Claflin University Senior Sequoyah Burden Opens a Sweet Local Business – Entrepreneur Spotlight

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Take a bite into one of Sequoyah Burden’s decadent red velvet cupcakes and you’ll soon discover why the Claflin University senior is making quite a splash with her new bakery in Holly Hill.

A penchant for baking red velvet isn’t Burden’s only culinary forte. In fact, she can make a cake using just about any design or recipe. The menu at Sequoyah’s Sweets is littered with cupcakes like “Oh Oh Oreo”, a chocolate cake covered with Oreo butter cream, or “Bubble Yum”, a sweet yellow cake with bubble gum frosting.

Since the bakery opened this summer, Burden has gotten and fulfilled requests that are not on the menu. For example, a customer wanted to surprise her hunting enthusiast son with a cake featuring the deer logo of the major outdoor supplier Browning. Burden didn’t know of the company but the customer sent a picture of the Browning logo and she made the cake.

The fledging business started in the kitchen of Burden’s mother, Harriette Glenn. “I come from a family of cooks,” Burden said. “During the holidays, I would always be the one to help mom in the kitchen. But I didn’t want to cook. I wanted to bake.”

And bake she did.

Her grandmother, Harriete Brothers, gave her recipe for the red velvet cupcake. She noted it was a struggle initially to replicate the delicious nature of her elder’s red velvet rendition. But Burden eventually nailed it down. It was an accomplishment that signaled to her this could become a lucrative hobby.

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Alcorn celebrates Founders Day Convocation 2011, dedicates Medgar Wiley Evers Heritage Village

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“There are so many people who have given their all for us,” says Myrlie Evers, former Alcorn student and renowned Civil Rights activist. “Bodies in front of trucks, washed by fire hoses, chased by dogs, and fired on by bullets. We must remember our history and make sure this generation is prepared to stand up and take the same just stand.”

Alcorn students, alumni, employees, local elected officials, state legislators, visitors from Chamberlain Hunt Academy, former classmates and family members of Medgar Wiley Evers ’52 gathered in the Oakland Memorial Chapel for Founders Day 2011 Convocation where his wife Myrlie Evers delivered the convocation address.

Alcorn President M. Christopher Brown II presided over the convocation and Executive Vice President and Provost Samuel L. White delivered the summons to convocation. “We are gathered here today in honor of founding principles of Alcorn and to celebrate 140 years of greatness,” proclaimed Dr. Brown. “For the greatest knowledge is not just learned in text books and the classroom, but is enhanced by knowledge inherited from our ancestors and how we transform that knowledge into service.”

President Brown presented the highest award granted by the University to an individual whose life exhibits tenacity, fortitude, and excellence, the Hiram R. Revels Achievement Award, was accepted by Dr. Rudolph E. Water Sr. and he received a standing ovation. The Revels Achievement Award pays tribute to the superior achievements of an individual in their chosen field/industry of endeavor or their lived example.

Mr. James Charles Evers, brother of Medgar Wiley Evers, was honored with the Levi J. Rowan Heritage Award that is bestowed upon a son or daughter of the University in recognition of exceptional merit. The recipient of the award must be acclaimed for a special and outstanding service to the institution; or who, by personal achievement, has brought great honor and distinction to the University. His daughter Patricia Evers accepted the award on his behalf.

The Alcorn Bravery Award was presented to Mrs. Myrlie Evers. This award is granted to an outstanding individual who may be singled out for their records of service as public servants or agents for social change. The Alcorn Bravery Award recognizes an abiding concern for the welfare of others, exemplifying the spirit of an individual whose efforts inspire society through their work or actions toward the promotion of peace, humanitarianism, social or scientific progress and/or human understanding.

The recipient of the Oakland Memorial Chapel Award that recognizes corporate and/or non-profit entities that consistently demonstrate exemplary support to civic, collegiate, or charitable institutions in order to advance the aims and ideas of higher education, was Dr. Hank Bounds, commissioner, Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning.

Presidential Citation for Excellence was awarded to Mr. Jake Ayers Sr. (posthumously) and to Mr. Stephen LaTreal McNair (posthumously). This citation celebrates the accomplishment of individuals whose actions enrich the reputation and stature of Alcorn State University. It is reserved for alumni and friends whose dedication and commitment have impacted the institutional history.

During the convocation, Mrs. Evers spoke to the audience about how determined Medgar was to make a difference in the lives of others and how she met Medgar on Alcorn’s campus in front of the Old President’s Home on her first day. “Medgar was so intelligent, bright and insightful. He was very mature and knew what he wanted in life,” shared Mrs. Evers. “He ran around this campus interrupting dances and other fun activities encouraging students to stand up and register to vote.”

Mrs. Evers thanked the students who were in attendance today, “You give me hope, strength and I see the future in you. Medgar was right – once we achieved our rights it would be even more difficult to keep them.”

“Stepping onto the campus of my parents’ electric connection, it is just overwhelming and much appreciated,” said Reena Denise Evers, daughter of Medgar and Myrlie Evers, accepting the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters presented in memory of her father. Dr. Norris Allen Edney was also recognized for his dedication and service to the University during his tenure as interim president.

“We came here to reflect on our past, celebrate our present, but most importantly, focus on our future,” said Dr. Alpha Morris ’52, chairperson for the Department of Social Sciences and Medgar Wiley Evers’ classmate, referring to the founding of Alcorn. “As we look back 140 years, I say a miracle happened in southwest Mississippi in 1871…a seed that was planted developed into a premier land-grant university.”

Percy Norwood, president of the Alcorn State University National Alumni Association brought greetings from Alcornites around the world.

“As students we feel that it is important to be here today, be a part of Alcorn’s history and pay a tribute to the founders of the University and Medgar Wiley Evers, a fellow Alcornite and a hero,” shared Laterra Wilson-Fleming, a senior majoring in elementary education.

Earlier today, Mrs. Evers also participated in the official Ribbon Cutting and Dedication Ceremony of the Medgar Wiley Evers Heritage Village, a state-of-the-art student housing complex that includes four residence halls and an amenities building that opened to students in 2010. The complex was named by students in honor of Evers’ courage, leadership and service.

Mrs. Evers’ words echoed throughout the Chapel, “When the challenges come, because there will be many roadblocks. Don’t give up – remember, perseverance is a part of your being. It took more than 30 years to bring Medgar’s killer to justice and that justice led to 18 more civil rights cases being brought to justice.”

Read full article at Alcorn

Alabama State hopes to avenge 2010 loss as they host Alcorn State

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T.C McWilliams catches the football and scrambles down the sideline for ASU's longest pass play of the game during action in the ASU vs.JSU football game September 24 2011. (ASU)

MONTGOMERY, Alabama – Alabama State opens October at home when the Hornets host Alcorn State Saturday night at 7 p.m. at Cramton Bowl.

“I think these guys have put in the work this week,” head coach Reggie Barlow said of his team’s preparation. “Friday is really a jog-through day for us. Spirits are good and they have good energy. Guys seem to be pretty relaxed. We’ll meet later tonight and get them ready for tomorrow.”

The Hornets have started strong this season with a 3-1 record to begin the 2011 season. The September schedule had Alabama State on the road three times and ASU will play just its second home game Saturday night.

“We’ve been gone for a while, to only have one home game to start after traveling to Mississippi (twice) and Michigan,” Barlow said. “It’s going to be good for us to be back at home. We know our fans will come out, support us and give us good energy and hopefully our guys will feed off of that.”

The Hornets sit in first place in SWAC play with a 3-0 record, with two wins against Eastern Division foes. A win over the Braves (1-3 overall, 1-3 SWAC) would give Alabama State a 4-0 mark in the conference for the first time since the 2005 season and more importantly a 3-0 record against the East.

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Alabama A&M has connection to civil rights icon Joseph Lowery birthday celebration

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HUNTSVILLE, Alabama — Alabama A&M University will play a special role next month in the 90th birthday celebration of Rev. Joseph Lowery, the renowned civil rights activist and native of Huntsville.

Renowned conductor and composer Dr. Henry Panion, an Alabama A&M University alumnus, will conduct a symphony in the Oct. 9 birthday tribute to Lowery.

Dr. Panion will conduct the Atlanta Symphony in a performance of “Reverend Dr. Joseph E. Lowery: His Words – Our Gift, A Musical Experience”  at the Atlanta Symphony Hall.

Hosted by CNN anchor Soledad O’Brien, the event is slated to feature star-studded appearances by Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Holiday, Peabo Bryson, Lady Tramaine Hawkins, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Cicely Tyson, the Morehouse and Spelman College Glee Clubs, and many others.

Lowery was the SCLC’s longest-serving president from 1977-97 and the 2009 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his work during the civil rights movement.

Lowery also gave the benediction at the 2008 inauguration of President Barack Obama.

Read Full Article at Alabama A&M

Hollywood spotlights trailblazing Tennessee State golf coach Catana Starks

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(Courtesy of The Tennessean) – Catana Starks had played rounds of golf only for fun when she was asked to recruit and coach Tennessee State University’s first men’s golf team.

The school was joining the Ohio Valley Conference in 1986 and, as part of the move, decided to drop the men’s swimming and diving teams Starks was coaching.

Over the next 17 years, she often drove the golf team to competitions. She even stopped at an outlet mall once and purchased suitable uniforms. Starks had grit. She hung out with area golf pros and became determined to make her players the best golfers in the nation.

The Hollywood-ready story of America’s first African-African woman to coach a NCAA Division I men’s golf team is being told in From the Rough, with a screening at the Nashville’s International Black Film Festival on Oct. 5. Taraji P. Henson, an Oscar nominee for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, stars as a fictionalized version of Starks named Cassandra Turner.

Starks, 66, says the movie portrayal is humbling. She hopes it’s a recruiting tool for TSU to attract more students — even some golf talent.

“It’s an honor to be respected that way,” she said. “The movie was tastefully done. I think it portrays what I am trying to convey to other African-American females: You can coach men’s sports and be successful.”

Former TSU golfer Sam Puryear, now director of golf at Queens University of Charlotte in North Carolina, says the recognition is long overdue. He was recruited to TSU’s golf program in the late 1980s.

“When I first got there, she didn’t know anything about golf,” he said. “I watched her develop in golf, and she was learning the game and putting people and things around us, for what she didn’t know.

“A lot of what we learned on the golf course was life lessons that I still carry with me now. I learned a lot of mental toughness from her.”

Little-Known Black History Fact: South Carolina State University School of Law

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Among its first class was Matthew J. Perry, the first black lawyer from Jim Crow south to be appointed to the federal judiciary.

From 1947 until 1966, South Carolina State University, a historically black college, had a school of law. Located in Orangeburg, South Carolina, South Carolina State University’s law school was a result of a civil rights struggle against the University of South Carolina. USC’s law school was the only one in the state at the time.

The decision for SCSU’s law school came as a result of a case involving black World War II veteran John Wrighten III. Wrighten was denied admission to USC Law School. He took his case to trial and was represented by Thurgood Marshall. Judge J. Waties Waring gave the state of South Carolina three options: Admit James Wrighten III, open a black law school or close the law school at USC. From that decision, the South Carolina State University School of Law was established in 1947. it was called the Colored Normal, Industrial, Agricultural and Mechanical College of South Carolina.

The first class had eight students. Over the next 19 years, 50 men and one woman graduated from the all-black law school. Among the 50 was Matthew J. Perry, who became the first black lawyer from Jim Crow south to be appointed to the federal judiciary, and Ernest Finney Jr., former chief justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court.

In 1966, the South Carolina State University School of Law closed its doors. When segregation ended at USC, black students enrolled. The re-establishment of another law school at South Carolina State University has been explored. The cost was estimated to be $8 million.

Referenced Article from SCSU

Opening of Chidley North, Nursing Building Mark Period of Growth for NCCU

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North Carolina Central University Chancellor Charlie Nelms will cut ribbons Wednesday on two new buildings that stand as testament to the significant growth happening across campus.

Chidley North Residence Hall will be officially unveiled at 11 a.m., and a ceremony for the yet-to-be-named nursing building will follow at 11:30 a.m. Both facilities opened Aug. 22, but the formal openings were delayed to give students a chance to settle into the fall semester.

“These new buildings are a source of pride for everyone on campus, and we hope the community feels the same way,” Nelms said. “NCCU is a world-class institution, and our students and faculty deserve world-class facilities”

Chidley North is named for the Rev. Howard Chidley, a Congregationalist minister who was a close associate of NCCU founder Dr. James E. Shepard. The spacious hall is home to 517 juniors and seniors, mostly in double rooms with a single bathroom. There are eight corner suites that house four students each. The 135,000-square-foot hall has a large laundry, kitchen and study room on each floor. There are lounges in every wing, a classroom and computer lab on the second floor, and Wi-Fi throughout.

The hall, at the corner of Alston Avenue and Lawson Street, cost $30 million. It was built adjacent to the original Chidley Residence Hall, which is closed for renovation.

The $25 million nursing building, on the former site of Holy Cross Catholic Church along Alston Avenue, is designed to meet the needs of a rapidly growing nursing baccalaureate program. The building boasts 69,000 square feet over three floors. The first floor has three classrooms, including a 203-seat auditorium and two 72-seat classrooms, a student services section with a grab-and-go food service, and a student lounge. The lobby can accommodate 360 people for receptions.

The second floor has a 62-seat classroom, simulated hospital rooms and rooms containing computer-controlled mannequins and robot “patients” for student testing, and quiet study and group-study rooms and locker space. The third floor is mostly offices for faculty and staff.

Read Full Article at NCCU

FAMU Alumni Rob Hardy and Will Packer Launch Bounce TV

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Florida A&M University (FAMU) alumni Will Packer and Rob Hardy will launch Bounce TV this fall, the first African-American digital multicast broadcast network geared toward African Americans in the 25-54 age range.

Bounce TV will feature a programming mix of theatrical motion pictures, sporting events, documentaries, specials, inspirational faith-based programs, off-network series, original programming and more.

Hardy will serve as the chief content officer, and Packer in the chief strategy and marketing officer position. Other founders include Martin Luther King III, former United Nations Ambassador and Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young and Andrew “Bo” Young III.

Packer and Hardy started their production company, Rainforest Films, in 1994. One of their most successful projects, “Stomp the Yard,” grossed more than $65 million and held the No. 1 position at the box office for two weekends in January of 2007. Later that year, the company produced “This Christmas,” which made $50 million. The success of both projects landed the duo amongst the “Top 25 Entertainers and Moneymakers” in Black Enterprise magazine in 2008.

In 2010, Packer and Hardy were named as one of FAMU’s 40 alumni Under 40 years old. The duo have also begun production of the movie, “Think Like a Man,” a comedic adaptation of actor and comedian Steve Harvey’s New York Times best-selling book, Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man.

Read Full Article at FAMU

Focus on Historically Black Colleges in Degree Completion

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To meet President Obama’s goal to have the country lead the world in having the most college graduates by 2020, administration officials say every type of higher education institution — including Historically Black Colleges and Universities — need to ramp up completion efforts.

To help achieve this, the administration is committed to increased federal funding and leveraging support of the private sector, philanthropies and alumni to support HBCUs, John Silvanus Wilson, director of the White House HBCU Initiative, told a gathering of leaders from that community in Washington this morning,

To highlight the specific benchmarks for colleges, Wilson unveiled a new feature on the U.S. Department of Education website that went live today. From a U.S. map featuring every HBCU here, users can click on an individual campus to link to its website and to see the current number of degrees produced, the total degrees needed by 2020 to meet the President’s goal and how that breaks down by year.

For instance, the four HBCUs in Maryland, (Bowie State University, Coppin State College, Morgan State University, and University of Maryland-Eastern Shore) generate 2,222 undergraduate degrees annually. They need to add another 16,522 degrees by 2020, or 300 degrees each year, cumulatively to help reach the goal.

“This is going to be no easy task,” said Wilson. “And our work just got harder.” Recent reports from Organization for Economic Development and Cooperation show the United States ranks 16th, down from 9th in terms of the most educated population. The country has not led the international ranking since 1995. South Korea is the current leader.

Read Full Article at Education Week

Alabama State Board Names Two Facilities, Approves 2011-12 Budget

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ASU’s Board of Trustees held a meeting Friday, during which members voted to honor two longtime baseball coaches, as well as a beloved Mighty Marching Hornets band director, with facilities bearing their names. The Alabama State University Board of Trustees officially named two campus facilities and approved the 2011-12 budget during a meeting held Friday, Sept. 23. The $3.9 million baseball complex, which hosted its first game last spring, was named The Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex in honor of Larry Watkins and the late Herbert Wheeler. Both held longtime positions as head Hornets baseball coach.

“Coach Wheeler and Coach Watkins are an important part of the legacy, history and tradition of Alabama State University,” said Stacy Danley, ASU athletics director. “They have helped shape and mold young men their entire lives and it is only fitting that we pay tribute to them by naming our baseball complex in their honor.”

Wheeler earned both his undergraduate (1937) and graduate (1967) degrees at ASU. He was an outstanding athlete in several sports, earning the title of “Hot Dog” during his playing years.

Wheeler played baseball at the professional level before returning to his alma mater in 1960 to serve as head baseball coach, a position he held until 1981.

Watkins also earned both his undergraduate (1973) and graduate (1975) degrees at ASU. He took the helm as Hornets head baseball coach in 1982, a position he held for nearly 30 years. Watkins’ teams won 515 games, making him the all-time leader in wins in University history. He led the Hornets to post-season tournaments 13 times and was named SWAC Eastern Division Coach of the Year and SWAC Coach of the Year once each during his tenure.

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Birmingham Mayor to Display “The Maroon & White” – Alabama A&M University

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Birmingham, Ala. —- Although Normalites throughout Alabama have long known that the “B” in Birmingham stands for “Bulldogs,” a recent presentation further drives that fact home.

Alabama A&M University alumnus and trustee Lucien Blankenship (left) joined Councilman Jay Roberson in presenting a framed Bulldog jersey to Birmingham Mayor William A. Bell.

According to city officials, the jersey will be displayed on the wall of the Mayor’s office for the administration, guests, and citizens to see “for years to come.”

Article Referenced from Alabama A&M University

VIDEO – Fabolous Interview before performing at hafltime Howard vs Morgan State Game

ESPN’s Jay Walker catches up with Rapper Fabolous who will be performing at hafltime of our HBCU game featuring Howard @ Morgan St. live on ESPN3. Game kicks at 3:30pm.

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VIDEO – Orlando Brown – South Carolina State Alum Found Dead at 40

Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said Saturday there were no obvious signs of trauma or foul play and no suspicious factors surrounding Brown’s death. He says it may take weeks before test results help determine the cause of death.

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Endowed Chair Named After Black Labor Pioneers – Howard University

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The first ever endowed chair in the Department of Afro-American Studies was named Wednesday in honor of two “working folks” who were also pioneers in the fight for better standards of living for black workers in the nation’s capital and across the country.

The John and Eula Cleveland Chair in Black History Studies was established last year with a generous $1.2 million gift from the couple’s estate. The gift will support Afro-American Studies programs and continue Howard’s tradition of educating students in the dynamics of the African-American experience.

“This is an important day for us, as we celebrate a sustaining gift that speaks to the Howard University identity,” President Sidney A. Ribeau said during a ceremony in Howard Hall to honor the couple and recognize their gift. “Times are tough. America is in crisis, and the world is in turmoil, but this gift says ‘keep doing the work that is important to us all.’”

John Cleveland was the first African-American to take over a major union at the local level and the first black man elected vice president of the 1.5 million-member International Brotherhood of Teamsters. His wife, Eula, was the first black woman to sit on the executive board of a local union.

Together, the Clevelands helped create the Teamsters National Black Caucus, an organization of black Teamster men and women united by their special concerns for rights and conditions of workers. John Cleveland was inducted into the Teamsters Hall of Fame in 2010.

Read Full Article at Howard News Room

Chuck D Drops Knowledge in SPIT Lecture at Prairie View

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Renowned rapper, producer and author Chuck D made his first visit to PVAMU and extolled the virtues of thinking globally and valuing the college experience.

Chuck D, named Carlton Douglas Ridenhour, is best known as the leader of Public Enemy, pioneering rap group that tackled social issues and politics. He grew up in New York and attended Adelphi University to pursue a degree in graphic design. His passion led him to a successful career in music, becoming one of the most influential political rappers that the hip-hop era has ever seen. Today, he continues to speak out on politics and society.

As the fall’s first Students Participating in Transcendent (S.P.I.T.) Knowledge guest speaker, Chuck D urged students to explore the world and secure a passport. He also urged students to maintain their sense of self as the various messages are thrown their way. “The mind is the real estate of the new millennium,” he said.

The S.P.I.T. Knowledge series at PVAMU is a twist on the traditional college lecture series program aimed at arousing interest that may not be stimulated through the traditional classroom setting through the presentation of a diverse group of speakers. All lectures are free and open to the public.

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Honduran student completes dairy goat research at Fort Valley State

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While online seeking professors proficient in goat milk research, Karen Hernandez stumbled upon Dr. Young Park, an internationally recognized expert in dairy goat research at Fort Valley State University. After making contact by email, the Honduran student knew the institution would be a good place to gather data for her thesis before a December graduation.

The student from the National University of Agriculture (located in Catacamas, Honduras) took a three-hour flight in June to work in the lab comparing yogurts made from cow and goat milk. The food science major concluded that goat milk is easier to digest and has a softer texture. Hernandez returned home in September.  She is thankful for the opportunity to learn from an expert and work with advanced equipment.

“In my college you don’t have the privilege of having all this equipment, so it’s been a new experience,” Hernandez said. “I appreciate all the people here, it’s pretty nice. And it’s a good, good university.”

The young scientist hopes to use the FVSU experience coupled with her college education to pursue a master’s and doctoral degree. She is considering a return to The Valley, which offers a master’s in animal science. Someday, the 21-year-old would like to own a goat processing center in her country.

Hernandez viewed operations at a processing facility housed in the Georgia Small Ruminant Research and Extension Center at FVSU. The 15,000-square-feet center, which also has a dairy operation, is visited by faculty, students and fellows from abroad. International guests have traveled from Mali, France, Armenia, New Zealand, South Africa and Turkey to the small ruminants facility, known for its research related to sheep and goats.

“A student can have positive and constructive training here for careers in food science, dairy technology and food chemistry,” said Park, Hernandez’s mentor. “She can be a good vehicle to expose and educate Hondurans, there at her university, about our goat research here so we can have further educational exchange programs.”

Read Full article at FVSU