United We Stand — Central State Students Remember the Lives of Jasmine Crenshaw and Kordero Hunter.

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The students at Central State University lost two fellow Marauders within one year. While the lost greatly affected the morale of most students, the campus ultimately united for a greater cause.

Jasmine Crenshaw, a twenty-two year old junior from Chicago, Illinois majoring in Criminal Justice, unexpectedly died in a lake at a resort outside of Orlando, Florida in late March of 2011. “Smart” and “very athletic”, Crenshaw excelled academically while running track for the Central State Track & Field team. She was an aspiring police officer.

“Everybody loved Jasmine.” Jackie Crenshaw, the mother of Jasmine said. “She always had a smile on her face, she made everybody happy, she loved going to school, [and] she loved sports.” Twenty-one year old Kordero Hunter, a sophomore residing in South Holland, Illinois, sadly passed away just months later in late September from a gunshot wound to the abdomen while attending a nightclub in Dayton, Ohio.

Hunter was known to have a strong desire to shine in all areas, especially on the field. Hunter played defensive back on the Central State Football team, and was considered to be an up-and-coming leader on and off the field.

Head Football Coach E.J. Junior was quoted saying, “Mr. Hunter was an energetic and hard working student.” Students’ campus wide reacted with agony for the lost of both students and remorse for their family and friends.

Dion Sampson, a graduate of Central State who now speaks at the campus’s Interfaith Ministry as a pastor, said “If this type of unity can be created due to death, I know this unity can exist any other time.”

The recent death of Kordero Hunter undeniably hit home for most students, especially the Intro to Communications course on campus in which I was his classmate. The following Tuesday in class after his passing felt empty and unreal because he was no longer with us physically, however, we sensed his presence spiritually.

“It made the campus become more aware of their surroundings,” Amanda Kilgore, a Psychology Major at Central State University said about the death of Hunter. “Although students grieved over his death, students are now more focused on what they came here for: an education.”

Today, the campus community is still coping with the lost of our fellow Marauders. These individuals were not only students at Central State University, they were our colleagues, our friends, our sister, and our brother. We will forever keep them in loving memory.

Final 8 HBCU Bands Chosen for 10th Annual Honda Battle of the Bands

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The nation’s marching band fans have spoken, and have chosen the top eight marching bands at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) for the 2012 Honda Battle of the Bands. Now marking 10 years of celebrating the heritage, showmanship and scholarship of HBCU bands, the Honda Battle of the Bands will bring “The Homecoming” to the Georgia Dome in Atlanta for the Invitational Showcase, Saturday, January 28, 2012.

Following are the HBCU marching bands that will earn a $20,000 grant for their music education programs and an all-expenses-paid trip to the 2012 Honda Battle of the BandsInvitational Showcase:

Albany State University “Marching Rams Show Band” (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference)
Bethune Cookman University “Marching Wildcats” (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
Jackson State University “Sonic Boom of the South” (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
Prairie View A&M University “Marching Storm” (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
South Carolina State University “Marching 101” (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
Tennessee State University “Aristocrat of Bands” (Independent)
Virginia State University “Marching Trojan Explosion” (Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association)
Winston-Salem State University “Red Sea of Sound” (Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association)

For the eight winning bands, the journey to the Invitational Showcase involved months of practice and training, all in preparation for their Georgia Dome performances, where each band will have 12 dazzling minutes to showcase the musical excellence, distinctive style and superior showmanship that earned them a place in the 2012 Invitational Showcase. The Showcase bands are chosen via online voting, with votes by fans, students and alumni accounting for one-third of the selection criteria, and band directors and school presidents accounting for the balance of the selection process.

This year’s event theme, “The Homecoming,” reflects on the 10th anniversary of the Honda Battle of the Bands and calls for all HBCU marching band alumni, current HBCU students and the many fans of the event to meet in Atlanta for this special anniversary showcase event. The homecoming theme also highlights the importance of marching band culture to black college homecoming celebrations.

We are excited to be celebrating 10 years of the Honda Battle of the Bands as we continue to support the music education programs of our nation’s HBCUs” said Marc Burt, senior manager, Office of Inclusion and Diversity for American Honda. “We hope that Black college marching band fans and alumni will attend this year’s Invitational Showcase as we anticipate a great community turnout and even greater performances by the top eight HBCU marching bands.”

The Honda Battle of the Bands website is the sole online destination and clearing house for all HBOB information, updates, polling status, photos and video footage, and is a one-stop resource for all questions about the program. Fans are encouraged to also follow Honda Battle of the Bands on Twitter (@the_honda) and to become a fan of the Facebook page (Honda Battle of the Bands) where they can share memories, photos and engage in trivia, and get updates on the 2012 program. For more information about the Honda Battle of the Bands, please visitwww.HondaBattleoftheBands.com.

Honda on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/HondaBattleoftheBands
Honda on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/the_honda
Honda on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/hondabotb

The Fight for the American Dream

Posted by Robert Hoggard
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On September 17th, protesters began to demand more accountability for CEOs on Wall Street (Sheldon Richman)

American citizens have been protesters for change for decades. From the rallies against the inclusion of Americans in the Vietnam War to the marches throughout Georgia and the entire U.S. to  prevent the execution of Troy Davis, protesting is as common among citizens as their love for apple pie and baseball.  Struggling against the establishment is normal for those who are seeking a vast difference in what is deemed incorrect in their communities. On October 15, thousands of Americans of all ages and ethnicities lined the Washington, D.C. streets with signs declaring their disapproval of the rising unemployment rates in this nation.  Led by the Reverend Al Sharpton and other leaders in the current Civil Rights Movement, this protest was in tribute to one that happened more than three decades ago in hopes of affecting a larger issue that had plagued Americans for more than four hundred years.

As America unveiled a memorial for one man whose words sparked a revolution, these protesters channeled his non-violent spirit and brought to life his vision.  On August 28, 1963, the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom was focused on securing equality for all.  According to the Info Please website, the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom was the culmination of several marches throughout the United States combatting against the racial injustices occurring during that time.

At the forefront of that revolution was the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a powerful man who used his words to influence others to act and expect positive changes.  Dr. King was the face of a larger movement to bring all citizens together in all capacities with equal rights and access to the same freedoms.

In his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, spoken during that March on Washington, Dr. King’s words were loud, clear, and explosive.  “And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream.  It is a dream deeply rooted in the American Dream.”  Defined by the Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary as, “an American social idea that stresses egalitarianism and especially material prosperity,” the American Dream is a concept that has brought immigrants to the United States for decades.  It is an idea that all Americans can be as successful as they desire to be with vision, fortitude, and tons of hard work.

So as Dr. King’s dream was grown out of the soil that is the American Dream, so is Gerlyne Maitre’s.  Maitre is a Hunter College graduate with a degree in sociology who can’t seem to find full-time employment, so she accepts several part-time jobs with the hope that these part-times will equal one full-time paycheck.  As she and 50 others occupied Zuccotti Park last week, her sign read, “Where is my American Dream?”

Maitre’s sentiment reflects the attitude of thousands of Americans who refer to themselves as the “99 percenters.” According to the Occupy Wall Street website, the 99 percenters are “fighting back against the corrosive power of major banks and multinational corporations over the democratic process and the role of Wall Street in creating an economic collapse that caused the greatest recession in generations.”

Frustrated with the top one percent of the wealthiest Americans controlling the financial sector, the 99 percenters raised their voices as Dr. King did in the ‘60s with a non-violent occupation of Liberty Square in Manhattan’s financial district and subsequently, 100 cities across the U.S. including Chicago and 1,500 cities around the world.

Cornell West at Occupy Wall Street

Though no public figure has been elected as the leader of Occupy Wall Street because it’s a grass roots movement, activist Cornel West has been arrested twice in recent weeks for his role in OWS protests.  Since his first arrest for trespassing on the Supreme Court steps last week, the Princeton University professor has been on the media circuit. In his first television appearance after being released on MSNBC’s The Ed Show, it was clear that Dr. West believed that Dr. King would have supported the OWS movement and that the 99 percenters occupation of different cities is the full circle of Dr. King’s mission.

Dr. West was arrested on the same date when President Obama was dedicating the memorial in Washington, D.C. to Dr. King, which brings his legacy and the current struggle for equality around the bend of life together.

The Occupy Wall Street Movement and current March on Washington continue to push for that American Dream that we have all been promised.  In their demonstrations, the spirit of Dr. King lives. It is his dream coming into fruition. Blacks and whites of all heritages are coming together in cities that were once segregated to call attention to new injustices that are affecting them and thousands of others.

43 years after the assassination of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we are still striving for the equality that he marched on Washington and was arrested in Birmingham for.  But, at some point in the United States’ history, we will all be equal.  Good God almighty, we are free at last.

Evette Dionne
HBCU Buzz Staff Writer

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