May 2009 Eagle View

Eagle View A monthly Newsletter from the Office of Institutional Advancement

May 2009

In this Issue: Welcome Did You Know...Q & A Student Spotlight – Annika Barnett – Terrance Campbell – Hadassah Watson Giving Back to NCCU Invest in the Vision

Congratulations Class of 2009

The Future of Library Science In order to build an academic program that is among the best in the country, a leader needs to be willing to face challenges head on and make tough decisions with a smile.

Irene Owens, dean of the School of Library and Information Sciences at North Carolina Central University is such a leader and her program is unmatched in its diversity, novelty, and ability to produce the best and brightest year after year.

Dean Owens’ passion for the subject is infectious. She is surrounded by a staff of creative individuals whose goal is to ensure that the knowledge of proper library usage and research is not lost in the digital age. This is an art and a skill that is being transferred to a growing number of students.

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Owens’ wealth of knowledge and vigor for progress has been the driving force propelling the Library and Information Sciences (LIS) program forward. NCCU has become a leader because of its strong tradition of setting the bar high in determining what an LIS education should be.

Since 1939, the program has produced more than 2000 alumni of diverse backgrounds. In fact, NCCU produces more minority librarians than all other programs in the nation combined. There are five institutions in the state that have similar programs but currently, only UNC-Chapel Hill and NCCU are fully accredited. And with a growing reputation for generating quality graduates, the NCCU LIS program is poised to lead the

nation as a premiere offering in library and information sciences education.

Dean Owens and her colleagues have received over $1.5 million in grant funding over the last four years. Several NCCU LIS faculty have pursued grant opportunities yielding fantastic results. “We tapped the public library directors from the counties with the largest minority populations in N.C., and in the process, we learned how partnerships can strengthen the effectiveness of our efforts,” said Owens. In the next five years, partnerships with UNC-Chapel Hill and other grant opportunities will focus efforts on the organization and digitization of NCCU’s special collections and general library resources. Grant funding will allow

NCCU students to study digital libraries consistent with the mission of the university and the UNC Tomorrow initiative.

Future goals of the department include continuing to serve as a leader in digitizing the special collections of N.C. HBCU libraries and further extending our efforts to close the digital divide. Owens intends to increase partnerships, continue capacity studies, and grow the school.

“We’ve had three recent donations from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association to serve as their main headquarters for their archives since we have housed their repository for the last several years,” said Owens.

North Carolina Central University relies on the annual support of its alumni, faculty/staff and friends to carry out the mission of ‘Truth and Service.’

Without your support, we cannot give our students the education they deserve.

Giving back helps move the university forward.

Be a Real Eagle and make a gift to NCCU today! web: www.nccu.edu/giving | ph: (919) 530-7313

Owens began her teaching career at the University of Texas at Austin where she worked diligently to secure tenure. She was awarded the Texas Excellence in Teaching Award in addition to being inducted into Phi Kappa Phi, is the “nation’s oldest, largest, and most selective all-discipline honor society.” She has received a Certificate of Recognition from the Library of Congress for her work on the History of the Merger of the South African National Library after the fall of apartheid, and the North Carolina Library Association’s Roadbuilders Award for significant contributions to library education. Owens attended UNCChapel Hill to earn the Ph.D. Since then, she has been honored with a Distinguished Alumna Award.

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Did You Know...Q & A Is my gift tax deductible?

Gifts to the NCCU Foundation are tax deductible under current IRS regulations. Our staff can discuss the potential impact of your gift on your overall tax picture. We do advise, however, that you consult your personal legal and financial advisors regarding specifics of your financial situation.

Can I designate my gift to a particular school, department or program?

Yes. The university offers an enormous variety of academic programs, cocurricular experiences, athletic programs, research endeavors and community-oriented projects to which friends and alumni can make gifts. Donors may also provide unrestricted gifts for the university to allocate to areas with the greatest need.

Contact:

Randal Childs, Director of Major Gifts (919) 530-5264 Doug Yopp, Director of Annual Giving (919) 530-7313

May 2009

A RISING STAR There are numerous rising stars within the Class of 2009. There is no doubt that we will see this fantastic group of students go on to enter the workforce, earn masters’ and Ph.D. degrees, and become teachers, lawyers, dentists, and doctors. Behind a shy smile resides one of the great minds emerging from North Carolina Central University this year, Annika Barnett.

The choices that this Raleigh native has made along the way have been key to her success. Deciding to attend NCCU while progressing through Southeast Raleigh High School was easy since both of her parents, Alfreda and Rodney Barnett, are alumni. They were proud of their daughter’s decision, making sure never to pressure her to attend their alma mater because they wanted her to make the choice for herself.

It also helped tremendously to be a recipient of the Soaring Eagle Scholarship. The scholarship provided full support for all four years of her matriculation, a laptop, and additional funds to cover the cost of books.

“NCCU was my first choice, and it helped that I wouldn’t have to worry about loans, which also made it easier to prepare for the loans I would need to complete med school.” Barnett added, “not to mention that my mother was also able to go back to grad school too without the worry of paying for me to go to school at the same time.”

Making the most of her college experience, Barnett engaged in extra-curricular activities throughout her matriculation. As a biology major, she participated in the Health Careers Club, Pre-Professional Health Society, Chancellor’s Scholars, Honors Programs, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Barnett has been accepted to not two or three, but five medical schools, all of which rank in the Top 25 medical schools in the country [Harvard (1), Duke (7), Stanford (12), Emory (20), and UNC-Chapel Hill (24)].

When presented with the options, it is no wonder she chose the top medical program in the nation, Harvard University. A chance to go back for a “second look” weekend where she met future classmates and professors helped solidify her decision to attend this coming fall.

Barnett said, “I really felt at home there and thought that these are going to be great people to be in class with.” The training she receives at Harvard will no doubt ensure she becomes a remarkable pediatrician one day.

“I’d like to thank all of my professors whose love of science helped inspire me and made me feel very well prepared,” said Barnett.

Annika is just one of the many shining 2009 graduates that will continue to make this university very proud.

A Pediatric Dentist in the Making

My name is Terrance Campbell and I was born in Southfield, M.I., and early on in my childhood, my parents (North and South Carolina natives) instilled in me the importance of academic excellence. Taking advantage of as many academic opportunities as I could, I excelled in academically gifted and advanced placement courses in secondary school. Soon thereafter, I attended and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill obtaining a bachelor’s degree in sociology.

I decided to pursue a graduate degree in sociology at NCCU in order to study the effects of childhood dental experiences before continuing on to dental school.

What initially brought me here was NCCU’s unique Master of Sociology program. NCCU offers the option of obtaining a master’s without pursuing a doctorate degree.

Most programs in the area, such as UNC-Chapel Hill and N.C. State,

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require that you obtain your doctorate degree for entry into their program.

My decision was confirmed by the warm welcome and inviting staff, particularly Dean Murray. His willingness to help and to ensure that I received the best education possible while attending this university let me know that NCCU was the right choice for me.

I think that it is important to give back as an alum because you are charged with the responsibility of making sure that future students have the same, if not better university experience that you had yourself. Giving backis not limited to monetary contributions. It also includes time, service, and effort.

My ultimate goal is to be a pediatric dentist. My studies here at NCCU will help me understand how children’s dental experiences help mold their dental histories from a sociological viewpoint, enabling me to provide the better pediatric dental care.

May 2009

U.S. Senator Kay Hagan, D-N.C., stopped to chat with Mrs. Betty Woods, of Woods and Woods Spa and Wellness at the Senator’s stimulus funding seminar.

U.S. Senator Kay Hagan, DN.C., and NCCU Chancellor Charlie Nelms answered questions from the press about the impact of the stimulus package on North Carolina.

(From left to right) Andrea Harris, president of the N.C. Institute of Minority Economic Development; David Heinen, director of public policy for the N.C. Center for Non-Profits; Dempsey Benton, director, N.C. Office of Economic Recovery and Investment; and Lee Cornelison, district director, U.S. Small Business Administration served as panelists at U.S. Senator Kay Hagan’s seminar on accessing stimulus funding.

SENATOR HAGAN’S STIMULUS SEMINAR AT NCCU North Carolina Central University served as host to a seminar organized

by U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan, D-N.C., informing the community about how minority and women-owned businesses, small businesses and non-profits can access the stimulus money.

The start time was delayed when an unexpectedly large crowd of about 300 had to be accommodated in overflow space. Hagan opened the session by referencing the sobering number seeking work in this state saying, “Inaction is simply not an option when the number of unemployed North Carolinians is nearly 500,000.”

She cited the tax cuts for 95 percent of North Carolina’s workers and their families and the projected 105,000 jobs that the stimulus appropriations should save or create. Then she turned over the podium to a panel of experts for questions and answers. -* Included in the audience of predominantly small businessmen and women were representatives from minority serving educational institutions.

NCCU’s Chancellor Charlie Nelms commented on the $15.64 billion set aside in the stimulus package for Pell Grants, increasing the maximum assistance level to $4,860 for students attending the 2009-2010 academic year.

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“This increase in the Pell Grant is crucial to us as 95 percent of our students are on financial assistance,” said Nelms.

Nelms also reported that NCCU would be seeking in the neighborhood of $20 million from the stimulus package primarily in research grant funds but also including $2.5 million for the renovation of the historic Hoey Administration Building on campus.

Elaine King from Barber-Scotia College was considering how she might adjust her grant proposal to better dovetail with federal guidelines. Hers is a green industry proposal to train municipal workers to implement an energy-from-waste program.

Most participants received the message loud and clear that they would need to strictly abide by the rules and accommodate the government’s demand for precision, clarity and transparency in their applications. They appreciated the long list of websites provided to assist them in their research.

“There’s money available but we’re going to have to do our homework to access it,” said Vernon H. McRae, Jr., vice president of operations for VHM Construction, Inc. “There’s a lot of opportunities available but you have to take your time to

prepare,” said Dr. Aal-Anubia of Saint Augustine’s College.

“Tax dollars are hard to come by but we’re trying to make it accessible for small business and minorities,” said Hagan.

The panel of experts included: Dempsey Benton, director, N.C. Office of Economic Recovery and Investment; Lee Cornelison, district director, U.S. Small Business Administration; David Heinen, director of public policy for the N.C. Center for Non-Profits; Sadie Abdullah, energy director for Operation Breakthrough, Inc.; Charles Archer, associate director for operations and federal relations for the N.C. League of Municipalities; Scott Daugherty, executive director for the Small Business Technology and Development Center; and Andrea Harris, president of the N.C. Institute of Minority Economic Development.

Durham City Councilman Farad Ali served as moderator.

For more information, the first websites on Senator Hagan’s handout were: www.recovery.gov; http://hagan.senate.gov/files/Hagan; and www.ncrecovery.gov

May 2009

Beating the Odds Sometimes, in order to attract the best and the brightest, you have to go out and find them. Hadassah Watson, who is originally from Fayetteville, N.C., had not even considered NCCU until a passionate recruiter arrived at her high school one day and presented her with an opportunity of a lifetime. She had applied and was accepted to five universities, but only one recognized her potential by offering a full scholarship.

“I didn’t have any money saved up from my parents and I didn’t want to work during my college years. It was imperative to me that I find a school that would pay all of my tuition and fees.” NCCU became Watson’s top choice when she realized she could be a Chancellor’s Scholar. Not having to worry about the cost of her education allowed Watson to focus on her academic career.

She set her sights on becoming a forensic scientist but after closely examining the internship market in this area, she modified her plans. In her junior year, Watson made a brave decision; she chose

to change her major to pharmaceutical science with a minor in chemistry.

Inspired by the presence of pharmaceutical companies in RTP, Watson landed a summer internship with Talecris, a subsidiary of Bayer.

With her future taking shape, Watson applied for and received a Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technology Enterprise (BRITE) scholarship. The BRITE program offers a scholarship that covers all costs with the exception of books. “The curriculum was challenging, but the quality of instruction, open door policy, flexibility, and small class sizes were attractive,” Watson says.

One of the requirements of the BRITE scholarship is that she work for at least two years. Watson saw this as a plus saying she appreciated not having to find a job after graduation. Watson’s participation in the International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineers, SGA Senate, and the Health Careers Club has made her a standout for MERCK recruiters as well.

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After an internship at MERCK this summer, Watson will graduate in December of 2009. She added, “I really enjoy the business relationship aspect of research, so after graduation, I plan on working with the intent to go back to school for an MBA degree.”

Newsletter Staff Brian Culbreath, Creative Director

Cynthia Fobert,

Contributing Writer & Editor

March 2009

Invest in the Vision We Invite You To

Generous donors of years past have helped make North Carolina Central University the outstanding educational institution it is today. The research, teaching and mentoring that takes place here is second to none, and the education we can offer is coveted by many. Now we must take steps forward to ensure this educational opportunity is available to all who seek it. A society is only as great as its weakest members, and education is the key to strengthening and lifting the weakest. As we do, we know they will rise to the challenge and, in turn, become contributing members of our community and nation.

We invite you to Invest in the Vision at NCCU so that North Carolina’s student scholars will continue to reap the many benefits that so many of us have worked hard to obtain and maintain.

Merit and Need-Based Scholarships $15 million

Global Opportunities $10 million

Attracting Quality Faculty $15 million College Readiness and Outreach $10 million Campus Beautification $5 million

North Carolina Central University

1801 Fayetteville St. Durham, NC 27707 Ph: (919) 530 - 6151 Fax: (919) 530 - 7675 http://www.nccu.edu

May 2009