2017 FSU Magazine Fall Issue by Fayetteville State University

150 The magazine for Fayetteville State University Alumni and Friends - FALL 17

SESQUICENTENNIAL

ACTOR HILL HARPER SPEAKS AT FALL CONVOCATION, FSU KICKS OFF 150TH CELEBRATION

150 Years of Excellence

contents

FEATURES / FALL 2017

FSU EMPLOYEE TAKES OPPORTUNITY TO PRAY FOR CAMPUS, CHANCELLOR

FSU HOSTS DELEGATION CHINESE UNIVERSITIES

DAMIEN M. WILLIAMS JOINS FSU AS VICE CHANCELLOR FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT

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FSU EMPLOYEE TAKES OPPORTUNITY TO PRAY FOR CAMPUS, CHANCELLOR

FSU WINS ITS FIRST-EVER CIAA WOMEN’S CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP ALEENA CRUZ NAMED ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AND INEZ TURNER NAMED COACH OF THE YEAR

FSU NURSING STUDENTS STUDY ABROAD IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

FSU GRADUATE FINDS SUCCESS IN FASHION INDUSTRY

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FSU Announces Administrative Changes

Annual Fund: Supporting FSU’s Needs Now

FSU Office of Civic Engagement and Service Learning Provided 100,000 Student Service Hours to the Community

Student Spotlight: Mike Wilkes

FSU Bowling Team Starts Season Off with Perfect 12-0 Record

FSU Wins the Southern Division Championship, but fails to win the CIAA Championship Football Game

A Message from Anthony Bennett

Aaliyah Tate Selected to Attend the Spotify...

Julian Capel Receives Faculty Mentor Award form NCAA Division II National SAAC

FSU Senior Alicia Williams Honored for Community Service FSU Assistant General Counsel Elected President of Pre-Law Advisory Group

FSU to Host 5th Annual Boots to Suits Conference

Fayetteville State to Build New Health Facility

Three Retired Faculty Named Professor Emeriti

UNC System Unveils New Branding

The Blue and White

Former FSU Basketball Star Named Michiganian of the Year

Fayetteville State Mourns the Loss of Former Coach Jeff Capel, Jr.

FSU Valuable Economic Engine for Community and Region

COVER STORY

150

Fayetteville State University

The magazine for Fayetteville State University Alumni and Friends - FALL 17

SESQUICENTENNIAL

celebrated Fall Convocation and

150 Years of Excellence

kicked off its Sesquicentennial on

ACTOR HILL HARPER SPEAKS AT FALL CONVOCATION, FSU KICKS OFF 150TH CELEBRATION

STAY CONNECTED: WWW.UNCFSU.EDU

September 14, 2017.

From the Chancellor’s Desk DEAR BRONCOS AND FRIENDS, Happy New Year! 2017 was incredibly exciting and productive and this upcoming year promises to be equally so for all members of the Fayetteville State University family, and our friends and supporters worldwide. Events celebrating the Sesquicentennial (150th Anniversary) are underway and have been well-received by the Bronco community. Two of the most memorable celebrations were Fall Convocation which featured renowned actor, activist, and author Hill Harper, who delivered the keynote address. The other was the Commemorative Deed Signing which brought former FSU Chancellors, family members of our founders, and guests from partner institutions in China to the campus. This event depicted the re-enactment of the day the seven founders of FSU made the bold decision to establish this great institution. It was a celebratory event that will be remembered for years to come. I would be remiss if I failed to mention the success of Homecoming 2017. This was undoubtedly the best homecoming in my 10 years at the helm of this illustrious institution. Thank you to staff, students, faculty, alumni and supporters who proved that FSU does indeed have the “Number One Homecoming on Earth.” As we continue into the New Year, we will hold other celebrations to mark this tremendous milestone in the university’s history. Mark

FS&U is published by the Fayetteville State University Division of Institutional Advancement, Office of Marketing and Strategic Communications. Address: Phone: Fax:

1200 Murchison Road Fayetteville, NC 28301 910-672-1838 910-672-1989

your calendars for April 5 as we celebrate Founders’ Day 2018. Guest speaker will be world-renowned historian and scholar Henry Louis Gates. Following Founder’s Day, we will unearth a time capsule that was planted in 1993 during the university’s 125th Anniversary. That same day, we will bury a new time capsule to be opened in the year 2043, the university’s 175th year in existence. Make certain you are a part of this and other events as we celebrate the proud legacy of this great university.

In the Bronco Spirit,

James A. Anderson Chancellor

Chancellor James A. Anderson Editor Jeffery M. Womble Associate Vice Chancellor for Communications Associate Editor La’Won D. Williams Director of University Publications

Fayetteville State University is committed to equality of educational opportunity and does not discriminate against applicants, students, or employees based on race, color, national origin, religion, age, or disability. It is the policy of Fayetteville State University to create diversity among its student body by recruiting and enrolling students without regard to race, gender, or ethnicity. Applicants of all races, gender and ethnic backgrounds are encouraged to apply for enrollment. Fayetteville State University is proud to be a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina.

www.uncfsu.edu

Dr. Jon Young Vice Chancellor and Chief of Staff

Dr. Pamela Jackson Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

Dr. J. Lee Brown Interim Dean of the College of Business and Economics

Fayetteville State University Announces Administrative Changes Fayetteville State University (FSU) Chancellor Dr. James A. Anderson has announced the following administrative appointments at FSU. Dr. Jon Young, currently Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, has been appointed as the Vice Chancellor and Chief of Staff. Dr. Pamela Jackson, currently the Dean of the College of Business and Economics has been named Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. A national search will be conducted to fill the provost’s position. Dr. J. Lee Brown, currently the Associate Dean of the College of Business and Economics, has been named Interim Dean. All appointments became effective on January 1, 2018. An FSU faculty member since 1981, Young is a professor of humanities and was a department chair and dean prior to being named provost in 2008. Under his leadership, degrees awarded increased from 947 to 1,187 despite six consecutive years of state budget reductions; academic programs in business, education, nursing, social work, criminal justice, psychology, fire and emergency services, birth through kindergarten, and theater earned national rankings. Young helped FSU establish a partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation that yielded $1.2 million in grant funding and the assessment tool he developed, the Continuous Improvement Report, received an award for innovation from the American Council of Education. As chief of staff, Young will support the Chancellor and his Cabinet in achieving the university’s strategic priorities. Since joining the FSU faculty in 1999, Jackson has served in various administrative roles, including as Dean of Business and Economics since 2015. She guided the college in earning reaffirmation of accreditation by the Association for the Advancement of Colleges and Schools of Business

(AACSB), the most prestigious accrediting bodies of business schools. Under her leadership, the College of Business has earned national rankings from U.S. News and World Reports, the Princeton Review, the Social Science Research Network, and others. She has earned nearly $5 million in grant funding, increased philanthropic support for the college, and implemented community outreach programs such as the Youth Entrepreneurship Conference and Youth Entrepreneurship Day. She is a member of the Greater Fayetteville Chamber Board of Directors, City of Fayetteville Audit Committee, Cumberland County School’s Career and Technical Education Advisory Council, and Fayetteville Urban Ministry’s Find-A-Friend Advisory Board. As interim provost, she will have primary responsibility for ensuring the quality and effectiveness of degree programs, instruction, and academic support. Brown joined the FSU faculty in 2011 and has served in several administrative roles, including Associate Dean since 2015. He has played a pivotal role in accreditation, assessment, and community outreach initiatives. He completed a Transitioning Soldiers Workforce Analysis for the Fayetteville Cumberland County Economic Development Corporation and published a study on the needs of Cumberland County senior citizens that was commissioned by the Cumberland Community Foundation. Brown is currently leading a project, in collaboration with the North Carolina Institute of Minority Economic Development, to open a Construction Resource Office (CRO) that is intended to increase the participation rates of underrepresented businesses in local and regional construction projects. As Interim Dean, Brown will be responsible for guiding continuous improvement of academic programs, research, service, and student support in the College of Business and Economics.

“I really love my job. It’s never the same and it is always exciting. I really have a heart for the Chancellor and Mrs. Anderson. I love them as my boss, as people, and as my brother and sister.” ~ Anne Bivalacqua

FSU Employee Takes Opportunity to Pray for Campus, Chancellor

nne Bivalacqua has worked at Fayetteville State for almost 10 years. Originally starting out in the Housekeeping Department, Bivalacqua used her time in and out of classrooms and offices across campus to pray for those who would occupy the desks and seats, including the chair of FSU Chancellor James A. Anderson. Bivalacqua began praying for the FSU campus and specifically for Chancellor Anderson, from the first day she started working at FSU. “In the Bible, it tells us to pray for those in authority so we would lead a quiet and peaceful life. I would always just pray when I was wiping his desk down. I would ask the Lord to bless him that day, to put the right people before him so he could make the right decisions. The Chancellor is the leader of this campus. He holds the lives of these students, God’s children in his hands. I always felt that the least I could do is to pray for him,” Bivalacqua said. “We all play a part on this campus -- not just faculty and staff -- the students, all of us play a part.” Bivalacqua now works as the Assistant Project Manager for Harold Miller in Facilities. She spends some of her time on campus working special projects but also spends time at the Chancellor’s Residence where she does housekeeping and works with Chancellor Anderson’s wife, Mrs. Nancy Anderson, on events. Though she no longer cleans Chancellor Anderson’s office, she still finds ways to pray for him and the FSU campus.

“I may not be able to pray for him at his office but I still pray for him at his home… picking up dry cleaning, the newspaper, whatever he comes into contact with -- that’s my opportunity to say a quick prayer,” Bivalacqua said. Chancellor Anderson learned about Bivalacqua’s prayers for him while she was working at the residence one afternoon preparing for an event. “He came in one afternoon and said he didn’t know what was going on on campus – it was one thing after another and I said I knew what it was – I wasn’t over there. I told him I prayed over his chair every day and nobody’s been over there praying over his chair and things are going haywire,” Bivalacqua said. “He asked me why I prayed for him and I said, ‘You are the head of that campus and you need prayer.’ I think he was in awe that someone would take the time to do that for him. He thanked me and was very appreciative.” Bivalacqua works closely with Mrs. Anderson and said she prays for her as well. She prays for both Chancellor Anderson and Mrs. Anderson individually and for them as a couple. Bivalaqua’s faith plays a huge role in her life and even played a role in her getting a job at FSU. Before working for FSU, Bivalaqua worked as a service manager at Bald Head Island and Seabrook in North Charleston. She moved back to the Fayetteville area shortly before she began working for FSU.

worked on campus so someone told me they were hiring housekeepers. I went online and then went for an interview and they hired me,” Bivalaqua said. “I’ve always enjoyed it. That’s what God blessed my hands to do.” Outside of her work at FSU, Bivalaqua also serves in many positions at her church, FirstFruits Family Ministry. She holds several positions there, including overseeing the doorkeepers or greeters, admin assistant, and she cleans the church. She also serves as a Deacon in the church and works with the Hospitality Team. Bivalaqua has been married for 30 years and has one daughter and three stepchildren. She also has five grandchildren. She doesn’t look at her job at FSU working events or other duties she may have as just a job. She looks at it as a calling. “It is by my faith that I do it. I believe God has called me to be here …It is my faith that allows me to do this job with a spirit of excellence for what is expected,” Bivalaqua said. “I really love my job. It’s never the same and it is always exciting. I really have a heart for the Chancellor and Mrs. Anderson. I love them as my boss, as people, and as my brother and sister.”

“I had gotten saved and gave my life to the Lord and the church I was attending, a few members

Free to

GIVE

Benefiting

SCHOLARSHIPS • PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT • ART PROGRAMS • GLOBAL PROGRAMS. . .

GIVING OPPORTUNITIES

REUNION GIVING

From annual giving to planned gifts, from endowed scholarships to faculty chairs, opportunities for giving to Fayetteville State University are numerous. Your gifts support student aid, faculty research and facilities improvements. They also help programs such as honors, band and athletics. So, whether you’re a student, an established professional or about to retire, there is a giving option that’s just right for you to make a difference at FSU.

A class reunion is a great time for alumni to give back to FSU. Your reunion year provides an excellent opportunity to support the University in a way that is personally meaningful to you. Most reunion giving takes place over a five-year period which is the maximum number of years to fulfill pledges for endowed gifts, there’s no better time than a class reunion year to establish a fund and complete it by the next reunion. For more information please contact YaKima Rhinehart at yrhinehart@uncfsu.edu or 910.672.1287.

MAJOR GIFTS & ENDOWMENTS

Through the years, Fayetteville State University has adapted its curriculum and teaching methodologies to ensure that all of our students receive an education that allows them to be competitive in a changing world. Your investment in FSU helps to ensure that our university and our graduates are continually able to demonstrate strength and potential by sustaining major programs in nanotechnology, leadership and community development, logistics and transportation systems, and public health. For more information please contact Dr. Tamara Holmes Brothers at thbrothers@uncfsu.edu or 910.672.1349.

ANNUAL GIVING

PLANNED GIVING

Funds received through the annual giving campaign are an essential supplement to Fayetteville State University’s current basic operating needs. Because support from the state has decreased over the years, annual gifts allow the university to renovate facilities, upgrade technology, purchase new equipment and provide student scholarships, among other things. Gifts to the annual giving campaign may be designated for a specific college/school/department or they can be unrestricted for use where the need is greatest. In addition, some employers match their employees’ charitable contributions. For more information please contact May Rodriguez, Assistant Director of Development at mrodrig3@unsfsu.edu or 910.672.1681.

Planned giving sometimes referred to as gift planning, may be defined as a method of supporting universities that enables philanthropic individuals or donors to make larger gifts than they could make from their income. While some planned gifts provide a life-long income to the donor, others use estate and tax planning techniques to provide for charity and other heirs in ways that maximize the gift and/or minimize its impact on the donor’s estate. Thus, by definition, a planned gift is any major gift, made in lifetime or at death as part of a donor’s overall financial and/or estate planning. By contrast, gifts to the annual fund or for membership dues are made from a donor’s discretionary income, and while they may be budgeted for, they are not planned. Whether a donor uses cash, appreciated securities/ stock, real estate, artwork, partnership interests, personal property, life insurance, a retirement plan, etc., the benefits of funding a planned gift can make this type of charitable giving very attractive to both donor and charity. For more information please contact Gary Melchiorre, Director of Development/Gift Planning at gmelchio@uncfsu.edu or 910.672.2279.

STUDENT GIVING Some individuals give to FSU while they are enrolled as undergraduate and graduate students. The student giving program supports the annual giving campaign. Participation is optional, but those who do say they feel a greater sense of school pride that results in a tradition of giving that continues long after their matriculation at the university has ended. For more information please contact Clanton Johnson, Director of Advancement Services at cdjohnson02@uncfsu.edu or 910.672.2422. 8

CORPORATE AND FOUNDATION GIVING

Endowed gifts provide ongoing benefits for FSU by earning a market rate of interest while keeping the principal investment intact to fund future years of scholarships, or whatever efforts the donor sought to fund. In some instances, a percentage of the principal is allowed to be used each year. An endowment allows FSU to be less reliant upon volatile funding sources such as government and sponsored programs. Major Gifts and Endowments allow for donors to partake in naming opportunities, those who wish to make a gift in honor or in memory of an individual, may name buildings, rooms, scholarships, professorships, departments and programs. For more information please contact Jalisha C. Pone, Associate Director of Development at jpone@uncfsu.edu or 910.672.1682.

Effective January 1, 2017, Fayetteville State University and the Fayetteville State University Foundation imposed a minimal fee on certain kinds of gifts made to these entities. All private cash gifts are subject to a five percent (5%) gift management fee.

Annual Fund: Supporting FSU’s Needs Now What is the annual fund? The annual fund is an essential supplement to any institution’s operations, and Fayetteville State University is no exception. This source of funding is used to cover the most urgent and immediate needs of the campus to ensure that our scholars receive the best well-rounded collegiate experience possible. Many of the gifts received for the annual fund are unrestricted, allowing FSU to address demanding needs according to our strategic priorities for optimal success.

What does the annual fund pay for? Donors have the option to restrict their support to a specific cause or purpose, such as scholarships or athletics or a certain program. However, unrestricted funds allow FSU to support things such as new equipment in the library for students to study, better resources in classrooms and labs for an immersive learning experience, historical artifacts and art pieces for students to expand cultural understanding, or updated features for campus security and beautification. The list of needs for unrestricted support can be extensive, however every dollar goes towards a critical necessity that will advance the institution’s efforts according to its mission and vision statement, offering students the best experience possible.

the interest earnings. However, the impact has contingency based on the size of the principle as well as the state of the economic market. The annual fund, though, runs July 1 through June 30 each year and allows FSU to take care of the pressing concerns as they come up throughout the year.

How does one support the annual fund? By making a generous donation to the annual fund, supporters ensure that a lack of funding doesn’t get in the way of students’ success. They say there’s power in numbers, and that is certainly true of the annual fund. Most supporters give regularly every year, but there is always a need to grow the number of supporters. Everyone may not be able to give a lot, but everyone can give something. When it all comes together, students’ experiences and lives are impacted and transformed by our supporters’ willingness to donate, year after year. Gifts are received online, by visiting www.uncfsu. edu/ia and clicking “Donate Now” or give on the go by texting the keyword FSU to 41444 on any mobile device. Checks can be made to Fayetteville State University with the memo note as “Annual Fund” and sent to:

Attn: Institutional Advancement

Why is the annual fund important?

Fayetteville State University

Because Fayetteville State University is a part of the University of North Carolina System, it is partly funded by the state. However, that is not enough to offer everything our students need to prepare them for their future. We largely depend on supporters (which ranges from alumni, parents, faculty, friends, and parents) to fund a quality experience for every scholar’s success. Aside from state support, there are two general types of funding structures that FSU depends on: endowments and the annual fund. Endowments are the backbone of the institution’s wealth and is focused on long-term investments because FSU directly benefits from

1200 Murchison Road Fayetteville, NC 28301 Every gift makes a difference and is greatly appreciated by students and faculty/staff alike. For more information on the Annual Fund, please reach Ms. May Rodriguez, Assistant Director of Development, via email mrodrig3@uncfsu.edu or phone, (910) 672-1681.

FSU Hosts Delegation from

CHINESE UNIVERSITIES

With its diverse body of students and instructors in mind, Fayetteville State University’s administration of Chancellor James Anderson is looking beyond the South and into the world at large. “Global cooperation, global understanding is one of the keys to our future in the United States, and we want our students to be global, “said Jon Young, the Provost and Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs at Fayetteville State. On November 8, a delegation of 20 administrators and guests from partner institutions in China was on hand as FSU launched its two-day Global and Intercultural Celebration. The on-campus activities included a Sino/U.S. Presidents Forum followed by a dance performance by Mongolian musicians, singers and dancers in J.W. Seabrook Auditorium. Thursday November 9 brought a Commemorative Deed Signing Ceremony, with the Chinese delegation serving as special guests for FSU’s observance of its 150th anniversary. Guests included Fayetteville State leaders from the past and the present. The event commemorated the school’s establishment on Nov. 29, 1867, as the Howard School. A decade later, the name was changed to the State Colored Normal School and designated as a teacher training institution. Anderson, who has entered his 10th year at the university, called it the first time he could recollect a bilingual scholarly presentation being held at the university during his tenure. “Maybe the first time we ever had one,” he said.

Under Anderson’s leadership, Fayetteville State has strengthened its global partnerships with China, according to Young. The chancellor paid visits to various college campuses in China in 2009, 2012 and 2016, Young said, “For the high priority to get students to the U.S. school.” Each school year, FSU averages roughly 10 to 15 Chinese students among its student population of more than 6,300. “We’re working to increase the number,” he added. Five guest speakers followed Anderson’s opening remarks at the forum, with translators repeating their comments in English: President Guohong Yun of the Inner Mongolia Normal University in China; President Wanyi Wang of the Inner Mongolia Agricultural University in China; President Xingwang Liu of the Baotou Teachers’ College in China; Xuemei Hu, the vice president for Academic Affairs at the Youth College of Political Science in Inner Mongolia, China; and Dr. Jiankui Li, dean of the School of Sciences at East China University of Science and Technology in Hefei, China.

“Practical cooperation between our two universities has achieved remarkable results to accomplish high-quality talent for the future,” Liu said through an interpreter. All five representatives expressed their happiness at being on campus to celebrate the school’s 150th anniversary. “It is encouraging to see campuses that are so committed to excellence,” Anderson said to the forum audience of about 75 people. “The students that we get from there are excellent students.” He especially seemed taken by a line from Hu, during her presentation: “I was struck by Vice President Hu’s comment, ‘That a great ocean can only exist from a convergence of streams.’ And that convergence of streams is FSU and its other partners.” From The Fayetteville Observer

For each presentation, the speaker discussed their own school and how the institution has only enhanced its programs through international cooperation with Fayetteville State and other U.S. colleges. Some spoke of sending instructors and students to study abroad at Fayetteville State.

Damien M. Williams Joins FSU as Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement Damien M. Williams has been named Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement at Fayetteville State University (FSU). The appointment was made by FSU Chancellor James A. Anderson. “I am pleased to have someone of Damien Williams’ caliber and expertise as a member of my administrative team and as a part of FSU’s family,” Chancellor Anderson said. “He brings a wealth of experience in all facets of Advancement operations to include development, public relations, alumni relations, marketing, and other areas. “Most impressive are his credentials as a fundraiser. He has had success at all levels, and he is the ideal candidate to assist FSU with closing out its capital campaign and with implementing future fundraising projects.” 12

Williams has more than thirteen years of successful experience in resource development for higher education, working with teams from the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, Kansas State University, University of California Davis Health System and most recently Regis University. Williams has spent several years working with executive university leadership, served as a college instructor for biology and chemistry, and as a field publisher and sales representative for the McGrawHill Companies. Williams, who is originally from Edmond, Okla., holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s degree in college teaching and student support services from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Okla. He is currently a doctoral candidate in

higher education and organizational leadership at the University of Oklahoma, Norman, Okla. As Vice Chancellor, Williams will lead fundraising, alumni, and marketing and communication efforts, thus broadening the support and visibility of Fayetteville State. He will collaborate closely with members of the Chancellor’s Cabinet, the FSU Board of Trustees and the Board of Directors of the FSU Foundation. “I am excited to join Fayetteville State University at a pivotal time in the University’s evolution – its 150th year anniversary (sesquicentennial),” Williams said. “Fayetteville State University sits at the precipice of increasing its influences in shaping the future of the region, state and beyond.”

STUDENT LIFE

Fayetteville State University Office of Civic Engagement and Service Learning Provided 100,000 Student Service Hours to the Community

The Office of Civic Engagement and Service Learning (CESL) is pleased to announce that, collectively, Fayetteville State University (FSU) service-learning students have surpassed a major milestone, providing 100,000 hours of service to the community (100,289.007 to be exact), as of Summer II Session that ended in August 2017. Since fall 2009, when service learning was officially implemented at FSU, students’ service-hours data have been collected and reported. Service learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities (Learn and Serve America National Clearinghouse).

21,830 this past year (2016-2017). With an administration committed to promoting student engagement and fostering civic responsibility, and an increased number of faculty using service-learning as a teaching pedagogy, the FSU service-learning program is increasingly referred to as a model when compared to an array of other colleges and universities. At FSU, it has been a high impact practice intentionally implemented to develop students’ critical thinking skills and their ability to become community leaders. Service-learning is one of the many ways that FSU students give back to the Fayetteville/ Cumberland/Sandhills community. With over 100 community organization partnerships, the CESL office is able to facilitate meaningful experiences that are mutually beneficial to all parties.

During the past seven years, students’ annual hours of service have increased substantially from 1,940 in the first year (2009-2010) to

Originally established as the Institute of Civic Justice in 2007, service learning was added in 2009 after Dr. Melissa Barlow, FSU Professor

in Criminal Justice and then Director, received a Learn and Serve America grant. This grant provided the foundation for FSU to develop the infrastructure to assist faculty members with integrating service learning into their course curricula. Currently, the Office of Civic Engagement and Service Learning’s mission focuses on two areas—student engagement in civic life and academically based service learning. Dr. Davis, the director, and the staff that includes Melissa Lyon, Tiara (Monique) Broadhurst, and Brittany Merchant Bazemore are to be commended for their coordination and facilitation of service learning for all academic majors.

Student Spotlight:

Mike Wilkes You’ve seen Mike Wilkes at Fayetteville State University football and basketball games. He’s not hard to notice. He’s tall. He has moves that would make any contestant on “Dancing with the Stars” pea-green with envy. He can turn flips and tumble like an Olympic gymnast. And he’s blue. It’s likely that you have passed Wilkes on campus, but didn’t know who he was. He can be quiet and unassuming. Some might even say that he’s a bit timid and shy. If it wasn’t for his 6-8 frame, he just might go unnoticed. One might say that his anonymity is almost reminiscent of that of a superhero. By day, he’s a mild-mannered college student with aspirations of one day becoming a TV cameraman. But when it’s time for an FSU sporting event and he puts on his blue body suit, he transforms into a crowd energizer that makes children scream and Broncos fans get out of their seats.

Wilkes is the Blue Man for FSU athletics. Let’s get to know him a little better.

Where are you from? I was born in Wilson, N.C., but moved to Fayetteville, N.C., at 4 years old. I have 3 sisters and 1 brother. I went to Douglas Byrd High school and graduated in 2008. What was life like for you while growing up? Many people do not know that I came from a good background, but a troubled background. When I say that, I mean I was always getting into trouble but not getting caught. I joined a well-known gang here in Fayetteville where we got into many fights and shootouts. I sold drugs just to make ends meet while working two jobs, because I didn’t want to see my mother struggle with bills.

Cumberland County had a major cut down on school positions and my mother was left with only being a teacher assistant and that cut her pay down to the point where we were struggling to pay bills. Because I wasn’t making enough to help with the major bills, I got a second job and started selling drugs to help. It wasn’t something that I wanted to do, but I had to make something happen. I started getting into more and more gang activity and started losing many of my close friends and relatives. It really took a toll on me to the point where I started getting depressed and having flashbacks. So, I knew I had to make a change and change my surroundings. As I got older I was still losing my loved ones. I became depressed to the point that I attempted suicide twice while being here at FSU. My close friend, who I call my brother, committed suicide on July 9, 2017 and I found out four days later. I felt so lost and my actions and mindset changed. I became a loner, stopped communicating with my peers, and I was having anxiety attacks. I was sitting by myself in the corner every day. I couldn’t sleep and lost my appetite for three weeks. I found a release to get over depression. I put my emotions into songs. I started doing music going by the name “DatBoiReek.” All the songs that I have made have meaning to them and they are about events in my life that I have dealt with.

Tell us a little about yourself: I worked at the Boys and Girls Club (BGC) but before working at BGC, I played professional show basketball with the Harlem Ambassadors, which was like the Harlem Globetrotters but no affiliation. I played three seasons with them and traveled to 45 states and to Canada by playing with the Ambassadors. Different organizations such as Boys and Girls club, Kiwanis Club, Lions Club, United Way etc., brought us out to their communities to raise money by coming out to the schools speaking to the kids/teens about

the importance of education, life, right and making the right decisions. Basically, we shared our testimonies with everyone and how we changed and got over our obstacles.

Why did you choose FSU? I chose FSU because I wanted to stay home to get my education and I got tired of bouncing around from city to city and state to state. Once I got off the road from playing basketball, I was taking summer classes at Sandhills Community College and I kept saying to himself how much I wanted he wanted to get back into a four-year HBCU and that if I get accepted into FSU, I will not go back on the road to fulfill my dream of being a pro ball player. I remember calling my dad asking him if I was making the right choice and my dad told me: “Basketball will always be there, go get your education.” I never listened to my dad advice, but something in the back of my mind was saying LISTEN. Once summer school was over I sent my transcript in and got a letter back from FSU in like 2 weeks stating I was accepted. So, I sent a group message to my team telling them my options. They were excited for me because I was going back to get my degree, which everybody on my team had, except for me.

his work without them knowing the identity of the individual.

What has been one of your most memorable moments? I won my first award

ever, which is the 2016-2017 Coach’s Award. That was the greatest feeling ever. I wasn’t expecting that at all. I went to many elementary and middle schools to do community service work dressed as the mascot. Dr. Miller started getting plenty of requests asking her to bring the mascot. The word that principals were sharing about the mascot is that he is funny and energetic.

What are your plans? My plan is to become a camera operator for ABC 11 News or any news station in North Carolina, open my own boys mentoring program, tryout for the Charlotte Hornets and the Greensboro Swarm, which is the new National Basketball Development League team, and marry my beautiful girlfriend.

What is your major? I am a Mass Communication major. My favorite professor is Professor Hawkins. Where is your favorite place on campus? I like to hang out in Dr. Miller’s office (cheerleading coach Dr. LaWanda Miller) and The Mac Lab. Dr. Miller’s office allows me to sit, relax and clear my mind from time to time. I like the Mac Lab because I love working on my editing skills.

How did you become the Blue Man and what do you like most about it? It was Dr.

Miller’s idea for me to be the “Blue Man” because I was too tall for the Mr. Bronco suit. I told myself since I entertained over 100-plus cities and 45 states, why not try to entertain at home, so I started asking around who do I speak with about being the school mascot. They told me Dr. Lawanda Miller and they escorted me to her office. She gave me an audition date and I came in to the audition which was at the Blue and White football scrimmage. I took over. I was doing backflips, dancing, showing my inner child and just having fun. Right then and there, Dr. Miller and Cheer Phi Smoov fell in love with me. I like the excitement and entertainment I bring to Fayetteville State and the community. It’s an amazing feeling knowing, and hearing people mention the mascot and

ATHLETICS

Fayetteville State University Wins Its first-ever CIAA Women’s Cross-Country Championship Aleena Cruz named Athlete of the Year and Inez Turner Named Coach of the Year Director of Athletics Anthony Bennett wanted the FSU’s women’s athletic programs to make an impact in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) and the region. Inez Turner was hired to take over crosscountry and develop a women’s indoor and outdoor track & field program. Institutional history was made today as Fayetteville State University captured its first CIAA Women’s Cross-Country Championships. “Isn’t this awesome!” said Head Coach Inez Turner. “I told the girls from day one that they are going to be the team to beat. Two months in this and taking athletes from scratch, athletes who have never run cross country before, and here we are winning the CIAA Championships. It’s just truly a blessing.” Freshman Aleena Cruz (Knighdale, NC) finished second overall in a season-best 5-kilometer time of 19:38.8. The individual runner-up was also named the 2017 CIAA Cross-Country Female Athlete of the Year. Cruz finished 1.8 seconds behind the champion, Imani Travis of Winston-Salem State, who finished in 19:37.7. “Honestly, this means everything. One, because I didn’t know that there was an award. It’s really nice to hear my name and know that my hard work paid off this season. “Though I didn’t win, it was the best finish that I’ve ever had, because I gave it my all. The last 100 meters was the toughest part, and I fell out at the end. It was the toughest part but it was the best part because it showed that I put everything in and I can’t walk away saying it was an easy race because I gave it my all.” Turner’s efforts in building a championship team in two months were recognized by the conference as she was named the CIAA Women’s Cross-Country Coach of the Year. Her tenth overall honor while coaching within the conference. “The first nine [Coach of the Year Awards] was great, but this one is sweet!” said Coach Turner. “This means a whole lot for me. It is not only for me, I feel good for the athletes. I love it for our athletes that we are building.”

All-CIAA Honors was handed to the top 15 finishers. Joining Cruz on the All-CIAA team is fourth place finisher Destiny Stevons (Freshman – Durham, NC) who also turned in a season-best 20:29.3. Not far behind her was fellow freshman Carisha Leonard (Rocky Mount, NC) who finished sixth in 20:43.1, another season’s best. Sophomore Morgan Gaither (Merrit Island, FL) was a few seconds behind Leonard, crossing the line in seventh with a time of 20:46.1. Taniya Petty (Freshman - Greensboro, NC) missed all-conference honors by seven seconds but her 16th place was vital for the Broncos winning score of 35 points. She finished in a time of 21:55.3.

Coach of the Year, Inez Turner

Winston-Salem State University finished second with 62 points. The Rams’ runners finished 1st, 3rd, 9th, 23rd, and 26th. Saint Augustine’s was third with 75 points. Richard Prudente-Bernal (Junior - Fayetteville, NC) received All-CIAA Honors with his ninthplace finish in the 8-kilometer championships. His 29:40.6 season-best time helped the Fayetteville State University’s men team rank tenth overall. Jaylaan Poe (Laurinburg, NC) finished 33rd overall in 31:42.4. Collin Nordan (Albemarle, NC) scored 63 points with his time of 36:06.3. Virginia State won the meet with 39 points followed by Virginia Union (84) and Saint Augustine’s (103). FSU finished with 243 points, above Winston-Salem State (254) and Johnson C. Smith (353).

Athlete of the Year, Aleena Cruz

ATHLETICS

FSU Bowling Team Starts Season Off with Perfect 12-0 Record The Fayetteville State women’s bowling team kicked the 2017-18 season off with a bang. The Broncos finished the CIAA Event I with a perfect 12-0 record against Southern Division teams. Devondra Bazemore (Fayetteville, NC) won the Southern Division Highest Average award with a 198.8 score. Veronica Santiago (Hope Mills, NC) bowled the division’s highest game with a 248 against Livingstone on the second day of action.

Starling also had stellar performances during the second day of action. She had three 200+ matches with a 229 against JCSU, a 212 against LC, and a 207 against Shaw. Santiago also had a 231 against the SAU in addition to her event high.

Fayetteville State wrapped up the first day of play with wins over Livingstone (911-546), Saint Augustine’s (887-414), Shaw (929-615), and Johnson C. Smith (952-556). Savannah Starling(Fayetteville, NC) and Brittany Worthy (Durham, NC) had a total of two 200+ games. They both finished with a 222 score against JCSU, while Worthy rolled a 210 against LC and Starling a 200 versus Shaw.

Fayetteville State had a total of 14 matches where the ladies bowled a 200+ score. Three Broncos finished with averages close to 200. Bazemore led all with the 198.8. Starling finished with a close second with 198.25. Santiago had a 193.714.

Paige Brayboy

The Broncos had a 971-621 win over the Falcons, a 1059-501 win over the Blue Bears, an 843-564 win over the Bears, and an 850-680 win over the Golden Bulls.

Veronica Colon-Santiago

Lola Neal

Savannah Starling

Brittany Worthy

Fayetteville State University NCAA Report On November 14, 2017, Fayetteville State University received the NCAA Division II Committee on Infractions decision resulting from the University’s self-reporting, to the NCAA, allegations pertaining to its women’s basketball program and former women’s basketball coach. The Committee on Infractions found that the former head women’s basketball coach recruited 2 transfer student-athletes who were academically ineligible to compete, practice and receive financial aid. She was also found to have knowingly arranged impermissible tuition payments by a booster for both student-athletes and to have acted unethically when she provided false or misleading information to the University when questioned about these payments. The former intramurals director, who was the husband of the former women’s basketball coach, was found to have engaged in unethical conduct when he permitted a booster to pay University expenses incurred by the 2-ineligible student-athletes. The former intramurals director, who was the husband of the former women’s basketball coach, was

found to have engaged in unethical conduct when he permitted a booster to pay University expenses incurred by the 2-ineligible student-athletes. The University was found to have failed to monitor its women’s basketball program when it did not provide adequate rules education for boosters, and when it did not monitor aspects of the women’s basketball program. The Committee on Infractions imposed the following penalties: • Public reprimand and censure for the university. • Two years of probation from Nov. 14, 2017, through Nov. 13, 2019. • A $2,500 fine. • Disassociation of the booster during the probationary period. • A three-year show cause period for the former women’s basketball head coach, from Nov. 14,

2017, through Nov. 13, 2020. During that period, any NCAA member school employing her must show cause why she should not have restrictions on athletically related activity. •A two-year show cause period for the former director of intramural athletics from Nov. 14, 2017, through Nov. 13, 2019. During that period, any NCAA member school employing him must show cause why he should not have restrictions on athletically related activity. • A vacation of all records in which ineligible student-athletes competed. The NCAA released a Public Infractions Report on November 14, 2017. The report is available at http://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/media-center/ news/fayetteville-state-failed-monitor-its-athleticsprogram The University accepts the findings and the penalties issued by the NCAA and plans to move forward and work to provide an atmosphere of compliance with 17 all NCAA regulations and bylaws.

ATHLETICS

FSU Wins the Southern Division Championship, but fails to win the CIAA Championship Football Game Fayetteville State University ended its 2017 football season with a 42-19 loss to Virginia State University in the CIAA Championship game. Stevie Green (Washington, NC) was named the Runner-Up Most Valuable Player with 22 rushes for 144 yards and one touchdown. Virginia State scored 21 points in the first quarter and maintained its first-half momentum leading into halftime. Fayetteville State scored on its first drive of the second half with a 37-yard pass from Richard Latimer (Charlotte, NC) to Curtis Burston III (Brooklyn, NY). The Broncos trailed 21-7 with 12:21 left in the third quarter. The score capped a three-play 48-yard drive which took all of 37 seconds.

After a quick scoring response from Virginia State, which put the lead back at 21 points (28-7), Fayetteville State put a together another quick scoring drive that ended with Stevie Green breaking into the end zone from 15 yards out. A missed point-after-kick left FSU trailing 28-13 with 5:36 left in the third quarter. The drive was another three-play series, but it encompassed 66 yards in 36 seconds. A couple of defensive miscues by the Broncos gave way for VSU’s Trenton Cannon to score with 2:36 left in the third quarter and 7:56 left in the fourth. Although Virginia State held a 42-13 lead, the Broncos show resilience and didn’t quit. Devin Knudsen (Fresno, CA) threw a 22-yard pass into the end zone to Burston as the game expired.

Head Coach Richard Hayes

As Head Coach Richard Hayes corralled his team in the locker room, he had only one message. “Keep your heads up, work hard in the offseason and we will be back.” Richard Latimer finished the game 9-of-18 in passing for 154 yards. Knudsen was three of seven for 40 yards and a score. Burston had five receptions for 89 yards and two touchdowns. The Broncos are now 3-2 in CIAA championship games. Fifteen years ago, FSU won its first CIAA Football Championship game in 2002. The Broncos defeated Bowie State University, 17-14. The 2002 CIAA Defensive Player of Year Brian Holiday was honored today as a CIAA Football Legend representing Fayetteville State University.

Actor Hill Harper Speaks at Fall Convocation, FSU Kicks off 150th Celebration Fayetteville State University celebrated Fall Convocation and kicked off its Sesquicentennial on September 14, 2017.

She was followed by greetings from Cumberland County Commissioner Dr. Jeannette Council and Fayetteville Mayor Nat Robertson.

“During this celebratory time, join us in the fruitful events tracing our exceptional progress and distinguished record of achievement for the past century and a half,” Fayetteville State University Board of Trustees Vice Chairwoman Vedas Neal said. “We hope you are as proud and as excited as we are.”

“This year the community celebrates Fayetteville State University’s 150th birthday,” Robertson said. “We couldn’t be more proud of FSU.”

Neal spoke after the academic processional, posting of the colors, the national anthem and a welcoming by Chancellor James A. Anderson. 20

Hill Harper, a renowned actor, author and activist, gave the convocation address. He received his bachelor’s degree from Brown University and law degree from Harvard University. He was presented with the Chancellor’s Medallion and

To the Class of 2021, “This is a celebratory occasion. We are talking about 150 years. I hope that you’ll be politically engaged and hold this institution to its creed.” ~ Hill Harper

was presented with a gift by the Epsilon Zeta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Harper is a member. After the closing remarks for the convocation, the Sesquicentennial Opening Ceremony began. Fayetteville State began as a school to educate black children two years after the Civil War ended. Seven black men paid $136 for two lots of Gillespie Street to create what was known as the Howard School in 1867. The North Carolina General Assembly voted to provide funds to create a teaching college to educate black teachers. The Howard School was chosen to be the site and its name was changed to the State Colored Normal School. In 1908, the college moved from its Gillespie

Street location to its current location on Murchison Road. Over the years, the college transformed into a regionally accredited college and offered many programs in addition to teaching. In 1969, the college’s name was changed to Fayetteville State University and in 1972, it became a constituent institution of The University of North Carolina. The opening ceremony consisted of the singing of the Sesquicentennial Anthem, composed by Dr. Marvin Curtis, with additional lyrics by Dr. Denise Payton. The lighting of the Sesquicentennial Flame was follwed by the reading of the Sesquicentennial Proclamation by Student Government Association President Elliott Jackson and senior Brittany Jennette.

The university unveiled the Monument to Leadership and a proposed special gateway into the university immediately after the convocation ceremony. Faculty, staff and students followed the chancellor out to W.T. Brown Drive, where the special gateway structure will be placed. The Monument to Leadership was designed by Vandorn Hinnant. Dr. Bertha Miller lead the dedic ation of the monument and noted that the stainless stell 20 foot structure with granite inserts represents the transformation of Fayetteville State throughout its 150 years. Throughout the year, the university’s fivemember historical projects committee will take on a number of projects on topics including sports, role of the military, fraternities, sororities and civil rights. 21

Aaliyah Tate Selected to Attend the Spotify Opening Act HBCU Conference in New York City Aaliyah Tate has been selected to attend The Opening Act HBCU Conference in New York City on November 2nd â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 5th, 2017. Out of thousands of applicants across the nation, Tate was selected in September 2017. A senior from Goldsboro, NC majoring in Spanish and Mass Communications, Tate has been active throughout her years at Fayetteville State University (FSU). Tate has been a member of the Hispanic Club, Black Millennium Modeling Club, and Student Government Association. She has also served as Miss Black and Gold 20152016 for the Epsilon Zeta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and Miss Fayetteville State University 2017. The Opening Act HBCU Conference is a threeday experience, welcoming eager and talented undergraduate talent attending Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs), with an interest in the music-tech and media industries. Throughout the experience, students will hear from executives and leaders within the music, tech and media industries. They will see first-hand what a career path in these fields looks like, and gain valuable insight into how to achieve career goals

FSU Nursing Students Study Abroad in the Dominican Republic Earlier this summer, a group of Fayetteville State University Nursing students got the experience of a lifetime when they, along with two professors, went to the Dominican Republic to study pediatric nursing. The 10 students traveled to the Caribbean country to study pediatric nursing as part of their required training for obtaining their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Travel abroad programs are not new to FSU, but this is the first time students from the nursing program have participated. Dr. Stephanie Hodges, Assistant Professor in the FSU School of Nursing, teaches the pediatric nursing course in the summer and was the driving force behind getting this program started and approved. "A proposal for the travel abroad experience was submitted over a year in advance. We decided to study pediatric nursing in the Dominican Republic in lieu of doing clinicals locally. We started in Santo Domingo and then went on to San Jose de Ocoa – at the mountain regions of the island where we spent the next six days traveling to different provinces within the island. We met doctors and nurses and worked with various clinics within the rural communities and in the hospitals there,” Hodges said. The students were accompanied by Dr. Hodges and Christy Swinson, a lecturer in the Nursing Department. The group worked with the Association for the Development of San Jose de Ocoa (ADESJO), a charitable organization that provides aid to the impoverished and underserved in the San Jose community.

“The students were able to observe healthcare on very different levels from what they are used to observing in the United States. They were able to visualize and be a part of that in a 3rd world country. At one point, students were in the surgical suite observing a c-section and the lights went out. They pulled out their cell phones at the request of the surgeon, to help shine light during the procedure. It went off three times in the hospital while they were there,” Dr. Hodges said. “The common themes students identified during their experiences were lack of access to healthcare, lack of resources, and lack of education of the people of the Dominica. It was educational and impressive for both students and faculty.” Tiffany Whitman was one of the students who went on the trip. She said the trip was extremely valuable in learning more about nursing by getting one-on-one time with nurses and doctors and being able to observe and experience the numerous issues and diseases that people in the Dominican Republic encounter. “This study abroad experience in the Dominican Republic for my pediatric clinical rotation was definitely a clinical that I will never forget. I was able to visit different facilities with the pediatric population such as hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and local clinics in the Dominican Republic. Attending different facilities with the same population helped me see the broad range in a nurse's scope of practice and better understand what specialty I would like to go into,” Whitman said. “This opportunity also helped me find my place as a student nurse and gain confidence in my practice. I would recommend this opportunity to any upcoming student nurse.”

There were 10 FSU nursing students that went on the trip. All of them senior-level students. Eight of the students graduated in December and two will graduate in May. Following graduation, they will take the national licensure examination to become licensed to practice as registered nurses. The students who went on the trip had to apply for a spot. The process included an essay about why they wanted to participate and what they expected to receive from the trip. The students who were selected for the trip had to cover their own expenses. The cost of the trip was approximately $3200 per student which included meals, airfare, and other travel expenses. The trip was planned through Education First Tours. Hodges is currently planning another study abroad trip for the summer of 2019. “As an educator, the trip was very rewarding to see the reactions of some of our students. We talked openly about how we take our situation and health care for granted. As a health care provider, it also opened my eyes to what we have here in the United States. The differences in our nutrition, clean water supply and things like toilet paper and soap that we take for granted. In some places that is not provided. It was very humbling,” Hodges said. “The program meshes perfectly when combining real- life global cultural experience related to healthcare with what students learn … and what better way to widen their lens than to travel abroad.”

Julian Capel Receives Faculty Mentor Award form NCAA Division II National SAAC First time Fayetteville State faculty recipient Fayetteville, NC – Fayetteville State University Director of Student Engagement Julian Capel has been selected by the NCAA Division II National Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) as the 2016 Dr. Dave Pariser Faculty Mentor Award recipient. Capel will be honored for this accomplishment at the Division II Faculty Mentor Award reception on Friday, January 20, 2017, at 5:00 p.m. during the 2017 NCAA Convention at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. The Division II Dr. Dave Pariser Faculty Mentor Award was created by the Division II SAAC to honor an institutional faculty member who has demonstrated dedication, support, and guidance to student-athletes and the institution’s athletics program. The award was posthumously named for the inaugural winner of the award in 2013, Dr. Dave Pariser of Bellarmine University. “The dedication from Mr. Capel to the students and studentathletes at Fayetteville State has gone above and beyond any job description and made him the perfect candidate for this year’s award,” said Lisa Rogers, representative for Division II Governance at the NCAA. “His nomination acknowledged his energy and

passion for promoting the college experience and encouraging personal development of Fayetteville State student-athletes. Capel had his nomination submitted by Senior Woman Administrator and Assistant Athletics Director, Dr. LaWanda Miller and the Fayetteville State SAAC. “It’s an awesome feeling to know that the FSU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee nomination ended up number one out of the over 312 Division II colleges across 45 different states,” exclaimed Dr. Miller. “We had a worthy subject, and Mr. Capel winning this award puts the CIAA, Fayetteville State University, and the SAAC efforts on the map nationally and it certainly makes us feel so, so proud.” Capel and a guest received invitations to accept the award at the 2017 NCAA Convention. The NCAA will provide accommodations for roundtrip transportation to Nashville, two nights’ lodging and a daily per diem. “It is an honor to receive the Dr. Dave Pariser Faculty Mentor Award,” said Capel. “I am fortunate to be in a position of servant leadership and I take great pride in mentoring our student-athletes.”

Fayetteville State University Senior Alicia Williams Honored for Community Service Fayetteville State University student Alicia Williams has been recognized for outstanding leadership and service by North Carolina Campus Compact, a statewide network of colleges and universities with a shared commitment to civic engagement. Williams is a recipient of the network’s Community Impact Award, which honors one student leader at each school. Williams is one of 23 students selected by their campus for the 2017 honor, joining more than 250 college students recognized by the network since the award was first presented in 2006. Williams has been a leader in community and campus service during her time at FSU. As a certified peer health educator, wellness ambassador, orientation leader, and member of the national Pan-Hellenic Council, Williams has worked for the physical and emotional health of her peers. As volunteer coordinator for the university’s Campus Kitchen Project and a co-chairperson for the 2018 Fayetteville-

Cumberland County CROP Hunger Walk, she has fought hunger and improved nutrition in the community. Last semester, Williams won a grant from Youth Service America to boost a food backpack program at a local elementary school. Williams is a senior sociology major from Hope Mills, North Carolina.

that share a commitment to civic and community engagement. The network was founded in 2002 and is hosted by Elon University. North Carolina Campus Compact is an affiliate of the national Campus Compact organization, which claims 1,000 member schools representing nearly 2 million college students.

Williams and other award recipients were honored at the Compact’s annual CSNAP student conference, held this year on November 18 at Winston-Salem State University. The event convened more than 230 students and staff from 28 campuses in the network. The conference included student-led workshops on diverse community engagement topics and featured remarks by local “change agents” representing different public service pathways. North Carolina Campus Compact is a statewide coalition of 37 public, private, and community colleges and universities

FSU Assistant General Counsel Elected President of Pre-Law Advisory Group Benita Powell, assistant general counsel at Fayetteville State University (FSU), has been named presidentelect of the Southern Association of Pre-Law Advisors (SAPLA). SAPLA is an organization that brings together pre-law advisors and law school admissions staff in an effort to provide everyone in the law school admissions process with up-to-date information and expert guidance. Powell will serve a two-year term. Powell, who has been FSU’s assistant legal counsel for more than 9 years, is advisor for the school’s PreLaw Society. Since 2012, 47 pre-law advised students have been accepted to law school. This means that 88.6% of all pre-law advised students were admitted to one or more law schools. Among the schools are Michigan State College of Law, Elon University School of Law, Villanova University School of Law, Howard University School of Law, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law, North Carolina Central University School of Law, and University of South Carolina School of Law. A native of Reidsville, N.C., Powell earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from Duke University in 1995. She earned a Juris Doctorate from Washington University of St. Louis School of Law in 1998, and a Master of Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2005.

FSU Hosted 5th Annual Boots to Suits Conference Thousands of service members transition out of the military each year, making the jump to civilian life. Often, veterans’ experience and skills are difficult to quantify to companies and hiring agencies. Fayetteville State University’s Annual Boots to Suits Conference took place in August serves to bridge the gap between service members and hiring managers by educating agencies and companies on the benefits that veterans could have on their organizations, which benefits both the hiring agencies as well as the veterans. In 2011, there were 859,000 veterans from all wars and service periods that were without jobs. The State of North Carolina alone had a job shortfall of 515,000 (pre-recession levels). In support of workforce development and veteran employment, the FSU Department of Social Work established the conference in 2012 and it has grown each year. This year they have partnered with the Non Commissioned Officers Association, military.com, and have several major sponsors. Dr. Mark Marquez, Assistant Professor in the Social Work Department at Fayetteville State was the Planning Committee Chair for the last three conferences. “Boots to Suits was originally set up to prepare hiring managers to educate them on what military personnel could bring to the private sector,” Marquez said. “Several years ago a lot of military needed jobs but people didn’t know what knowledge skills and abilities could be transferred to the civilian world. This conference has evolved from not just educating hiring managers but now has a job fair component to it.” The mission of the conference is to provide hiring managers and human resources professionals with the strategies of recruiting today’s competitive military talent, to discuss the value of employing veterans and their

spouses, and to encourage them to adopt military-friendly hiring practices. It also serves to provide veterans the opportunity to focus on transitioning to a different job or career through a hiring fair where employers can speak to veterans one-on-one to learn the unique skills and value they can add to a workplace. “Service members bring a lot of organization and self discipline,” Marquez said. “They bring a fundamental good work ethic which can fit into any skill knowledge set area.” This year’s conference had two components – the first was for the vendors to learn about the military and what veterans can offer their companies and organizations. The second component was for veterans which included training in areas such as how to present themselves, how to interview, and military.com was there with computers to help work on and upload resumes. The second day of the conference was the hiring fair. The Boots to Suits Conference targeted to military service personnel of all ranks and specialties but anyone affiliated or associated with the military was welcome. The conference took place on Monday and Tuesday, August 14-15, 2017. It was held at the Iron Mike Conference Center on Fort Bragg. More than 65 vendors were presenting, including law enforcement agencies, universities, numerous companies and government agencies among others. “Service members, talk to employers who understand what they really have to offer. For the vendors, there are service personnel ready to positively impact your organization with little lead-up time because they are so trainable,” Marquez said. “By understanding each other, both service members and vendors can be successful in this experience.”

Fayetteville State to Build New Health Facility Fayetteville State University will be home to a new Health and Wellness Center after the North Carolina State Legislature paved the way for the new facility by passing the 2017 budget which includes $5.5 million for the new facility. The project, funded by the state, includes $5 million for construction of the property and $500,000 for equipment. Wesley Fountain, Director of Constituent and Community Relations at FSU manages the university’s legislative priorities at the state and federal levels. He has been working with state representatives to get the project into the current state budget which was passed in June. “Cumberland County Representative Marvin Lucas introduced the bill as a formality and to let the rest of the legislation know what the intentions were. Then it became part of the budget,” Fountain said. “We worked closely with leadership and the legislative delegation that represents this area and they worked

with the Legislature leadership to have it included in the budget.”

facility to be limited to faculty, staff, students and alumni.

Now that the budget has passed and the funding has been approved for the facility, the next step is for the FSU Board of Trustees to determine the location and to also begin looking at plans for the facility. Eventually, they will vote on and approve the location and plans. One potential location that is being considered is the open field behind the Institutional Advancement Building.

“Most campuses across the University of North Carolina system already have these facilities. It is going to be a great thing here! This facility will be a great recruitment tool for potential students,” Fountain said. “Just knowing that they have a place on campus where they can go to work out, feel safe, and have all the equipment that they would find at their local YMCA or gym. A lot of our faculty and staff walk around campus and may or may not have memberships to other places. Now, on lunch break, they can get a workout in.”

The current ideas for the facility will include a physical fitness complex, a full basketball court, workout equipment, between four and six studio rooms for fitness classes such as Yoga and Zumba. The facility is also expected to have a juice bar where students, faculty, and alumni can come to get a snack, lunch, or other healthy items. There are also plans for an outdoor track.

The project is currently expected to take about two years to complete. The planning phase should take about one year and a one year construction timeline is expected.

Right now, the plan is for the use of the

Academics Affairs

Three Retired Faculty Named Professor Emeriti The Fayetteville State University Board of Trustees granted Professor Emeriti status to three of the institution’s most respected and prominent retired faculty. • Dr. Annie M. Chavis was an outstanding faculty member at FSU for 26 years. During this time, she was selected 6 times by her peers as Teacher of the Year in social work, honored by the city of Fayetteville’s Human Relations Commission with the Inez Easley Award for Excellence in Teaching, the Wilberforce University Stellar Education Award and in 2015 the prestigious UNC Board of Governors Excellence in Teaching Award. Chavis served as the Director of the Field Education for the MSW program and was the lead program developer for the approved BSW program. As a scholar, Chavis has authored/co-authored 9 articles, 5 book chapters, and made over 60 presentations at various community and professional conferences. In addition, she served as the FSU Faculty Representative at Large to the UNC Faculty Assembly, member of the FSU Hearing and Reconsideration Committee and a member of the Chancellor’s Reading Club Committee. Chavis has been active in many community outreach activities, serving on the boards of the Fayetteville Junior League, North Carolina State Employees Credit Union (Fayetteville), Methodist University Social Work Advisory Board, the Cumberland County and City of Fayetteville’s Joint Senior Citizens Advisory Board, former Executive Board member at Large of the N.C. Chapter of the National Association of Black Social Workers, and member of the City of Fayetteville Personnel Review Board, to name a few. Chavis is a graduate of FSU with an undergraduate degree in sociology (Cum Laude) and Ed.D., in Educational Leadership. She becomes the first FSU alumni to be granted this status.

• Dr. Ella T. Keller had contributed 34 years of excellent service to FSU in teaching, service and scholarship. For over twenty years, she served as the coordinator of the BA and BS degree programs in Sociology. As coordinator, she also was instrumental in developing the MA in Sociology and was a pivotal member of the committee who developed the Master of Social Work.

• Dr. Peter L. Valenti had contributed 34 years of distinguished service to FSU in teaching, service and scholarship. In addition to his duties as a faculty member, he served as chair of the Department of English (7 years), Director of the Teaching and Learning Center, Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

Keller has been recognized countless times by her colleagues as an outstanding faculty member, advisor, researcher and teacher in the Department of Sociology and universitywide. Beyond FSU, she was honored with the North Carolina Sociological Association (NCSA) Contribution to Sociology Award, in 2016 with the NCSA’s Lifetime Contribution to Sociology Award and in 1997 the prestigious UNC Board of Governors Excellence in Teaching Award.

As a scholar, Valenti has published 3 books and more than 25 scholarly publications. He has be honored as the FSU Teacher of the Year (2001), awarded the Outstanding Civilian Service Medal by the U.S. Military Academy-West Point and in 1996 the prestigious UNC Board of Governors Excellence in Teaching Award.

As a scholar, Keller authored/co-authored 5 articles and made over 30 presentations at various professional conferences. In addition, she established the Sociology Club and Alpha Kappa Delta, International Honor Sociology Society for students. Keller has served on nearly all of the major university faculty related committees such as Tenure and Promotion, Honors and Awards, Faculty Senate Academic Affairs Committee, and SACS Institutional Effectiveness Committee. In the local community her outreach activities, include serving on the boards of the Fayetteville/Cumberland County Retired Volunteer Programs Advisory Board, Fayetteville Vocation Center, and the Cumberland County Advisory Council for Goodwill.

Valenti is the only FSU professor ever to be selected on two occasions by the U.S. Military Academy at West Point to serve as Distinguished Visiting Professor and to receive 4 National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowships. In his retirement, Valenti is professionally active. He is emeritus members of the Modern Language Association and the Nathaniel Hawthorne Society. He also is working on two manuscripts for publication.

UNC System Unveils New Branding

With the new year, the UNC System is taking on a new logo and communication strategy to better represent the breadth and depth of the power of the 17 state-supported institutions that are unified under the UNC System banner. Fayetteville State University is one of those 17 distinct and complementary public education institutions, individually remarkable and collectively extraordinary, designed to meet the demands of a growing economy and changing world. All are bound by a singular charge: to keep the state of North Carolina moving forward. From Cullowhee in the mountains to Fayetteville in the Sandhills to Wilmington on the coast, the UNC System has forged an academic legacy through generations of exceptionally educated citizens and leaders. The new logo celebrates that diversity of place by creating the borders of the state with 17 lines, and it honors the state with the NC and star taken from the flag. System institutions include: Appalachian State University, East Carolina University, Elizabeth City State University,

Fayetteville State University, NC A&T State University, NC Central University, NC State University, UNC Asheville, UNC-Chapel Hill, UNC Charlotte, UNC Greensboro, UNC Pembroke, UNC Wilmington, UNC School of the Arts, Western Carolina University, Winston-Salem State University, and the NC School of Science and Mathematics. As a System, these 17 institutions can tackle challenges that are too complex and address needs too urgent to be solved by any one institution alone. Together, these institutions can serve North Carolinians of all backgrounds, and elevate a state, a nation, and a world. With this new look, logo and unified message, the UNC System will celebrate the successes of our students, faculty, researchers, and alumni, and expand its efforts to ensure every North Carolinian has access to the transformative opportunities and benefits higher education offers. Learn more at northcarolina.edu/system.

ALUMNI

MARQ THE NEW

QUELLE. STEREOTYPE

FSU Graduate Finds Success in Fashion Industry Marquelle Turner-Gilchrist graduated from Fayetteville State in 2009. Originally from Johnsonville, NC, Turner-Gilchrist currently resides in Doha, Qatar for his job as a Buyer and Commercial Manager for the country’s largest department store, sponsored by the Royal Family and the Ali Bin Ali Group. After not wanting to go to college at all, TurnerGilchrist took a chance and attended Fayetteville State and has since carved out a successful career in the fashion industry. He has been able to travel and see the world and has come a long way from his small town that had one stop light. While growing up, Turner-Gilchrist had his heart set on becoming a famous singer and joked that he didn’t need a college degree to learn how to sign autographs. His mom encouraged him to go to college and after a visit to FSU, he decided to take a chance. TurnerGilchrist graduated from FSU with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. While at FSU, Turner-Gilchrist was a part of several groups including the Honors Program, the Marketing Club, Volunteer Chair of Phi Beta Lambda, and Fashion Coordinator of Black Millennium Modeling Club, among others. “FSU’s impact on my life is lasting and still permeates in many of the things I do today. While at FSU, I learned the importance of civic engagement, building meaningful relationships, and understanding that credibility is built through deeds and not words. I’m forever grateful for those four years I spent at FSU because they were also my formative years as I transitioned from a teen to a young man,” TurnerGilchrist said. Those years at FSU helped give Turner-Gilchrist the confidence and drive to go after his dreams. Following graduation, he worked in retail while he took time to explore his passions and career opportunities to better understand if he wanted to work in the fashion industry. While working at Saks Fifth Avenue in Raleigh, NC as a Brand Ambassador, he was mentored by the Marketing Director. He ended up attending a lecture she was doing as part of a graduate program in luxury management at NC State. “I decided to go along and fell in love when I found out the graduate program was a dual-degree program split between NC State University and SKEMA Business School in Sophia Antipolis (South of France). I enrolled into that program in the Fall of 2013 and finished the program after I completed a research thesis called “Men Do Wear Menswear” at the end of the summer of 2014,” Turner-Gilchrist said. He graduated from NC State with a Master of Global Innovation Management with a focus on Global Luxury Management and from SKEMA Business School with a Master of Science in Global Luxury Management. 31

Assistant Buyer role and there was a huge learning curve,” Turner-Gilchrist said. “I had to learn to retail from the corporate side and all of its functions while learning the culture of a new company and new city. I struggled a lot, but HUGO BOSS had a culture that encouraged curiosity and someone was always available to help when I had questions.” Following his studies, he moved to upstate New York for a brief period but was unhappy in his job and was eventually fired. Now looking back, he said it ended up being one of the best things that happened to him. He had always wanted to live in New York City and he finally took a chance. “I moved to New York City with no money and no true job prospects but with a lot of ambition and hope,” Turner-Gilchrist said. “I reached out to a connection from LinkedIn who, at the time, was the Senior Vice President of Merchandising for HUGO BOSS (HB). He agreed to sit and meet with me to give me a bit of insight to break into the industry. He later became my mentor.” Eyeing an assistant buyer position at HB prior to his meeting, he prepared for the meeting by researching the company in detail with the hopes that the meeting could turn into an interview. It did and the interview turned into an opportunity to transition into buying. Landing the position as assistant buyer at HB ended up being the easy part. He had an uphill battle to learn the trade of buying. “Many buyers go through an executive development program which teaches them how to be a proper buyer. The typical career track from someone on this path is Merchandising Assistant or Buying Coordinator, Assistant Buyer, Associate Buyer or Junior Buyer, Buyer, Senior Buyer, Divisional Merchandise Manager (Director), Head of Buying or Buying Manager, and then Vice President of Merchandising. I went directly into an 32

Turner-Gilchrist moved to Doha in October 2016 after being recruited by the Ali Bin Ali Group through LinkedIn. He is now the Buyer and Commercial Manager for Men’s RTW. He is on a team that’s opening four Galeries Lafayette department stores across three countries (Qatar, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia). His role is to help develop and execute the men’s experience. Turner-Gilchrist is flourishing in his position at Ali Bin Ali. “The most exhilarating thing for a millennial is to have a very broad creative license. I’ve been given the ticket to bring my experience and taste level to this project and I love that,” Turner-Gilchrist said. “I work with a very bright team that focuses on innovation and merging the experiences of NYC, Paris, and London into a marketspecific format.” Turner-Gilchrist has also worked on several separate fashion projects throughout his career, some which have been featured in publications. In 2015 he created a project called The New Stereotype (TNS), which highlights and celebrates the many diverse layers of black life in America through fashion, photography, film, and events. After the project was released in July of 2015, it garnered a lot of digital media attention. The project was highlighted several times by Blavity, Black Enterprise, XO Necole, For Harriet, Essence, Centric TV, Empire Life Magazine, and was also highlighted on the national talk show The Real during their “Hot Topics” segment. Turner-Gilchrist was also featured by BET

on their first 30 Under 30 list, GQ UK, American Vogue, GQ South Africa, British Vogue, Fashionbeans, Bevel, and Carolina Style Magazine for his style. Turner-Gilchrist is drawn to the fashion industry and continues to be inspired by the vast culture and diversity around him. “I grew up very poor and to this day I am still quite shy. Style allows me to express my creativity without having to put up much effort or to say very much,” TurnerGilchrist said. “I see style as an art form and in the depths of my heart, I consider myself a creative.” Turner-Gilchrist’s personal website, www. marquelleturner.com, where he promotes his style and fashion highlights his motto: PRAY.EAT.STYLE. “A few years ago, a social media friend of mine, Lauren, commented that I was always posting about God, food, and my style. She said, “you’re like the movie, Eat Pray Love, but more like Eat Pray Style,” TurnerGilchrist said. “Those words stuck with me and will for the duration of my life. Those words speak to the basis of my life and the things I value and enjoy. I believe in having a solid relationship with God, I love to eat although gastronomy isn’t my forte, and it’s important to have an intimate relationship with your style and what you choose to put on your body.” Turner-Gilchrist’s career has allowed him to travel throughout the world and experience other cultures. He has traveled to Paris, London, Milan, Florence, Rome, Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon, Dubai, Kuwait, and Copenhagen, among other cities in the U.S. and Europe. No matter how far he travels or how far away he is from North Carolina, Turner-Gilchrist hasn’t forgotten where he came from or the role that FSU has played in his life. “FSU means family to me. I haven’t been back for a few homecomings but social media has made it much easier to stay connected to my FSU family,” TurnerGilchrist said. “We are a global community and we are authentic in our support of each other.”

Homecoming 2017 33

â&#x201E;˘

The Blue & White ALUMNI

Greetings Fellow Broncos!

Upon welcoming 2018, I’ve taken the opportunity to reflect upon the amazing ways in which I’ve been blessed to interact with you over this sesquicentennial year. You see, a 150th celebration is nothing without the chance to spend it with those who mean the most to us. Our alumni, our students, and our founders have made it possible for us to continue to build upon the rich legacy that is Fayetteville State University. 150 years ago, our founders envisioned a people who would become self-sufficient by empowering themselves with an education that would ensure investment in, and the uplift of their community. Today, our campus is larger, more diverse, and far reaching than they may have ever imagined. FSU is on the move, and as we count down the months to the end of our sesquicentennial year, I look forward to connecting with you even more. In February, as always, we will head to Charlotte to support our team in the CIAA tournament. Please look for us, and take

the opportunity to share your Bronco memories with us. Our sesquicentennial Founders’ Day will be one to remember, and we want you to mark your calendars now, so that you can join us on April 5th. Hill Harper kicked off our academic year with a dynamic address during our Fall Convocation, and we are excited to hear the wisdom shared by our surprise speaker for Founder’s Day 2018. We will continue the celebration into that weekend with an alumni leadership panel, and scholarship donor reception. Our office will post details about this weekend of events as the time draws near. Lastly, we look forward to celebrating our Golden Broncos at the 50th anniversary of their graduation from our alma mater during commencement. I truly do hope to see you at one of these events, please be sure to make yourself known, so that I may personally say hello, and thank you for all that you’ve done for our alma mater. I am grateful for the many ways you’ve sown into the life, and legacy of the university. As we close out the year, I invite you to help us make the close of the Campaign for Fayetteville State University a success by making a financial investment in the university today. We’re marching toward the finish, and we need YOU – BRONCO to help us reach that 25 million dollar threshold. Can we do it??? Attitude Check?? YaKima S. Rinehart, ’96 Senior Director of Alumni Affairs

Greetings Bronco Nation: Blessings to my fellow Broncos as we begin another year together. I greet you with Bronco Pride in the name above all names; Jesus the Christ.

25,000 reflections of such alumni advocacy and support.

How often we feel that what we do goes unnoticed. Sometimes we even feel that we must be living in a vacuum. Such, however, is not the case regarding your special support to our Association and our Alma Mater. Alumni support and devotion to FSU continues to be paramount in moving our Alma Mater forward. Together, we give back to move forward. Together, we continue to move FSU forward. Together, we will secure FSU’s future. Together, we have reached our pledged ‘Capital Campaign’ goal. Together, we are FSU. Together, we must continue to give. On behalf of the entire Bronco Nation, I would like to take this means to say, ‘Thank You’ for all that you do for FSU.

As we approach the celebration of our Sesquicentennial, we give homage and thanksgiving to God for our Founders. We are grateful for the vision they had for our existence. As we look toward the future, visions of great promise appear on the horizon for FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY.

The Fayetteville State University National Alumni Association was established and exists to advance Fayetteville State University to and among the general alumni population, and to serve as advocates for the University. There are over 25,000 Bronco Alumni in the world today. If Fayetteville State is to continue to be a model for student success, community service, and educational transformation, then we must continue to be at least 34

Good luck and best wishes as we seek that promise of greatness. May the peace of God be with Broncos everywhere.

I am always, “Proud to Be!” Raymond Privott

Mr. James Paige

and captain of the football team, and captain of the basketball team. He was offered a four-year athletic scholarship to Fayetteville State University, which he accepted with gratitude and excitement. At Fayetteville State University, Mr. Paige played football and baseball while serving as Sports Editor of The Broncos’ Voice, the student newspaper. He graduated in1956 and did further study at Kean State University in Union, New Jersey; the University of Georgia at Athens; and the Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science in Atlanta, Georgia.

and serving as a Tuskegee pilot; and his brother, Arlander Paige, graduating from FSU in 1959.

Attending and graduating from Fayetteville State University was a family affair with his mother, Ruth Paige, graduating from FSU in 1934; his uncle, Linwood Daniels, graduating in 1941

Mr. Paige also served on the FSU Board of Trustees from 1995 to 2003, and was named a Trustee Emeritus in 2004.

Dr. John Griffin, Jr., a former member of the FSU Board of Trustees and the first AfricanAmerican Superintendent for Cumberland County Schools, died December 28, 2017.

an educator. He graduated from E.E. Smith Senior High School. He went on to earn his Bachelor of Science Degree at North Carolina A&T University, where he became a member of the Alpha Nu Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. in 1955. He then earned his Master of Arts from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, his Education Specialist Degree at East Carolina University, and his Doctorate in Education from South Carolina State University.

students before integration. His work as an educator did not go unnoticed. In 1990, he was named Wachovia Principal of the Year for the State of North Carolina.

Dr. Griffin was born on November 12, 1938. He was the only child of the late John Randolph Griffin, Sr. of Sumter, South Carolina and Carrie Bell Cox Griffin of Sanford, North Carolina. A native of Fayetteville, North Carolina, Dr. Griffin attended Newbold Elementary School on the campus of Fayetteville State University (FSU). Those early years of opportunity to study in science labs alongside college students helped shape his desire to become

Dr. Griffin began his career in public education in 1958 as a teacher/coach at Washington Drive Junior High and was promoted to the assistant principal of the school. In 1965, he was named principal of Edward Evans Elementary School. In 1971, he returned to Washington Drive Junior High as principal. In 1973, Dr. Griffin was named principal of E.E. Smith Senior High School, one of only three high schools in the county that served black

Mr. James Paige, Trustee Emeritus, died on December 6, 2017 in Raleigh, N.C. Mr. Paige was born in 1935 in the historic St. Agnes Hospital on the campus of St. Augustine’s University and moved to Fayetteville, N.C., at an early age to live with his grandfather, the late M.D. Daniels. Mr. Paige moved to Snow Hill, N.C., and graduated from Greene County High School in 1952 where he was quarterback

Dr. John R. Griffin, Jr.

Fallen Broncos Ronnie Battle `74

Ira Grady `94

Lester Brown `70

Charlie Harris `87

Kennis Crumpler `81

Thelma Wall `49

Mr. Paige was actively involved in various capacities of the FSU National Alumni Association for more than 60 years to include chairman of the national convention, member of the homecoming committee, and president. During his tenure as president, the association grew from less than 500 members to more than 1,000, from 23 chapters to 38 and raised more than half million dollars.

Mr. Ronnie Battle Mr. Ronnie Battle, a member of the the Kinston-Lenoir Chapter of FSU Alumni Association, was a 1974 Bronco. A public viewing was held Thursday, January 11, 2018 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. at Mills Funeral Home, 1300 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Kinston, NC 28501. A public viewing and floating reminiscing service was held Thursday January 11, 2018 from 5:30 - 7:00 pm at White Rock Presbyterian Church, 514 Thompson Street, Kinston, NC 28501. A celebration of life was held Saturday, January 13, 2018 at United American Free Will Baptist Tabernacle, 1011 Dr. J.E. Reddick Circle, Kinston.

The New Bern High School/J.T. Barber High School Athletic Hall of Fame inducted Mr. Alphonza Kee Mr. Alphonza Kee - Kee played basketball for New Bern from 1988-92. After high school, Kee played for Lamar Community College and Fayetteville State University. Kee was the men’s head coach at Fayetteville State for 17 years until this season. Kee takes a lot of pride in shaping young men and is a motivational speaker. Kee is now the boys’ head coach at Cape Fear High School. 35

The Detroit News Former FSU Basketball Star Named Michiganian of the Year By Michael Hodges

right decisions, not the wrong ones.” Bellinger, 50, is the recipient of the Angelo Henderson Community Commitment Award. Despite having a stepfather he came to love and admire, Bellinger never knew his biological father, a fact that caused the young man much grief. Building Better Men — now a program division of Detroit’s Matrix Human Services, where Bellinger is an assistant director — was born out of an adolescent’s despair. “At 12,” Bellinger said, “I knew if I was able to do something positive in my life, I’d start something for young men who felt like me.”

Odis Bellinger is in the dream business. For 26 years, he’s spent virtually all his free time mentoring adolescent boys in Detroit with his program, Building Better Men. His goal is to get kids, many of whom don’t have fathers active in their lives, to value themselves and visualize their hopes and ambitions. “He always said, ‘Write it down. Put it on your refrigerator,’ ” said Walter Waters, 33, in security at Detroit Community High School who was in the program in elementary school. “As a kid growing up in the inner city,” Waters added, “Odis helped me make the

With a master’s degree in counseling from Wayne State, Bellinger created a volunteer after-school program that focused on literacy, conflict resolution, and — doubtless the big draw for boys — basketball. “The game,” explained Bellinger, “teaches teamwork, and how to win and lose.” Youngsters are encouraged to brainstorm and articulate a career goal, after which Bellinger matches them with positive role models in that field. “They need to see what they want to become,” he said. But Bellinger’s not interested in fantasy careers. “We do not want ‘athlete’ or ‘rapper,’ ” he

said. “If you’re blessed to achieve those things, great — but you need to have a backup plan.” Bellinger’s work has won notice. Last year he traveled to Washington to accept the President’s Volunteer Service Award at the White House. Kelvin Wheeler Jr., who now works in special education, called Bellinger “positive and consistent,” and recalled life lessons profound and small. “Mr. Bellinger did things like teaching us how to tie ties,” he said, adding with a laugh, “and he always made sure the boys wore belts so their pants didn’t sag.” For those who know him best, Bellinger — a product of Detroit’s Benedictine High School — was always bound for something good. His mother, Yvonne Bellinger, recalled a child with unusual drive. “Odis was ambitious,” she said, “and always looked out for other people. So I thought he would go a long ways.” Odis Bellinger Age: 50 Occupation: Assistant director, Matrix Human Services; founder, Building Better Men Education: Bachelor’s degree, Fayetteville State University; master’s degree, Wayne State University Family: Two daughters Why honored: Recipient of the Angelo Henderson Community Commitment Award for helping young men craft their dreams and build better lives

ALUMNI

Fayetteville State Mourns the Loss of Former Coach

Jeff Capel, Jr.

Alumnus and former Fayetteville State University (FSU) basketball coach Jeff Capel, Jr., died November 13. “The Fayetteville State University family is saddened by the passing of one of its most respected alumni and former coaches,” said Chancellor James Anderson. “Coach Capel and his family are held in high regard by FSU, its alumni, and supporters and he will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his parents, wife, children, and family members during this difficult time.” Jeffrey Capel, Jr. – a native of Southern Pines, NC – was diagnosed in March of 2016 with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Capel played basketball at Fayetteville State University for one year before joining the Army for four years. He later returned to earn a health and physical education degree.

until 1992-93. FSU finished his augural season 7-20 and improved to a 1413 in his second. The Broncos finished 22-8 in his third year at the helm and 20-9 in his final. FSU qualified for post-season play in 1993 and loss a close 79-62 NCAA Division II Regional Round to Alabama A&M. Capel continued his career at North Carolina A&T State University for a season and seven seasons at Old Dominion University. He spent a total of 12 years on the collegiate level and compiled a career record of 201-162 before joining the NBA as an assistant coach in 2004 with the Charlotte Bobcats.

Coach Capel started his career at Fayetteville State University from 1989

HBCUs Make America Strong:

U HBC

THE POSITIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF

FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY

Fayetteville State University is a valuable economic engine in itsfor community, FSU Valuable Economic Engine Community Region Fayettevilleand State University generating substantial economic returns year after year. The benefits flow to Fayetteville State University’s of course, enter workforce with FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (Decembergraduates, 6, 2017) dollar spentwho’ll by FSU and the its students produces off campus—and that effect is multiplied over skills andthat vastly enhancedState earning prospects. But,benefits, as a landmark – A sharper study has found Fayetteville positive economic generatingstudy $1.25 in time. Each dollar 1,737spent creates far more than a commissioned by UNCF—HBCUs Make America Strong: The Positive Economic Impact University (FSU) is a valuable economic engine initial and subsequent spending for its local and ofdollar’s worthJobs of productive activity as it moves in the Fayetteville regional economies. Historically Blackcommunity, Colleges andgenerating Universities—makes clear, the benefits also flow to the through local, regional and national economies. $169 Million substantial economic returns annually. that are connected to Fayetteville State University. local and regional economies The total employment impact of FSU is See below for the completeEconomic FSU Economic The landmark study, HBCUs Make America 1,737 jobs for the local and regional economics. Report Fact Sheet. To view the Impact complete HBCU The presence of an HBCU means a boost to economic activity, on and off—and even $3 Strong: The Positive Economic Impact of Of this total, 874 are on-campus jobs, and 863 Economic Report, go to: https://uncf.org/ well beyond—campus. Stronger growth. are Stronger communities. More jobs. And a Billion Historically Black Colleges and Universities— off-campus jobs. programs/hbcu-impact. Lifetime more talented commissioned by theworkforce. United Negro College Fund’s (UNCF’s) Frederick D. Patterson As it relates to total lifetime earnings, the Located inEarnings Fayetteville, North Carolina, Research Institute—shows that the economic FSU plays acase: major role in the Fayetteville State University (FSU) is a public The study’s key findings (based on 2014study data)showed makethat a persuasive benefits of HBCUs extend beyond the students economic success of its graduates by enhancing university offering degrees at the baccalaureate, they Total educate.Economic They’re equally important to the their education, training, and leadership skills. master’s, and doctoral levels. Students enjoy Impact: $169 Million regions and communities that HBCUs have The 1,148 FSU graduates in 2014 can expect nationally-ranked degree programs, a variety State $169 million in billion total economic for its and regional economies. served forFayetteville more than 100 years.University generates total earning of $3 over their impact lifetimes. of local class choices, excellent teaching, and small That’s percent more than they could with professors have outstanding This estimate includes direct spending by 60 Fayetteville State University onexpect faculty, classes employees, academicwho programs and The study’s key findings,bybased on 2014 without a college degree. credentials. a member of the University of operations—and students attending the institution, as well as the follow-on effects of thatAsspending. data, shows that FSU generates $169 million in North Carolina system, and with more than 6,300 Everyimpact dollar for spent by Fayetteville State University and its first students produces benefits, generating $1.25 total economic its local and regional students, FSU provides students an exceptional, This study is the of its kind. It setspositive forth economic initialincludes and subsequent spending its benefits local and regional economies. Communities and regions hoping to fosteraaconnection more economies.in This direct spending by forthe college experience; to HBCUs produce in detailed, dollars- affordable, FSU on faculty, academic programs career aspirations; and a close-knit, supportive and-cents terms. It shows that moneyaspent in, component robustemployees, and diversified economic climate find HBCU-connected spending critical of that effort. and operations – and by students attending the around, and by the nation’s HBCUs and their community centered on students’ success. institution. The study also found that every students drives economic growth both on and HBCU

Total Employment Impact: 1,737 Jobs

Fayetteville State University generates 1,737 jobs for its local and regional economies. Of this total, 874 are oncampus jobs, and 863 are off-campus jobs. For each job created on campus, another 1.0 public- or private-sector job is created off campus because of Fayetteville State University-related spending. Looked at in a different way: Each $1 million initially spent by Fayetteville State University and its students creates 13 jobs.

Total Lifetime Earnings for Graduates: $3 Billion Fayetteville State University plays a major role in the economic success of its graduates by enhancing their education, training and leadership skills. A college degree opens the door to economic prosperity through greater employment and earnings potential. In fact, the 1,148 Fayetteville State University graduates in 2014 can expect total earnings of $3 billion over their lifetimes—that’s 60 percent more than they could expect to earn without their college credentials. Or viewed on an individual basis, a Fayetteville State University graduate working full time throughout his or her working life can expect to earn $986,000 in additional income due to a college credential.i i

This estimate reflects incremental earnings averaged across degree and certificate programs.

#HBCUStrong

UNCF.org/HBCUsMakeAmericaStrong

Terry College of Business Selig Center for Economic Growth Underwritten by Citi Foundation

HBCUs Make America Strong:

U HBC

THE POSITIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF

FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY

Fayetteville State University is a valuable economic engine in its community, generating substantial economic returns year after year. The benefits flow to Fayetteville State University’s graduates, of course, who’ll enter the workforce with sharper skills and vastly enhanced earning prospects. But, as a landmark study commissioned by UNCF—HBCUs Make America Strong: The Positive Economic Impact of Historically Black Colleges and Universities—makes clear, the benefits also flow to the local and regional economies that are connected to Fayetteville State University. The presence of an HBCU means a boost to economic activity, on and off—and even well beyond—campus. Stronger growth. Stronger communities. More jobs. And a more talented workforce.

Fayetteville State University 1,737 Jobs HBCU

$3 Billion Lifetime Earnings

$169 Million Economic Impact

The study’s key findings (based on 2014 data) make a persuasive case:

Total Economic Impact: $169 Million Fayetteville State University generates $169 million in total economic impact for its local and regional economies. This estimate includes direct spending by Fayetteville State University on faculty, employees, academic programs and operations—and by students attending the institution, as well as the follow-on effects of that spending. Every dollar spent by Fayetteville State University and its students produces positive economic benefits, generating $1.25 in initial and subsequent spending for its local and regional economies. Communities and regions hoping to foster a more robust and diversified economic climate find HBCU-connected spending a critical component of that effort.

Total Employment Impact: 1,737 Jobs Fayetteville State University generates 1,737 jobs for its local and regional economies. Of this total, 874 are oncampus jobs, and 863 are off-campus jobs. For each job created on campus, another 1.0 public- or private-sector job is created off campus because of Fayetteville State University-related spending. Looked at in a different way: Each $1 million initially spent by Fayetteville State University and its students creates 13 jobs.

This estimate reflects incremental earnings averaged across degree and certificate programs.

#HBCUStrong

UNCF.org/HBCUsMakeAmericaStrong

Terry College of Business Selig Center for Economic Growth Underwritten by Citi Foundation

1200 Murchison Road Fayetteville, NC 28301 www.uncfsu.edu

SPRING OPEN

HOUSE FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY at

March 24, 2018 9:00 am - 1:00 pm

• Meet students, faculty, and staff • • Take a campus tour • Explore life as a Bronco! •

uncfsu.edu/admissions/openhouse f

Admissions.FSU

FSU_Admissions

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