Meharry Medical College Physician: New President of the National Medical Association

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Dr. Rahn Kennedy Bailey, associate professor and chairman of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Meharry Medical College, will be installed as president of the National Medical Association (NMA) on July 31 during the NMA 2012 Annual Convention and Scientific Assembly in New Orleans.

Dr. Bailey will begin his term as the 113th NMA president with a plan to support President Obama’s Affordable Care Act. Bailey will also focus on eliminating health disparities and increasing mental health care for African Americans.

“I look forward to expanding my commitment to the NMA as we continue to make a difference in meeting the health care needs of all Americans.” Bailey said.

The NMA is the largest and oldest organization that represents over 50,000 African American physicians and their patients.

About Dr. Bailey: A graduate of Morehouse College, Dr. Bailey received his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. He completed his residency in psychiatry at the University of Texas at Houston and completed a fellowship in forensic psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry at Yale University, School of Medicine.

 

About the National Medical Association

Founded in 1895, the National Medical Association is the nation’s oldest and largest medical association representing the interests of more than 50,000 African-American physicians and the patients they serve. The NMA repeatedly advocates for policies that would assure equitable and quality health care for all people. To learn more about the NMA visit www.NMAnet.org.

 

About Meharry Medical College

Meharry Medical College, founded in 1876, is the nation’s largest private, independent historically black academic health center dedicated to educating minority and other health professionals. True to its heritage, it is a United Methodist Church affiliated institution that is ranked second among all 141 medical schools in the social mission of medical education.  Meharry is a leading national educator of African Americans with M.D. and D.D.S. degrees and Ph.D. degrees in the biomedical sciences. Visit www.mmc.eduto learn more.

Johnson C. Smith’s Sustainable Village

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A new program at Johnson C. Smith University will prepare its students live a sustainable lifestyle off the natural land. Students will have the facilities to learn key tools of sustainability such as energy efficiency, water conservation, gardening, and composting.

“We are preparing a sustainable village for our students to live, and learn how to become sustainable in their everyday lives,” says Jonathan Pullin, an adjunct professor of chemistry.

The village will also have an aquaponic garden which will house fish, namely tilapia, that the students hope to be able to eat as well.

The teachings the students learn will not only help in their daily lives, but also in the surrounding Charlotte community and abroad in Haiti. “Students are preparing to go to Haiti and replicate what I teach them in the class to the local community” Says Pullin.

JCSU hopes to have the village running by the end of the year to have fall crops in the 18 gardening beds.

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Hampton University to Host 7th Annual STARS Conference

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The Hampton University Department of Computer Science is hosting the Students & Technology Academia, Research & Service (STARS) Alliance Celebration in Hampton this year, August 11-13. The annual conference for faulty and students is aimed to increase interests in computing for women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

“We are excited to host the conference in Hampton this year,” stated Dr. Jean Muhammad, chair of the HU Department of Computer Science and vice general chair of the conference. “The conference is a great opportunity to continue to expose our students to the various aspects of the computing world and encourage more engagement in the industry.”

The alliance focuses on students from middle school to graduate school by encouraging them to pursue careers in computing. The conference will hold sessions the cover a vast amount of topics including programming on Android phones, game making and a special session on women in IT.

There are 31 schools involved in the STARS Alliance, with the conference expecting more than 350 students and faculty this year.

Source

Eight Named To Join NCHSAA Hall Of Fame

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Eight more outstanding individuals in the annals of state prep athletics have been selected for induction into the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame.

Donnie Baxter of Asheboro, Ronnie Chavis of Pembroke, Lawrence Dunn of Raleigh, Doug Henderson of Greensboro, Lindsey Page of Burlington, Larry Rhodes of Gastonia, Robert Steele of Salisbury and Jim Taylor of Shelby have been named as the 27th group of inductees to join the prestigious hall. That brings to 148 the number enshrined.

The new inductees will be honored during special halftime ceremonies at a football game at Kenan Stadium on Saturday, September 22, when North Carolina takes on East Carolina. The University of North Carolina has designated the day as the 28th annual NCHSAA Day. The new class will officially be inducted at the special Hall of Fame banquet next spring in Chapel Hill.

The NCHSAA Hall of Fame is supported in part by a special grant from GlaxoSmithKline.

“These individuals joining the Association Hall of Fame this year have had a tremendous impact on high school athletics across North Carolina,” said NCHSAA commissioner Davis Whitfield. “Their accomplishments are impressive, but the character they exemplify and the lives they touched are truly representative of what the NCHSAA stands for. Their selection maintains the standards of excellence established by our previous inductees, and we are proud to honor these deserving individuals.”

Donnie Baxter

Donnie Baxter has excelled as a teacher and coach as well as an administrator during his illustrious career of well over 40 years.

Born in Pinehurst, he attended Elise High School in Robbins and then graduated from Appalachian State University in 1968. From there he launched into a coaching career that included stops at Ellerbe, Asheboro, Lexington and Eastern Randolph High Schools. He was on the coaching staff at Asheboro that won a title in the Western North Carolina High School Activities Association (WNCHSAA), and he was the head coach at Eastern Randolph when he led his team to the 1983 NCHSAA state 3-A football championship. His baseball team in ’81 was the state runner-up.

From 1985 to 1995, Baxter was principal at Southwestern Randolph, and since 1999 he has been in the Randolph County central office as athletic director for the county schools.

Baxter has served as chairman of the NCHSAA Nominating Committee for Board of Directors selection and has also served on the Realignment Committee. He also helped with the establishment of the Randolph County Sports Council.

Ronnie Chavis

Ronnie Chavis compiled an impressive record as a coach, primarily in baseball, but is perhaps best known his role as an outstanding athletic administrator.

A graduate of Prospect High School in Robeson County, where he was all conference in two sports, Chavis went on to Pembroke State University, where his baseball team advanced to its division’s College World Series.

He started his coaching career at Magnolia during the 1972-73 year then served as varsity baseball coach for 10 years at Pembroke before going to West Robeson. At West, he coached baseball and also served as athletic director. For over 20 years, he was director of athletics, health, physical education and driver education for the Public Schools of Robeson County before his retirement.

A member of the UNC-Pembroke Hall of Fame, Chavis served a four-year term on the NCHSAA Board of Directors and is also a former president of the North Carolina Athletic Directors Association. Ronnie has also been recognized nationally with a National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Citation and was the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) National Athletic Director of the Year in 2009.

Lawrence Dunn

Lawrence Dunn enjoyed an excellent coaching career in basketball and baseball as well as track and cross country at a couple of schools in Wake County.

A graduate of Berry O’Kelly High and then North Carolina A&T State University, where he was an outstanding basketball player, Dunn is probably best remembered for his success coaching basketball.

He guided the Garner women’s basketball team to a state championship and a perfect record in the 1977-78 season. Then, from 1979 to 2001, he guided the Athens Drive men’s basketball program to 445 victories against just 193 defeats. His teams won numerous conference championships in men’s basketball and also captured titles in cross country.

Dunn coached the East squad in the North Carolina Coaches Association all-star basketball game in 1990.

He was involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and as advisor for the student council at Athens Drive.

Doug Henderson

Doug Henderson was an outstanding head coach in both football and track at several different stops.

A graduate of Ellerbe High School (1955) and the University of North Carolina (1959), he started his coaching career in 1959 at Shalotte High School and coached in five different decades. He had additional coaching stints at Elizabethtown, East Bladen and Western Guilford.

As a head football coach, Henderson saw his teams compile an overall mark of 216-102-5, including a mark of 107-47-3 at Western Guilford from 1972 through ’89. His 1977 Western Guilford team won the NCHSAA state 3-A championship. In addition, he had two different streaks of 40-plus consecutive dual meet victories as a track and field coach.

Henderson is a former president of the North Carolina Coaches Association and helped to start the North Carolina Football Coaches Association, serving as its executive secretary from 1988 through 2003. He also served as a head coach in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas, the NCCA East-West all-star game and the old North-South all-star game.

Lindsey Page

Lindsey Page had a stellar career as a basketball coach at Bartlett Yancey High School in Caswell County.

Born in Caswell County and a 1962 graduate of Elon College, Page began his teaching and coaching career right after that at Bartlett Yancey. For 34 years, he was the head men’s basketball coach, winning seven conference championships and a North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 3-A championship in 1988. His teams posted an outstanding 519-325 record during that stretch and the gymnasium was named in his honor in 1988.

He also coached baseball at the school for 15 seasons and was athletic director for 20 years. He came out of his coaching retirement in 1999 to coach the women’s team at BY and posted 65 additional wins including a trip to the regional tournament, coaching through 2006.

He has been recognized by the NCHSAA before, with a Special Person Award in 1997 and a Distinguished Service Award a year later. He also coached in the North Carolina Coaches’ Association East-West basketball all-star game in 1988.

Larry Rhodes

Larry Rhodes was an outstanding coach at a couple of Gaston County schools in a couple of different sports.

A graduate of High Point Central and then East Carolina University, Rhodes coached from 1956 through 1970 at Frank Ashley High in Gastonia and then the next 20 years at Gastonia Ashbrook. During his tenure as a men’s varsity head basketball coach, Rhodes rolled up 336 victories to 174 losses, winning 10 conference championships and capturing the 1967 NCHSAA state 4-A basketball title.

He also coached golf for 33 seasons combined at the two schools, and then helped run a number of NCHSAA golf tournaments, earning numerous coach of the year honors in both golf and basketball.

He was the head coach at Ashbrook when it played West Charlotte in a game at the Charlotte Coliseum on February 28, 1979, that drew 10,076 fans.

The Ashbrook High gymnasium has been named in his honor.

Robert Steele

Robert Steele has been one of the state’s most outstanding coaches in track and field for a number of years, helping to build North Rowan into a state powerhouse in the sport.

A graduate of East Rowan High and then Livingstone College in Salisbury in 1975, Steele coached from 1977 through ’86 at Webb High School in Oxford, guiding his track team to six conference titles. Then he moved to North Rowan, where his teams have rolled up an incredible 15 NCHSAA state championships.

His men’s track and field squads at North have earned 11 state crowns, including five in a row from 1994 through ’98. He also served as an assistant football coach at both stops.

Steele has earned numerous Coach of the Year honors as well as a couple of national recognitions from the National Scholastic Sports Foundation, and has been honored for his community service in Rowan County.

Steele has previously been inducted into the Rowan-Salisbury Hall of Fame and the Livingstone College Hall of Fame.

Jim Taylor

Jim Taylor compiled a brilliant record as a head football coach, primarily at Shelby.

Taylor, a native of Franklin, attended Franklin High School, then Gardner-Webb Junior College and graduated from Western Carolina, playing football at both Gardner-Webb and WCU. He coached football at Polk Central for four years, from 1970 through ’74, while also coaching track and serving as athletic director. His football teams at Polk Central went 28-12 overall.

From 1974 through 2005, Taylor coached at Shelby, taking over the helm of the Golden Lions in 1977. He guided Shelby to 10 conference titles, two NCHSAA state championships and two state runner-up finishes. His teams were an outstanding 201-54-2 in his 21 seasons as a head coach there.

Since 2005, he has served as the county athletic director for the Cleveland County Schools. He is a former president of the North Carolina Coaches Association and current executive secretary of the North Carolina Football Coaches Association.

The Hall of Fame plaques are on permanent display in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s Hall of Fame room, located in the Simon F. Terrell Building in Chapel Hill that houses the Association offices.

THE NCHSAA HALL OF FAME

Class of 1987 (Charter Members)
Bob Jamieson, Greensboro
Leon Brogden, Wilmington
Dave Harris, Charlotte

Class of 1988
Tony Simeon, High Point
Wilburn C. Clary, Winston-Salem
L.J. “Hap” Perry, Chapel Hill

Class of 1989
Russell Blunt, Durham
Lee Stone, Asheboro

Class of 1990
Bill Eutsler, Rockingham
Harvey Reid, Wilson
Jay Robinson, Chapel Hill
Simon Terrell, Chapel Hill

Class of 1991
Thell Overman, Wallace
Frank Mock, Kinston*
Raymond Rhodes, Raleigh*
Richard “Bud” Phillips, Greenville

Class of 1992
Everette L. “Shu” Carlton, Gastonia
George J. Cushwa, Jr., Thomasville
Norma Harbin, Winston-Salem
James G. “Choppy” Wagner, Washington*
Modeal Walsh, Robbinsville*
Everett L. “Shorty” Waters, Jacksonville
Henry Thomas “Toby” Webb, Albemarle
John W. “Jack” Young, Ahoskie*

Class of 1993
Frank Barger, Hickory*
Donald Bonner, Lumberton
George Whitfield, Hamlet

Class of 1994
George “Buck” Hardee, Wilmington
Doris Howard, Fayetteville
Bruce Peterson, Asheville
Homer Thompson, Winston-Salem

Class of 1995
Willie Bradshaw, Durham
Robert P. Colvin, Robbinsville
Joe Paul Eblen, Asheville
Augustus B. “Gus” Purcell, Charlotte
George W. Wingfield, Reidsville*

Class of 1996
Paul Gay, Sanford
John W. “Honey” Johnson, Elizabeth City*
Glenn Nixon, Clayton
Robert R. Sawyer, Greensboro

Class of 1997
Dr. Wiley “Army” Armstrong, Rocky Mount*
Chuck Clements, Gastonia*
David Lash, Winston-Salem*
Larry Lindsay, Wake Forest

Class of 1998
Gerald “Pearlie” Allen, Shelby
Norris “Pee Wee” Jones, Asheville
Bill Mayhew, Troutman
Dr. Craig Phillips, Raleigh
Mary Garber, Winston-Salem
Marvin “Red” Hoffman, Wilkesboro
Dr. Andy Miller, Asheville

Class of 1999
Charles “Babe” Howell, Webster
Paul Jones, Kinston
Jerry McGee, Elizabeth City
Jim Mills, Garner
Joe Mills, Raleigh
Donna Norman, High Point
Robert Paroli, Fayetteville

Class of 2000
Marion Kirby, Greensboro
Don Patrick, Newton
Hilda Worthington, Greenville
Charles England, Lexington*

Class of 2001
Jack Groce, Boone
Tom Northington, Greensboro
Walter Rogers, Roxboro
Wally Shelton, Mount Airy
John Swofford, Greensboro
Morris Walker, West Jefferson
Herb Young, Cary

Class of 2002
Cliff Brookshire, Brevard
Andrea Cozart, High Point
Bill Friday, Chapel Hill
Herman Hines, Reidsville
Bob Lee, Southern Pines
Ray Oxendine, Pembroke

Class of 2003
Gerald Austin, Greensboro
Pat Harrell, Hertford
Hoy Isaacs, Reidsville*
Raymond “Buddy” Luper, Fayetteville*
David Maynard, Burlington
Clarence Moore, Asheville*
Pres Mull, Lexington
Tom Pryor, Edneyville
Stuart Tripp, Ayden

Class of 2004
Mike Brown, Wilmington
John Clougherty, Raleigh
James “Rabbit” Fulghum, Snow Hill
Ed Peeler, Shelby
Ned Sampson, Pembroke
Dave Smith, Washington
Kathy Stefanou, Raleigh
Carroll Wright, Clyde

Class of 2005
Tim Brayboy, Cary
Jim Burch, Cary
Dick Knox, Chapel Hill
Tom McQuaid, Beaufort*
Mike Raybon, Jamestown

Class of 2006
Al Black, Spring Lake
Pat Gainey, Taylorsville
Charlie Gregory, Randleman
Tommy Hunt, Durham
Joan Riggs, Swansboro
Don Saine, Gastonia

Class of 2007
Stuart Allen, Charlotte
Daryl Barnes, Lexington
Bob Brooks, Elizabeth City
Bill Carver, Fayetteville
Elton Hawley, Charlotte
Fred Lanford, Hudson
Bill Rucker, Black Mountain
Ronald Scott, Bear Creek

Class of 2008
Charlie Adams, Chapel Hill
Bill Bost. Catawba*
Ken Browning, Durham
Richard Hicks, Durham
Mac Morris, Greensboro
Jan Stanley, Hendersonville
Tim Stevens, Raleigh
Billy Widgeon, Morehead City

Class of 2009
Brad Faircloth, Greensboro
Gilbert Ferrell, WIlson
Bruce Hardin, Charlotte
Jim Maxwell, Durham
Vicki Peoples, Raleigh
Pete Stout, Salisbury
Carolyn Shannonhouse, Cary

Class of 2010
Harvey Brooks, Trenton
Tunney Brooks, Lumberton
Tom Brown, Maiden
Bob Catapano, Raleigh
Joe Hunt, Hendersonville *
Carolyn Rogers, Hertford
Que Tucker, Morrisville

Class of 2011
Rosalie Bardin, Wilson
Sheila Boles, Wilmington
Jimmy Fleming, Creedmoor
John Frye, Vass
Jerry Johnson, Goldsboro
Mike Matheson, Newton*
John Morris, High Point*
Tom Suiter, Raleigh

Class of 2012
Donnie Baxter, Asheboro
Ronnie Chavis, Pembroke
Lawrence Dunn, Raleigh
Doug Henderson, Greensboro
Lindsay Page, Burlington
Larry Rhodes, Gastonia
Robert Steele, Salisbury
Jim Taylor, Shelby

UMES’ Buja Takes Fifth Place at Junior Gold

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Megan Buja (Rockford, Ill.) had one of her best individual finishes of her career recently at the 2012 North Pointe Junior Gold Championships.  Buja tied for fifth place overall, tying Fairleigh Dickinson’s Danielle McEwan in a field of 569 women bowlers in the under 20 division.

Buja qualified 10th to make the finals, which took the top 16 bowlers after 25 games. She posted a pin fall of 5,019, for an average of 200.76.  Her high game was a 269 for the event.  Buja was ranked second after just five games and was fourth after 10, 15 and 20 games.  Her final block was the toughest as she posted the lowest score of the top 16
bowlers, dropping her to tenth.

At stake was not just bragging rights, but a chance to earn a spot on Junior Team USA.
The squad took the top two qualifiers heading into bracket play and then would take the final two bowlers.  Two more would be selected at large.

The first two spots went to McEwan, who qualified second and is the reigning National Tenpins Coaches Association (NTCA) Player of the Year and Natalie Goodman of Vanderbilt who was the top qualifier with a pin fall of 5,287 and an average of 211.48.

Bracket play featured a collegiate star-studded lineup, including MEAC standout Thea Aspiras of Norfolk State, who qualified 16th.  In the first round Buja got an opening win over 7th seeded Liz Kuhlkin of Nebraska, 417-358.  Buja would then topple McEwan in
the second round 398-367, sending her to the ‘contenders’ bracket.’

Buja would then run into 14th seeded Miranda Panas from Canada in round three.  Panas was carrying the momentum, topping third seed Holly Harris of Wichita State in the opening round and Sarah Lokker of Arkansas State in the second.  Panas would again
knock off another college bowling star, defeating Buja 388-385.

With Buja in the ‘Contenders Bracket,’ Panas would fall to eventual winner Robin Renslow, who will be a freshman at Vanderbilt this coming season.  Renslow, who was undefeated heading to the final match, fell to Jackie Carbonetto of Sacred Heart in the
finals, forcing a second showdown, which Renslow would win.

Buja would make a go of it though, falling to Carbonetto in the bracket semi-finals, 431- 376.  This would give Buja a tie for fifth place with Goodman who fell to Lokker in the other bracket semi-finals.

With Renslow and Carbonetto making Team USA for their finals placing that left two spots to be selected at large.  Panas, who took third, was ineligible since she is Canadian so Lokker, who was fourth, got a nod.  With one spot left Buja was skipped over by the National Selection Committee for Harris of Wichita State, who tied with McEwan for seventh.

“Megan bowled as well as I have seen her bowl,” said head coach Kristina Frahm. “She had such confidence and was sure of her bowling.  She will be a big part of our program this year and we hope she will keep it going this season.”

Other Hawks also performed well at the event.  Rising sophomore Valerie Riggin (Vista, Calif.) took 43rd overall while signee and incoming freshman Kristie Lopez of Ponce, Puerto Rico took 47th.

“While the average fan might not think finishing in the 40s is great, they should take a closer look at the field,” added Frahm.  “They both were in the top eight percent of the event, beating players from some of the top NCAA and USBC schools.  Not only did the NCAA schools have a great showing, I think UMES had a great showing as well.”

The Hawks hope to ride the great bowling of Buja, Riggin and Lopez into the 2012-13 season when it kicks off in November in New Jersey.

NCCU receives a sub-grant of $120,000 from United Negro College Fund Group for a Global Entrepreneurship Initiative

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The Department of Political Science at North Carolina Central University has received a sub-grant of $120,000 through the United Negro College Fund Special Programs Corporation (UNCFSP) and the U.S. Department of Education to administer and facilitate a Global Entrepreneurship Initiative. The goal of this initiative is to develop and implement supportive resources and technologies that will integrate theory and practice to promote economic growth and innovation through policy, social entrepreneurship and business enterprise.

NCCU, through the Department of Political Science, will administer and manage the initiative in partnership with UNCFSP. The partnership will bring together four other minority-serving institutions, small businesses, nonprofit organizations and other stakeholders to seize overlooked opportunities, and to invent new approaches and create sustainable solutions with positive economic impact.

Dr. Emmanuel O. Oritsejafor, interim chair of the Department of Political Science, will be the primary investigator on the project.

CSU Marauders Prepares for the 8th Dayton Classic

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The Central State Marauders will open the 2012 season against Stillman College in the annual Dayton Classic on Sunday, September 2 at Welcome Stadium. The Marauders, led by Head Football Coach E.J. Junior, hope to bring home a win in an event that has become a staple during the Labor Day weekend activities around the Dayton, Ohio area.

This year marks the Marauders first full season as a member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC), and the league’s nine football-playing members inaugural campaign. The team has competed against several GLVC members in the past as an Independent NCAA Division II member before joining the conference.

On October 6, 2012, Central State welcomes the Missouri University of Science & Technology Miners as their Homecoming opponent at McPherson Stadium, and concludes the home schedule against the Kentucky Wesleyan College Panthers on Senior Day, November 10. The Marauders will close their 2012 campaign against their traditional rivals, the Kentucky State University Thorobreds, November 17 at Alumni Stadium.

 

Roland Watts dies; formerly led WSSU Fine Arts Department

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A former chairman of the Fine Arts Department at Winston-Salem State University died Saturday.

Roland Watts, 77, taught at WSSU for 39 years and was known across the Southeast as a skilled woodblock printer. He designed the chancellor’s mace, a rod with an ornamental head, carried during ceremonial occasions at the university.

He is survived by his wife, Dr. Velma Gibson Watts; daughter Rolonda Watts, a noted actress; and son Brett Watts of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Mount Zion Baptist Church.

Scott Sexton

Former MSU Lady Bear Preston Named Head Volleyball Coach at Coppin State

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Former Morgan State volleyball player and assistant coach Ashley Preston was named Coppin State’s head volleyball coach on Friday, August 20th as announced by Derrick Ramsey, CSU’s director of athletics.

“Ashley is one of the rising young stars in college volleyball, and we were fortunate to hire her,” said Ramsey.  “Ashley was very successful in the classroom and on the court as a student-athlete, and I want her to bring those winning attributes to our program.”

Preston becomes the 10th head coach in Coppin State volleyball history and will look to make her mark in her second stint as a head coach. Last season, in her lone year as head coach at Spelman College, Preston led the Jaguars to a 9-16 record, which established a school record for wins in a season, while also serving as the school’s sports information director. Prior to Spelman, Preston served as an assistant coach at Loyola (Md.) and Morgan State.

“I’m so fortunate that Mr. Ramsey and Coppin State Athletics have afforded me the opportunity to coach in the same conference that I have played in,” said Preston. “Baltimore is my second home and I had so many great experiences in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and I love Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) sports. I have played and coached in the MEAC before, but being a head coach is most fulfilling. I’m so grateful for coaches like Ramona Riley-Bozier, Scott Pennewill and Millicent Sylvan Van Norden, who have all helped me pursue my goal of being a head coach.”

Preston ranks as one of the top players in Morgan State history. She was a three-time first-team All-MEAC selection from 2004-06 and is the Lady Bears’ all-time leader in digs with 2,066. She led the team in digs all four years and also owns the top three marks in Morgan State history for digs in a season, including a school record 640 digs during her sophomore campaign, breaking the previous record of 525 which she set as a freshman. During her tenure she helped Morgan State to a total of 68 wins and was essential to the Lady Bears having one of their best seasons in five years as a junior. That year she helped the team to a 23-9 mark and a 10-0 record against MEAC North Division opponents, as Morgan State advanced to the MEAC Tournament championship match in 2006.

Off the court Preston was equally impressive. A native of Las Vegas, Nevada, Preston was a three-time recipient of the MEAC Commissioner’s All-Academic Award and garnered Arthur Ashe Scholar’s first team honors as a junior. Following her junior season Preston also earned the Elijah Rowe Award, which goes to the female athlete with the highest grade point average at Morgan State.

Preston graduated in May of 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications and was honored that summer as Morgan State’s representative for the MEAC Woman of the Year Award.

“The landscape of MEAC volleyball has changed and every team is a contender for the championship and I feel as though Coppin is right in the trenches fighting for our spot,” said Preston. “There is so much growth and opportunity at Coppin and I’m fortunate Mr. Ramsey has given me a chance to build the Eagles’ volleyball program.”

Coppin State sports information director Roger McAfee contributed to this release.

Educate Yourself: Why Bother Reading a Book?

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Why should students bother reading a 300-page book nowadays, especially when they have better things to do—like solving that problematic puzzle of how to get their message across on Twitter with less than 140 characters, or finally figuring out the perfect angle in order to take that cute, unorthodox picture in the mirror for their latest Facebook album? Students who are guilty of doing such, however, and who have a little extra time on their hands from mingling on MySpace, should take some time out of their busy day to scan through this article and learn why students should read more often rather than using social media disproportionately.

Students who are not fond of reading should know that reading can be just as entertaining, if not more thrilling, as tweeting their life away. Believe it or not, possessing a broad range of books, and reading them widely can actually help students become the creator of the social networks they often spend (too many) hours a day on—instead of being that dull student who confides in these mediums when there is “nothing better to do.”

Students are exceedingly caught up with counting each day down until they reach X amount of followers on Twitter when they could better use their time by reading comprehensively (although I do often find myself wanting more followers, too; for I am stuck on 527). Of course it is cool to socialize, but the problem is students are lacking vital qualities simply by not reading more often than they socialize.  This is one of many sets of problems that affect the younger generation—our priorities are wrong.

In this day and age, reading is still fundamental toward developing, understanding, and accepting ourselves. Yet most students I have come across have not gotten the memo. In a college setting, one would think that students fill their day with eating breakfast before heading off to their professor’s next lecture, enjoying some free time with friends after class, and most importantly, spending time in the school library to study or read for leisure.  But too often I find students not doing the latter. Why are not students enjoying the benefits of reading anymore, let alone reading, period?

The answer to this troubling trivia is that social networks are overriding students’ brains and causing them to become lackluster zombies looking for a quick profit. Well, maybe it is not that dramatic, but the deficiency of reading among students is a troubling concern that should be addressed.

Students I know are either not grasping the proper material needed to successfully pass, and understand a course, or simply content with barely getting by. Certainly students’ know that the benefits of reading greatly outweigh the benefits of a sought after “Re-Tweet” on Twitter, or the pleasure one get from someone liking their relationship status on Facebook. But then again, maybe they do not.

The benefits of reading are quite remarkable, to say the least. In fact, I believe that obtaining free knowledge should be a crime, since it is free! Who in their right mind can object to that?  There is nothing equivalent to gaining free knowledge, other than gaining power, which is overrated. I have found that reading comprehensively has affected every facet of my life and I have come to a better understanding of myself and my interests.

It is widely known that those who read have better skills than those who do not. Higher intelligence, general knowledge, as well as higher GPAs are all effects of reading comprehensively. I also found that reading for pleasure greatly reduces stress. Locking myself in that awesome fictional universe always causes me to be compelled by the story’s characters, setting, and theme, and away from reality and the problems within it.

By no means am I suggesting social media should be exterminated because of its negative association among college students. Social media helps students network with more experienced people from their respected fields of study, it keeps students in contact with old, lost friends and family members, and it can also further create students’ imagination, which is better than knowledge itself. The problem is students are more aware about celebrities and their programmed television lives and less aware about themselves which is a troubling concern that needs further attention.

For me, reading is a way out. It is like a magical journey to escape pain, misery, annoying family members, and that one friend who lacks public decency.  Reading is also a source of personal power—anyone can hold his ground against someone who tries to challenge him intellectually, and he can use that knowledge to uplift others as they climb, since people often look up to those who have a great deal of knowledge; i.e. President Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, or the late Malcolm X.

Reading helps people discover themselves, their passions, and their determination to be successful. Surely rapper Lil John was serious at one point during a song when he says, “Read a book! Read a book! Read a [expletive] book!” After all, no one has ever died from having too much knowledge.

Former Bowie State Athlete Isaac Redman has come a long way for Steelers

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Now that he’s become their starting running back, Pittsburgh Steelers coaches can laugh about how Isaac Redman tanked in his first impression during an NFL training camp.As a nervous undrafted rookie from Division II Bowie State three years ago, Redman almost failing the annual first-day-of-camp conditioning test wasn’t as funny.

“I was out of shape,” Redman recalled on Sunday at St. Vincent College. “I didn’t really look like too much.”

Within two weeks, though, Redman was evolving into one of the stars of training camp. Three years after that, Redman is in line to start the Steelers’ season opener in Denver Sept. 9.

Redman has gradually worked his way up the Pittsburgh depth chart and, with starter Rashard Mendenhall on the physically unable to perform list while he continues recovery from a torn ACL, Redman has gone from longshot, unknown rookie to featured back.

“It’s just crazy how time changes,” Redman said.

As poor as Redman’s performance was during that conditioning test on the afternoon he reported to his first NFL training camp, all was soon forgotten among coaches and fans when Redman quickly showed his skill for getting into the end zone.

The 6-foot, 230-pound Redman scored five times in a goal-line drill during a practice that was open to the public early during his 2009 rookie training camp. He scored two touchdowns in the preseason opener for the Steelers, who were then the defending Super Bowl champions.

The career rushing leader at Bowie State, Redman didn’t make Pittsburgh’s active roster that season but was signed to the practice squad and dressed for one game.

“Fast forward to now, and … I’m here coming in as No. 1 on the depth chart,” Redman said. “I feel like a totally different player, I feel like a professional. I’m taking on a leadership role in the running back room, guys are looking up to me. When I came in I was looking up to Willie Parker and Rashard and those guys, Mewelde (Moore). And now I got a bunch of young guys looking at me for advice.”

Behind Redman on the depth chart are youngsters Jonathan Dwyer (eight career games), John Clay (two games), rookie Chris Rainey and second-year Baron Batch, who tore an ACL early in his rookie training camp last year.

Redman briefly was knocked out of practice Sunday, shaken up after a block. The Steelers’ most physical back, Redman’s early goal-line prowess was a sign of things to come.

“It takes a team to hit that guy,” linebacker LaMarr Woodley said.

“You can’t just think that when you hit him he’s falling down, because he’s spinning and fighting for extra yards.”

Redman made his first career start last season, but it wasn’t until Mendenhall went down in the regular-season finale at Cleveland on Jan. 1. He had a career-high 92 rushing yards and a touchdown, but the best was yet to come.

Making his first career postseason start the following week at Denver, Redman became just the fourth undrafted running back to rush for more than 100 yards in a playoff game.

Redman’s game-high 121 yards on 17 carries perhaps was a factor in Steelers management’s decision not to pursue a veteran running back over the offseason. Even with Mendenhall’s status in limbo for the start of the season, Pittsburgh let Moore go.

With only a young stable of inexperienced backs behind him, the message was clear: The Steelers have faith in Redman to carry the load.

“Coming from Bowie State, nobody really even thought that I would amount to anything here, so I know any good that I did would probably spark a lot of people,” Redman said. “It was a lot easier to impress people then. Now, coming in, everybody’s looking at me to be a No. 1 back and all eyes are on me, so it’s kind of different from when I first came in until now.”

Redman irked some veteran teammates three years ago when he spiked the ball after a touchdown during a goal-line drill as a rookie. He earned their respect through his work ethic, aggressive running style and commitment to the dirtier aspects of his job such as blocking.

“He sees the hole, he hits the hole, and he runs hard,” tight end Heath Miller said. “And I think that’s infectious about Read more:

Steve Martin elected to WSSU Board of Trustees

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The Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina has elected Dr. Steve A. Martin, founder and principal of Martin-Frankel Associates in Winston-Salem, to the Board of Trustees of Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) to fill a vacant term that ends on June 30, 2013.

 

“Dr. Martin has helped the boards of corporations design and administer self-evaluation processes and he has a wealth of experience in focusing boards and their committees on an organization’s most compelling strategic issues,” said Chancellor Donald J. Reaves.  “He brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and expertise to our board, as well as insight into strengthening our efforts to support and measure the progress of the University’s strategic plan.”

 

Martin-Frankel Associates was founded more than 20 years ago and consults with both publicly-traded and private companies, institutes of higher education and government agencies with clients that include Scripps Networks (HGTV, Food Network, Travel Channel, DIY Network, GAC), The Kroger Co., and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.  He formerly served as head of the Governmental Services Institute at Louisiana State University and as a professor and vice president of Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Virginia.  Martin began his consulting career in 1979 with General Mills.

 

An ordained Presbyterian minister, Martin has served as chair of the board of the Presbyterian Church Foundation and was chair of the Winston-Salem State University Foundation’s board for two terms.  He also serves as senior advisor to the N.C. Foundation for Entrepreneurs.  Martin holds degrees from Rhodes College, Union Theological Seminary and Louisiana State University.

Steve Martin elected to WSSU Board of Trustees

NCCU Chancellor Nelms Announces Retirement

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North Carolina Central University Chancellor Charlie Nelms will retire from his position effective August 6, 2012. Nelms began at NCCU in August 2007.

An interim chancellor will be appointed by University of North Carolina General Administration.

Highlights of Nelms’ accomplishments include:

  • Developing and implementing a campus-wide Quality Service Initiative (QSI), which has received national recognition from the College and University Personnel Association;
  • Raising admission requirements and academic progression standards;
  • Strengthening infrastructure with particular attention to financial controls, technology, campus aesthetics and residential life;
  • Increasing online course offerings by 50 percent;
  • Establishing the University’s first Ph.D. program in more than 50 years; the Ph.D. degree in Integrated Biosciences will enroll its first cohort this fall;
  • Transitioning the institution from Division II to Division I in athletics;
  • Overseeing the institution while it was rated the number one public HBCU for two consecutive years by U.S. News and World Report;
  • Constructing a new residence hall, the Nursing building and a parking deck;
  • Reaffirming the University’s accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools;
  • Obtaining membership in the American Association of Law Schools;
  • Receiving record funding in support of Science, Math and Technology (STEM) initiatives;
  • Establishing the University College to place increased emphasis of student retention and academic success;
  • Creating the Centennial Scholars Program aimed to increase African American male retention;
  • Establishing the Division of Research and Economic Development; and
  • Managing a comprehensive academic program review and restructuring.

Nelms is recognized nationally for his leadership and expertise in the areas of student retention and academic success. He recently served on the American Council on Education Blue Ribbon Task Force on Accreditation and is a member of the Board of Directors of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. Reference

Jacksonville native honored after 42-year career at Howard University

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After 42 years on the faculty of Howard University, Jacksonville native Frederick Harper retired this spring.

On Saturday, Aug. 4, the 69-year-old graduate of Northwestern High School and Edward Waters College will be honored at a dinner at the University Club that will also serve as a fundraiser for Edward Waters.

He’ll also do a book signing at 5 p.m. Saturday in the Crowne Plaza Hotel for his new book, a novel titled “The Durabone Prophecies.” In the novel, psychologist Franklin Durabone, after a near-death experience, decides to write a book based on the prophetic visions of his mother, “Mama Durabone.” who sees alternative destinies for Earth and the human race.

“The main message is we need to focus on saving ourselves as a species,” said Harper, himself a counseling psychologist.

While at Edward Waters, he did a teaching internship under Rutledge Pearson, the civil rights leader for whom a Jacksonville school is named. Harper then spent a year teaching at what was then known as Stanton Vocational High School on Ashley Street. Then he went to Florida A&M University, where he earned a master’s degree in guidance and counseling.

In 1967, he was hired by what was then Florida Junior College as one of the first two blacks on the school’s staff.

It was not a happy experience. “The white secretary would not type for me,” he said.

The next year, he went to Florida State University where he worked as the first black counselor in the university’s counseling center while earning a doctorate. He joined the faculty of the school of education at Howard in Washington, D.C., in 1970.

The father of two and grandfather of three said he hasn’t decided whether he’ll stay in the Washington area. “I’m open to moving,” he said. “I’m even open to coming back to Florida. But I’ve got 32 first cousins, so I may not get much peace if I do.”

He has published a number of academic books and papers but in his heart he’s always been a poet and novelist, he said.

“I will continue to write,” he said. “I will travel. I will speak. Life is simple: You grow and you give.”

Read more at Jacksonville.com:

Obama’s education initiative will help save HBCUs

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During the National Urban League’s annual convention in New Orleans, La., President Obama delivered a speech that could be a significant turning point for local HBCUs, Morgan and Coppin State University, who are suffering tremendously from low retention rates.

In a crowd of approximately 3,700 supporters, Obama proposed his new executive order, which seeks to improve educational achievement for African Americans at all levels. Referred to as the “White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans,” the new order will combine with federal agencies and partnerships nationwide to create a more efficient variety of educational programs available for African American students.

To enable the accessibility of these programs, President Obama has allocated funds within the federal budget to compensate for the resources needed to initiate the order. Obama explained in his speech, “A higher education in a 21st century cannot be a luxury. It is a vital necessity that every American should be able to afford.”

n his speech, Obama highlighted the discrepancies between dropout rates for African American students and the dropout rates of other students nationwide. He noted 8 percent of African American students, between the ages of 16 to 25, drop out from college. The impact is evident in the 14.4 percent rate of unemployed African Americans, which exceeds the national percent rate of 8.2 unemployed Americans.

Likewise, Morgan and Coppin State University mirror these tragic retention rates. With Morgan State reaching an 11 percent graduation rate in a four-year span and Coppin State just at 5 percent, the need for such a reform in African American students is more prevalent than before.

With respect to his initiative, Obama has diagnosed the low retention rate as a myriad of issues, some of which include the expensive costs and the lack of preparatory materials for higher education. He noted the new initiative will exist so, “every child has greater access to a complete and competitive education from the time they’re born all through the time they get a career.”

The Department of Education, the Executive Office, and other cabinet agencies are identifying effective education practices and will incorporate them into the new programs. Once the budget is established for each program, Obama will then officiate the new White House Initiative. Referenced From Examiner 

Cheyney University sanctions its own athletic program

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The athletic department at Cheyney University is in trouble with the NCAA again. “Cheyney University has self-imposed two years of probation on its athletic department after self-reporting NCAA violations that occurred when multiple student-athletes were not registered with the NCAA’s eligibility center,” University President Michelle Howard-Vital announced in a news release Friday afternoon.

“As such, Cheyney athletes will voluntarily not participate in the PSAC/NCAA 2012-13 tournaments and will vacate victories of the affected programs.” In the release, Howard-Vital did not mention how many athletes and what sports were involved or when the violations took place. Calls to Howard-Vital’s office went unanswered. However, one source said that the university became aware of the infractions in January and immediately began an investigation. “All student-athletes that participated while ineligible that are still members of the institutions teams have gone through the reinstatement process,” Howard-Vital said in the release.

“All student-athletes were certified for competition during the 2011-12 academic year. “In addition to incorporating safeguards regarding certification of student athletes, the institution will increase compliance staff and increase NCAA rules education for students, staff and university personnel.” Interim athletic director Ruffin Bell said the infractions involve all sports but would not say how many athletes were involved. The university has nine varsity sports at the Division II level. Bell also said the investigation is ongoing. “I cannot comment any further,” Bell said. “Once the NCAA finishes its investigation we will have more information.” The NCAA could accept Cheyney’s self-imposed sanctions or decide that the punishment is not severe enough and impose even harsher penalties. This is the second time in five years that Cheyney has reportedly used ineligible players.

The university was put on three year’s probation in 2007 for a series of major violations in the football program. The violations included the use of ineligible players by the football program, unethical conduct by former coach Lee Brown as well as a failure to monitor and lack of institutional control. The most serious infractions occurred in 2004 when Brown knowingly used six ineligible players including five partial qualifiers, according to the NCAA. The players received extra benefits in the form travel expenses to away games. Four of those six players competed in at least one road game and a fifth took part in practice. The NCAA found that the violations were committed at Brown’s direction, even though he had been told two years earlier that ineligible players were not permitted to travel or participate in practice. The team had to vacate all team an individual records from 2004-06 and forfeit a total of four wins from that period, one in 2004, two in 2005 and one in 2006. In addition, Brown was put on a one-year, show-cause penalty, which would require any school that hired him to restrict his duties in the athletic department and demonstrate why it should not be penalized for hiring him. Brown was fired in 2004 after three lackluster seasons. The university had to complete a Compliance Blueprint Review Program by the end of the 2007-08 academic year and abide by all the recommendations by the reviewer. All individuals with athletic responsibility in admissions, housing, academic services, financial aid, compliance and registrar including the faculty athletics representative and athletics director had to attend a mandatory NCAA compliance seminar before the probation period ends. The probation was lifted in 2010. Referenced from Daily News