Hampton University Flight Team Offers a $99 Chance to Become a Pilot

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The Hampton University Flight Team, the Air Pirates, is holding a raffle to benefit the team’s efforts to attend the National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) SAFECON competition in Kansas this spring.

There are two prizes available for the raffle. A grand prize of a private pilot training course that includes 55 hours of combined flight and ground training, an instrument rating training course that includes 55 hours of combined flight and ground training, or a $7,500 aircraft rental credit to be used at Horizon Flight Center in Chesapeake, Va. The second raffle prize is a Bose A20 Aviation headset.

The grand prize is worth more than $8,500, while the aviation headset is worth $1,095. There is no limit to the amount of raffle tickets that may be purchased.

The HU flight team, along with Horizon Flight Center in Chesapeake, Va., is selling 250 raffle tickets for $99. The odds of winning are 1-in-125.

All proceeds from the raffle will go to the HU flight team to help with expenses of the national competition in Kansas. The team, who recently placed third in the NIFA Region X SAFECON competition, will incur aircraft rental, travel, hotel and registration cost for the competition.

“This is a great prize for those in the aviation field that are interested in receiving their private or instrument certificate,” stated Diane Blandino, assistant professor in the Department of Aviation and advisor to the flight team.  “This is also a great prize for anyone interested in learning to fly or anyone who wishes to support the flight team. ”

Visit http://www.hamptonflightteam.com/ to purchase a raffle ticket and for more information about the raffle and the HU flight team, Air Pirates.

Bethune-Cookman’s Davis Named to The Sports Network All-America Team

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Make that two in one 24-hour period for senior defensive end Ryan Davis, as he added his fifth All-America honor on Monday afternoon. Davis joins the ranks of the 2011 The Sports Network/Fathead.com All-America Second Team. The TSN announcement comes just hours after Davis was recognized on the College Sporting News’ 2011 Inside The HBCU Huddle Black College Football Division I FCS All-America team.

“First off, I want to thank God for this blessing,” said Davis of the news. “It’s very exciting to receive national recognition. It’s a great opportunity to not only shed some light on me, but also on my teammates and this institution. It’s a great honor and I’m very thankful.

With the TSN nod added in, Davis Post-Season All-America honors comes to a total of five on the year.

Davis was the MEAC Defensive Player of the Year and among the leaders in both the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision in sacks and tackles for loss.

Joining him on the TSN All-America Team is fellow MEAC player Keith Pough (LB, Howard) on the second team defense. This is the second straight year for a B-CU player named to the TSN All-America Team. Center Natiel Curry was honored on the third team last season. Additionally, Davis is expected to find his place among the HBCU All-America Team, to be announced by the Sheridan Broadcasting Network in January.

Read Full article at B-CU

ASU Provides Meals for 100 Families

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The ASU family teamed up to provide holiday food boxes to 100 area families during the University’s third annual “Yuletide Giving Project.”
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The spirit of giving and sharing was on full display at Alabama State University’s Dunn-Oliver Acadome on Friday, Dec. 16.

ASU volunteers provided boxes of food for 100 Montgomery-area families as part of the University’s third annual “Yuletide Giving Project.”

“It is part of the mission of the University to devote efforts to public service and to do its part to advance the welfare our state,” said Tina Harris, project coordinator. “Projects like this really help to bring our ASU family together, as we pitch in and help give back to the community.”

Alumni, students, faculty and staff donated a bounty of food, from green beans and stuffing, to onions and potatoes, to sugar and flour. Student organizations and ASU’s leadership team donated turkeys for the dinner boxes.

Annie Daniels, a Montgomery native, was grateful to ASU for making her holiday a little easier.
“This is truly a blessing,” she said. “I didn’t know anything about it until I received a letter in the mail. ASU’s generosity is a blessing from God.”

It was ASU’s goal to provide a complete meal for each family. Each box contained a turkey and trimmings, dessert and a beverage.

“Providing one meal to a family in need may appear to be a very small token of assistance to those who are not in need; however, this small token will help to lift a burden, provide hope and remind the community of the power of a humble and generous spirit,” Harris said.
Article Referenced from ASU

AAMU Researchers Secure DoD Contract

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Huntsville, Ala. —- An Alabama A&M University researcher and his colleagues have won a major contract from the Army Research Office. Dr. Satilmis Budak, an AAMU electrical engineering associate professor, is the lead on a contract involving improvements to thermoelectric power generation and cooling systems.  Article Referenced from AAMU

Womens Basketball Recap: Dec. 18

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Courtesy: MEAC Media Relations

Myrtle Beach, S.C.–SC State rallied from 14 down to defeat Coastal Carolina, 61-59, in a non-conference women’s matchup. The was the third game of the Crescent Bank Carolinas Challenge held at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

The Lady Bulldogs finished the contest with three players in double-figures led by Cabriel Duren with 22.  Tiara Knotts scored 16 and Trinese Fox dropped in 11 in the game.  Duren also led the team in rebounding with four.

To Read the complete story, visit www.scsuathletics.com

 

Coppin State Falls To VCU

RICHMOND, Va. — Senior Crystal Whittington scored a season-high 18 points and Ashle Craig added 16, but Coppin State fell to Virginia Commonwealth 74-66 on Sunday in the Verizon Wireless Arena.

The Eagles were unable to overcome the play of Courtney Hunt who had 30 points and grabbed 16 rebounds to lead the Rams to the victory.

Virginia Commonwealth (6-3) out-rebounded Coppin State 52-31, which included 25 offensive rebounds. The Rams used that advantage to outscore the Eagles 22-8 on second-chance points.

Andrea Barbour added 12 points and 11 rebounds for Virginia Commonwealth, while Christina Carter had 10 points.

Coppin State (2-8) also received 10 points from Shawntae Payne.

To Read the complete story, visit www.coppinstatesports.com

 

FIU Coasts Past DSU

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The FIU Panthers shot a season-high 56.8 percent for the game and an astounding 85.0 percent (17-for-20) in the first half en route to a 73-57 victory over the Delaware State University women’s basketball team Sunday afternoon at the UNF Osprey Holiday Classic.

Sophomore Tasia Bristow (Baltimore, Md.) led the Lady Hornets in scoring for the third straight game with 18 points.  She added in a game-high three steals and one blocked shot.  Junior Kianna D’Oliveira (Newport News, Va.) grabbed a game-high nine rebounds in addition to six points.

FIU received double figure scoring from three players in Jerica Coley (18), Mansare (14) and Fanni Hutlassa (12).

The loss is DSU’s second straight as they move to 3-9 on the year while the Panthers improve to 7-4.

To Read the complete story, visit www.dsuhornets.com

Paine Lady Lions Basketball Team Volunteer at Goldent Harvest Food Bank

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Paine College students doing their part to help families for the holidays.

Just before going home to spend time with their families for Christmas, the Paine College Lady Lions Basketball team took some time out of their day to give back, and volunteered at the Faith Food Factory.  Faith Food Factory is a component of the Golden Harvest Food bank, where volunteers sort, inspect and repack non-perishable donations.

“At Faith Food Factory, there is only one paid position”, states Manager Larry Jenkins. “If it were not for volunteers like the Lady Lions Basketball team, we would have a difficult time getting food to those people who really need it.”

Freshman Lashonda Canty states that “Today is a great opportunity.  It makes you realize just how blessed you are.”

“Being able to give of myself today makes me really appreciate how blessed I am to have parents who have been able to work and provide for me, but I will not take it for granted, and I am excited to be able to help someone else”, says freshman Kharyna Stanford.

“Most of our students are fortunate enough to not have to worry about where their next meal will come from” states Lad Lions’ Head Coach Willie Adams. “I wanted my team to continue their spirit of giving back so they can have a greater appreciation of what they have.”

The mission of the Golden Harvest food bank is to end hunger in 30 counties in Georgia and South Carolina.

“Volunteering today, just made my soul feel good!”- Tenesha Jenkins

Kimberly E. May
Sports Information Director
Paine College

Wiley College and USC to Reenact 1935 Debate

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Cary Cavis & Chad Mossman of Wiley College (Marshall News Messenger)

The movie, “The Great Debaters,” changed a key fact for dramatic effect. In the movie, Wiley debates Harvard and wins. The actual history is that the University of Southern California was the top debating team in the nation 77 years and Wiley went to California to debate USC.

And won.

Now, a new generation of Wiley College debaters will debate USC again, this time in Marshall.

The Melvin B. Tolson/Denzel Washington Forensics Society of Wiley College will host an exhibition with the University of Southern California on Jan 27, 2012 on the Wiley Campus during its Ethical Student Leadership Conference.

“This is the first meeting of our schools since our famous debate some 77 years ago in 1935,” Wiley College Vice President of student affairs and enrollment services Joseph Morale said. “Wiley College was victorious in the historic debate, and our team emerged as a national champion.”

The two schools met 77 years ago when they competed for the national championship before an audience of 1,100 people.

Wiley College, under the direction of Melvin B. Tolson earned the victory, becoming the first African-American college to win the national championship.

“This is a joyful time for Wiley College,” Morale said. “Our students and all students have the opportunity to watch or hear the debate and experience a living history lesson.”

Wiley College Director of Forensics, Christopher Medina, said it was “an honor to be a part of the exhibition.”

“Upon being hired here at Wiley College, I have always really felt that this particular debate is so important to this school and our legacy,” Medina said. “So I contacted the director of forensics at USC who I have known for several years and discussed the idea of having an exhibition debate with him. And he was very excited about the opportunity and the idea.”

The exhibition team will consist of the debate team captain, Cary Chavis, and parliamentary research chairman, Chad Mossiman.

“It is an honor for us. I look back at the movie in 1935, and these two schools that participated in this debate that lasted no longer than 30 minutes, before Dr. King and Rosa Parks, these two schools came together and united,” Chavis said. “As Wiley students to know the shoulders we stand on, it is really humbling to be a part of this.”

The Melvin B. Tolson/Denzel Washington Forensics society returned to competition three years ago with the help of a gift from actor Denzel Washington, who directed the movie and starred as Tolson.

The team has since ranked in the top ten in the 2011 Pi Kappa Delta National Tournament, and is currently ranked third in debate sweepstakes.

Article referenced from The Marshall News Messenger.

Albany State’s Jamarkus Gaskins named 2011 Daktronics All-American & Player of the Year

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Albany State University linebacker Jamarkus Gaskins was recently named to the 2011 Daktronics All-American Team as a first-team selection. In addition, Gaskins was named the Ron Lenz National Defensive Player of the Year.

The 6-2, 200-pound senior from Tifton, GA native was a key anchor of the Golden Rams’ “Dirty Blue” defense, recording 73 tackles (42 solo) with 17.5 tackles for loss (75 yards) in 12 games. The 2011 SIAC Defensive Player of the Year finished with a league-leading 11 sacks, which currently ranks 20th in the nation. He also had five pass breakups, three fumble recoveries for 67 yards, two quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.

Gaskins was the lone representative from the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) to make the 2011 Daktronics All-American Team.

The team is sponsored by Daktronics, Inc., an acknowledged world leader in scoring, timing and programmable display systems for virtually every sport at every level of competition. The team is voted on by the NCAA Division II members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (D2SIDA), with the online nomination and voting process powered by ATHLETICSITE.COM.

Ron Lenz Offensive Player of the Year

Jonas Randolph, Mars Hill

Ron Lenz Defensive Player of the Year

Jamarkus Gaskins, Albany State

Offense

First Team

Pos Player School Class Ht. Wt. Hometown

TE David Cannon Central Missouri Jr. 6-2 240 St. Louis, Mo.

OL Amini Silatolu Midwestern State Sr. 6-3 320 Tracy, Calif.

OL Joe Long Wayne State (Mich.) Sr. 6-6 308 Lapeer, Mich.

OL Rod Williams Northwest Missouri Jr. 6-5 300 Grandview, Mo.

OL Garth Heikkinen Minnesota-Duluth Jr. 6-4 305 Duluth, Minn.

OL Darrell Leopold Delta State (Miss.) Sr. 6-2 305 Laurel, Miss.

WR Trey McVay Northeastern State Sr. 5-9 188 Muskogee, Okla.

WR Thomas Mayo California (Pa.) Sr. 6-2 200 Reston, Va.

QB Dane Simoneau Washburn (Kan.) Sr. 6-3 227 Salina, Kan.

RB Jonas Randolph Mars Hill (N.C.) Sr. 5-10 185 Daleville, Ala.

RB Joe Glendening Hillsdale (Mich.) Jr. 5-10 188 East Grand Rapids, Mich.

RS John Brown Pittsburg State (Kan.) So. 5-11 170 Homestead, Fla.

PK Greg Zuerlein Missouri Western Sr. 6-0 190 Lincoln, Neb.

 

Second Team

Pos Player School Class Ht. Wt. Hometown

TE Brian Leonhardt Bemidji State (Minn.) Jr. 6-5 253 Blaine, Minn.

OL Kyle Thornton North Alabama Sr. 6-4 345 Dallas, Texas

OL Cody Johnson Northwest Missouri Sr. 6-2 290 Jasper, Mo.

OL Tyler Hendrickson Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.) Sr. 6-8 318 St. Paul, Minn.

OL Stephen Goodin Nebraska-Kearney Sr. 6-6 310 Hastings, Neb.

OL Chandler Rearden Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) Sr. 6-1 265 Greenwood, S.C.

WR Trevor Kennedy Mercyhurst (Pa.) Sr. 6-0 200 Akron, Ohio

WR Troy Burrell Wayne State (Mich.) Sr. 5-10 182 Port Huron, Mich.

QB Adam Neugebauer West Virginia Wesleyan Sr. 6-2 210 Pittsburgh, Pa.

RB Jonathan Woodson Texas A&M-Kingsvllle Jr. 5-10 185 Missouri City, Texas

RB Travis Daniels North Carolina-Pembroke Sr. 5-10 205 Washington, N.C.

RS Deonte Gist Tusculum (Tenn.) Sr. 5-9 175 Wllford, S.C.

PK Kyle Major Colorado State-Pueblo Sr. 6-3 230 Littleton, Colo.

Defense

First Team

Pos Player School Class Ht. Wt. Hometown

DL David Bass Missouri Western Jr. 6-5 260 St. Louis, Mo.

DL Connor Wright Colorado Mesa Sr. 6-1 250 Wheat Ridge, Colo.

DL Jonas Celian West Virginia Wesleyan Jr. 6-1 210 North Lauderdale, Fla.

LB Marcus Dowtin North Alabama Sr. 6-2 225 Upper Marlboro, Md.

LB Nate Dreiling Pittsburg State (Kan.) So. 6-4 228 Hutchinson, Kan.

LB Alex Whitehill Fort Hays State (Kan.) Sr. 6-3 220 McPherson, Kan.

LB Jamarkus Gaskins Albany State (Ga.) Sr. 6-2 220 Tifton, Ga.

S Clarence Laster Southwestern Oklahoma Sr. 6-0 190 Hemet, Calif.

S Brody Scheff Bemidji State Sr. 6-0 206 Waconia, Minn.

CB Arthur Hobbs Nebraska-Kearney Sr. 5-11 190 San Diego, Calif.

CB Elijah Davis Shepherd (W. Va.) Sr. 5-8 192 Silver Spring, Md.

P Taylor Accardi Colorado Mines Jr. 6-2 205 Littleton, Colo.

Second Team

Pos Player School Class Ht. Wt. Hometown

DL Aston Whiteside Abilene Christian Sr. 6-0 285 Vernon, Texas

DL Todd Storm Michigan Tech Sr. 6-0 250 Calumet, Mich.

DL Randy Colling Gannon (Pa.) Sr. 6-5 320 Arcade, N.Y.

LB Jordan Campbell N.M. Highlands Jr. 6-0 230 Corona, Calif.

LB Lee Meisner Colorado State-Pueblo Sr. 6-0 240 Sterling, Colo.

LB Jeremy Aguilar Texas A&M-Kingsville Jr. 6-1 235 Los Angeles, Calif.

LB Chad Kilgore Northwest Missouri Sr. 6-1 230 Orrick, Mo.

S Jeremy Jones Wayne State (Mich.) Sr. 5-10 189 Grand Rapids, Mich.

S Bryce Peila Western Oregon Jr. 6-1 200 Central Point, Ore.

CB Dominique Davenport Delta State (Miss.) Sr. 5-10 180 Baldwyn, Miss.

CB Janoris Jenkins North Alabama Sr. 5-10 185 Pahokee, Fla.

P Ethan Kosjer Fort Hays State (Kan.) Sr. 6-3 195 Douglass, Kan.

The team, which is sponsored by Daktronics, Inc., an acknowledged leader in scoring, timing and programmable display systems, is voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

 

Ben Baxter
Assistant Commissioner for Communications & New Media
Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC)

Morehouse’s David Carter Named to AFCA Division II Coaches’ All-American Team

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The 2011 AFCA Division II Coaches’ All-America Team was recently announced by the American Football Coaches Association and Morehouse College running back David Carter was named to the team.

Carter, a native of Marietta, GA, was one of three running backs named to the team and was the lone representative from the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC).

In 2011, the 5-10, 225-pound junior led the SIAC in rushing with 1,495 yards and scoring with 19 touchdowns while being named SIAC Player of the Year. The two-time All-SIAC selection also broke an NCAA Division II record for most rushing yards in a half with 251 yards in the first half against Fort Valley State.

The AFCA has selected an All-America team since 1945 and currently selects teams in all five of its divisions. What makes these teams so special is that they are the only ones chosen exclusively by the men who know the players the best — the coaches themselves.

2011 AFCA Division II Coaches’ All-America Team

Offense

 Pos Name Ht. Wt. Cl. School Coach Hometown (High School)

WR Trevor Kennedy 6-0 200 Sr. Mercyhurst Marty Schaetzle Akron, Ohio (Firestone)

WR Tyler Steffan 6-4 210 Jr. Mary Myron Schulz Dickinson, N.D. (Dickinson)

OL Garth Heikkinen 6-4 305 Jr. Minnesota-Duluth Bob Nielson Duluth, Minn. (Central)

OL Amini Silatolu* 6-3 320 Sr. Midwestern St. Bill Maskill Tracy, Calif. (West)

OL Kyle Thornton 6-4 345 Sr. North Alabama Terry Bowden Dallas, Texas (St. Mark’s)

OL Rob Stoner 6-2 295 Sr. Edinboro Scott Browning Edinboro, Pa. (General McLane)

OL Ryan Schraeder 6-7 319 Sr. Valdosta St. David Dean Wichita, Kan. (Maize)

QB Dane Simoneau 6-3 227 Sr. Washburn Craig Schurig Salina, Kan. (Sacred Heart)

RB David Carter 5-10 225 Jr. Morehouse Rich Freeman Marietta, Ga. (Sprayberry)

RB Joe Glendening 5-10 188 Jr. Hillsdale Keith Otterbein East Grand Rapids, Mich. (East)

RB Jonas Randolph*** 5-10 185 Sr. Mars Hill Tim Clifton Daleville, Ala. (Daleville)

Defense

Pos Name Ht. Wt. Cl. School Coach Hometown (High School)

DL Brandon Williams* 6-3 325 Jr. Missouri Southern St. Bart Tatum Kirkwood, Mo. (Rockwood Summit)

DL Aston Whiteside 6-2 285 Sr. Abilene Christian Chris Thomsen Vernon, Texas (Vernon)

DL Todd Storm 6-3 250 Sr. Michigan Tech Tom Kearly Calumet, Mich. (Calumet)

DL Tim Green 6-1 215 Jr. Lincoln (Pa.) O.J. Abanishe Fanwood, N.J. (Scotch Plains)

LB Deon Lacey 6-2 208 Jr. West Alabama Will Hall Brighton, Ala. (Hueytown)

LB Chad Kilgore 6-1 230 Sr. Northwest Missouri St. Adam Dorrel Orrick, Mo. (Excelsior Springs)

LB Nate Dreiling 6-4 228 So. Pittsburg St. Tim Beck Hutchinson, Kan. (Hutchinson)

DB Dontae Smith 6-1 176 Sr. East Central Tim McCarty Deland, Fla. (Deland)

DB Jeremy Jones 5-10 189 Sr. Wayne St. (Mich.) Paul Winters Grand Rapids, Mich. (Rockford)

DB Rontez Miles 6-1 210 Jr. California (Pa.) John Luckhardt Braddock, Pa. (Woodland Hills)

DB Marvin Matthews 6-0 197 Jr. St. Cloud State Scott Underwood Roseville, Minn. (Roseville Area)

Specialists

Pos Name Ht. Wt. Cl. School Coach Hometown (High School)

P Gregg Berkshire 6-2 210 Sr. Ashland Lee Owens Ashland, Ohio (Ashland)

PK Greg Zuerlein** 6-0 190 Sr. Missouri Western St. Jerry Partridge Lincoln, Neb. (Pius X)

AP Dominique Fitzgerald 6-0 180 Sr. Winston-Salem St. Connell Maynor Danville, Va. (George Washington)

*-2010 AFCA All-American **-2009 AFCA All-American ***-2009 & 2010 AFCA All-American

 

Ben Baxter
Assistant Commissioner for Communications & New Media
Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC)

VIDEO – Alexandria Phillips Named Allstate’s ‘Give Back Day’ Hero

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Source: Allstate Newsroom

For international studies major Alexandria Phillips, C’2012, giving back is second nature. When she was 5 years old, she moved with her mother to the Dominican Republic for a yearlong stay in a poverty-stricken village. This year, she extended her global reach as a Clinton Foundation Haiti Team intern. In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy of service, Phillips and three other community volunteers will be recognized by Allstate and serve as spokespersons for Give Back Day on January 16

Researchers at TSU Conduct Study to Ensure Freeway Safety

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Researchers in the Transportation Studies Department at Texas Southern University are investigating the Freeway Auxiliary Problems for Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). TxDOT has awarded a two-year research grant project to TSU, to study the Design and Scope of Impact  Auxiliary Lanes have on Texas Freeways.

Researchers at TSU, led by Dr. Yi Qi and Dr. Lei Yu, will develop guidelines and recommend best practices for freeway auxiliary lanes to reduce conflicts, improve safety, and reduce delays for the weaving area near the entrance and exit of freeways. Dr. Qi and Dr. Yu are national experts in this field and have plenty of experience in  geometric design and traffic operations.

The Mini TranStar laboratory at TSU will be used extensively for the data collection of this project.  Real-time traffic videos of local freeways will be extracted from this lab that will allow the TSU team to pursue some research activities that could not be achieved in the past.

It is anticipated that the successful completion of this project will help to decrease crash rates, reduce traffic delays, and improve traffic progress on Houston freeways.

Referenced article from Texas Southern

VSU enters dual-enrollment agreement with Richmond Public Schools

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VSU President Keith T. Miller signs Dual Enrollment agreement with Richmond City Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Yvonne W. Brandon (l) and Richmond Seventh District Councilwoman Cynthia I. Newbille (r)

Virginia State University has entered into an agreement with Richmond Public Schools to offer college courses to juniors and seniors in Richmond Public High Schools. These dual enrollment courses will be available in Richmond’s five comprehensive and three specialty high schools.

Under the terms of the Virginia State’s Academic Partnership Program (VSAPP), qualified high school students may enroll in university courses through VSU. The courses will be taught at high schools, but course curricula, syllabi and tests will be identical to those used at VSU. Grades earned will be considered dual credit for high school and VSU. Should the high school students matriculate to VSU, their transcripts will reflect both the college credits and earned GPA.
VSAPP students and their teachers are encouraged to utilize VSU resources and facilities. Students will be issued VSU identification cards so they can access the University’s library and laboratories. Some classes and tutorial sessions will be held on campus and VSU faculty will assist high school faculty in teaching the courses.
There is currently no tuition charge to the students taking dual enrollment courses. Textbooks are usually purchased by the high school system hosting the classes. Dual enrollment students typically enter college with close to a semester’s worth of credits, resulting in savings of several thousand dollars.
VSU currently has dual enrollment agreements with Petersburg, Prince George and Dinwiddie. The university is pursuing similar initiatives with school systems in Hampton Roads.
 Read Full article at VSU

 

UMES graduate to speak in Washington

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A December graduate of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore will be among eight panelists in the 2011 College Round Table in Washington on Tuesday, Dec. 20—one of the D.C. Achievers Scholarship Program’s success stories funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Kierrah Norman, 21, from (Northeast) Washington, D.C., is one of the first two students graduating who received the scholarship funded by a $117 million grant from the Gates Foundation in 2007.

Norman will have a lot on her mind as she packs up her room, dons her graduation gown and turns her tassel.  She is headed back home to Washington to speak not only at the College Success Foundation-D.C. event, but also to her high school, Friendship Collegiate Academy, to tell other students with her background how to achieve success.

Norman will “motivate students to get on track,” sharing how she started looking into higher education, finding out about financial aid and her college experiences.

Her advice to high school students thinking about college:  “Stay focused, work hard—play later!”  Norman recommends doing research on scholarships.  “They’re out there…there’s no reason anyone should be taking out loans,” she said.

The College Success Foundation-D.C. helps underserved, low-income students graduate from high school and college by providing a support system and financial means through scholarships to succeed.

Read full article at UMES

NCCU Welcomes Fourth Family Into Habitat for Humanity Home

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The public is invited to a dedication Saturday for the fourth Habitat for Humanity home built by volunteers from North Carolina Central University.

The keys to the newest Eagle Habitat home will be given to Yopond Helms and her family during a noon celebration at the house at 814 Colfax St., Durham.

About 340 students have worked on the house since the Sept. 17 groundbreaking, giving at least one four-hour shift of labor. The total number of volunteer hours easily tops 1,360, said Dr. Deborah Bailey, director of the Office of Community Engagement at NCCU.

“This was a student-led project from beginning to end,” Bailey said. “This really showcases what President Obama describes as service that meets America’s needs.”

NCCU first partnered with Habitat for Humanity in 2006. After raising nearly $50,000 in donations toward building the first home at 1101 Simmons St., the university in 2008 received a three-year grant from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development to complete the project.

The grant, which was designated specifically for historically black colleges and universities to use for activities benefiting the wider community, enabled NCCU to continue its partnership with Habitat. The school also used grant money to create other programs, including micro-entrepreneurship training for residents.

Dr. Rebecca Winders, associate professor in the Department of Public Administration, led a committee of faculty, staff and administrators who pulled together the application to HUD. For Winders, Saturday’s event will be bittersweet. The professor, who taught at NCCU for 14 years, is retiring next year.

“Dr. Winders has been absolutely pivotal to the Eagle-Habitat project. Her work, and the work of the committee, has helped transform a neighborhood,” Bailey said. “While we celebrate Dr. Winders’ retirement and the next chapter in her life, we will miss everything that she has done. She’s leaving behind a legacy of care for the development of low-wealth communities in Durham.”

After the success of the first house, the university and the nonprofit went on to build a second house at 615 Hickory St., a third house at 808 Colfax St., and the fourth a few doors down on Colfax. All the homes are within a four-block area, part of a multipronged effort by NCCU to restore prosperity to the surrounding neighborhood.

Read Full Article at NCCU