Patric Simon Tuskegee University New Athletic Director

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Patric Simon, the former athletic director for Langston University in Oklahoma, has been chosen as Tuskegee’s new athletic director. He will replace Alvin Jackson who had been the university’s athletic director since February 2010. Simon will assume his responsibilities today.

During his four-year tenure with Langston, Simon had a combined total of 10 conference championships in the Red River Athletic Conference and Central State Football League of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. His conference championships include: the RRAC championships for track and field in 2009 and 2010, consecutive championships for the Langston’s women’s basketball team in 2009, 2010 and 2011; championships for the Langston football team in 2008 and 2009 and a RRAC championship for the women’s cross country team in 2010.

Under Simon, Langston was ranked the No. 1 Historically Black University and College in the NAIA in Director’s Cup standings. In the 2011 standings for Learfield Sports, Langston University was the top school in both the Red River Athletic Conference and Central States Football League for a third consecutive year.

While at Langston, Simon also established the Family Welcome Center, the Student athlete Advisory Board and organized student-athlete seminar sessions to prepare students for life after college athletics.  Also, he was able to increase the average student-athlete GPA to 2.75, the highest it had been in a decade at the university. Simon also implemented a new website for the Langston athletics program that provides games scores and stories.

Simon is a 1977 graduate of Johnson C. Smith University in North Carolina. In 1989, he earned a master’s degree from Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta

Maurice Pierce Named Director Of Hampton’s Track & Field

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Maurice Pierce, who for 10 years has served as Hampton University’s head women’s track & field coach, was named Director of Track & Field for the school, the Department of Athletics announced on Monday.

Pierce will be in charge of both the men’s and women’s cross country and track & field programs.

“I’m thankful,” Pierce said. “I’m grateful to (Hampton President Dr. William R.) Harvey for looking at the leadership I’ve shown over the years and offering me this opportunity.

Pierce’s Lady Pirates have enjoyed much success during his tenure; most recently, Hampton swept the MEAC women’s cross country, indoor track & field, and outdoor track & field titles this past season.

During Pierce’s tenure, the Lady Pirates have won four MEAC cross country titles (2004, 2006, 2010-11), nine indoor track & field championships (2003-09, 2011-12), and eight outdoor track & field titles (2003-04, 2006-10, 2012).

Pierce has coached five NCAA champions while at Hampton; Francena McCorory won three NCAA crowns in the 400-meter dash (2009 indoor, 2010 indoor, 2010 outdoor), while Yvette Lewis took a pair of NCAA titles in the triple jump (2006 indoor, 2007 outdoor).

There have been 17 All-America selections under Pierce; most recently, four Lady Pirates earned All-America Honorable Mention honors this past outdoor season. Senior Benita Taylor earned the honor in the 800-meter run and 4×400-meter relay, while senior Claudia Calder, sophomore Emmy Fraenk, and freshman Cassandra Jones were named Honorable Mention in the 4×400-meter relay.

Prior to coming to Hampton, Pierce served as an assistant coach at Maryland Eastern Shore (1998-99), and as a volunteer women’s assistant coach at Norfolk State (1995-98). While at UMES, Pierce coached two MEAC champions.

While at Norfolk State, Pierce was instrumental in helping the Spartans win two CIAA championships and coached over 15 CIAA champions, four NCAA Division II qualifiers and one Olympian (Rachelle Thomas, who competed in the 4×100- and 4×400-meter relays for the U.S. Virgin Islands in 1996). Read Full

High-Paying Jobs for New Graduates

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By Christine Laue, PayScale.com

Want your first postcollege salary to be as high as possible on graduation day or soon after?      

You may not earn six figures right away, but according to online salary database PayScale.com, certain careers provide a good chance you’ll earn a salary of around $50,000 in your first two years. That’s well above the $35,000 that new graduates typically earn.
It’s also promising news in a labor market that over the last few years has created an epidemic of college graduates who are either unemployed or taking lower-wage jobs, says Katie Bardaro, PayScale’s lead analyst.

“Just because you have a bachelor’s degree doesn’t mean you’re in a job that requires one,” she says.

However, the following list of jobs shows that students who choose their majors strategically can land well-paying entry-level positions and avoid being broke baristas with bachelor’s degrees. The list shows top-earning jobs for college graduates with two years of experience or less in their chosen field.

Drilling Engineer
Median Annual Salary: $77,400

If you like drilling down into numbers, consider this job that combines technology and economics. A drilling engineer designs and implements procedures to drill oil and gas wells as economically as possible and manages both the people and technology involved in a complex drilling operation.

You’ll need a bachelor’s degree in engineering, preferably in petroleum engineering. Look for cooperative engineering programs in which students earn academic credit on the job.

Find oil/gas drilling jobs.

Business Banker
Median Annual Salary: $66,900

Until he joined Wells Fargo in 2006 as a business banker, Kendall Scheer of Omaha thought bankers were stuck in offices crunching numbers. Now specializing in loans to businesses, he explains the different loan types, obtains applicants’ information and analyzes their finances.

“I am not stuck behind a desk, and it is not all about numbers,” he says. “It’s about helping people realize their dreams.”

A bachelor’s degree in finance, business, economics or a related field is generally required. On-the-job training is a typical path to gain experience.

Find business banking jobs.

Financial Services Wholesaler
Median Annual Salary: $63,800

Rather than selling directly to consumers, this wholesaler sells financial services to large corporations, midsize companies and small businesses. These high-value transactions occur between banks, insurers, stockbrokers and fund managers. A wholesaler often offers the services at discounts to attract business.

Because of the complex nature of financial products, a bachelor’s in business, economics or finance may be required. Sales experience is important, too.

Find financial services sales jobs.

Cytotechnologist
Median Annual Salary: $52,700

A cytotechnologist prepares slides of cells and examines the cells under a microscope for abnormalities that may signal the beginning of disease, such as cancer.

Cytotechnologist Courtney Robinson of Kansas City, Kansas, recommends the job to anyone interested in science or healthcare, but warns that her daily task of diagnosing cancer can be difficult emotionally. Still, it’s a stimulating career that pays well, she says.

“It keeps your brain active, and you never get bored,” she says.

A bachelor’s degree is typically required. Some states require laboratory personnel to be licensed, registered or certified.

Find cytotechnologist jobs.

Regional Sales Representative
Median Annual Salary: $50,800

These sales representatives work a specific territory in which they contact existing or potential customers to explain product features, answer questions and negotiate prices.

College degrees aren’t always required, unless the product — such as pharmaceuticals — requires scientific or technical knowledge.

Find regional sales representative jobs.

Sales Operations Analyst
Median Annual Salary: $48,900

These workers review a company’s sales, marketing and accounts receivable processes. They put the sales information into historical context and make recommendations to upper management about ways improve sales.

An associate’s or bachelor’s degree in business, economics, finance or accounting is typically required.

Find sales operations analyst jobs.

Manufacturing Associate
Median Annual Salary: $48,800

Manufacturing associates operate processing equipment on a production line in facilities such as pharmaceutical or biotechnology plants. If the product is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, these workers often must document the process in accordance with government regulations.

At some plants, a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, life sciences or biology is often required.

Find manufacturing associate jobs.

Associate Video Game Producer
Median Annual Salary: $48,600

If Angry Birds consumed more of your attention than algebra in college, this job could be for you — but don’t think you won’t need those math skills.

An associate producer helps the producer, who oversees the day-to-day work of creating a video game. The associate role is largely a project-management job, involving budgeting, scheduling and time management.

You will likely need a bachelor’s degree in computer programming, multimedia design, art or project management. While getting a job at a large studio can be difficult, the popularity of gaming on social-media sites and mobile devices has made breaking into the industry easier.

Find video game jobs.

Source: Salary data provided by online salary database PayScale.com. Salaries listed are median annual salaries and include any bonuses, commissions or profit sharing for full-time workers with two years of experience or less. The median annual salary for all workers with bachelor’s degrees (but no further education) and two years of experience or less is $34,400. Job descriptions are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Singing Avengers? Tyrese, Ginuwine & Tank Relaunch R&B Supergroup – “TGT”

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New jacks out there, be warned. The O.G.s are coming for your spot!

INTERVIEW: Tyrese Reveals Why He Reloaded His Album ‘Open Invitation’

One of the biggest stories of the BET Awards last night was the appearance of R&B legends Tyrese, Ginuwine and Tank. And why were they there together? To announce that the supergroup they’ve been talking about for years, TGT, which stands for Tyrese, Ginuwine and Tank, will be coming to fruition.

 

Yes, that’s right, ladies: TGT is really happening!

EXCLUSIVE: Strictly For The Ladies! Tyrese Reveals What He Loves In A Woman

The three superstars, who were all wearing matching white suits, announced that they were forming together again. Tyrese seemed particularly excited:

Read more: GlobalGrind

Supreme Court Upholds Health Care Law, 5-4, in Victory for Obama

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The Supreme Court on Thursday upheldPresident Obama’s health care overhaul law, saying its requirement that most Americans obtain insurance or pay a penalty was authorized by Congress’s power to levy taxes. The vote was 5 to 4, with Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. joining the court’s four more liberal members.

The decision was a victory for Mr. Obama and Congressional Democrats, affirming the central legislative achievement of Mr. Obama’s presidency.

“The Affordable Care Act’s requirement that certain individuals pay a financial penalty for not obtaining health insurance may reasonably be characterized as a tax,” Chief Justice Roberts wrote in the majority opinion. “Because the Constitution permits such a tax, it is not our role to forbid it, or to pass upon its wisdom or fairness.”

At the same time, the court rejected the argument that the administration had pressed most vigorously in support of the law, that its individual mandate was justified by Congress’s power to regulate interstate commerce. The vote was again 5 to 4, but in this instance Chief Justice Roberts and the court’s four more conservative members were in agreement.

The court also substantially limited the law’s expansion ofMedicaid, the joint federal-state program that provides health care to poor and disabled people. Seven justices agreed that Congress had exceeded its constitutional authority by coercing states into participating in the expansion by threatening them with the loss of existing federal payments.

Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, who had been thought to be the administration’s best hope to provide a fifth vote to uphold the law, joined three more conservative members in an unusual jointly written dissent that said the court should have struck down the entire law. The majority’s approach, he said from the bench, “amounts to a vast judicial overreaching.”

The court’s ruling was the most significant federalism decision since the New Deal and the most closely watched case since Bush v. Gore in 2000. It was a crucial milestone for the law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, allowing almost all — and perhaps, in the end, all — of its far-reaching changes to roll forward.

Mr. Obama welcomed the court’s decision on the health care law, which has inspired fierce protests, legal challenges and vows of repeal since it was passed. “Whatever the politics, today’s decision was a victory for people all over this country whose lives are more secure because of this law,” he said at the White House.

Republicans, though, used the occasion to attack it again.

 

“Obamacare was bad policy yesterday; it’s bad policy today,” Mitt Romney, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, said in remarks near the Capitol. “Obamacare was bad law yesterday; it’s bad law today.” He, like Congressional Republicans, renewed his pledge to undo the law.

The historic decision, coming after three days of lively oral arguments in March and in the midst of a presidential campaign, drew intense attention across the nation. Outside the court, more than 1,000 people gathered — packing the sidewalk, playing music, chanting slogans — and a loud cheer went up as word spread that the law had been largely upheld. Chants of “Yes we can!” rang out, but the ruling also provoked disappointment among Tea Partysupporters.

In Loudoun County, Va., Angela Laws, 58, the owner of a cleaning service, said she and her fiancé were relieved at the news. “We laughed, and we shouted with joy and hugged each other,” she said, explaining that she had been unable to get insurance because of her diabetes and back problems until a provision in the health care law went into effect.

After months of uncertainty about the law’s fate, the court’s ruling provides some clarity — and perhaps an alert — to states, insurers, employers and consumers about what they are required to do by 2014, when much of the law comes into force.

The Obama administration had argued that the mandate was necessary because it allowed other provisions of the law to function: those overhauling the way insurance is sold and those preventing sick people from being denied or charged extra for insurance. The mandate’s supporters had said it was necessary to ensure that not only sick people but also healthy individuals would sign up for coverage, keeping insurance premiums more affordable.

Conservatives took comfort from two parts of the decision: the new limits it placed on federal regulation of commerce and on the conditions the federal government may impose on money it gives the states. Read More

Douglas Covington, former Alabama A&M president, passes away

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– Douglas Covington, who served as president at Alabama A&M University from 1984-87, died Wednesday.

He was 77.

Covington was Alabama A&M’s sixth president. In 1995, Covington became the first African-American to become president of a non-historically black public school in Virginia when he took the helm of Radford University.

Penny Kyle, the current president at Radford, issued a statement about Covington’s time at the school.

In an Alabama A&M press releasetoday, a former alumni director remembered Covington’s impact on the school.

“He was an extraordinary leader and a visionary who brought great opportunities to the University in terms of community, alumni and corporate support,” recalled Georgia S. Valrie, an AAMU alumna and retiree who served as its director of alumni affairs. “He even launched campus beautification efforts and the renovation of Hillcrest (President’s Home). He was a warm, compassionate person.”

According to his biography on the Alabama A&M website, Covington had a wide-ranging impact in Huntsville read more

Howard Alum Ryan A. Cole Receives Film Festival Honorable Mention for Short Film Bittersweet

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Washington, DC (June 29, 2012) — Local filmmaker, Howard University alum and, already, Emmy Award winning director Ryan A. Cole has received an Honorable Mention by the New York Metropolitan Film Festival 2012 for his
latest short film, Bittersweet.

Watch Trailer Here 

To celebrate this designation by the film festival, and as a special thanks to his cast, crew, and guest star, Darian “Big Tigger” Morgan, who makes a cameo appearance in the film, Cole will release Bittersweet in a one-day-only sneak pre- view on the film’s website, http://www.bittersweetthefilm. com on Sunday, July 1st, from 5:00 p.m. to midnight.

“I am so honored and humbled to be recognized for Bitter-
sweet by the Metropolitan Film Festival,” says Cole, “but this achievement was only possible because of the support I received from family, friends, and everyone involved
in this movie. I am, especially, grateful to “Big Tigger” for taking the time to appear in the film, and for his sup- port over the past few months to help promote it.”

“Even though the movie will be screened as part of the festival, and plans are underway for a local premiere later this summer,” adds Cole, “I wanted to do something special for all of my supporters by giving them this sneak preview.” The sneak preview is scheduled to correspond with Sunday’s BET Awards, where “Big Tigger” will host the show’s pre-show and after party events.

Ryan A. Cole Bio
Cole began his filmmaking career at age fifteen when he attended the New York Film Academy’s filmmaking program for high school students. After completing the program, he established his own film and video produc- tion company, Point Bird Productions, so that he could begin to produce his own films. After high school, Cole attended Howard University as a Film Production major (B.A., Film Production, 2009), where he was involved in over one hundred film and video projects. While a student, Cole’s films received three Howard University Paul Robeson Awards. In 2009, Cole was selected to participate in an internship program with NBC, where he and his fellow interns conceived an idea for a web-based reality show, “The Interns”, and received an Emmy Award for Best Student Production for their work. Cole’s personal body of work includes two full-length feature films and six short films, and he has already begun work on the script for his next full-length feature film.

CONTACT: Ryan Cole at ryanacole@PointBirdProductions.com

Central State University on Spring Tour in Beijing

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March 16, 2012

            The Central State University Chorus will be spending the spring break in one of the most culture bound and populated countries in the world: China! There will be a total of 25 members attending this trip, including Mr. CSU Brandon Berry, hailing from Chicago Illinois and Miss CSU Miss Gabriel Ruffin from Detroit, Michigan. CSU Chorus member Steven Weems will be among the 25 students attending the trip. Accompanying the choir will also be two executive administrators, the conductor Mr. Caldwell and the CSU accompanist.

 

The choir will be on tour for five days and will be visiting three city locations: Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin. The tour will start at the Beijing Opera House and the last stop at the Tianjin Palace in the Tianjin Province. The Central State Chorus will arrive in Beijing in Saturday, March 17 and will be staying in a hotel at the Chinese-American Embassy.

            23-year old Senior from Cleveland, OH is a first tenor and one of Mr. Caldwell’s personal assistants.  Weems has been a member of the Central State Chorus since his freshmen year in 2008 up to now. One question that was brought up last Friday about how he felt about the trip to China. Weems responded by stating: “I am excited and scared at the same time.”

“I am excited because I have always wanted to travel to a place of rich culture, history and a great appreciation for music” “I am scared  because I have never been to China, so I don’t know what to expect while I’m there.”

 

Weems stated that the choir music-wise has been preparing since last semester. And the conductor and administration have been in preparation for the tour since early January. One last question for Mr. Weems was “What will you personally expect to gain from this international trip?” Weems’ response was as follows: “I expect it will be a great and beneficial trip for everyone. This trip will not only enlighten us about the difference between culture and language barriers, but I hope to take from this experience a deeper appreciation for music, and gain a sense of knowledge and pride for how universal music really is, no matter if we can’t understand the language. I believe as Americans we should broaden our horizons and learn about music from other parts of the world.”

 

The choir will also have the privilege to meet the ambassador of the Chinese-American delegation between Central State University and the Tianjin School District.  The choir will go on to represent Central State University proudly; in the mighty words of the glorious Alma Mater, For God, For Central, For State.”

 

Posted by Nuri Flowers Posted on 9 articles

CIAA Sponsors Leadership Institute for Excellence Girls’ Club

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he CIAA, Excellence Girls’ Club Inc., CIAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and the Elizabeth City State University athletic department teamed up to host a leadership institute for middle schools and high school girls last week on the campus of ECSU.

The Excellence Girls’ Club is an empowerment and leadership organization that focuses on personal growth, community involvement, leadership, and caters to middle and high school aged females with untapped leadership potential.

Over the course of a two day period, members of the Excellence Girls’ Club were exposed to college life on the ECSU campus, and had the opportunity to hear from a variety of speakers. Topics discussed ranged from personal branding, leadership styles, the Step-Up behavior intervention program, to verbal/nonverbal communication skills. The presenters included various members of the ECSU athletic department staff, CIAA staff, and CIAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee members.

Dr. Angelia Nelson, Department Chair and Assistant Athletic Director at ECSU stated: “It was truly a pleasure to host the CIAA and Excellence Girls’ Club Leadership Institute on the campus of Elizabeth City State University. We were indeed thrilled to have the young women on our campus and made every effort to ensure that they walked away more knowledgeable, confident, and equipped to become 21st century leaders. The Institute would not have been possible without the support of Chancellor Gilchrist and the rest of the Viking family. We look forward to working with the CIAA on future initiatives.”

The Leadership Institute also included three student-athletes and SAAC members from the CIAA: Allie Kolezynski, Christen Pelton, and Heather Smith. After reflecting on her experience at the Leadership Institute, Christen Pelton, SAAC President at ECSU commented: “The opportunity to work with the Excellence Girls’ Club was one to remember. Speaking to a few of the girls one-on-one gave me insight as to how impactful and purposeful the leadership sessions really were.”

The Leadership Institute was a great opportunity for the young women of the Excellence Girls’ Club to experience life for a few days on a college campus, while connecting with mentors and leaders from ECSU and the CIAA.

A full list of presenters from the Excellence Girls’ Club and CIAA Leadership Institute is listed below:

Valerie Griffin Andrews: Principal at WG Pearson Middle School
Linda Bell: Assistant Athletic Director/Compliance at ECSU
Allie Kolezynski: Assistant Director of Athletic Communications/Head Cross Country Coach at Chowan University/Vice Chair of DII NCAA Student Athlete Advisory Committee
Vickie Madison: Founder and Executive Director of Excellence Girls’ Club Inc.
Dr. Angelia Nelson: Department Chair/Assistant Professor/Assistant Athletic Director at ECSU
Christen Pelton: President of the Student-Athlete Advisory at ECSU
Heather Smith: Miss CIAA
Monique AJ Smith: Associate Commissioner for Governance/Senior Woman Administrator of the CIAA
Dr. Monette Williams: Director of Enrollment Management at ECSU

St. Paul’s College President Eddie N. Moore Jr departing

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The president of St. Paul’s College is leaving the historically black college in Lawrenceville for medical reasons.

The school announced Friday that Eddie N. Moore Jr. is heading to Texas for what it called a long-delayed medical procedure.

“We wish to express our most profound gratitude to Eddie Moore, who agreed to delay a well-deserved retirement to take the reins at Saint Paul’s during its restructuring and reaffirmation campaign,” said Dr. Oliver W. Spencer Jr., chairman of the Board of Trustees, in a written statement.

Moore served as president of Virginia State University for 17 years. Since 1993, the VSU student body grew to more than 5,000 and more than $100 million in capital improvements have been made to the 236-acre main campus in Ettrick.

In 2008, Moore said he and his wife planned to move north of Dallas after retirement. Texas is his wife’s home state. But Moore stayed on at VSU until June 2010.

Moore then filled in as president at St. Paul’s College after Dr. Robert L. Satcher Sr. stepped down in November 2011. Moore was already serving as an adviser.

The St. Paul’s College Board of Trustees named Claud Flythe as interim president to replace Moore. Flythe came the college as chief of staff in January and was employed for 35 years at Virginia State University, retiring as retiring as chief of staff and vice president of student affairs.

“We are very fortunate to have someone of Claud Flythe’s judgment and expertise to lead the College thorough this next phase of its history,” Spencer said.

Flythe has served as the special assistant to the president and vice president of student affairs at Shaw University and the vice president for administration at Savannah State University. Flythe received his undergraduate degree from Shaw University, his graduate degree from the University of Indiana, and his Doctorate from Middle Tennessee State University. He has served as the chairman of the Board of Correctional Education under the Wilder Administration; he has also served on the boards of the Virginia Association for Reserve and Guard, and the Chamber of Commerce in Petersburg. He is a military vet, serving two years in the Army and six years in the Marine Corps Reserve.

St. Paul’s also announced that Richmond attorney Ashley L. Taylor will advise trustees on the future of the college. Taylor, a partner at the Troutman Sanders law firm, is a former deputy attorney general for Virginia and a former member of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.

Beyonce, Jay-Z to battle at Sunday’s BET Awards

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Beyonce will battle her husband for video of the year at Sunday’s BET Awards, and now both performers are confirmed to attend.

Beyonce is the second most nominated act. She’s up for six awards. Jay-Z is nominated for five.

Kanye West leads the pack with seven.

Two of West and Jay-Z’s collaborative songs are up for video of the year. Beyonce is also nominated twice in the category. The final nominee is Usher.

Chris Brown, Nicki Minaj and Usher are set to perform. Whitney Houston’s mother is part of a tribute to the late superstar.

Jamie Foxx, Quentin Tarantino and Tyler Perry will present awards. Samuel L. Jackson will host the show in Los Angeles.

Saint Augustine’s Alumna Barbara Pierre Advances in Olympic Trials

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Former Saint Augustine’s College standout Barbara Pierre qualified for the women’s 100 meter semifinals with a time of 11.41 seconds in preliminaries late Friday, June 22, at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials held at Hayward Field.

Pierre is one of 21 sprinters in the semifinals, which will start Saturday, June 23, at 6:40 p.m. eastern standard time. The top two finishers in each of the three semifinal heats plus the next two fastest times qualify for the finals, which will be held later Saturday at 8:52 p.m. est. Pierre is running in the first heat which includes top U.S. sprinters Allyson Felix and Carmelita Jeter.

The top three finishers in each of the five preliminary heats plus the next six best times advanced to the semifinals. Pierre finished fourth in the first preliminary heat but her time was among the next six fastest of sprinters who did not automatically qualify.

A Saint Augustine’s College graduate, Pierre was a two-time NCAA Division II 100 meter champion (2007, 2008) with the Lady Falcons. She still shares the Division II 100 meter championship record (11.18).  Pierre is one of four former St. Aug track athletes who qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials. Both Jamaal Torrance and Josh Scott competed in the men’s 400 meter preliminaries on Friday and neither advanced to the semifinals. Bershawn “Batman” Jackson will run in the qualifying round of the men’s 400 meter hurdles on June 28.

Orlando Magic select Norfolk State’s Kyle O’Quinn NBA Draft – HBCU Hero

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Norfolk State’s Kyle O’Quinn: A Jamaica, NY native, O’Quinn is a perfect “energy” guy, but his coach Anthony Evans—a Brooklyn native—told me he’s capable of a lot more.

Kyle O’Quinn

“He’s a great passer for somebody his size,” Evans said in a piece for The Wall Street Journal.

At 6-9, nobody expects O’Quinn to be a good distributer, but Evans insisted that was an area where the big man made some serious progress.

As a scorer, O’Quinn will likely be limited to putbacks as a rookie, but that’s not why he’d be on the floor.

O’Quinn blocked 2.7 shots and grabbed 10.3 rebounds per game as a senior and helped a 15th-seeded Norfolk State team upset the second-seeded Missouri Tigers in the NCAA Tournament.

O’Quinn could add depth at power forward and center, particularly if Jared Jeffries does not return to the Knicks next season. Referenced from NJ

UMES Speaks the Language

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Its summer time!! What do most high schoolers do this time of year? Hang out at the pool, earn pocket change at a part time job, learn a foreign language? Well maybe not the last part but they could be!
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) is offering high school age students the opportunity to learn two highly demanded and not to mention difficult languages this summer- Arabic and Chinese.
The Summer Language Experience is a rigorous two- week program, geared toward teaching beginners entry-level knowledge of the language along with cultural understanding. The program will be instructed by native speaking professors; Dr. Mohamed Tirab, who will conduct the Arabic session and Susan Yin for the Mandarin Chinese session. Both are professors in the Department of English and Modern Languages at UMES along with teaching at other institutions in the area.
This is a remarkable experience that could one day prove highly beneficial to the participating students once entering today’s workforce. Tammy Gharbi, acting coordinator of the Foreign Language Instructional Center (FLIC) at UMES says “This is a great opportunity for motivated high school or home school students who want to make the most of their summer by studying a foreign language. It would take nearly 15 weeks in a traditional school year to accomplish the 60 hours of instruction offered in The Summer Language Experience”, Gharbi continues.
Registration for the non-residential program is now open. The cost of the program ($280) includes all material and financial assistance is available if needed. The course runs from July 16-27. Call 410-651-6543 for additional information.

This article was referenced by http://www.umes.edu/PR/Article.aspx?id=40474

Shaw University Receives “Excellence in Debt Management” Award

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Shaw University, the first HBCU in the South, received the 2012 Excellence in Debt Management Award from USA Funds, the university announced today. Shaw was recognized for offering creative and effective debt management and financial literacy programs that helped Shaw students reduce student loan debt and limit loan defaults. The award includes a $15,000 USA Funds grant to support student scholarships at the university.

“With 97 percent of our students receiving some form of financial aid, it is vital that we not only graduate our students with a high-quality education, but we also ensure that they graduate with the skills and knowledge to be fiscally responsible,” said Shaw University President Dr. Dorothy Cowser Yancy. “This award is a tremendous testament to the hard work and dedication of our financial aid staff and an acknowledgement of their continuous efforts to help our students graduate with less debt and live financially sound.”

The university was recognized for initiating and implementing innovative techniques that helped reduce its default rate and increase financial knowledge among its students. Financial aid officers at the university conducted a survey during freshman orientation to identify students who were at risk of dropping out of school and in need of academic or social intervention. Based on the survey results, the university launched a pilot mentoring program. In conjunction with that program, the university also presented 27 financial literacy and financial aid workshops during the past academic school year to 625 students. The university also conducts face-to-face exit counseling sessions for graduating seniors to provide information about their lenders, various repayment options and information about the amount of debt that they have incurred while in school.

In addition, following graduation, the university conducts aggressive communication campaigns to former students who have fallen behind in the repayment of their student loans. These efforts include contacting student loan borrowers, beginning when a former student is more than 30 days past due on a student loan payment, and conducting a monthly telephone blitz to reach borrowers whose loan payments are more than 180 days past due. As a result of these activities, Shaw’s 2010 draft cohort default rate fell to 13.2 percent, down from its official 2009 rate of 22.6 percent.

USA Funds staff and representatives of the previous year’s debt management excellence award-winning colleges and universities selected the award recipients, based on their programs’ measurable results, creativity, scope, staff and faculty involvement, and cost-effectiveness. Since 2004 USA Funds has presented its Excellence in Debt Management Awards annually to highlight outstanding campus debt management and financial literacy programs and to disseminate to other postsecondary institutions best practices in debt management and student loan default prevention.

Improving minority health disparities: NCCU Research Center receives $5.7 million NIH Grant

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The Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute (BBRI) at North Carolina Central University has received a $5.7 million National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant to help eliminate health disparities in minority communities.

NCCU Scientist will conduct research on four projects that focuses on cardio-metabolic diseases that disproportionately affect African-Americans. The project is administered by the Center for Translational Health Equality Research (CTHER) and led by the director of BBRI, K. Sean Kimbro, Ph.D., and associate professor Mildred A. Pointer, Ph.D., FAHA.

The NIH grant at BBRI is sponsored by the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), a United States government agency whose mission is to “promote minority health and to lead, coordinate, support, and assess the NIH effort to reduce and ultimately eliminate health disparities.”

On a Welcome Address at the agency’s website, Dr. John Ruffin, the Director of the NIMHD, notes how health disparities afflict so many American citizens. Ruffin said that the time to eliminate such gaps is now.

“Health of minorities and other health disparity populations has not benefited from our nation’s progress in scientific discovery due to a wide range and variety of disparities in health outcomes attributable to race, ethnicity, gender, or lack of access to health care,” Dr. John Ruffin said in the Welcome Address. “It is clear that the American people are deeply concerned about these health inequities.”

The BBRI at North Carolina Central University is a top flight biotechnology research institute dedicated to unearthing the mechanisms of disease and using that knowledge to pinpoint cures. In a statement, Director Kimbro said that the grant will be targeted to diseases that profoundly impact minority communities.

“With an investment of approximately $5 million over five years, the National Institutes of Health and the scientific community have given a strong statement of support and confidence in our research,” Kimbro said.

About North Carolina Central University:  North Carolina Central University is a historically black institution founded in 1910. With more than 8,300 enrolled at the university, North Carolina Central is recognized as the first publicly supported liberal arts college for African-Americans.