PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – (Oct. 7, 2011) – Students and faculty from UMES joined two busloads of grassroots lobbyists from the Eastern Shore, including Cambridge Mayor Victoria Jackson Stanley, in a recent trip to Washington, D.C. to participate in “Harriet on the Hill” day.
The group met up on Capitol Hill Sept. 14 with supporters from Morgan State University, the town of Auburn, N.Y. and descendants of Harriet Tubman, an important historical figure who helped slaves escape to freedom in the 19th century.
The 150 “Harriet” supporters were advocating for passage of federal legislation that would create a national historical park honoring Tubman at two locations — one in Maryland and the other in upstate New York. Maryland’s Eastern Shore is where Tubman, or “Moses” as she was called, was born into slavery, escaped, led the Underground Railroad and became a Union spy in the Civil War. Auburn, N.Y. is where she lived in later years with her family, advocated for women’s suffrage and died at age 93.
“Participating in the rally … was an eye-opening experience,” said LaBasha Alexander, a UMES English major. “There is an exceptional amount of history on the Eastern Shore. Being involved in ‘Harriet on the Hill’ day has shown me why a Tubman national park is necessary.”
Before heading to Washington, UMES students did research by studying lobbying strategies with Sally Grant Kenyon, an aide to Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley who works toward passage of bills important to the state.
Read Full Article at UMES
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. commits itself to actively upholding the ideals of scholarship, sisterhood, and service. In the sorority’s dedication to be of service to all mankind, it remains the premier organization for outstanding African-American college educated women,.
More about the Alpha Kappa Alpha at http://www.aka1908.com.
More about Spelman at http://www.spelman.edu.
It is no secret; the nation faces a staggering unemployment rate – 9.1 percent in general and 16.7 percent specifically for Blacks according to the Department of Labor. That is not good news for the job-seeking college graduate. But, while the job market is tough, there are plenty of opportunities for the well-prepared and educated who enter the market.
Whether a student decides to pursue a career or an advanced degree after undergraduate studies, she must understand that college is a twofold journey. Those who simply get the education miss out on connections that move them from scholar to selected professional. For students who capitalize on internships, co-ops or speak a foreign language, the harvest is plentiful.
“I would encourage students to find meaningful internships during the school year and the summer,” said J. Veronica Biggins, C’68, managing director of Diversified Search, one of the nation’s top 10 executive search firms. “Internships expose people immediately to what you can do. If you do a great job as an intern, and do a lot more than is required of you as an intern, it will really set you a part.”
Setting yourself a part
Shevika Mitchell, C’2013, saw that Spelman College’s Office of Career Planning and Development sent out a lot of internships, but none of them seem to be for first-year students and sophomores. “I was enrolled in the FRESH program and when I told Ms. Toni Ireland there were not a lot of opportunities for freshmen, she advised me to attend one of their career fairs to make my face known,” said Mitchell, a psychology major who was born in Guyana and raised in the Virgin Islands. “A few weeks after the career fair, I got an e-mail from the U.S. Department of Interior for their Career Discovery Internship Program.”
Mitchell spent her summer working for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge on Assateague Island in Virginia. The internship included all expenses plus a salary. Calling it her “most amazing summer ever,” Mitchell’s responsibilities involved public speaking about the environment and endangered species; and creating brochures and newsletters.
Touted as the best public speaker who ever interned at the department, Mitchell was hired after her internship to become a U.S. Department of Interior ambassador. Her job is to inform her classmates and Atlanta University Center students in general about the opportunities the department has to offer to all majors.
Norfolk State University, Norfolk Public Schools and Booker T. Washington High School signed a partnership agreement, Mon., Oct. 3, which seeks to promote learning and skills in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, (STEM) and allied health for Booker T. Washington High school students. Norfolk State officials also will provide mentoring and tutoring to the students and offer a tuition scholarship each year to Booker T. Washington’s valedictorian and salutatorian.
Norfolk State University, Norfolk Public Schools and Booker T. Washington High School are strengthening their longstanding relationship with a partnership signing. The partnership agreement seeks to promote learning and skills in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, (STEM) and allied health for Booker T. Washington High school students. Norfolk State officials also will provide mentoring and tutoring to Booker T. Washington students and offer a tuition scholarship each year to Booker T. Washington’s valedictorian and salutatorian.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The leadership of Booker T. Washington High School was instrumental in the formation of what is now Norfolk State University. For 75 years, Booker T. Washington graduates have pursued degrees at Norfolk State.
Watch Oakwood’s First Couple, Drs. Leslie and Prudence Pollard, on “Dialog on Comcast” on either Sunday, October 9 (8:30 a.m. and 10:30 p.m.) or on Tuesday, October 11 (8:00 p.m.), hosted by Ms. Janet Martin. Oakwood University’s LEAP (Leadership Education for the Adult Professional) Adult Degree Completion Program is designed to help adults 25 and older who are employed full time complete their degrees while continuing to work. LEAP students can earn a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management, Psychology, Church Leadership, Information Technology, or General Studies. Classes are available year-round and meet one night a week or are taught partially online. All degrees are designed to be completed at an accelerated rate. Students with 60 credits or more can generally finish in about 18 months, though we accept students with as few as 24 credits. In addition to convenient evening and online classes, the program provides opportunities for personal and professional development in small group settings and in an adult-learner environment.
Virginia State University has named Dr. Muriel Hawkins as the new Associate Provost for Partnerships and Engagement. In this position, Hawkins is responsible for leading and serving as executive officer on various University projects as assigned by the Provost or President. One of her initial projects at VSU is establishing a Dual Enrollment Partnerships Program with the local school districts.
The program will allow motivated and talented high school students opportunities to enroll in VSU college courses that will be taught by certified teachers at their respective school sites. Students can earn college credits while completing their requirements to graduate from high school. VSU currently has partnership agreements to offer dual credit courses in the Petersburg, Dinwiddie, Prince George and Richmond School Districts.
Throughout her career, Dr. Hawkins has been a liaison between academia and the community and awarded grants that provided educational opportunities for student populations and members of the community. She previously served as Assistant to the President for Campus and Community Relations at Dillard University in New Orleans. In this role, she served as one of the President’s principal advisors on policies and procedures, and other matters as a member of the President’s Senior Cabinet. She also maintained liaisons with faculty, staff, students, Board of Trustees and other internal and external constituency groups, to enhance the reputation and stature of the University, locally, statewide, nationally and internationally. Dr. Hawkins previously completed a one-year assignment as an American Council on Education (ACE) Fellow at Dillard University. She is tenured as an Associate Professor in the Division of Education and Psychology.
Prior to her appointment at Dillard University, Dr. Hawkins served as Assistant Vice Chancellor (AVC) at the University of Wisconsin (UW) Oshkosh, with programmatic and budgetary leadership for five departments, including representation at the UW System level as the campus’ diversity officer. She currently holds the status of Emerita as AVC and Associate Professor in the College of Education and Human Services. For many years, Dr. Hawkins served in a variety of capacities at Chicago State University in Academic Affairs and the College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions.
North Carolina Central University received final approval today from the University of North Carolina Board of Governors to introduce a doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) program in integrated biosciences. The university will now begin recruiting students to enter the program in fall 2012, and would award its degrees four years later. They would be the first Ph.D.s awarded by the university in more than 50 years.
The interdisciplinary doctorate will be offered on two tracks, biomedical sciences and pharmaceutical sciences. The program will be housed in the College of Science and Technology, but will draw also on the resources of NCCU’s Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute (JLC–BBRI), the Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technology Enterprise (BRITE) and the School of Library and Information Sciences. The curriculum will include offerings from the life sciences, physical sciences, computation and information sciences, pharmaceutical sciences and mathematics.
“Our Ph.D. in integrated biosciences is consistent with the UNC Tomorrow initiative, our own mission, and our strengths in health disparities research and biotechnology,” said NCCU Chancellor Charlie Nelms. “All 32 faculty engaged in the program have earned terminal degrees from some of the best research universities in the nation, and we have constructed nearly 150,000 square feet of state-of-the-art science space in the last 12 years.”
Research involving health disparities — the gaps between the health status of the nation’s racial and ethnic minorities compared with the population as a whole — has been explicitly part of the mission of BBRI since it opened in 1999, and a key focus of other NCCU science and public health programs for decades.
Shepherding the program to fruition was the NCCU dean of graduate studies, Dr. Chanta Haywood. “There is a diverse population of extremely bright students who want to be leaders in health disparities research,” Haywood said. “As graduate dean, I’m confident that we’ll attract them to our program.”
Herman “Skip” Mason, Jr., the 33rd General President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. came to visit the ‘hollow grounds and dear old walls’ of Virginia Union University on Thursday, October 6, 2011. He has begun a tour of college campuses to fellowship with his fellow Alpha brothers as he comes to the end of his term as General President.
Prior to visiting Virginia Union, General President Mason was the key note speaker at the luncheon of the 96thAnnual ASALH National Convention at the Richmond Marriot earlier in the day. His speech was entitled “The MLK, Jr. Monument: Struggle and Triumph.” He spoke on the making of the MLK Memorial that was unveiled in August, which was raised on the National Mall in August 2011 under Mason’s tenure as president.
After the luncheon at the Marriot, Alpha brothers escorted General President Mason to the campus grounds of Virginia Union University. Herman Mason applauded Virginia Union’s deep roots of legacy and history. Virginia Union is the alma mater to one of the founding Jewels of Alpha Phi Alpha: Eugene Kinckle Jones. Jones also founded the Gamma chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha at Virginia Union on December 30, 1907.
“As I countdown to my last 14 months in office, [I will] visit brothers and college campuses,” Mason said. “There is no more historic campus than Virginia Union.” Virginia Union was founded in 1865, and humbly began with freed slaves attending classes at Lumpkin’s Jail. Now it is home to some of the greatest achievers and leaders in medicine, ministry, politics, armed forces and more. Mason is no stranger to Virginia Union University, as he was the key note speaker of the Gamma chapter’s centennial celebration in 2007.
“We’re really excited about the fact that Brother Mason has been a major supporter of the Gamma chapter located here on the campus of Virginia Union University,” said Darryl Coker, Xi Delta Lambda graduate advisor for the Gamma chapter and Virginia Union alumnus. Coker said that Mason’s love for history drew him to Virginia Union and to the Gamma chapter, especially during their centennial celebration. “History is important here, history is important in Alpha, and this is a historic moment for him to be a part of”, Coker said of the centennial. “From that day on, he’s always been a supporter of this chapter on this campus.”
Michael Moore, the 2010 VUU Young Alumnus of the Year, expressed his enjoyment in organizations like Alpha Phi Alpha putting more effort into reaching out to the HBCU community. “A lot of people aren’t aware but this is a very historic campus that has produced a lot of great people,” Moore said. “It’s good to see that even on the national level of Alpha Phi Alpha, that they recognize the importance of this historic university.”
It was thanks to the social media network Twitter that Skip Mason found his way to Virginia Union. The Gamma chapter reached out to their General President on Twitter when they found out that he was coming to Richmond for the ASALH National Convention. “It was a blessing that social media worked out the way it did,” says James Fernandez, Gamma chapter president. “We’ve been in communication with him once on Twitter, but we didn’t expect this day to happen where we would be giving the General President a tour of our historic campus.”
It was indeed a pleasant surprise for the campus of Virginia Union to serve as host to Herman “Skip” Mason during its Homecoming celebration, and his visit is highlighted with more pictures below. All pictures courtesy of Victor Harper:
Jackson State University has named Pristina Jones its women’s head track and field coach. Jones brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Jackson with her.
“I want to thank the Jackson State University administration and Dr. Vivian L. Fuller for this great opportunity,” Jones said. “I am looking forward to a great year, both athletically and academically.”
She is a North Central College (Naperville, IL) graduate. While at NCC she became an 11 time All-American in track, with three of those times being National Championships. She won the NCAA D-III indoor and outdoor long jump titles in 1999, as well as being a member of the NCC 4×400-meter relay team that won the D-III indoor title the same year.
Jones also holds school records in the outdoor long jump, the outdoor 4×100 relay team and the indoor 4×400 relay team. She also won seven College Conferences of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) championships in her collegiate career, including three consecutive CCIW long jump titles from 1997-99. She graduated in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in Marketing, with a minor in computer science and emphases in communications.
Following her collegiate career, Jones joined the Indiana Invaders, an Amateur Elite Track and Field club in Indianapolis. From 2000 to 2005, she trained for competition, as well as mentored college and high school student-athletes. She concluded her post-collegiate career with a personal record of 20’6″ in the long jump.
In 2005 she joined the Jacksonville State University athletics department as the assistant women’s cross country and track and field coach. She spent one year at Jacksonville State. During the 2006 indoor season the women’s track team its first ever meet in the school’s history. During the 2006 outdoor season, she helped the program put on its first ever home meet. Later that season the Gamecocks finished second in the conference outdoor championships. Four members of the track team advanced to the NCAA Midwest Regional.
Its that time again where people come from all over to Greensboro, North Carolina to celebrate Homecoming at North Carolina A&T State University also known as GHOE. This video features the schedule of events for the week of HOMECOMING 2011, including a comedy show with Gary Owen & Lil Duval and the 2011 Homecoming Concert featuring Rick Ross, Meek Mill, DJ Khaled, Marsha Ambrosius, Miguel and Ace Hood
WASHINGTON – The 2011 Howard University Homecoming Steering Committee will present PRESTIGE: The Epitome of Distinction, the 87th weeklong Homecoming Celebration, October 16-22. With AT&T as a proud sponsor, year’s celebration will outshine those of the past.
Among this year’s event lineup are Grammy Award-winning singers Monica and Shirley Caesar, hip-hop heavyweight Young Jeezy and rapper/poet Talib Kweli. Caesar will headline the Gospel Concert, which will be hosted by Marcus D. Wiley and include performances by gospel stars VaShawn Mitchell and Y’Anna Crawley.
Kweli and Young Jeezy will headline the Poetry Cipher and International Yardfest, respectively. Big Daddy Kane and Whodini will round out the Yardfest lineup. R&B crooners Joe, Tyrese and Avant will join Monica in a ‘90s R&B-themed concert this year.
For all ticket prices, lineup of events and celebrity participants please visit www.bisonhomecoming.com. Tickets are on sale now at Cramton Auditorium on Howard University’s Main Campus, as well as Ticketmaster.
Cynthia Keppel, Ph.D is Scientific and Technical Director at the Hampton University Proton Therapy Institute in Hampton. (Adrin Snider, Daily Press / October 1, 2011)
Cynthia Keppel talks at the speed of blur.
The nuclear physicist, internationally known for her work with protons and neutrons, barely pauses to breathe when explaining her research and the different imaging techniques used to detect breast cancer.
A mammogram is a breast X-ray, in which the tumor, denser than healthy tissue, casts a detectable shadow, she says. It’s highly sensitive but not specific enough to prevent unnecessary biopsies 60 percent of the time. Breast specific gamma imaging, on the other hand, radio-labels the tumors and maps their metabolic activity. When set over an X-ray, it gives physicians more specific information.
“It’s good for those with scar tissue, denser breasts or implants. It’s most important for younger women,” says Keppel. For breast cancer patients, Keppel’s research over the last decade has translated into technology allowing for more accurate and complete diagnoses and treatments.
And that is contributing to the vastly improved results for breast cancer patients. Once considered an automatic death sentence, breast cancer now has a 90 percent-plus, five-year survival rate for those diagnosed early.
Starting with imaging and diagnostics, Keppel’s work has progressed to the use of proton therapy. She is now the scientific and technical director at the Hampton University Proton Therapy Institute, which opened last year. Since 2000 she has earned nine patents, including one to enhance functional breast imaging, and has several more pending. She is the recipient of Virginia’s 2011 Outstanding Scientist award.
Keppel, 49, originally crossed disciplines to adapt her findings in nuclear physics at the Jefferson Lab to medical uses at the Center for Advanced Medical Integration, the state’s first medical physics program that she founded at Hampton University. Her work there included helping to improve a therapy in which high-dose radiation is delivered internally to a lumpectomy site instead of by an external beam, thereby reducing treatment time to five days from 30 to 40. It also spares more healthy tissue.
The William R. Harvey Leadership Institute will host the 2011 High School Student Leadership Summit on Nov. 18-20 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown Hampton. High school seniors are invited to attend the summit, entitled “Leaders are Relevant.”
This year’s summit will examine issues related to the 2012 presidential election. Students will discuss relevant political issues and learn skills in adopting to change in leadership, adjusting to adversity, leadership efficiency, finding and developing the leader within and constructing a strategic plan for leadership.
High school seniors interested in the summit must demonstrate an awareness of relevant issues in their community, and the country.
Registration for the summit is $250 and includes two-night accommodations at the Crowne Plaza, meals and all workshop material. The deadline for registration is Nov. 1.
To apply visit www.hamptonu.edu/leadership. Mail the completed application and payment to:
William R. Harvey Leadership Institute
PO Box 6143
Hampton, VA 23668
Contact the William R. Harvey Leadership Institute at 757-728-6698 or e-mail leadershipinstitute@hamptonu.edu for additional information.
GRAMBLING — While Grambling State’s search for a quarterback continues, the Tigers found a couple of players willing to answer coach Doug Williams’ call for playmakers.
No one answered it more than running back Dawrence Roberts.
Roberts ran for 198 yards and a touchdown in the Tigers’ 20-14 loss to Alabama A&M on Saturday night, helping solve — at least for one night — a running game that was stuck in neutral for the first three weeks of the season.
“That sent a message to me,” said Roberts, who had tallied all of five yards in the Tigers’ first three games. “It made me want to be the best, made me want to be the playmaker that he was looking for. He was telling us all week, ‘We need a rusher. We need to run the ball.’ That, to me, made me want to work even harder. That made me want to be the man that he was looking for.”
Like several Tigers, Roberts was bitten by the turnover bug Saturday night. Roberts fumbled in the third quarter, and the turnover was returned 53 yards for a touchdown that put Alabama A&M up 14-0 at that point.
Read Full article at the News Star
On October 5, 2011, the world came to a halt. Steve Jobs, the co-founder and CEO of Apple, Inc. passed on Wednesday night, after an 8 year battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 56.
Jobs was the mastermind behind the launching of Apple, Inc. with his partner Steve Wozniak. His death occurs not too long after Jobs having to be forced to leave his position as executive chairman due to his ongoing health problems. He remained chairman of Apple until his death Wednesday night.
Steve Jobs was one of the most imaginative entrepreneurs that ever lived, as he was the mastermind behind such signature technological inventions like the Macbook, the iPod, the iPhone, the iPad, and the list goes on. Without Jobs, mankind is not as advanced technologically as it is now.He changed consumer technology for the better, and forever. Certainly, Jobs was the biggest dreamer we won’t ever see, but his legacy has set the bar high for the next wave of entrepreneurs. President Barack Obama had this to say on the untimely death of the Apple entrepreneur:
“The world has lost a visionary. And there may be no greater tribute to Steve’s success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented.”
Indeed, many HBCU students rely on Jobs’ creations to complete their daily activities. Even with all of the revolutionary changes he has contributed to society, Steve Jobs’ greatest testament to his success is that he made mistakes and experienced a long list of failures. Jobs dropped out of Reed College after six months. The media questioned his prowess as a businessman after being ousted from his own company in 1985. He was fired from Apple after a long and bitter power struggle with the company’s board of directors. Jobs’ life serves as a testament to all entrepreneurs: Never give up on a dream.
“Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me. Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful, that’s what matters to me.” –Steve Jobs.
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – (Oct. 7, 2011) – Students and faculty from UMES joined two busloads of grassroots lobbyists from the Eastern Shore, including Cambridge Mayor Victoria Jackson Stanley, in a recent trip to Washington, D.C. to participate in “Harriet on the Hill” day.
