has called an 11 a.m. media meeting to introduce Scott, who moves from his position as head coach at Virginia State.

Scott, 39, led VSU to a 19-4 record in two seasons. The Trojans advanced to this year’s Division II playoffs.

Scott, a graduate of Lee-Davis High, is a former head coach at the University of Richmond (2010) and a former assistant at UR, James Madison, Virginia, Tennessee, VMI and Western Carolina. He began his coaching career at Fork Union Military Academy, where Scott played after graduating from Lee-Davis.

This year’s Trojans defeated LIU-Post in the first Division II home playoff game in program history before being eliminated at Bloomsburg State in the second round. Read Full

Blount out as Delaware State Football Coach

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B9315505046Z.1_20141215184106_000_GJ09DTL1Q.1-0Blount, 56, guided the Hornets to a 16-29 record, including 13-19 in the MEAC. He was unavailable for comment.

“We did the evaluation based on all four years – not just last year – and decided not to renew the contract,” athletic director Candy Young said.

Young added that DSU will begin a national search for a new coach. However, she said a replacement isn’t expected to be named until mid-February, which puts DSU past the Feb. 4 Signing Day when recruits accept scholarships and, therefore, limits DSU’s ability to build a recruiting class.

“It’s a process of making sure we’ve got the right fit,” she said.

That will be, she added, someone who is an “effective communicator” with leadership skills particularly in line with “this generation of student-athletes.”

In the 18 seasons since Bill Collick completed his 12-year stint as coach with an 81-48 record, DSU has had just five winning records under four coaches.

Young added that Andrew Faison, who joined the Hornets staff as safeties coach in March, will serve as interim coach. He is a former head coach at Division II Virginia State, where his teams went 58-52 from 2002-12.

Players, who have completed final exams and mostly gone home for their break between semesters, were informed of the change through phone calls and emails from assistant coaches. READ FULL

Nelson Townsend New FAMU Interim Athletic Director After Kellen Winslow Resigns

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TownsendNelsonThe stormy and brief tenure for Kellen Winslow as FAMU athletics director is over.  Winslow turned in his resignation to FAMU President Elmira Mangum Sunday night.

“He wished us well, he was moving on to pursue other opportunities and ventures,” Mangum said.

Mangum comments after meeting with coaches were a sharp contrast to his introduction to the role this past spring when Winslow and Mangum were all smiles. Winslow at the time said his top priority would be academics.

“If a coach wins all the games and doesn’t graduate all the students, I will fire that coach,” Winslow said on April 1st. Winslow was smiling for a photo with FAMU head football coach Earl Holmes on that day. But a few months later Winslow fired Holmes homecoming week. Winslow was roundly booed at convocation that week. Read Full

HBCU Student, Lanique Williams Talks about Going the Extra Mile

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Going the Extra Mile

Lanique Williams
Lanique.williams12@gmail.com

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Determined to go to New Zealand for an internship to study psychology Deshon Floyd started out by calling different people he knew to ask for assistance with paying for the trip. When that didn’t work out as expected Floyd knew he would have to find a different approach.

Remembering when his aunt raised money for a baseball trip for her son by making donation flyers, Floyd thought maybe that could work out for him. He went to his aunt first as a helping hand in creating the flyers. Then he reached out to the governor’s office, where he previously interned, and they were more than willing to make sure that the donation flyers were perfect. Once the flyers were out in local businesses he began to get a good response from the community.

“The citizens of Frankfort were really supportive and responsive to what I was trying to do.” Floyd said.

Born and raised here in Frankfort, Ky Floyd explained that he chose to come to Kentucky State University, because he really wanted to play college football but many of the schools that he looked into passed on him as a football player because he was not big enough for their liking. KSU however was different they didn’t care about Floyd’s size and that ultimately made his decision. As a freshman his plan was to study criminal justice and attend law school upon graduation, but after taking a few psychology classes he realized that the field of psychology was more interesting to him.

Floyd decided on the internship in New Zealand after doing research on different psychology internship programs. He explained that the only places that stood out to him were Australia and New Zealand but as he began to look further into the two places he felt that New Zealand would be a better fit for him.
“It wasn’t so much as I wanted to go to New Zealand, I wanted to go to the best place for psychology.” said Floyd
Floyd continued reaching out to the community in hopes that he would meet his $ 5,000 goal. He admitted that the whole process was a learning experience and he kept thinking of different things he could do as he went along. After posting the donation flyers, Floyd thought it would be a good idea to seek help from The State Journal, a local newspaper here in Frankfort. He went to the paper just hoping that they would put out a small article about what he was doing to raise money, but the State Journal actually ended up making it a huge news story. The story was so huge that it reached Kentucky State University’s President, Dr. Raymond Burse, who then decided that he too wanted to help Floyd by donating the rest of the money that was needed to fund the trip to New Zealand.

When asked about how he felt the day President Burse told him he would be giving him the rest of the money to fund his trip.

“I was excited and plus it was my birthday, really it was one of the best days of my life for real because I had worked so hard and now I didn’t stress about it anymore,” said Floyd.

Now that his New Zealand trip is paid in full, Floyd is focusing on finishing up his last semester at KSU. He will graduate with a double major in criminal justice and psychology in December and the student athlete will began his next journey in February of 2015 when he leaves his hometown of Frankfort to start his internship in New Zealand. Floyd also expressed that he is very interested in furthering his education after he receives his undergrad degree. He is currently applying for a scholarship for a master’s program psychology and he one day hopes to gain a Ph. D.

“If I had to give any advice to someone trying to reach a set goal or dream I would simply tell them to stay persistent, because you’re always going to think about giving up when something gets hard but you have to focus on your goal until you meet it,” said Floyd.

VH1 Sorority Sisters Entertainment Or Exploitation?

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vh1-sorority-sisters_400x295_65(HIP HOP WIRED) VH1 found a way to make that Sorority Sisters reality show come to fruition despite early protest. No doubt thousands of fully initiated members of Black Greek Letter Organizations are hoping these women don’t embarrass themselves or their respective organizations on national television.

From the looks of the extended trailer, the big sisters of these women may have to give them a stern talking to. It’s obvious that Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Zeta Phi Beta and Sigma Gamma Rho were clear about not using their names and logos on this show. That’s most likely due to the catfighting, bickering and struggle these organizations want no parts of and the certainly don’t relay the notion of “sisterhood.”
Will you be tuning in? Will you be trying to throw some of these women back in line (ahem: pledging is illegal)? Let us know what you think in the comments?
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Sorority Sisters premieres Monday, December 15 at 9pm on VH1. Peep the extended preview below;

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Sorority Sisters

Most Successful, Colleges for Graduating Low-Income Black Students

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choosing-college.jpg.CROP.rtstory-large
By Ivory A. Toldson (The Root)

This is the list of the 23 schools, of more than 2,100 evaluated, that fit my criteria. I call them the 50-50 club for serving more than 50 percent Pell-eligible students and graduating more than 50 percent of their black students:

Institution, State: (Black Undergraduate Population): Percent Black

* Talladega College, Ala.*: (867): 85 percent
* Agnes Scott College, Ga.: (309): 32 percent
* Apex School of Theology, N.C.: (609): 81 percent
* University of California-Riverside, Calif.: (1,170): 5 percent
* University of California-Santa Cruz, Calif.: (335): 2 percent
* William Carey University, Miss.: (1,025): 30 percent
* Adventist University of Health Sciences, Fla.: (530): 17 percent
* Georgia State University, Ga.: (11,343): 35 percent
* Shorter University-College of Adult & Professional Programs, Ga.: (1,077): 66 percent
* William Peace University, N.C.: (358): 36 percent
* Berea College, Ky.: (250): 14 percent
* Bethune-Cookman University, Fla.*: (3,071): 78 percent
* Morehouse College, Ga.*: (2,411): 96 percent
* University of California-Merced, Calif.: (372): 6 percent
* CUNY Hunter College, N.Y.: (2,273): 11 percent
* Johnson & Wales University-North Miami, Fla.: (531): 24 percent
* Fisk University, Tenn.*: (513): 84 percent
* CUNY Brooklyn College, N.Y.: (4,295): 25 percent
* Tougaloo College, Miss.*: (1,026): 97 percent
* Union Institute & University, Ohio: (399): 22 percent
* Everglades University, Fla.: (256): 16 percent
* Saint Peter’s University, N.J.: (612): 21 percent
* Bluefield College, Va.: (254): 23 percent

* after state name denotes an HBCU

Read the Full article by Ivory A. Toldson at the Root

Congress to Cut $303 Million In Federal Financial Aid

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srgret(Washington Post) Congress will cut $303 million in funding for a federal program that allows many of the nation’s poorest students attend college, part of a massive spending package to keep the federal government open through the end of the year.

The measure, championed by Senate Democrats, would cut Pell Grants in order to free up money to pay companies that collect student loans on behalf of the Department of Education.

Nine million students benefited from the $33.7 billion Pell Grant program in the 2013-2014 school year. The program, created in 1972, awards money that does not have to be repaid to students whose household incomes are typically $30,000 or less. Nearly two-thirds of African American undergraduates receive Pell funding, as do 51 percent of Latino undergrads, according to the Education Trust.

Student loan advocates say that while the program is currently running a surplus, the cuts in the spending bill could create a funding shortfall beginning as soon as next fall. read full at the Washington Post

Dillard Gets Grant to Study Creole Culture

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urlThe National Endowment for the Humanities has awarded Dillard University a $100,000 grant to fund a project designed to document contemporary black Creole culture.

“Defining, Documenting and Teaching New Orleans Creole Culture” will begin in the spring semester and continue for two years.

The project will create a digital archive of its findings and will explore the multicultural and racial identity of Creoles in New Orleans.

It will include interviews with black Creole families, elders, artists, craftsmen, musicians and others to chronicle the evolution of traditions and contemporary life.

Other goals of the project include assisting students in developing oral communication skills and understanding the significance of digital archives and technology fluency.

Hannah Saltmarsh, an assistant professor of English, is the principal investigator for the grant. READ FULL

Spelman Indefinitely Suspends Cosby Endowed Professorship

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635542271325733486-BILL-COSBY-SPELMAN (USA TODAY) Spelman College in Atlanta, which has had strong ties to Bill Cosby for decades, is now distancing itself a bit from the beleaguered star.

On Sunday, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the school indefinitely suspended the William and Camille Olivia Hanks Cosby Endowed Professorship. The prestigious visiting scholar endowment was created in 1988 when the school received a $20 million donation from Cosby and wife Camille.

“The William and Camille Olivia Hanks Cosby Endowed Professorship was established to bring positive attention and accomplished visiting scholars to Spelman College in order to enhance our intellectual, cultural and creative life. The current context prevents us from continuing to meet these objectives fully. Consequently, we will suspend the program until such time that the original goals can again be met.”

Cosby’s gift to the school made history as the single largest donation ever given to a historically black college or university. Cosby’s daughter Evin attended Spelman for two years. READ FULL

Savannah State Falls To Top-Ranked South Carolina

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savannah-usc-600x400(MEAC Media Relations) COLUMBIA, S.C. – A quick glance of the numbers from Sunday’s nonconference bout with the No. 1 women’s basketball team in the nation, South Carolina, revels a blowout by any standard, but the Savannah State women’s basketball team have plenty of positive things to take away from 111-49 loss.

At the top of that list is the fact that the Lady Tigers put up more points on the Gamecocks than Clemson (who lost 99-44 to South Carolina), San Diego State (89-38), and Wisconsin (67-44) did this year.

Leading the Lady Tigers was redshirt senior Ezinne Kalu, who put up 18 points, shooting at a 50 percent clip from the field. Jasmine Norman followed Kalu in the stats with 9 points, and also shot 50 percent from the field.

South Carolina – who is ranked No. 1 in both the Associated Press and USA Today standings – was led by A’ja Wilson who put up a 23 points. Elem Ibiam followed with 21 points, and Alaina Coates added 20 in the lopsided win.

SSU tied their season-high turnover number (20) against South Carolina. They also recorded 20 turnovers against Arkansas.

However, earlier this season against another SEC team, Florida, the Lady Tigers forced 25 turnovers from the Gators, while only committing 8 in the program’s first win against an SEC opponent.

The offensive push, and defensive stance, from South Carolina all but sealed the fate of the game. In the final 6 minutes of the first half, the Lady Tigers managed only 7 points, as South Carolina tacked on 24 more for a 60-22 lead at halftime.

The second half saw South Carolina outscore the Lady Tigers 51-27. SSU committed a season-high 31 personal fouls, sending the Gamecocks to the line 47 times. They were successful 34 times, scoring 30 percent of the days points from the charity strip.

SSU falls to 4-3 on the season. They return to the hardwood against their fourth and final SEC opponent, Auburn University. Tip-off on Dec. 19 in Auburn, Ga. Is s set for 6 p.m.

Heslip paces Howard in loss to LIU Brooklyn

BROOKLYN, NY — Despite redshirt sophomore guard Te’Shya Heslip hovering near a triple-double and four total players scoring in double figures, the Howard womene’s basketball team was unable to capitalize as the Lady Bison dropped an 83-74 decision to the LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds on Sunday afternoon at the Steinberg Center.

Heslip finished two rebounds shy of a triple double – a game-high 22 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists for Howard (1-9), who remain winless away from DC this season (0-5). Senior forward Cheyenne Brown chipped in 15 points, sophomore forward Sydni Johnson had 14 and sophomore guard Jasmine Hill to log her first game with 10+ points this year.

MEAC Media Relations  

5 Things to Keep in Mind During Finals Exams

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Studying-for-finals1All-nighters in the library, visits to your professor’s office hours, group projects and turning assignments in online all before it hits 11:59PM. These things only mean one thing: FINALS WEEK!

The last week of the semester feels like a wretched storm has hit your life. The end of the fall semester is crunch time.

In the midst of trying to stay afloat until your last exam or paper is due, here are five key things to remember!

1. Do ask for help

You don’t have to go through finals week on your own! Head down to your school’s tutoring services or the subject’s department and inquire about events or tutoring sessions that may be helpful to you.

You can also reach out to other students in your class and form a small group study session. This can help you study the material and learn from others.

2. Remember to eat

When you’re cramming your brain and working on five different assignments at once, it’s very easy to forget something as simple as eating.

Steer away from fast food and ramen noodles. Before you make your way to the library stack up on brain food. Your body and your brain go into overtime mode during finals, so you want to make sure you feed it right!

You can go to your local supermarket for blueberries, eggs, avocado and other brain food such as kale and nuts.

3. Set an end goal

Setting a reward or end goal for the end of finals week can motivate you while you’re studying.

Since there is a fall graduation it could be something as simple as going to that party everyone has been talking about (after your last final, of course), or, treating yourself to an unhealthy dinner or going to see that movie you’ve had to put off for the last month. Whatever it is, reward yourself for making it out of finals week alive!

4. Do sleep

Students have this weird connotation in our head that no sleep = success. But, in fact, it’s only hurting you. Sacrificing rest to do some last minute cramming puts your body into overload and could cause you to crash. 7—9 hours of sleep a night are recommended to get the right amount of rest and feel refreshed.

5. Don’t cheat

We’ve all heard the phrase, “cheat or you will repeat.” But, if you prepare yourself enough throughout the semester and study well in advance you will be well prepared for your final. Do not give into peer pressure and be tempted to cheat. In the end you’re only hurting yourself by not receiving an honest grade. And, the consequences are severe if you’re caught.

These five tips are sure to help you out during finals week! It’s a great feeling to leave for winter break knowing you’re in good academic standing. Stay focused and happy studying!

Alcorn State Named SBN Black College Football National Champions

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image1American Urban Radio Network –(Pittsburgh, PA) –    The Alcorn State University Braves have captured the SBN Sports Black College Football National Championship. The Braves posted a 9-3 regular season record and won the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Championship Game on the way to securing the school’s first SBN National Championship in 30 years.
In final balloting, Alcorn State State garnered 22 first-place votes and 267 points. Bethune Cookman was second with 6 first-place votes and 194 points. Southern University finished in third place with 183 points, North Carolina A&T received 2 first-place votes and was ranked number four with 179 points and Virginia State was fifth with 156 points. Winston-Salem State, Grambling State,  South Carolina State, Alabama State and North Carolina Central State finished numbers 6-10 in the poll respectively.

Alcorn State will be honored and receive the 2014 SBN Jake Gaither National Championship Trophy during the 41st Annual SBN Sports Black College All-American Awards Weekend, February 27-28, 2015, in Atlanta, Georgia. American Urban Radio Networks will also be honoring the 24-member SBN All-American Team, SBN’s Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year, SBN’s Doug Williams Offensive Player of the Year and SBN’s Mel Blount Defensive Player of the Year. Special invited guests include former SBN Black College All-Americans, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (New York Giants), Jacoby Jones (Baltimore Ravens) and Antoine Bethea (San Francisco Forty-Niners). SBN Black College All-American committee members scheduled to attend include, Mel Blount, James ‘Shack’ Harris, Larry Little, Billy “White Shoes” Johnson,  Eddie Robinson Jr., Rick Upchurch and Doug Williams.
The SBN Sports Network is a division of American Urban Radio Networks; the largest Radar rated radio network company in the country. The SBN Black College All-American  (BCAA) Awards recognizes and celebrates the academic achievements of student-athletes who play football at America’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

About American Urban Radio Networks

American Urban Radio Networks (AURN) is the only African-American owned radio network company in the United States.  It is the largest network reaching Urban America. Through three programming networks and its marketing division, AURN reaches more African Americans than any other medium in America and produces more programming than all other broadcasting companies combined.   AURN broadcasts 200 weekly news, entertainment, sports and information programming to more than 300 radio stations nationwide. It is the only Black broadcaster with a bureau in The White House. AURN has offices and bureaus in New York, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles and Washington, DC.

Breast Cancer Vaccine Developed by Tennessee State Researcher Shows Promise in Trial

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Venkataswarup-Tiriveedhi-663x1024(TSU News Service) – A Tennessee State University scientist and a group of researchers from Washington University School of Medicine at St. Louis have come up with an experimental vaccine for breast cancer that appears to be safe in a preliminary trial.

According to a study published in Clinical Cancer Research, Dr. Venkataswarup Tiriveedhi, assistant professor of Biological Sciences in the College of Agriculture, Human and Natural Sciences, and his colleagues found that the experimental vaccine, Mammaglobin-A, was “overexpressed” in 40 to 80 percent of primary breast cancers.

Also known as MAM-A, the vaccine prompted CD8 T-cells to track and eliminate the MAM-A protein, noted Tiriveedhi. To determine the efficacy and safety of the experimental drug, he said they conducted a phase I trial involving 14 patients diagnosed with advanced breast cancer. READ FULL