Nominations for HBCU Buzz Awards 2012 set for Nov 4th 2011

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HBCU Buzz, the leading source for news and commentary in the HBCU community, announces its first annual HBCU Buzz Awards. The HBCU Buzz Awards are set to take place the 3rd week in January. The HBCU Buzz Awards will celebrate HBCU students’ achievements in Academics, Community Service, Sports and much more.

The theme for the HBCU Buzz Awards is “My Life, My Family, My Society.” My Life involves your day-to-day lifestyle and motivated techniques derived from hard work. My Family – other things may change us as we evolve, but we start and end with Family. My Society – the new class of excellence reinforcing the new age of HBCU Community Achievement.

The HBCU Buzz Awards will celebrate HBCU students’ achievements in Academics, Community Service, Leadership, Sports and other fields of Entertainment. The HBCU Buzz Awards aims to uplift and celebrate the HBCU student body by awarding their accomplishments from the previous year. The full unveiling of the awards program is scheduled for November 14, 2011.

Send us your Award nominations today. Let your voice be heard and don’t forget to make your vote count. Deadline – Nov 4th 2011. HBCU Buzz is pleased to welcome you to its first annual HBCU Buzz Awards 2012. Please read the rules and regulations regarding the nominations for your chance to become selected as a HBCU Buzz Award recipient.

In order to complete a Nomination for the HBCU Buzz Awards 2012, you will need to complete the entry form below. In this form, please provide the name of the candidate(s), select the category in which they are competing, the name of the HBCU of which the candidate is enrolled, and give a brief but descriptive reason as to why you are nominating them. Contact information for the nominees should be included in the entry form as well.

Log on to the Website to make nominations at – http://hbcubuzzawards.com/nominate

 

Presidential Donors Hear Their Gifts “Brought Joy” at UMES

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Dr. Mortimer Neufville, (second from left) UMES interim president, with honors students, (from left): Michael Tadesse, Lauren Ritter, Yvonne Puplampu-Dove and Braia Spady.

The Division of Institutional Advancement held its annual President’s Donor Reception Oct. 13 to express appreciation to loyal supporters who helped the university reach – and exceed – its “Campaign for Excellence” goal.

Division vice president Gains Hawkins told those who attended the festivities in the Student Services Center ballroom that the campaign tally was $15 million when it ended June 30, topping a goal of $14 million set in 2002. Dr. Mortimer Neufville, (second from left) UMES interim president, with honors students, (from left): Michael Tadesse, Lauren Ritter, Yvonne Puplampu-Dove and Braia Spady. Michael Tadessé and Lauren Ritter, both juniors, and senior Yvonne A. Puplampu-Dove offered heartfelt testimonials and expressed gratitude for the scholarships they’ve received.

Puplampu-Dove, a native of Ghana who calls Lanham, Md., home, is a biology major interested in a career in medicine; possibly bio-medical research. She is the oldest of four siblings and will be the first in her immediate family to earn a college degree when she graduates in May 2012. She has a 3.8 grade point average.

“Receiving a scholarship was a surprise to me,” she said, adding, “it also brought joy to my parents.”

She spent the past two summers working as a research intern, including a stint at the University of Maryland Baltimore County tracking the migration of genes in the ovaries of fruit flies.

“It was very interesting,” Puplampu-Dove, 21, said. “I learned a lot.”

Tadessé, who was born in Ethiopia, said he had lots of college offers as a high school senior in Silver Spring, Md., but chose UMES because “I just had a feeling that I could come here and be someone.” Tadessé has a 3.5 GPA and is studying finance and marketing. He described the scholarship he received as “a life-changing award.” “I would like to acknowledge the donors for their generosity and for their contribution,” he said at the reception. “Without your support, I would not be standing here … giving my gratitude.” “Your continued support of the university,” he said, “is enormous in helping to provide a quality education in this fostering place and making us an elite HBCU.” Tadessé said some day he hopes to establish a non-profit organization to help the less-fortunate, especially children living in poverty.

Ritter, who is from Chincoteague, Va., is a transfer student from Eastern Shore Community College majoring in applied design with a specialization in photography.

Just 18, Ritter is already a junior (with a 4.0 GPA), who wants to pursue a career in commercial photography. She currently owns four cameras and hopes to acquire a Hasselblad, “the Mercedes Benz” of still photography, to achieve that goal. She picked UMES because of its reputation in arts education and for its diversity. Her scholarship, Ritter told the audience, enabled her to remain in school. “Your generosity has given me a new hope,” she said, in reaching “the honor of being a graduate“I hope I will be able to help students achieve their goals just as you’ve helped me,” Ritter said. By Jim Glovier 2011 President’s Donor Reception guests, from left: Jeff Sherr, Debi Rus, and Tina and Vincent Perrotta

The donors also heard testimonials from two graduates, who had surrogates read statements about how scholarships helped them through school and find success after leaving UMES. Suzanne Waters Street, UMES’ agriculture communication specialist, said her son, Seth, is finishing work on a doctoral degree at the Palmer College of Chiropractic in Florida. Veronique Diriker, UMES’ director of development, presented words of gratitude on behalf of Nicholas Washington, a 2010 business honors graduate working for a Wall Street consulting firm.

Read Full Article at UMES

Grambling State University Wins 30-24 thriller over Mississippi Valley State

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GRAMBLING, La. — Tigers Head Football Coach Doug Williams was a gambling Grambling man Saturday night.

And fortunately for Grambling State’s homecoming crowd, it was like father, like son.

Doug Williams and his coaching staff called a late audible Saturday, inserting his son D.J. Williams in at quarterback for an overtime period after a solid performance from starter Frank Rivers.

D.J. Williams called an overtime audible of his own, opting out of a second down run play and hit senior receiver Mario Louis for a seven-yard touchdown to give the Tigers a 30-24 overtime win over Mississippi Valley State before a homecoming crowd of 11,137 at Robinson Stadium.

After MVSU missed a field goal in overtime, GSU took over with Dawrence Roberts rushing for 10 yards on first down and gaining extra yard on a personal foul penalty against the Delta Devils. Doug Williams said he wanted to stay conservative and go for the field goal, but his son had another option in mind when he came to the line of scrimmage.

“I saw the best receiver in the (Southwestern Athletic Conference) with one-on-one coverage and called the audible to him,” D.J. Williams.

Louis, who also plays basketball for the Tigers, went high for the seven-yard scoring reception – his third of the game – going up over a MVSU defender to pull down the ball as the Tigers stormed the field in celebration.

“This one was for the alumni,” D.J. Williams said. “Coach had talked about it all week — we have to bring our fans back and that meant putting on a good show and getting a homecoming win. When I saw Mario with the one-on-one coverage, I knew right then we had it. All I had to do was the put the ball up there and he’d go get it.”

The win put the Tigers back into the SWAC Western Division race at 2-3 while the Tigers moved to 3-4 overall. MVSU fell to 0-8 and 0-7.

Grambling’s come-from-behind stunner overshadowed a furious effort by Mississippi Valley to push the game into overtime. MVSU tied things up with no time remaining as quarterback Garrick Jones ran right, lofting himself high into the air and reaching the ball over the pylon in the right corner of the end zone for the score. Valley kicker Carlos Sanchez’s PAT kick was a knuckleball but barely cleared the crossbar to push the game into OT.

Rivers played a solid game, hitting on 14-of-23 passes for 211 yards with scoring passes of seven- and 57-yards to Louis. But when overtime rolled around, Doug Williams and Co. decided to roll the dice.

FVSU gets specialist program in School Counselor Education

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When the final bell rings for Middle Georgia students, they empty lockers, pack textbooks and catch buses home. The school day ends for them, but begins for their counselors.

On Thursday evenings, in room 150 at Fort Valley State University’s Warner Robins Center, Dr. Teah Moore teaches an advanced course in career counseling. The assistant professor of school counseling has19 students; all are counselors in nearby districts seeking a specialist degree. The new program, which began this fall, was recently approved by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.

“Our aim, in FVSU’s specialist degree program, is to motivate [counselors] to become leaders in schools,” says Moore. “We want them to change the perception of school counselors and encourage them to be leaders that help develop other school counselors.” Moore says students are taught how to empower parents to assume a proactive role in their child’s education when it comes to academics, financial aid and personal responsibility. Counselors also help students deal with the causes and effects of absenteeism and behavior issues.

“This program is very scholarly, and also very hands on,” says Dr. Jerry Mobley, chair of FVSU’s school counselor educator program. The degree program combines classroom and interactive projects. The overall objective is to sharpen counselors’ skills to meet Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) goals for teachers and students.

The Georgia Board of Regents approved FVSU’s College of Education proposal to offer the Ed.S. program in 2008, when the school counselor educator program was reinstated.

“We got in touch with dozens of our graduates who had expressed an interest,” says Mobley. “We formed a committee (with students and professors). Students helped design the program and recruited potential students, school counselors from the Middle Georgia region.

Read Full Article at FVSU

FAMU College of Law Student Set to Lead ABA Law Student Division – Buzz Spotlight

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Tremaine Reese, a third-year law student at Florida A&M University (FAMU) College of Law, assumed the position of National Chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) Law Student Division (LSD) during the ABA Annual Meeting in Toronto, Canada.  Reese was elected to the position at the ABA LSD Board of Governors meeting in Las Vegas during the spring 2011 semester, becoming the first National Chair from an historically black college or university law school, and the fourth African American to lead the more than 42,000-member division.

“I am very excited about the avenues this association with the ABA will open for all FAMU College of Law students,” Reese said.  “I will continue to make extra efforts to get more students involved with the ABA on a national, regional and local level.”

The ABA LSD was created in 1967, succeeding the American Law Students Association, and is the largest professional student organization in the country, as well as one of the largest dues-paying entities of the ABA.  The group works closely with the leadership of the ABA to directly effectuate policy that has the potential to impact the 176,000 law students at ABA accredited institutions.  All students attending ABA-approved law schools are eligible to join.

Read Full Article at FAMU

The History of Sororities at Spelman College

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The year 1979 was a very significant moment for sisterhood at Spelman College as four of the six active sororities on campus were chartered that year.

According the spring 1979 issue of the Messenger, before that year, Greek organizations were not allowed since it was the general consensus that Spelman was in itself a sisterhood and that sororities would take away from this concept. In fact, sororities were voted down three times just 10 years ago.

The change in attitudes toward sororities came from the growth in student enrollment and the increase in the diversity of student interests. Encouraging academic excellence and leadership development and providing scholarships and community service, sororities have been a vital part of the Spelman community for more than three decades.

View a photo gallery of the sororities chartered at Spelman and learn more about them below:

 Tau Beta Sigma – Iota Rho Chapter

The “Irresistible” Iota Rho Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Sorority Inc. was chartered at Spelman on April 30, 2010. We provide exceptional service to collegiate bands and promote equality and diversity, including empowering women in the band profession. We cultivate leadership, educational achievement, music appreciation, and community development. Eighteen members have been initiated into our chapter, and we have five honorary inductees. Currently with seven active members our chapter is represented in every Spelman instrument ensemble, including wind ensemble, concert band, jazz ensemble, and Atlanta University Center Orchestra. Some of the chapter’s community service projects have included participating in Hurricane Irene relief, Hosea Feed the Hungry, and music classes at local high schools.

Delta Sigma Theta – Eta Kappa Chapter

The Eta Kappa Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. was the culmination of a dream envisioned long before its charter was granted on April 11, 1970.  The mission of Eta Kappa Chapter is the furthering of the sorority’s five-point programmatic thrust: economic development, educational development, international awareness and involvement, physical and mental health, and political awareness and involvement. Ten years after Eta Kappa was founded, members of the chapter successfully petitioned to bring Eta Kappa home exclusively to Spelman in 1979.  Now, 17 dynamic sorors continue the legacy of a chapter that has initiated more than 900 visionary women into the national sisterhood of Delta Sigma Theta.  It was a spirit fueled by tenacity, vision, and sisterhood that birthed Eta Kappa, and it is that same spirit that keeps the chapter alive and well today.

Alpha Kappa Alpha – Mu Pi Chapter 

The “Sweet” Mu Pi chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. was chartered on Feb.­ 10, 1979, at Spelman College. The Mu Pi chapter has initiated 1,080 members. There are currently 33 active members on campus. All members of Mu Pi are charged with committing their time and energy to the community. This responsibility is fulfilled through several ongoing projects including the Ivy Reading AKAdemy, It Takes a Village, Gifts of Giza, voter registration drives, and partnerships with Hands on Atlanta, and Habitat for Humanity. The chapter has become well-known for its dedication to raising funds for nonprofit organizations such as the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, AIDS Walk Atlanta, and Relay for Life. Mu Pi also strives to enhance the student life of Spelman College through numerous cultural and social programs. These initiatives include the AKA Book Club, AKA Flicks, AKAnomics, and AKA Fit Club, and the annual events Mr. AKA Scholarship Pageant, AKA Café, and the Limelight Fashion Show.

Sigma Gamma Rho – Epsilon Eta Chapter

The Epsilon Eta Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho was chartered as a citywide chapter in Atlanta on March 10, 1974. With 11 charter members, on Jan. 2, 1979, Epsilon Eta became the first chapter of a sorority to be established at Spelman College. Epsilon Eta’s mission is to touch and improve people’s lives more completely through scholarship, sisterhood and service. The chapter’s purpose is to be a source of light for Spelman sisters and increase our presence on campus through community service and philanthropy, and our Exceptional Women Speaker Series, which seeks to uplift women.

Zeta Phi Beta – Beta Iota Chapter

The “Beautiful” Beta Iota Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. was charted on Jan. 13, 1979, on the campus of Spelman College. Beta Iota upholds the principles of Zeta on a daily basis: scholarship, service, sisterly love, and finer womanhood. Since the revival of the chapter in 1993, there have been 59 initiates and currently there are five active and dedicated members. Although the chapter is small in number, Beta Iota continues to thrive as a progressive organization while producing quality women on Spelman’s campus. Beta Iota has achieved several accomplishments, including Spelman Student Organization of the Year, highest undergraduate GPA in the state and Southeastern region, and several community service awards.

Gamma Sigma Sigma – Eta Zeta Chapter

Founded in 1952, the Gamma Sigma Sigma National Service Sorority Inc. initiates members who are dedicated to a lifelong commitment of service and diversity, as well as fostering an environment of unity and creating opportunities for growth. We are a unique organization on Spelman’s campus that serves as the only service sorority at the College. As an inclusive sorority our focus is creating strong bonds of friendship among students of all races and creeds. The Eta Zeta chapter was chartered on Jan. 16, 2008, by both Spelman College and Clark Atlanta University students. View a video of of the Eta Zeta chapter of Gamma Sigma Sigma.

Referenced Article From Spelman College

FAMU SBI Students Take Home First Place Win in MBA Case Competition

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(From left to right) NBMBAA Board Vice Chair Audrey Hines; Chysler Senior VP Ralph Giles; SBI Advisor Joycelyn Finley-Hervey; Benjamin Evans; Cianna Reaves; Antoinyce Eaton; NBMBAA Board Chairman Bill Wells; and President and CEO of NBMBAA Kimberly Corbin.

Florida A&M University (FAMU) School of Business and Industry (SBI) students took home the first-place trophy and were crowned national champions of the National Black MBA Association’s  (NBMBAA) National Student Case Competition earlier this month.  The competition featured teams from Penn State University and the University of Georgia.

“I am so proud of Cianna, Antoinyce, Ben and Dr. Finley-Hervey,” said SBI Dean Shawnta Friday-Stroud.  “They demonstrated that SBI’s rigorous and competitive Professional MBA and one-year MBA programs prepare professionals that are capable of solving today’s complex business issues.  I commend this team for bringing home the win for the third time in five years!”

FAMU first entered the competition in 2007, winning that year and again in 2008.

This year’s winning team members were Antoinyce Eaton from Raleigh, N.C.; Benjamin Evans from Philadelphia, Penn.; and Cianna Reaves from Perry, Fla. Their win provided them with $15,000 in scholarship money and three championship trophies. All three are MBA students in SBI

“Participating in the National Black MBA Association Chrysler Case Competition was one of the highlights of my year,” said Evans. “In addition, the experience of being able to network with students from universities across the nation and accomplished minority professionals was also rewarding. The intensity of competing against the top 22 schools in the nation, the hard work and effort that I and my teammates put forth in developing the perfect strategies for the competition paid off.”

Read Full Article at FAMU

Dillard to Announce Multimillion-Dollar National Institutes of Health Grant on Oct. 24

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Dillard to Announce Multimillion-Dollar National Institutes of Health Grant on Oct. 24

Dillard University will announce on Monday, Oct. 24 at 10 a.m. that it has been chosen to receive a multimillion-dollar grant from the National Institutes of Health.

The announcement will be made in the Georges Auditorium of the Professional Schools and Sciences Building on the Dillard University campus. A reception will follow in the atrium.

All students, alumni, faculty and staff are invited to attend this exciting announcement.

For more information, contact Brendan Twist in University Communications and Marketing at (504) 816-4328 or btwist@dillard.edu.

DSU Breaks its Enrollment Record for the 2nd Consecutive Year

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DSU President Harry L. Williams said while the record enrollment is exciting news, it is only one of many accomplishments to come.

For the second consecutive year, Delaware State University broke its enrollment record with a fall semester 2011 total enrollment of 4,179 students – which marks the first time the institution has gone over the 4,000 threshold

The record 4,179 enrollment surpasses the previous record of 3,819 set in in the fall of 2010. The 2011 enrollment included 3,745 undergraduates, 333 master’s degree students, and 101 doctoral students.
The University also set a record this fall of 1,085 new freshmen, exceeding the previous record of 940 new first-year students in 2005.
DSU President Harry L. Williams said the record enrollment is clearly a reflection that “it is an exciting time” to be at DSU.
“While it is great to see the growth, it is just the beginning. We are continuing to work towards the fulfillment of the University’s vision statement we established last year, and we are developing a new strategic plan and a facilities master plan,” Dr. Williams said. “We are looking at how we can sustain this growth and continue to move up in the rankings.”
The DSU president noted that the University received more than 9,000 applications from prospective students this year. “A lot of students want to be a part of DSU,” he said.
Last month it was announced that DSU has moved up from 17th to 15th in the U.S. News and World Report’s annual ranking of Historically Black Colleges and Universities across the country.
 Read Full Article at DSU

Claflin University Volleyball Team Aims to Spike Breast Cancer Awareness

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If you’ve been in the audience during one of the Claflin University Lady Panthers volleyball team’s home games this month, there’s a good chance you’ve seen more pink than orange and maroon.

The team, led by Coach Vernell Keitt-Capers, has volunteered to dress in pink for every home game in support of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The team distributed information on breast cancer at a local department store and also worked for Habitat for Humanity in the community this month. They baked 500 cupcakes with pink icing to give out to patrons at one home game as well.

In Tullis Arena, the team has constructed a Cancer Wall of Battle dedicated in honor and memory of those who have lost, are fighting or won the battle against cancer.

“Cancer is a disease that doesn’t discriminate. It has or will impact us all in one form or another,” said Keitt-Capers. “We just want to contribute in a small way to bring awareness to this horrible illness.”

Sophomore Katherin Fischer knows all too well about breast cancer. When Fischer was too young to even grasp the severity of a cancer diagnosis, she learned her mother, Leopoldine, had the disease.

Unlike many women who have battled breast cancer, she survived and has been in remission for more than a decade. Despite her recovery, Fischer said that it took away much of her childhood. She drew strength from Leopoldine’s positive attitude, which was that losing the battle to breast cancer wasn’t an option.

“I play for her,” Fischer says of her mother.

Faith Simmons, a senior biology major from Columbus, Ohio, had two aunts who were diagnosed with breast cancer. One aunt, Linda Reed, survived but the other, Nadell Denby, passed away. Simmons said watching her aunts battle the disease taught her the importance of being a strong person.

“It taught me to fight,” she said. “You have to stay positive and have hope.”

Read Full Article at Claflin University

Alcorn President receives 2011 Excellence in Education Award from Penn State

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Dr. M. Christopher Brown II, 18th president of Alcorn State University, has been recognized with the 2011 Excellence in Education Award (the highest honor bestowed on alumni) by The Pennsylvania State University College of Education Alumni Society. President Brown will receive the award on Friday evening, October 21, during the Alumni Society’s Awards Banquet honoring its distinguished alumni educators.

In choosing President Brown for the honor, the College of Education applauded his, “excellence in leadership and significant contributions to the field of education and related disciplines.”

“President Brown is dedicated to the field of education,” says Alcorn’s Executive Vice President and Provost Samuel L. White. “Our president has empowered and equipped us with the tools necessary to improve teaching, learning and student outcomes. He is an exceptional educational leader dedicated to students and his scholarship.”

“Valuable and meaningful relationships with my peers and students keep me engaged and give me the opportunity to continue to learn and grow. I’m grateful to every individual who has challenged and helped me along life’s journey,” says Dr. Brown. “A special thank you to The Pennsylvania State University College of Education Alumni Society for this esteemed honor.”

Early this year, Dr. Brown received the presidential citation from Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated in recognition of his leadership and community service achievements and the Outstanding Accomplishments and Achievements Award from South Carolina State University. Additionally, Dr. Brown was also elected to membership in the United Supreme Council of the Southern Jurisdiction for Scottish Rite Freemasonry and elevated to the order’s highest degree.

Read Full Article at Alcorn State

Florida A&M snaps eight-game losing streak to South Carolina State

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Courtesy: Florida A&M Sports Information

ORANGEBURG, S.C. (Oct. 22)–  Lavante Page scored a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns as Florida A&M snapped with their eight-game losing streak to South Carolina State as the Rattlers defeated the Bulldogs, 27-24, here today afternoon at Oliver Dawson Bulldog Stadium.

The last time, FAMU defeated SCSU in Oliver Dawson Bulldog Stadium was in 1997 with  the Rattlers pulling out a 22-20 win over the Bulldogs.

SCSU had built up a 24-13 lead going into the fourth quarter.  The Rattlers would take advantage of four Bulldog penalties  to setup up Page’s first TD of the fourth quarter.  SCSU would be charged with a roughing the passer penalties as Damien Fleming connected with Brian Tyms for nine yards tacking on an additional 14 yards, giving the Rattlers a second down and four yards to go from the South Carolina State 30-yard line.  The Rattlers would pick up a pair of first downs on rushes by Lenworth Lennon, Al-Terek McBurse and Eddie Rocker, putting the ball on the SCSU three-yard line.

Page would then punch it in from three-yards out cutting, SCSU’s lead to 24-20 with 8:35 to go in the fourth, after the Trevor Scott PAT.

FAMU turned up the pressure as they forced SCSU into a three-and-out.  After the Blake Erickson punt, the Rattlers would get the ball on their 32-yard line, after the LaShad Tookes’ punt return for two-yards.

The Rattlers then put together a seven-play, 68-yard drive, capped off by another three-yard TD run by Page, giving the Rattlers a 27-24 lead with 2:31 to go in the game.

FAMU was led by Fleming as he completed 34-of-40 passes for 297 yards with one TD.  He becomes the fourth quarterback in Rattler history to finish a game with an 80 plus percent completion percentage.  Eddie Battle was a perfect 11-of-11 against South Carolina State in 2008, Patrick Bonner was 30-of-35 for 85.7 percent against Jackson State in 1998 and Curtis Pulley was 17-of-21 against Winston-Salem State for 80.9 percent in the 2009 season.

Read Full Article at HBCU Sports Online

 

The Gloucester Institute: HBCUs Leading the Way

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HBCU’s Lead Too!

            Students from several HBCUs received the chance of a lifetime this past weekend in Gloucester County, Virginia. I am blessed to be a part of The Emerging Leaders Program, Class of 2011-2012, thanks to a wonderful non-profit organization by the name of The Gloucester Institute. This program aims to serve as a way to assist current leaders with sharpening their speaking and writing skills to name a few.

I had the chance to represent Virginia Union University and the Royal Court as Miss Senior 2011-2012 along with the Student Government Association President Kiara Lee and Mr. Freshman 2011-2012, Brian Cruel. I was also able to create great connections with student leaders on other HBCU campuses including Virginia State University,  Norfolk State University, Hampton University, and additionally Virginia Commonwealth University.

The Gloucester Institute was founded by Mrs. Kay Coles James in 2005. TGI had also purchased Holly Knoll, the retirement home of the late Dr. Robert Russa Moton, in the same year. Dr. Moton was born in the ending years of slavery and was first taught by his mother who wanted him to have an education. He was then taught by his former Master’s youngest daughter after being caught one night; and the rest is history.

He went on to serve four US Presidents in his lifetime, delivered the keynote address at the dedication of the Lincoln Memorial, and later went on to  be the President of Hampton Institute, and later the Tuskegee Normal School after the death of his friend and mentor, Booker T. Washington, before retiring to Holly Knoll.

Mrs. James has a great vision to restore this location to the place it once was. If you view the website, you can see the plans in store for this great program and can receive more information on how to donate to this great cause.

This was our first time gathering as a family in our new home, which happens to be on both the Virginia and National Historic Registries. Over the weekend, an intelligent man by the name of Dr. Conway, also an instructor at Virginia State University spoke to us about legacy. Not only the legacy of Dr. Moton, but other unsung heroes of the Civil Rights Movement, we are a part of a great legacy.

At the very place where we gathered, some of the greatest minds of the Black Community have come to discuss some of the issues we have faced, and create organizations such as the United Negro College Fund. This program enables us to gather one weekend out of the month, typically at the Holly Knoll Campus in Cappahosic, Virginia (located in Gloucester County, Virginia). The location of the house is absolutely breathtaking! 

The front of the house faces the York River and has a dock; many years ago it was not uncommon for visitors to travel by boat. In the front yard of this great plot of land is also a 200-year-old oak tree where Dr. King sat under and wrote part of his “I have a Dream” speech. If you could see the view from beneath the tree, you can see how such a dream could have been dreamt. (Photos courtesy of Brian Cruel.)

Nadejah Whitted
HBCU Buzz Staff Writer