FAMU awards $554,000 in scholarships during 2009 bus tour

(TALLAHASSEE, Fla. )– Students and their parents filled two venues  — one in Gainesville, the other in Fort Lauderdale, where they were entertained by Florida A&M University (FAMU) students before 32 scholarships were offered on the spot as part of President James H. Ammons’ Up Close and Personal Tour.
The President’s Tour was sponsored by Coca-Cola and NASCAR.
On Thursday, March 12 in Gainesville, Ammons started his three-city road tour, which was designed to recruit the best and the brightest and boost FAMU’s enrollment….more

Fayetteville State African Caribbean students to celebrate culture - March 30

(Fayetteville, N.C.) - The African and Caribbean Students Association (ACSA) of Fayetteville State University (FSU) will hold its 3rd Annual ACSA Celebration on March 30 at 7 p.m. in J.W. Seabrook Auditorium. There will be a fashion show, dancers, spoken word, and a presentation by renowned professor, author, and filmmaker M.K. Asante, Jr. The event is free and open to the public. The author of three celebrated books, Asante’s latest book, It’s Bigger Than Hip Hop, was hailed by the Los Angeles Times as “An empowering book that moves you to action and to question status quo America.” His second book, Beautiful. And Ugly Too, prompted Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Charles Fuller to call Asante “One of the most important writers of his generation.” Asante’s first book, Like Water Running Off My Back, won the Academy of American Poets Jean Corrie Prize for its title piece. An internationally-acclaimed filmmaker, Asante wrote, directed, and produced The Black Candle, a film narrated by renowned poet and icon Dr. Maya Angelou. Asante also wrote and produced the film 500 Years Later; winner of Best Documentary at the Pan African Film Festival; Best Documentary at the Bridgetown Film Festival; Best Film at the Black Berlin Film Festival; Best International Documentary at the Harlem International Film Festival; and the Breaking the Chains award from the United Nations. For more information, please call (910) 672-1474.

Dillard University to feature Patti LaBelle during Pre-Commencement Scholarship Benefit - May 8

Don’t miss the 2009 Dillard University Pre-Commencement Scholarship Benefit concert featuring international music sensation and songbird Patti LaBelle!! Miss LaBelle’s unique, versatile platform has spanned four decades and includes classic rhythm and blues, pop standards and spirituals. This annual signature scholarship benefit will be held on Friday, May 8, 2009 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - Conference Auditorium.
Previous pre-commencement concert entertainers include Nancy Wilson & the Nancy Wilson Trio (2006), Roberta Flack (2007) and the Four Tops (2008). Local, regional and national officials will also be on hand to commemorate Dillard University’s 140th Anniversary.
All proceeds fund student scholarships and are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Tickets are priced at $150, $100 and $75 and will be available through TicketMaster at www.ticketmaster.com or (800) 488-5252 beginning on January 15, 2009. For more information, call Troy L. Baldwin at (504)816-4504 or (504) 816-4505.

Clark Atlanta’s Department of English and the Urban Theatre Company of Atlanta to present Black Voices play

The Clark Atlanta University Department of English and The Urban Theatre Company of Atlanta, Inc. will present Black Voices: The Hidden Bruises from March 26 through March 30 in Davage Auditorium in Haven-Warren Hall on the campus of CAU. Exploring the psyche and resilience of African-American children, the play tells their stories through song, dance and drama.
The show times are: Thursday, March 26, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, March 27, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, March 28, at 3:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, March 29, at 6:00 p.m.; and Monday, March 30, at 7:30 p.m. The tickets are $7 in advance for Atlanta University Center (AUC) students with I.D. ($10 at the door) and $12 for non-AUC students and general admission ($15 at the door). Tickets are available in the CAU English Department and the CAU Bookstore. Call (404) 880-6733 for more information.

Lincoln University Foundation to host Seventh annual President’s Gala - April 18

(Jefferson City, MO) - The Lincoln University Foundation, Inc. has set Saturday, April 18, 2009, as the date for the 7th Annual President’s Awards and Recognition Gala and Auction.  The event starts at 5:30 p.m. with a reception at Capitol Plaza Hotel. The dinner and awards program begins at 7 p.m. This year’s theme is “LU and JC Jazzing Together: Celebrating our Success in Education and Community Development”.
            This year’s gala honorees are:  Mr. Cecil Blue-Professor Emeritus (posthumously); Mr. Paul Ferguson-Special Recognition; Mrs. Helen Reynolds-Special Recognition; Mrs. Donna Cavitte-Trailblazer Award, Public Sector; Naught-Naught Agency-Trailblazer Award, Business Sector; and Walmart (Jefferson City)-Corporate Award.  
            The Lincoln University Foundation, Inc. hosts the gala, which is a fundraising event for Lincoln University.  Tickets for the evening are $100/person or $1,000/table and are available in Lincoln University’s Memorial Hall.  For ticket information, please call 573-681-5573.   

Dr. David Hall selected as University of the Virgin Islands new president

The University of the Virgin Islands Board of Trustees ended its quarterly meeting Saturday on St. Croix by announcing that the University will soon welcome a new president.
At the conclusion of its executive session, Board Chair Alexander Moorhead said the Board approved a 5-year contract for David Hall beginning August 1, 2009.
Hall is a professor at the Northeastern School of Law, where he has led a distinguished career as an administrator in the law school and the University. He was appointed Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Northeastern University in July of 1998 and served in that capacity until July 2002. Hall held the positions of associate dean of academic affairs and later dean of Northeastern’s law school and had previously been a tenured professor at the law schools of the University of Mississippi and the University of Oklahoma.
“He is eminently qualified for the position,” Moorhead said. “He has a deep interest in the University and we look forward to a long and mutually rewarding relationship.”
Hall holds both a doctorate of juridical science and a master’s degree in law from Harvard Law School, a juris doctor and master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma and a bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University.

BSU Finance Professor Dr. Granville Sawyer to discuss economy on Radio One/WOL 1450 AM - March 20

Visit www.wolam.com or www.biztalkwithjosh.com_
Friday, March 20, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. EST 
 
Dr. Granville Sawyer, professor of Finance and Economics at Bowie State University, will discuss the latest developments regarding the small business community and ways the government could help them stay above water on Friday, March 20 at 1-:30 a.m. 
Recently, President Barack Obama emphasized what has already been done through the Recovery Act: raising the guarantees on SBA loans to 90 percent, eliminating costly fees for borrowers and lenders, and a series of tax cuts for small businesses and tax incentives to encourage investments in small businesses. 
Biz Talk With Josh focuses on the issues, developments and concerns which impact entrepreneurs, small businesses, minority and women owned business and the markets where they operate and grow.  The show broadcasts live on Radio One/WOL 1450 AM in the Washington, DC area and is always available following the live broadcast at www.biztalkwithjosh.com. 
 For additional information please visit the website at www.biztalkwithjosh.com or email host, Joshua Smith, at josh@biztalkwithjosh.com

JSU to host 1,500 students at regional science and engineering fair - March 26-27

(JACKSON, Miss.) – Young scientists will reveal discoveries ranging from the makeup of a golf ball to which type of wood burns the fastest at the annual Mississippi Region II Science and Engineering Fair March 26-27 at Jackson State University.
            Held in the Lee E. Williams Athletics and Assembly Center on the university’s downtown campus, 1400 John R. Lynch St. in Jackson, the fair attracts more than 1,500 students from 250 public and private schools in Claiborne, Copiah, Hinds, Jefferson, Madison, Rankin and Warren counties.
            The competition helps spark interest among young people in science and math, and serves as the preliminary to the Mississippi Science and Engineering Fair slated for April 1-2.       
            Student projects will include experiments in biochemistry, botany, chemistry, physics, microbiology, zoology, medicine and health, and earth, space and environmental science. Some 300 experts with advanced degrees in science, mathematics or engineering have volunteered to judge the entries. 
            This year’s projects include an experiment to determine whether Flintstone vitamins can make a plant grow faster, an epidemiological study of classroom illnesses and a behavioral study that shows whether children are motivated by rewards or punishment. Other entries respond to the nation’s economic crisis by revealing which supermarkets have the best values and determining the most effective diapers, batteries, glue, mouthwash and detergent.
            The lower fair for grades 1-6 will be held March 26. The upper fair for grades 7-12 will be held March 27.
            For more information, call 601-979-3448 or visit www.jsums.edu/scifair.

Congresswoman Maxine Walters to speak at Hamer humanitarian awards luncheon - April 17

(JACKSON, Miss.) – U.S. Congresswoman Maxine Waters will be the guest speaker for the third annual Fannie Lou Hamer Humanitarian Awards Luncheon to be held from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday, April 17, at the Student Center on Jackson State University’s main campus, 1400 John R. Lynch Street in Jackson, Miss.
The luncheon honors individuals and organizations that have made major contributions to the areas of service and leadership in the pursuit of social, economic, political, and environmental justice and equality. Consideration is given to Mississippians whose community involvement has benefited the public, particularly people and organizations that have not received appropriate recognition for their many contributions.
The Fannie Lou Hamer Humanitarian Awards are also designed to honor individuals from various age groups.
Tickets are $50 per person and $400 for a table of eight.
For more information or to purchase tickets and souvenir booklet ads, visit www.jsums.edu/~hamer.institute or call the Hamer Institute at 601-979-1562.

Bowie State University Celebrates Women’s History Month with Tea Time and book chat - March 30

Bowie State University’s First Lady,  LaVera L. Burnim, and the university community will celebrate Women’s History Month with a special Tea Time and book discussion featuring esteemed author Rosa Johnson Butler on March 30 at 3 p.m.
The author will read from a book she coauthored entitled Maya Angelou:  A Glorious Celebration and engage the university community and guests in a discussion about the subject of the book and the authors’ approach to writing it. 
The book is the latest biography on Maya Angelou, chock-full of photographs, snippets of Angelou’s own writings, and it traces her life at home, work and in the public.
The event costs $12 and a paperless ticket can be purchased online at Brown Paper Tickets, www.brownpapertickets.com/event/59999 or call 301-860-4300.  The wearing of hats and gloves are optional.