SUMMER 2013 VOL. 6 NO. 3
Alum ni Magazine
A Decade of Success
ar e
ASU’s Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership, Policy and Law:
T a he Na H tio one na y l S Be en ez sa tio n!
M A G A Z I N E
CONTENTS FEATURES: Editor Dr. John F. Knight Jr.
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AS I SEE IT
Managing Editor Danielle M. Kennedy
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ASU’s Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership, Policy and Law
A Decade of Success
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2013 President’s Tour
“Take a Closer Look at ASU”
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Spring Commencement
More Than 500 Degrees Conferred
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The Class of 1963
Golden Memories and Changing Times
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The Center for Leadership and Public Policy
Building Worldwide Bridges
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The Honey Beez Gain National Recognition
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Hornets Play First Black and Gold Game in The New ASU Stadium
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Athletics Report
A Championship Season
University Editor Lois G. Russell Consulting Editor Hazel Scott Copy Editors Katrina Williams Dana Vandiver Staff Writers Timothy C. Ervin Tina Joly Contributing Writers Deonshay Danson May Donnell Duane Lewis (Sports Information Director) Photographers David Campbell Te’Darius Lewis (Student Photographer) Layout and Design Haley Cumbie McQuick Printing Editions of ASU Today are available at www.alasu.edu/asutoday. To subscribe for weekly updates, visit www.alasu.edu and click on the link “Sign up for our email newsletter.” ASU Today Magazine is published by the Office of University Publications. Items should be mailed to the attention of ASU Today Magazine, Office of University Publications, Alabama State University, P.O. Box 271, Montgomery, AL 36101–0271. ASU is committed to preserving our earth. If you already have a copy of this magazine, please share this one with a friend or recycle it. Return the duplicate address labels to us so that we may clean up our mailing lists, keep costs low and be environmentally friendly. Thank You.
DEPARTMENTS Focus on Academics Focus on Student Achievements Alumni Notes Alumni News Campus News Development News
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ON THE COVER: Dr. Jeffrey Langham is a 2007 graduate of ASU's doctoral program in Educational Leadership, Policy and Law. Langham serves as the superintendent for the Elmore County School system, one of the largest and fastest-growing school systems in Alabama. He also is the 2013 recipient of the Alabama/Classworks Superintendent of the Year award, given by the School Superintendents of Alabama (SSA) and Classworks, an SSA Premium Business Member.
FROM THE EDITOR
John F. Knight Jr.
“...there will stretch out before you an ever-lengthening, ever-ascending, ever-improving path.” - Winston Churchill
Each quarter, I look forward to reading stories for the newest edition of ASU Today. As I completed my review of these pages, handwritten words scribed on a nowcrumpling piece of paper, seemed almost audible, peeking out from the stack of papers on my desk: “Every day you make progress. Every step may be fruitful. Yet, there will stretch out before you an ever-lengthening, ever-ascending, ever-improving path. You know you will never get to the end of the journey. But this, so far from discouraging, only adds to the joy and glory of the climb.” – Winston Churchill ASU Today has always been a place to share great news of what’s happening with our campus and stakeholders each day. There is so much to tell that these few pages could never truly do our story justice. Each edition, we labor to decide what to chronicle and share; and as I heard those words sing in my head, I was reminded that sometimes it’s also okay to share the struggle. I have been at ASU more than 30 years now, and it has been an honor to witness this institution transform through space and time into something that even our nine brave founders likely did not imagine. I cannot begin to explain how proud I am to have been on this road for so long. But I must tell you that the challenges that we have faced in recent months are without doubt the most daunting of my career, and for the first time —- in a long time — it feels much less like a journey and more a mountain to climb. This edition includes great news of the success in our Ph.D. programs; international partnerships; national recognitions and awards; our growing impact through community and public policy initiatives; and, our commitment of more than $2 million in scholarships to advance academics, education and opportunity. Still, for each one of these bright stories, there are fierce battles for funding and resources, and daily struggles for sustainability that could also be recounted. Though we share news of recent championships, a successful spring football game and a promising season in our new campus home, we could also tell the challenges that our athletic programs face with rising regulatory standards for our Academic Progress Rate (APR). Thankfully, the NCAA recognizes and acknowledges that resources for our athletic programs, when compared to the seemingly endless resources of peer-giants in Division I, severely limit the ability to assess performance fairly on a standard scale. The restoration of post-season eligibility for all our sports and other important boosts ensuring fairness in competition has come as a result. The unique nature of our institutional mission and its inherent responsibility to protect access to quality education for all makes us an easy target for misguided media coverage that unfairly diminishes the success of our student-athletes in classrooms each day. Still, we wholly accept the challenge to exceed APR standards, and we forge ahead with a renewed commitment to build first-class athletics programs by building first-class student-athletes who excel both on and off the field. It is my hope that as you turn these pages filled with the promise of our institution’s progress, that you also take a moment, if only a brief pause, to appreciate the tireless work and effort that our students, faculty, staff and others invest each day to accomplish the important milestones that bring these pages to life. Our institution is no stranger to the rigors of an “ever-lengthening, ever-ascending, ever-improving path,” and we remain encouraged by the fullness of this journey. So, ASU will continue to transform today’s challenges into tomorrow’s achievements, just as She has done for the last 146 years. There are many miles to go on this journey that never ends, but we’re excited to share the joy and glory of another season at ASU. Happy Climbing,
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AS I SEE IT
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William H. Harris
“The right way is not always the popular and easy way.” - Margaret Chase Smith
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During my career, I have had the privilege to count among my friends numerous individuals who directly affected the future of our nation. One such person was a man named Jesse Steinfeld. Dr. Steinfeld was a research scholar on cancer and was passionate about the impact of smoking on the development and spread of the disease. Jesse was what I would call a pioneer as it related to matters of public health. In 1969, President Richard M. Nixon appointed Steinfeld Surgeon General of the United States. One of his most highly publicized and ultimately historical actions as Surgeon General was to place the first message on cigarette packages warning about the hazards of smoking. His action did not gain him a great deal of popularity at the time; but he did what he felt was right as the chief health officer for our country. He was applauded by some for his courage and vilified by others who felt he was invading their privacy. I spoke to Jesse about his decision on several occasions during the early 1980s in Augusta, Ga., when he was president of The Medical College of Georgia during my presidency of Paine College. I came to share his passion about the dangers of smoking, both direct and secondary effectives, and hoped someday to be able to join the crusade to rid the nation of smoking and, hopefully, the ravages of cancer. I found myself in a similar position recently regarding the same issue, when on July 31, I issued an executive directive for the University that resulted in news reports both statewide and nationally. Back in May, I recommended to the Board of Trustees the enactment of a campus-wide smoking ban. That recommendation was well-received by the members of the Board, and they are working on the policies associated with the ban; however, I felt very strongly that some immediate action needed to be taken. The executive order regarding the smoking ban was no spur-of-the-moment decision, but rather it was based primarily on Goal 5 of the Vision 2020 Transformation Plan: “To develop and maintain the physical campus so that the University is a productive, pleasant place to work, study and live.” As we plan the future of this great University, consideration must be given to the quality of life of those who work and study here. Thanks to Jesse Steinfeld and the subsequent public information campaigns about smoking, most of us are aware of the associated health hazards. I would hope that the ban would encourage both workers and students to initiate efforts to “kick the habit.” As a matter of fact, a few days after the order was issued, one employee actually hugged me and said, “Thank you, Dr. Harris; you saved my life.” She has since reported that she has been able to cut back considerably on the number of cigarettes she smokes each day and that she is taking the stairs to her office instead of the elevator. That’s one of the goals of this ban: preserving the quality of life of those who “work, study and live” at Alabama State University. Our University is not alone in its efforts to establish a smoke-free environment. Because the executive order was announced during an open meeting of the Board of Trustees, news reporters have researched and written subsequent stories detailing the surprising number of Alabama universities and public facilities that have similar bans, as well as the growing list of those bans yet to be implemented. As I see it, these actions are a long time coming; and while they may not be completely popular, they are necessary for the greater good. For ASU, the ban is the first step towards encouraging healthier lifestyles among all of us who are members of the Hornet Family. It is our goal to have all of us committed to the idea of a “Healthy Hornet Nation.” n
A Decade of Success ASU celebrates another milestone this fall with the 10th anniversary of the first class of
the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership, Policy and Law (ELPL). The decade has been one of great success for the program’s administrators, professors and graduates.
ASU Today salutes the ELPL program for its contributions to the legacy of Alabama State University and to the betterment of education in Alabama and across the nation.
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The Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership, Policy and Law By Timothy C. Ervin and Lois G. Russell
From Left: ELPL graduates Marcus Vandiver, administrator, and Tony Thacker, director, with the Alabama State Department of Education, stand with Patience Oranika, who is currently enrolled in the ELPL program and is a specialist with the department.
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W When James Plenty decided to pursue his doctoral degree, he looked to Alabama State University. As a matter of fact, he moved from Huntsville to Montgomery just so he could devote himself full time to ASU’s doctoral program in Educational Leadership, Policy and Law (ELPL), a program that is known to be both rigorous and highly competitive. “My mother is an educator and was familiar with some of the graduates of the program who had nothing but wonderful things to say about the quality of education and information offered in the program,” said Plenty. “So, I just had to be a part of it.” Plenty is a member of Cohort 10 and was chosen by the program’s professors to serve as a doctoral fellow. “I am excited about the level of learning that occurs in this program. It has been a challenge to me as a student, and it’s also been very rewarding to participate in the dialogue and the instruction that occur in the ELPL program. It has been rigorous; but it’s been pleasingly rigorous if one can imagine an
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academic program being such,” Plenty added. This year, the ELPL program celebrates a decade of success. Seventy eight students currently are enrolled at various levels of the program and
program — hire faculty and staff, provide space for classrooms, lecture halls and laboratories and to make improvements to some research aspects of ASU’s Levi Watkins Learning Center.
and Law was a key component of the transformation initiative. “At its inception, the doctoral program was designed to add measurably to the overall quality of the institution by attracting faculty
“The program can be described in three words: rigorous, challenging, and rewarding,” - James Plenty Dr. John Gooden (left) speaks with James Plenty who is currently enrolled in the doctoral program.
76 students have been “hooded” with their doctorates in education since the first five graduates walked across the stage on May 6, 2006.
ELPL History The fully funded doctoral program was established from the 1995 Remedial Decree in the historic Knight v. Alabama desegregation lawsuit. It was destined to be the first such program at a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in Alabama and one of only a few educational leadership doctoral programs in the country. More than $10 million was used to set up the
“When we went back to trial in Knight v. Alabama in 1994, we did so with a clear understanding and determination that what we were doing could wholly revolutionize Alabama State University,” said Interim President William H. Harris, who was ASU’s president at the time of the Knight v. Alabama decree. “Success could not be measured by a few dollars here or a new facility there: success would be measured by making ASU a different University. To accomplish this intended transformation, there had to be a bold expansion of academic programs.” Harris said the doctoral program in Educational Leadership, Policy
and students who would bring a higher level of research to the University. Such a development would build upon the significant legacy of teacher preparation upon which the University was founded and would provide the basis for extending doctoral level research into other areas of knowledge,” added Harris. Once the program received accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges in 2003, a three-man team was selected to launch it: Dr. Robert H. Beach, professor and program coordinator; Dr. Ronald A. Lindahl, professor; and Dr. John S. Gooden, associate professor. Continued to page 6
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ELPL Continued from page 5 “ASU wanted a degree program that would serve the community, particularly the Black Belt, and this would put a doctoral degree program at an HBCU, because neither Alabama A&M University nor ASU had them,” Lindahl said. But the vision for the program reached beyond its location at an HBCU. “We didn’t want to build an HBCU program; we wanted to build a fully integrated one at an HBCU,” Lindahl said. “I was a little unsure if we could do that in Montgomery because of the city’s unfortunate history, but I think we accomplished that very well.”
Dr. Lee Vardaman For Lee Vardaman Jr., earning his doctorate in Educational Leadership, Policy and Law from Alabama State University helped him gain a promotion. When he started the program, Vardaman was senior director of Human Resources for Troy University in Troy, Ala. Now, he is associate provost for Academic Support at Troy. Vardaman was originally attracted to ASU’s ELPL program for its design to meet the needs of working adults. “In order to advance my career, a doctorate was required; but I wasn’t able to stop working full time,” he said. Vardaman received baccalaureate and master’s degrees from the University of Alabama. He has high praise for the quality of ASU’s doctoral program. “Once I began the program, I quickly learned that the faculty and staff in the ELPL program were outstanding and possessed impressive credentials and reputations. It has been my pleasure to recommend the ELPL program to numerous individuals seeking to earn a doctorate,” Vardaman added.
Success Story
“I measure the success of the program by the success of our graduates,” said Gooden, who is the ELPL program coordinator. “Our graduates have achieved success at some of the top levels of education administration. I also measure success by the graduates’ continued support of the program. They actually have become our recruiters. They not only sell the program to others, they also support the program through their time and efforts, serving on dissertation committees and supervising internships.” The success of the program also is based on a number of other factors, including the significant percentage of applications received each year, the comparatively high percentage of graduates and the impact on
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FOCUS ON
Academics Department of Visual Arts Receives Accreditation By Tina Joly
The National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) Commission on Accreditation has granted associate membership to Alabama State University’s Department of Visual Arts. The move means that all of the departments within the College of Visual and Performing Arts are now fully accredited. NASAD is the national accrediting agency for art and design-related disciplines. Dr. Tommie (Tonea) Stewart, dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts, said the accreditation benefits current and prospective students. “This is an extremely positive step for our students. They are guaranteed an education that supports the highest standards in higher education. The national accrediting body for visual arts is putting its stamp of approval on the educational standards provided by Alabama State University in visual arts,” Stewart said. Dr. Leon C. Wilson, interim provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, said the accreditation is another step in the University’s quest to be the best. “Having another one of our programs accredited places Academic Affairs and the University one more step in line with its Vision 2020 goal of being one of the premier comprehensive and diverse institutions in higher education in the State of Alabama,” Wilson said. “To receive this status after undergoing a rigorous quality assessment process by external evaluators reaffirms our commitment to excellence and integrity.” NASAD establishes national standards for undergraduate and graduate degrees and other credentials. n
University College Embraces New Delivery Model By Timothy C. Ervin
University College is one of Alabama State University’s oldest academic units. For years, it has been considered a home away from home for new and transfer students who take most of their prerequisite core classes in University College upon entering ASU. The College does not offer degrees; however, it prepares students for courses and activities in their selected majors.
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Focus on Academics Continued from page 7 Beginning this fall, University College will embrace a new model — one that is designed to enhance the first-year experience. ASU’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously during a May 10 meeting to restructure University College. The decision followed a proposal to support a change in the delivery model of the academic unit. In the new model, many faculty members in University College will be placed in degree-granting programs. The change means that faculty will have a chance to interact with their colleagues and students in their majors from their first year at ASU until their degree completion. Dr. Sharron Herron-Williams, interim associate provost for Academic Affairs, said the new model will help increase student retention and graduation rates, enhance students’ content knowledge within the subject-matter fields and strengthen research collaboration between faculty and students. “Students will be able to be advised and have direct contact with faculty and advisers in their majors, go through their orientation classes, participate in workshops and seminars designed for first-year students and receive high levels of academic support through academic support labs and tutorial programs,” Herron-Williams said. Dr. Evelyn Hodge, dean of University College, said she welcomes the change. “University College will continue to work with ASU’s earliest enrollees
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Malawian President Joyce Banda stands with ASU’s director of Admissions and Recruitment, Freddie Williams, during a meeting in Washington, D.C.
through the freshman orientation program, where students learn about the rich legacy and history of the University and how to be successful as they transition from high school to college,” Hodge said. In addition, Hodge said University College will continue its partnership with the degree-granting colleges, Student Affairs, the Levi Watkins Learning Center and other academic units that assist students in achieving their academic and professional goals. “University College models are found on most major campuses throughout the United States, and all have the same mission of helping students succeed in higher education,” Hodge said. “We look forward to providing experiences, programs and activities that will aid the University in helping students reach academic milestones and become great future ambassadors for the University.” n
Partnerships with Africa Boost International Student Enrollment By Timothy C. Ervin
Alabama State University’s enrollment of international students continues to increase, most recently through the creation of new partnerships with countries in Africa. Freddie Williams Jr., director of Admissions and Recruitment, recently met with Malawian President Joyce Banda in Washington D.C., and awarded scholarships for 25 of her country’s qualified students. Williams said providing the scholarships helps ASU with international recruitment and helps to advance the University’s legacy. “We are really looking at expanding our international reach, so this was a tremendous opportunity for us to do
that,” Williams said. “ASU was founded as a college for people who were denied access to educational outlets. Malawi is an extremely poor country, and a lot of those students would not otherwise receive an education if not for these scholarship opportunities; so, we are fulfilling a need.” The scholarships were facilitated through a partnership that developed between Cherise Peters, associate provost and vice president for Enrollment Management, and Lindy Blanchard of 100X Development Foundation, which runs various programs in Malawi for orphan care, education and agriculture. “One of the things 100X was looking to fulfill was the educational needs for young people in Malawi,” Williams said. “We decided ASU was going to do all it could to help these young people get pathways to an education, so we came up with the idea that we would offer scholarships to those students who meet the requirements and who would like to come to ASU.” The scholarships will be distributed to the students through the Joyce Banda Foundation and will be finalized and processed by ASU’s Office of Admissions and Recruitment. Each student selected will receive tuition and room and board for four years. In an article in the Nyasa Times, Banda said she was grateful to receive the scholarships. “My vision for Malawi is to eradicate poverty through economic growth and wealth creation,” Banda said. “There is no better tool than giving them (students) access to higher education.”
Additional Partnerships ASU also has developed partnerships with Nigeria and Botswana. Both countries have agreed to sponsor students to attend ASU. Steve Havron, director of ASU’s Office of Minority and International Affairs, and Dr. David Iyegha, a Nigerian native and chair of the Humanities and English Department, accompanied Admissions representatives to Nigeria this spring to finalize the scholarship details. Williams traveled to Africa in April to meet with educational representatives to finalize the agreement in Botswana. “The beauty of these two partnerships is that if we can get the students to come to ASU, the government will pay for their education,” Williams said. “They will be fully funded students, and that will be a great opportunity for ASU to increase diversity on campus.” n
Focus on Academics continued to page 13
Kudos! Dr. Tommie “Tonea” Stewart, dean of ASU’s College of Visual and Performing Arts, received the “I Am a Man” Award on April 4 for her efforts as a professor, role model, motivator and mentor for hundreds of students, as well as for her work as a stage and film actress. The award is presented by the April 4th Foundation to individuals who strive to keep Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream alive. Stewart joins an elite class of “I Am A Man” Award winners, including Harry Belafonte, former President Bill Clinton, Rep. John Lewis and Judge Joe Brown. “I am extremely honored to receive this award, and I am humbled to be included in a list of honorees who are making a difference in the lives of others,” Stewart said. Dr. Tanjula Petty has been rewarded for the hard work and research she conducted while a student in ASU’s Educational Leadership, Policy and Law (ELPL) doctoral program. Petty, director of ASU’s Quality Enhancement Plan, recently received the Distinguished Dissertation Award during the annual conference of the Council of Historically Black Graduate Schools (CHBGS), held in Greenville, S.C. Petty’s dissertation research is titled “Alabama Public School Principals’ SelfPerceptions of Their Knowledge of Education Law As It Relates to Select Areas of Student Rights.” “Receiving this award is gratifying, since the competition is very diverse in scope, and the award distinguishes this area of research as something that has significant impact and importance to the field of education law,” Petty said. “As a first-generation college student in my family … I would like this award to serve as a testimony that with hard work, dedication, perseverance and prayer, dreams do come true.” Dr. Janice R. Franklin, dean of the Levi Watkins Learning Center, was awarded the 2013 Sue O. Medina Significant Contribution Award from the Alabama Association of College and Research Libraries (AACRL) during the National Library Association’s annual conference on April 24. "It is indeed an honor to be selected by one's peers for this prestigious award. I was both surprised and humbled to be nominated and honored with a recognition that acknowledges my lifelong work to advance the cause of academic libraries and cultural learning centers,” Franklin said. “I am especially appreciative to the Alabama Association of College and Research Libraries for this honor and to Alabama State University for its role in affording me the opportunity to serve others, while pursuing my professional endeavors." The award honors library and information professionals who work or reside in Alabama and who have made a significant contribution in the area of college and research libraries on the local, state, regional, national or international levels. n 9
Focus on Student
Achievements
outstanding achievement in their academic pursuits. In general, students must have completed at least 15 semester hours of core courses at ASU with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better to qualify for recognition.
High Honors By Timothy C. Ervin Alabama State University recognized 1,100 high-achieving students during its annual Honors Day Convocation on April 12. The theme for this year’s convocation was “A Global Commitment to Transformation through Academic Excellence.” “Honors Day is a very special day in the life of a university because it centers on the whole reason we are here — the idea of high quality education and successful performance,” said Dr. William H. Harris, ASU’s interim president. “Each of you is an example of that achievement.” Stephan Bell, a partner at Bell Heroux LLC, a Washington D.C.-based government relations firm, served as the guest speaker. He charged the students to be prepared to affect a global situation, to be committed to transforming themselves and to be the best they can be. Bell told the students that now is the time to begin making some of the most important decisions in their lives. “You have to make decisions on what direction you are going to take,” Bell said. “You have to look at your life on a daily basis and ask yourself ‘where am
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Shayla Duncan Stephan Bell
I going on the fork in the road when it comes to studying? When it comes to presenting yourself?’ It’s not just an honor student. You care about who you are; you care about how you talk; you care about what words you use; you care about the way you dress; you care about who you date. You care.” During the ceremony, 46 students were acknowledged as the highest ranking academic students (4.0 GPAs). Maya A. McKenzie, a senior political science major, received the George H. Andrews Student of the Year Award. The award was established to recognize a student who exhibits the qualities of citizenship, scholarship, outstanding community service and leadership to ASU and the community. The Honors Day program recognizes regularly admitted undergraduate students who have demonstrated
Student Wins National Award for BP Oil Spill Research By Hazel Scott Sophomore Shayla Duncan is the 2013 award recipient of the American Society of Microbiology (ASM) Undergraduate Research Capstone Program for research she conducted on the 2010 BP (Deepwater Horizon) Oil Spill. Duncan, a biology major from Columbus, Ga., received a stipend to use toward travel to the ASM Presentation Institute and ASM General Meeting in Denver, Co., as well as a two-year ASM student membership. Her research abstract poster is titled "The Putative Role of Phytoplankton — Hydrocarbon-utilizing Microbial
Interactions in Biodegradation of Deepwater Horizon Oil in Gulf of Mexico Surface Waters." Dr. Peter A. Noble, an associate professor at ASU, was Duncan’s mentor. Noble is a nationally recognized expert for the research he has conducted at ASU on the BP Oil Spill and its effects on the Gulf’s ecosystem. “When you work hard, you get rewarded. Shayla works hard; she wants to get ahead and be successful in life,” Noble said. Duncan also is the author of a peer-reviewed paper that currently is in review. Duncan received a Presidential Scholarship to attend ASU during the 2011 President’s Tour. The ASM, headquartered in Washington, D.C., is the oldest and largest single biological membership organization, with more than 40,000 members worldwide.
honored during a press conference at the state of Alabama’s Criminal Justice Building. He is the first student to complete the program, which was launched in 2009 as part of a partnership between ASU and the DOC. Students in the 12-week internship program spend four days a week in Selma, where they are trained to work as correctional officers. “The internship program is an opportunity for young people to grow. Corrections is a good job with good pay and has good benefits,” Giles said. Giles first heard about the program from Dr. Larry Spencer, an assistant professor of criminal justice at ASU. Spencer said that while several criminal justice majors have graduated from ASU and have quickly landed jobs in corrections, the internship program gives students a head start on employment. Kim T. Thomas, DOC commissioner, said the program is a win-win for ASU students and for the state. “To actually see the fruits of this cooperation come into being and for others to see this is a great benefit,” Thomas said.
Students Inducted into Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society By Timothy C. Ervin
Student Completes DOC Internship By Timothy C. Ervin Alabama State University senior Antwan Giles has completed a rigorous internship with the Alabama Department of Corrections (DOC), which included attending and graduating from the DOC Academy. Giles, a criminal justice major, was
The Alabama State University Kappa Omicron Chapter of Alpha Kappa Mu National Honor Society welcomed 49 new student members to its organization during a ceremony held on April 4. Alpha Kappa Mu is a general scholarship organization open to juniors and seniors in all academic disciplines. Dr. Shuntele N. Burns, professor of biology, has served as the Kappa
Omicron chapter adviser for eight years. “Induction into a national honor society is a prestigious distinction that marks a student’s excellent scholastic achievement, and a university’s sponsorship of a reputable honor society highlights the strong academic mission of the institution,” Burns said. For a list of the names of students inducted into the honor society, visit www.alasu.edu/AKM.
Internship of a Lifetime By Tina Joly Helma von Zadow has scored the internship of a lifetime. The ASU soccer player has been selected as an intern for the athletic giant, NIKE Inc. von Zadow, a junior majoring in public relations, will work in the Global Football (Soccer) Brand Marketing Department at NIKE’s world headquarters in Portland, Ore. von Zadow was selected after a lengthy application process. “I had to submit a formal letter and resume. I then had to do a short video and telephone interview and work on a project. I developed and designed an application for the NIKE women’s brand. After another video and telephone interview, I was selected for the summer internship program,” von Zadow said. von Zadow, who is from Berlin, Germany, said she came to ASU to fulfill her dreams. She said she was interested in attending ASU because of its impressive programs and because it offered both of the majors she was considering — music and public relations. “I always wanted to play college soccer in the United States, and ASU seemed like a great fit. After emailing with Coach Smith, he offered me a full athletic scholarship.” von Zadow said.
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Helma von Zadow
Student Achievements Continued from page 11 She said she is grateful to ASU for preparing her for the challenges she will face at NIKE and in life. “All the classes I have taken so far have built the foundation of knowledge I need to succeed in the internship and after graduation. I am very open to every opportunity along the way,” von Zadow said. “Working for a multinational company would be great and is definitely on my wish list. But more so, it is important to me to work with a great team and in a company with a great working atmosphere.” The busy soccer player also makes time for other activities, including singing, playing the piano and guitar, drawing and painting. She is the vice president of professional development for the Public Relations Student Society of America and a graduate of the Leadership Institute. von Zadow said she is enjoying her time at ASU and has learned a lot about herself while here. “I have learned to become more responsible. Leaving my family back home in Germany, I basically had to grow up overnight. Also, I have learned to accept and take on challenges in life, which is probably part of growing up,” von Zadow said. “I have to give my best every single day in the classroom, on the soccer field and everywhere I go to represent the school.”
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von Zadow has this advice for students planning to join the Hornet Nation: “Basically, it’s all on you; if you don’t do what you are supposed to do, nobody is going to do it for you. But if you do what you are supposed to be doing, you will find great opportunities along the way and doors opening up right in front of you. Use all your available resources and always believe in the impossible; you have your success in your own hands.”
Students Receive Top Awards By Timothy C. Ervin Two students in ASU’s Nanobiotechnology Research Center earned top honors for their research presentations at a national conference. Stacie Fairley, a Ph.D. student in microbiology, and Rebekah Jones, an undergraduate HBCU-UP chemistry student, competed against more than 100 graduate and 400 undergraduate students from institutions such as Cornell University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and UCLA at the 2013 Emerging Researchers National Conference in Washington, D.C. Fairley attended the conference last year and brought home firstplace honors then also. This year, her winning presentation was titled “PLGAEncapsulated Chlamydia Trachomatis MOMP Induces TH1 Immune Responses in Mice.” “What’s unique about our project is that we are using nanoparticles as a delivery vehicle, and so my presentation dealt with the physiochemical characterizations of that, as well as some invivostats that we performed here at ASU,” Fairley said. First-time participant Rebekah Jones has spent the past year conducting
research on scheduled drugs that have high potential for abuse and addiction and are on the top list in illicit drug cases in the United States. Using gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), Jones discovered new degradation products of methamphetamine. The “forensic drug impurity signature” she obtained during her research may be used to provide a link in crime scene investigation and law enforcement. Jones said attending the conference and competing against students from across the nation has encouraged her to work even harder. “Competing with them makes me want to do more research and go further with my work,” Jones said. “It just gives me that boost. I’m succeeding, and I want to succeed more.” The Emerging Researchers National Conference seeks to highlight the research of undergraduate and graduate students who participate in programs funded by the National Science Foundation’s Human Resource Development unit.
ASU Finishes in Top Eight at Honda AllStar Challenge Timothy C. Ervin For the second consecutive year, Alabama State University finished among the top eight out of 48 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge National Championship. ASU’s team received a $9,500 grant for its finish in the quiz bowl tournament and an additional $1,000 for having an individual team member who was recognized as a top scorer. The competition, which was held April 6-9 in Torrance, Calif., near Los Angeles, is administered by College
Focus on Academics Continued from page 9
MOU Signed with Aston University By Deonshay Danson
A new memorandum of understanding (MoU) between ASU and the United Kingdom’s Aston University will create opportunities for students and faculty to study abroad and conduct groundbreaking research.
Photo credit: Photo by Maiya Moore
Bowl and sponsored by the Honda Motor Company. Teams of college students showcased their intellectual skills in the areas of world history, science, literature, religion, the arts, social sciences, popular culture and African-American history and culture during the three-day tournament. ASU’s team included captain Vincent Onyilo, a sophomore biology and pre-health major from Atlanta; Djon Iva Santos, a junior psychology major from Mobile; Brian Womack, a freshman accounting major from Alpharetta, Ga.; and Marcus Davis, a sophomore biology and pre-health major from Atlanta. Dr. David Iyegha, professor of geography and chair of the Humanities and English Department, served as the team’s adviser and head coach. Womack was honored as a top scorer in ASU’s division, one of eight top scorers out of 192 participants. “All our students performed very well,” Iyegha said. “Djon Iva Santos was incredible. She helped us beat the number one-rated team to advance to the quarter-finals. Vincent Onyilo and Marcus Davis also were superb. The students had a great time and are already preparing to improve on their performance from this year.” n
From left: Dr. Cajetan Akujuobi, dean of the College of Science, Mathematics and Technology; Dr. Karyn Scissum-Gunn, professor and chair, Department of Biological Sciences; Dr. Yvonne Perrie, Aston University professor; and Dr. Shree-Ram Singh, director of ASU’s Center for NanoBiotechnology Research.
ASU's Center for NanoBiotechnology Research (CNBR) signed the MoU with Aston University (Birmingham, U.K.) on April 23. The purpose of the MoU is to begin a collaborative partnership in the area of biomedical research with a focus on nanotechnology applications in drug delivery and vaccine development. Dr. Shree-Ram Singh, director of the CNBR and professor of microbiology, signed the agreement, along with Dr. Yvonne Perrie, professor in pharmaceutics/drug delivery at Aston University. “I’m really excited because this collaboration that we will have in Europe will open up doors for our ASU students, especially in the science areas, where they can go work at Aston University in the U.K,” Singh said. In addition to exposing ASU students to research and educational opportunities abroad, Singh is optimistic about opportunities for joint research funding. “That’s another exciting part, because professor Perrie is a
renowned scientist around the world in vaccine delivery, so that’s why we are going to work together and hopefully that will lead to some joint proposals for grants from the U.S., as well as the U.K.,” Singh said. Perrie said she is happy about the collaboration and is impressed with ASU’s facilities. “We had a very exciting tour of the facilities here, which are excellent. The facilities, infrastructure and expertise that ASU can bring to the collaboration are very impressive,” Perrie said. “We are excited to look at collaborations looking from the physical, chemical and biological to help with advanced drug delivery and vaccine delivery.” Aston University is ranked among the world’s top 50 institutions and has a student population of more than 10,000. The university is a leader in biomedical research in the areas of drug design, drug delivery, molecular biology, biotechnology and neurosciences. n For the latest news about ASU's academic achievements, visit www.alasu.edu.
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2013 President’s Tour:
“Take a Closer Look at ASU”
“I love having the chance to tell ASU's transformation story on such a grand scale.” - Interim President William H. Harris
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By Tina Joly, Timothy C. Ervin and Lois G. Russell
The President's Tour gives ASU officials the opportunity to meet one-on-one with scholarship recipients.
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On April 21, an eager group of ASU ambassadors loaded up on a University bus to begin the first leg of a six-day journey to share the good news about Alabama State University. The 2013 President’s Tour included stops in six cities in Alabama and Georgia. For Mae Tullis, it was her first tour. “I didn’t know what to expect before we left, but it turned out to be a wonderful experience,” said Tullis. “Everywhere we went, people seemed to appreciate hearing the things we shared about the University. I am ready for next year!” This is the fourth year that the President’s Tour team has taken to the road; and each year, the event has been hugely successful. “The President’s Tour continues to be an opportunity for optimal engagement with so many of our stakeholders,” said Interim President William H. Harris. “When the Tour began, our goal was to share the ASU story utilizing our best assets -- ASU students, faculty and staff members. At that time, we were launching the Vision 2020 Transformation, and we felt we had a great story to tell. That story continues to evolve, and quite frankly, I love having the chance to tell ASU’s transformation story on such a grand scale.” For the team, most days included stops at local high schools, where they staged a rousing assembly complete with entertainment from the ASU College of Visual and Performing Arts and testimonials from ASU students about the merits of attending the University. The school stops also included information booths collectively known as The Black and Gold Standard, which provided colorful and informative backdrops for student and faculty representatives to answer questions about program offerings, financial aid and campus life. “And of course, we also present scholarships to deserving students who want to join the Hornet Nation,” said Cherise Peters, associate provost and vice president for Enrollment Management. The scholarship presentations are part of a three-pronged engagement initiative at the core of the President’s Tour.
Photos this page: (top) The Take a Closer Look displays are an important part of the tour, providing prospective students with interactive engagement opportunities with ASU students, and faculty and staff members.; (middle) President Harris and Cherise Peters, associate provost and vice president for Enrollment Management, greet scholarship recipient William Cummins during the stop in Mobile. (bottom right) The president of the Tuscaloosa chapter of the National Alumni Association, Louise Boyd Lewis, presents a check to Central High School to be used to pay for Central High students to attend ASU’s Black and Gold game.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS For four years, Keshia Marie Bolden has dreamed of attending Alabama State University; but after her mother and grandmother both were diagnosed with cancer, she didn’t know how she would pay for college. Now, the Atlanta senior no longer has to worry. She is one of 48 talented Atlanta-area students who were awarded scholarships during day two of the ASU President’s Tour. Bolden said knowing she received the academic scholarship is a big relief. “I am ecstatic right now,” Bolden said. “I am ready to get to ASU right now.” Bolden’s mother said Keshia has been facing a lot of challenges, but she stayed focused because she was determined to be enrolled at ASU. “Keshia really pushed herself,” she said. “She kept her eyes on the prize despite what was going on.” Like Bolden, other scholars expressed joy and appreciation upon receiving their scholarships. Shikayla Williams will be the first person in her immediate family to attend college. She received her award at the Tour reception in Tuscaloosa. The Central
High School senior said she plans to major in biology. “Now, when I go to college, I won’t have to worry about anything except maintaining that GPA,” Williams said. “I’m looking forward to attending ASU, and along with studying, I plan to get involved in several organizations.” Williams is the oldest of nine children. Her mother, Theresa Williams Weatherspoon, said she is very proud of her daughter and happy she has chosen to attend ASU. “This really lifts a burden off of our shoulders,” Williams Weatherspoon said. Scholarships also were given to students like Carl Finkbeiner, a member of the Birmingham contingency of scholarship recipients, who is proof that it never is too late to go to college. At age 60, he will have an opportunity to continue his education, thanks to the Presidential Scholarship he received. Finkbeiner graduated from Lawson State Community College with a 4.0 GPA. “I just can’t stop now; I have to keep feeding myself education,” Finkbeiner said. “I plan to earn a bachelor’s degree in business in a year and a half and a master’s degree in another year.” Freddie Williams Jr., director of
Admissions and Recruitment, said the scholarships are a wise investment for the future of ASU. “Not only are we investing in the infrastructure of the school, but we also are investing in our students,” Williams said. “We had a goal this year to go out and recruit the best and the brightest students, and we’re doing that. We are happy that we are able to help these young people, and we are looking forward to their joining the Hornet family.”
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President's Tour Continued from page 15 Columbus, Ga. - April 19
Atlanta, Ga. - April 22
Selma, Ala. - April 23
Birmingham, Ala. - April 24
Mobile, Ala. - April 25
16 Montgomery, Ala. - April 26
ALUMNI AND PARTNER ENGAGEMENT The Tour also includes opportunities for engagement with ASU alumni and University partners. In each city, alumni were invited to join the Team and local scholars for a reception. Each event featured entertainment and testimonials from ASU students, scholarship presentations, Black and Gold Standard displays, a video presentation about the University and an address from President Harris. The receptions also allowed time for comments from local alumni chapter presidents. Dolores Elias Allen, president of the Columbus/Phenix City/ Russell County Chapter of the National Alumni Association, said she was thrilled that the Bus Tour made a stop in Columbus and thinks it’s great for the area. “We are in an area of the state (that) a lot of times gets looked over,” Allen said. “So the Bus Tour has made a tremendous impact on our area." Daisy Baxter Glass, Dothan alumni chapter president and regional representative for the Southeast Region, and Vanessa Dickens, vice president of the National Alumni Association, traveled from Dothan to attend the event. “It was a great reception,” Glass said. “It is always good to be in the company of ASU people, and I decided that this was the closest to our home town and we decided to come up and be a part of it.” Members of Tuscaloosa’s alumni chapter were especially excited since this was the first time the Tour had stopped in their city. “We are really grateful that ASU extended the 2013 President’s Bus Tour to Tuscaloosa,” said Louise Boyd Lewis (’67), president of the Tuscaloosa chapter
of the National Alumni Association. “What a wonderful opportunity for Tuscaloosa and the west Alabama area to participate in the celebration of education. Educational dreams and community transformation are possible today and will be possible tomorrow because of past and present legacy builders.” The President's Tour also was an opportunity to connect with business leaders. Partners and potential partners were invited to business luncheons in Atlanta and Birmingham. Represented companies included Maynard Cooper, Eli Lilly, CSE-Marketing Agency, Sherwin Williams, Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, Suntrust Bank, Atlanta Business League, Alabama Power Company, Regions Bank, Thornton Enterprises and Coca Cola. “Four years ago, when we started this initiative, we were reaching out and trying to find people to come to our luncheons,” said Zillah Fluker, associate vice president for Development. “This year, I’m proud to say, we had people calling us asking when we were coming. More importantly, they brought people with them who they thought would also have an interest in partnering with Alabama State University. These kinds of connections are good for the University and good for our students.” THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST Organizers say the University will continue to reap the benefits from the Tour for years to come, especially from the 156 scholarships that were awarded. “We have awarded millions of dollars in scholarships during the Bus Tour,” Peters said. “I’m also very happy about the diversity of the students and scholars who will be attending ASU. This really speaks to the vision of the University to diversify and recruit the best and brightest from around the state, nation and world.” n
ELPL Continued from page 6 graduates’ careers. “We have an 80 percent graduation rate and an 80 percent rejection rate on applications, so it’s a highly competitive program,” Beach said. “We’ve produced superintendents, principals, directors in state education departments, and faculty and administrators in higher education. The labor market is quite good for education leadership people coming out into the workforce. We are very pleased with the direction the program has been going.” One of those who has been impacted by the program is Tony Thacker, one of the first ELPL graduates. The former science teacher and principal is now the coordinator of research and development at the Alabama State Department of Education, one of a growing list of ASU doctoral graduates to hold leadership positions in the state’s top education department. “The ELPL program was, and continues to be, a seminal ‘moment’ in my educational career and an experience that has undergirded my success,” said Thacker. “I believe I am a far better decision maker now than at any time prior to entering the program. I also have a far more robust knowledge base to draw from when making those decisions. I have often told people that I have had a somewhat eclectic educational career that includes attending the United States Military Academy at West Point, Troy University and several other institutions; however, my experience at ASU in the Educational Leadership, Policy and Law program has been far and away the most rewarding of those experiences.”
ELPL’s Future
Gooden said the future of the ELPL is full of possibilities, especially with the recent approval by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education for the University to offer the Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, Police and Law beginning in 2014. “We will now be able to offer two tracks — one for practitioners and one for researchers which makes the program more competitive,” said
Gooden. “The first generation of the ELPL program is now complete. We have earned a reputation for excellence, statewide and nationally. We’re now moving to the next generation of the program. I feel that we will become even more competitive and possibly even surpass some of our sister schools across the country.” n For more information on the doctoral program, call 334.229.8809.
ELPL GRADUATES
The doctoral program in Educational Leadership, Policy and Law has amassed a total of 76 alumni since the first graduates marched across the stage in 2006. We could not show all of their photographs in this edition of the magazine; however, we did want to share with our readers the names of those who have reached this milestone in their educational careers. Andrea Agnew Stanford Angion Craig Bailey Sarah Beecham John Bell Carolyn Bettis Miranda Bissoo Donald Black Stephanie Bostick Janine Brouillette Edward Brown Barbara Brown Jason Cain Patrick Cain Donnie Chambers Rosalyn Childress Roslyn Daniels Tyna Davis Angela Davis Susan Denham Floretta Dortch Susan DuBose Diane Ennis-Protho Tanjula Farlough Olin Farrior Jim Farris
Cynthia Ferguson Pamela Fossett Jessie Freirson Jendia Grissett Alethea Hampton Cassandra Henderson Cedric Hicks Beverly Hugener Jimmy Hull Donald Jefferson Mimi Johnson Corey Jones Albert Lancaster Jeffrey Langham Heather Leonard Brenda Lindsey Ronald Marcy Daphne Mathews James McGowin Martha McKnight James McTyre William Milledge Margaret Moore Jamar Muhammad Mary Norman Gwendolyn Osman
Patricia Powell Victoria Reese Quinton Ross Christopher Shannon Michael Sibley Debra Smith Tracy Smitherman Danita Stapleton Quesha Starks Janis Stewart Cynthia Stewart Antwuan Stinson Clarence Sutton James Thacker Cassandra Thomas Brencleveton Truss Marcus Vandiver Donald Vardaman Kenneth Varner Rosalyn Warren Cheryl Washington Sonya Webb Marilyn Whiting Irene Wong
Source: The office of the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership, Policy and Law.
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Spring Co More Than 500 Degrees Conferred during 287th Commencement Exercises
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By Deonshay Danson
“I challenge you to stay connected...”
- Sen. Hank Sanders
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Years of hard work, dedication and long nights of studying paid off for hundreds of students who received their degrees during Alabama State University’s 287th Commencement Exercises. A total of 505 degrees — 387 undergraduate and 118 graduate — were conferred during spring Commencement, which was held May 11, in the Dunn-Oliver Acadome. Courtney Jenkins was among the five students who now hold the distinction of being ASU’s first graduates to earn the new Master of Science degree in forensic science. The Marietta, Ga., native said she is looking forward to building a successful career. “It feels really good to be the first, and even though we were the guinea pigs at first, it was a really good program, and I’m glad to have been a part of it,” Jenkins said. “I would like to thank ASU for all the opportunities it has provided me.” Honor student Franka Schauss, a member of the Hornets soccer team and the Mighty Marching Hornets band, earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. Schauss, a native of Potsdam, Germany, finished her undergraduate career with a 4.0 GPA. She plans to return to Germany to further her education in Berlin and to decide the next steps toward her career goals. “I thought I wasn’t excited, but while I was sitting out there with all of my classmates and all of the parents and family, it overwhelmed me. It means a lot to me that my family is here to share this day with me,” Schauss said. “ASU has been great; I got to meet a lot of amazing people who helped me develop my character and prepared me to take the next step in life.”
ommencement 2013 President Harris pays a special tribute to Franka Schauss, a student-athlete who maintained a 4.0 average during her undergraduate career.
The Commencement Exercises also included a commissioning ceremony for three members of ASU’s Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps program. Lt. Col. Dawn M. Davis, commander of Detachment 019, commissioned Ashley Hagood, Lauren Lyons and Lena Singleton as second lieutenants in the U.S. Air Force. Commencement Exercises were a special event for retired Board of Trustees member Oscar Crawley, as he received the honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) degree. The Board of Trustees honored Crawley for his “outstanding record of service and commitment to the vision and mission of Alabama State
University.” Crawley retired from the Board on Sept. 30, 2012, after having served for 15 years. Another highlight of Commencement was the Class of 1963, which was honored with Golden Diplomas during the ceremony (see their story on page 21). Graduates received words of encouragement from State Senator Henry “Hank” Sanders (D-Selma), who delivered the Commencement address. Sanders delivered a thought-provoking message, themed “Take What You Have; Make What You Need.” His speech focused, in part, on the power of selfexamination.
Nettie Jones receives a posthumous degree on behalf of her son, the late Zachary Johnson (photo inserted), from Interim President Harris.
“Just that one power alone (selfexamination) can do all kinds of things for this University,” Sanders said. “I challenge the graduates as they leave, not to forget about Alabama State University; I challenge you to stay connected and to build on the foundation that has gotten you where you are.”n
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5 1. Cadets from ASU’s ROTC Detachment 019 receive commissions as officers in the U.S. Air Force during Commencement Exercises. 2. Te’Darius Lewis smiles as he waits to receive his degree. 3. Graduates flash their smiles for the cameras. 4. Raven Washington, Miss ASU for 2012-13, presents a check to Interim President Harris for $7,000 from the graduating class. 5. A graduate proudly displays the flag of his homeland.
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To view more Commencement photos, visit www.alasu.edu/287commencement.
Class of 1963
Golden Memories and Changing Times By May Donnell
The Class of 1963 returned for the 287th Commencement to take part in the Golden Reunion Weekend, an event that has become a tradition at ASU. Each spring, the University invites alumni home to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their graduation. The Reunion featured a full slate of events, including an evening to renew acquaintances, a luncheon and candlelight memorial service, a campus tour and a Songs of the Sixties Soiree. Interwoven in all of the celebration were the poignant and proud memories of the historic time in which this class was enrolled at the University.
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“O’ Mother Dear” rolled out the gold carpet and pulled out all the stops during graduation weekend to welcome the Class of ’63 back to campus for its milestone 50th reunion. Amid the parties, tours, ceremonies and general merriment, all Hornets in attendance seemed to be of one mind in their assessment that the "joint was jumping." Just as it had been back when they were students. The Class of ’63 came through school at the epicenter of unparalleled societal change which they helped bring about. During their time at ASU, sit-ins, marches, bombings
and mass meetings coincided with sorority serenades, basketball games and exams. Students in this era could go from their schoolbooks to getting booked in a single afternoon. From sitting in class, to sitting in. Up in Motown in the 1960s, Martha and the Vandellas were singing about a heat wave, but that was nothing compared to what was going on around here. Bull Connor wannabes were coming out of the woodwork in droves to defend segregation and squash basic civil rights. The Montgomery Bus Boycott had been won, but Jim Crow was still flying along. Segregated
restaurants, hotels and theaters were the norm. But "times, they were a’changing" and students, through sheer numbers and the hopefulness of youth, were doing all they could to push the change along. “I got arrested in front of old Tullibody Hall,” says Rebecca Dixon Mohr. “They came with police wagons and just loaded us all up and took us to jail. Girls in one cell, boys in the other.” Mohr, who had been protesting the expulsion of nine students following a sit-in at the Montgomery
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Center for Leadership and Public Policy: Building Worldwide Bridges By Tina Joly and Timothy C. Ervin
Dr. Tom Vocino (left) and Myles Mayberry are shown during a news conference to announce the publication, Counties in Crisis, which was published by the Center for Leadership and Public Policy.
Scholar and author Ralph Ellison wrote that “education is all a matter of building bridges.” Nearly 15 years ago, the Alabama State University Board of Trustees envisioned a center where bridges would be built between the University and local, state, national and international entities. That place is ASU’s Center for Leadership and Public Policy (CLPP). The CLPP is an outreach arm of the University, giving ASU visibility through business contracts, grants and community collaborations. Dr. Bernadette Chapple was the Center’s first director and now supervises the current staff. “The CLPP was established in July 1999 by a Board of Trustees resolution. I came on board to help get it up and running in January 2000. At that time, it was a concept on paper with a short-
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Sidney Lanier High School students compete in the Web Design category of the Olympiad.
term, mid-range and long-term plan. I was brought in to take that plan and make it come to life,” Chapple said. The Center is now alive and flourishing, making a name for itself around the world. “The CLPP develops relationships with government, state and local agencies to help them better understand the resources the University has to offer in terms of research, project management, data analysis, surveying and polling,” Chapple said. “It is an opportunity for the community at large, individuals, companies and corporations throughout the state and around the world to understand what Alabama State University has to offer in addition to education.” The CLPP is housed off campus in Montgomery’s Small Business Resource Center, where it can offer state-of-the-art
video conferencing facilities for meetings and training, and nurture business relationships.
Center Projects Since its inception, the Center has sponsored a number of programs and projects, such as a Business Plan Competition, which awards funding to minority start-up and existing Alabama businesses, the High School Math and Computing Olympiad and the Bridge Builders Breakfast series. “The Bridge Builders Breakfast Series was an idea created by Dr. John F. Knight Jr., ASU’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, as a way to continue to increase our visibility within the community and to do it from a standpoint of bringing all people together no matter what race, religion or profession,” Chapple said.
Probate Judge Kim Ballard, Dallas County (Alabama)
“We want people to have an opportunity to come together and listen to those individuals who we think are bridge builders in our community, statewide and nationally, to come in and share their thoughts on how to build bridges in Montgomery,” said Dr. Thomas Vocino, executive director of the CLPP. Another popular community project is the Math and Computing Olympiad, which was established at the time the Center came into existence. Funded by the Alabama State Legislature, the Olympiad is an annual competition for high school students from the Black Belt (for more on the Olympiad, see page 31). The Center also conducts demographic studies, such as a recent survey on the impact of the BP oil spill on the Gulf Coast.
Drawing the Lines Helping counties, cities and school districts plan and redraw their district plans using the CLPP’s census data and reapportionment software is another major function of the CLPP. “We have worked with more than 50 school boards, counties and cities, helping them redraw their electoral districts which is required after the decennial census. We sit down with local elected officials and redraw districts according to court mandates,” Vocino said. One area that benefitted from the Center’s redistricting experience is Dallas County. The county’s Probate
Judge, Kim Ballard, worked with CLPP demographic researchers when the county needed to redraw district lines in 2010. Ballard said he would hire the Center again without question. “The Center has state-of-theart demographic information and equipment. We worked out a deal and within two days we had a reapportionment plan. Two weeks later, the plan was approved by the Dallas County Commission, and then the Justice Department immediately approved it,” Ballard said.
Polling Center The CLPP also helps government agencies and businesses conduct public opinion research at its computeraided polling center, and groups and organizations can quickly and easily notify members of upcoming events using the Center’s phone tree services. A poll done by the Center on the Republican Presidential Primary in March 2012 received national and international media exposure. “Our poll was mentioned in just about every media outlet in the country. The results also were given on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC),” Vocino said.
Expanding the Reach The Center also is making a name for itself globally by establishing a studyabroad partnership with the University of Ulsan in Scotland and looking at ways to provide technical assistance to underdeveloped countries that have technological needs. “We have about 10 proposals that are in various stages of development for projects in the Balkans, east and southern Africa and Guyana in South America that will hopefully be funded in
the next few months,” Vocino said. In 2011, the Center began publishing a series of public policy studies and reports. The first study was titled, “The Three Legs of the Stool: Trends and Consequences of Alabama’s Aging Policy”; the second is a study on local government reform titled, “A Slow Journey for Local Government Reform in Alabama: City Managers and City Administrators”; and the third one will discuss Alabama’s property tax. Some of the CLPP’s clients include the Alabama Administrative Office of Courts, Alabama Department of Public Health HIV/AIDS Division, Alabama Department of Public Health - Bureau of Family Health Services Division, Alabama Development Office, Autauga County Commission, Federal Highway Administration, Montgomery County Commission, Montgomery County Board of Education, Alabama Department of Education and Elmore County Commission. “Every bit of positive recognition that the Center is able to achieve through its publications, polls and service to governments and nonprofits will, hopefully, benefit the reputation of Alabama State University within Alabama and beyond its borders,” Vocino said.
Looking to the Future So, if Ellison is correct in saying that education is a matter of building bridges, then ASU’s Center for Leadership and Public Policy is doing exactly what it should be doing. “I see the Center continuing to grow in terms of what we can add to the community. I see us increasing the number of grants and contracts that we receive, and we are certainly looking at establishing more partnerships with other universities, businesses and corporations,” Chapple said. n
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ALUMNI NOTES Irma Burden (’83) is the new director of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center’s Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity. Dr. Pamela Burns (’87), an associate professor of voice in the Department of Music at ASU, has received a fellowship award to attend the 2013 Japan Studies Institute at the San Diego State University in San Diego, Calif. Kasha Casey (’12), a graduate student in ASU’s Center for NanoBiotechnology Research (CNBR), participated in a summer program allowing her to conduct research to fight diseases via cell manipulation. The 10-week scientific research trip is part of the France Summer Exchange Program. Lataisha M. Jackson (’05, ’07) is a new member of the Mississippi House of Representatives, representing District 11. She won a special election on April 16, 2013.
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Michael Jackson (’06) recently received the Adult Award for his work with Empowering Communities Helping Ourselves (ECHO) and Big Brothers, Big Sisters. He was honored at the 2013 River Region Volunteer of the Year celebration. Jackson is a social worker with the Montgomery County Department of Human Resources. Joshua Jones (’09) has been named by Legacy Magazine as one of ‘South Florida’s 40 Under 40 Leaders of Today and Tomorrow.’ Jones graduated from ASU with a B.A. in Communications and is currently the communications manager for the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce. Quincy P. Minor (’99) was recently named chief operating officer of ITS (Information Transport Solutions, Inc.), a full-service provider of education services and technology solutions integrating voice, video and data.
Photo by Deonshay Danson
From left: Dr. Le-Quita Booth, dean of the College of Business Administration, and award recipients Tony Graham and Judge Shanta Owens.
Silhouette of Service Awards By Deonshay Danson
ASU’s College of Business Administration (COBA) honored three distinguished alumni during the annual Silhouette of Service Awards on April 25. The award recognizes commitment and service to COBA, the University and the community. Dr. Le-Quita Booth, dean of COBA, said the Silhouette of Service Award is the highest accolade that any alumnus of COBA can receive. “Our honorees have provided each of us with a model that we can follow, and it is my hope that future COBA graduates will provide a model of service for those students who will follow,” Booth said. Judge Shanta Craig Owens (’99) was one of this year’s recipients. Owens serves as the District Judge in the criminal division for the 10th Judicial Circuit of Alabama. She is the Presiding Judge for the Drug Court program for the Birmingham Division of Jefferson County, a rehabilitation program for nonviolent drug offenders. "I love this school, and I really love the College of Business Administration,” said Owens, speaking to the students who attended the awards ceremony. “You are so lucky to have the College of Business." The other Silhouette of Service Award recipients are Brig. Gen. Edward Crowell (’71), who retired from the United States Air Force in 2009 after 35 years of service and now serves as a senior vice president for a computer manufacturer; and Tony Graham (’99), who is vice president and regional general manager of ADP Dealer Services. n
ALUMNI NEWS
Alex Carter Awarded Fulbright Scholarship By Timothy C. Ervin
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ASU alumnus Alex Carter (’04) has received a Fulbright Scholarship and soon will be traveling abroad to study and conduct research in Australia. Carter, a fourth-year doctoral candidate in the W.E.B. Du Bois Department of Afro-American Studies at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, will study the political and cultural dialogue between the Black Power Movement in the United States and aboriginal Australian activists in the 1970s. “I put in a lot of hours of hard work, and it feels great to be recognized,”
Carter said. “ASU, specifically the History Department, has prepared me to obtain this award to go overseas.” The trip will be Carter’s first time traveling abroad. While in Australia, Carter will work with the Performance Research Unit and the Indigenous Centre at Monash University in Clayton, Victoria, near Melbourne. His work also will take him to Sydney, Brisbane and Canberra. As part of his research, Carter plans to examine the Black Panther Party of Australia and the National Black Theatre of Sydney, building on
continuing investigations of cross-cultural theater and political collaboration. “These cross-cultural and transnational connections between Afro-Americans and Aboriginal Australians is a vital component of understanding the trajectory and depth of the Black Power and Black Arts Movements of the 1960s and ’70s,” Carter said in a release from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. The Washington, D.C., native earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from ASU in 2004. He was a member of the Hornets golf team, and he conducted research with Dr. Bertis English, associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. Carter also worked extensively with Drs. Byrdie Larkin and Dorothy Autrey. The Fulbright Program was established in 1946 and is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Approximately 310,000 “Fulbrighters,” 116,900 from the United States and 192,800 from other countries, have participated in the program since its inception. The Fulbright Program operates in more than 155 countries worldwide. n
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ALUMNI NEWS Atlanta-Based Alumnae Honored for Community Service By Timothy C. Ervin
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Photo courtesy Dream Photography Group LLC
Community service is a passion and a common bond for one group of Atlanta women who say their experience as ASU students fostered their desire to help others. In 2008, a group of seven Alabama State University alumnae built upon the friendship they created in college to form a community service organization. Now, the women are being recognized for their efforts to help others. Their group, Da B.R.O.A.D.S. LLC (Beautiful Representatives of Astute and Divine Sisterhood), recently was honored with the Community Service Award by the Atlanta organization, An Eye Opening Production. “It was an honor to be recognized for giving back and helping others because
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it’s something we love to do,” said Kerra Shelton (’98). “I couldn’t think of any other group of women to be sharing this award with.” The group has nine members: Shijuana Bornes (’98), Tamara O’Cain (’99), Kahalia Campbell (’99), Tia Perry (’95), Quinntella Smith (’99), Kimberly Wilson (’00) and Kerra Shelton (’98). Two of the members, Aisha Thurman and Toni Drewery, did not attend ASU. The group’s mission is to promote sisterhood among members, strengthen the female bond, encourage personal greatness, promote positive communication and publicly demonstrate these qualities through event planning and community service. “We believe it is our duty to help
make a change in people’s lives so that they, too, can become valuable assets to society,” O’Cain said. The group gives back to the community in a variety of ways, which include hosting social events and assisting nonprofit organizations with volunteer needs. They also host a fundraiser, “Pennies for Presents,” in which they collect spare change throughout the year to help fund back-to-school drives. Their annual “Holiday Family Sponsorship,” now entering its fifth year, helps support low-income, single-parent households for Christmas. Da B.R.O.A.D.S. also has devoted time, energy and financial assistance to several community and charitable organizations, including the March of Dimes, Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure, Atlanta Open Hand, Ordered Steps LLC, Hillside Truth Center’s Children of Incarcerated Fathers, St. Jude Children’s Hospital, ING Marathon, American Cancer Society, Cool Girls Inc., and the Ryan Cameron Foundation. O’Cain said she and group members who are ASU graduates learned a lot about friendship and community service during their years at the University. That common experience is what she describes as the group’s greatest strength. “We all came to Atlanta at different times, but once everyone was settled in, that friendship and drive to help others expanded from college,” O’Cain said. “The funny part is that we all knew each other at ASU, but not everyone hung out together until we united in Atlanta. We are 10-plus years and going strong!” n
Alumni Inducted into Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame
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By Timothy C. Ervin ASU alumnus Raymond White has been coaching boys basketball for 37 years, has won three state titles and has more than 1,000 coaching victories, but he never imagined he would be inducted into the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame. “It was exciting and a dream come true to be honored,” White said. “This really took me by surprise when I heard I was going to be honored. It was a big day for all of us.” White joined fellow ASU alumni Ben Harris and the late Arthur “Buddy” Davis as part of the 23rd class of the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame. The induction class was honored at a banquet at the Renaissance Hotel at the Convention Center in Montgomery on March 18. The class includes 12 coaches, administrators, a contest official and an “old-timer,” raising the total number of individuals enshrined since 1991 to 285. RAYMOND WHITE White spent the majority of his basketball coaching career in Barbour County, with stops at Louisville and Clayton (Barbour County High School). In 2012, he won his third state title, leading the Barbour County Jaguars to the Class 2A state championship with a perfect 34-0 record. He also won the title in 2001 and 2009. He coached in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game, the North-South Game and has received numerous Coach of the Year awards, including the 2012 Alabama High School Athletic Directors and Coaches Association Class 2A Boys Coach of the Year.
BEN HARRIS BUDDY DAVIS Davis spent three years in the Harris, longtime Blount High NFL with the Chicago Bears as School (Prichard, Ala.) coach, has amassed an equally impressive record. a starting tackle. He returned to Montgomery in 1954 and embarked His coaching career is highlighted on a 16-year coaching run at Booker by the amazing turnaround he masterminded at Blount High School. T. Washington High School, leading the team to a 139-15-2 record. His When he arrived at the school in 89.1 winning percentage is still 1988, the football program had lost among the best in state history. more games the previous 10 seasons When BTW closed, Davis moved to than any other Class 5A school in the state. Over the next 10 years, the Blount Leopards became 5A's winningest team with state championships in 1990, 1992, 1996 and 1997 and runner-up finishes in 1991 and 1995. Harris went The 2013 Induction Class of the Alabama High School Sports Hall on to compile of Fame a 148-69 overall record. His Jefferson Davis High School, where efforts off the field were lauded by he was an assistant coach with head civic leaders and culminated with his coach Billy Livings, helping to build being named Mobile County Citizen the Volunteers into a powerhouse. of the Year in 1996, Blount High He also coached track. While he School Teacher of the Year in 1992, produced some of the top teams in and receiving the Mobile Mentors AIAA history at BTW, Davis also Pride Award from 1992-96. In 1998, is noted for producing a pipeline to Harris was named the NFL High college football and the NFL. Davis School Coach of the Year. also served in the Marines, where he In May of 2013, Harris received played football and earned All-Armed another top honor by becoming Forces honors. He reached the U.S. Olympic trials as a shot putter. n one of six inductees into the Mobile Sports Hall of Fame’s 25th class.
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Fans Gather for Honey Beez ‘Steve Harvey’ Watch Party
J By Tina Joly
Guests watch ASU's Honey Beez on national television during the watch party.
Honey Beez dancer Leonesha Jordan signs an autograph for alumna Gloria Battle.
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Jasmine Robinson said she never dreamed she would appear on a nationally televised talk show, much less dance on one. But that’s exactly what happened to the ASU junior elementary education major when she and her fellow Honey Beez dance team members made their debut on the “Steve Harvey” television show. Several hundred of their relatives, fans and friends watched the performance with them during a University-sponsored Watch Party held in the ballroom of ASU’s J. Garrick Hardy Student Center on May 31. The Honey Beez dance team is one of the most popular segments of the Mighty Marching Hornets halftime show. Their motto is “Love the skin you are in.” Steve Harvey became a fan of the group after seeing their halftime performance at the Magic City Classic football game, and he invited the dancers to appear on his television show. Robinson said she’s thrilled the group was able to perform on a national stage and send a positive message to plus-sized women around the country. “I always wanted to be a member of a dance team growing up, but I couldn’t because of my size. ASU and the Honey Beez are perfect for me. Words can’t describe how I’m feeling today to see this kind of love and
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MARCH
Winners List for 2013 Olympiad Math 1st place: Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School 2nd place: Loveless Academic Magnet Program (LAMP) 3rd place: Saint James High School
CAMPUSNEWS Record Number of Schools Compete in ASU’s Olympiad By Tina Joly
Some of Alabama’s brightest young minds and future innovators participated in Alabama State University’s 14th annual High School Math and Computing Olympiad held April 5. Students from 20 schools in Montgomery and Alabama’s Black Belt took part in the Olympiad, which involved competitions in Web Design, Mathematics and Cinematic Expression. This year’s Olympiad had the highest number of schools ever to compete. Breanna Johnson, a sophomore from Notasulga High School, said she was honored to represent her school in math. “The competition is great. I especially like the fact that we worked on teams since math is usually a subject you complete by yourself,” Breanna said. Bhanu Sharma, a senior at Montgomery’s Loveless Academic Magnet Program (LAMP), competed in Web Design.
“This is a difficult competition, and I wanted to participate in it so that I could challenge myself. It’s also fun,” Bhanu said. Delicia Anderson, who teaches advanced business technology and information technology at Wilcox Central High School, entered two teams from her school. “This competition gives them life lessons and the opportunity to compete, which is what they will have to do when it’s time to apply for jobs. They learned a lot from competing,” Anderson said. The High School Math and Computing Olympiad is sponsored by ASU’s Center for Leadership and Public Policy (CLPP). “Hosting the Olympiad benefits ASU in that we had 150 high-achieving students on campus for an entire day,” said Dr. Tom Vocino, CLPP executive director. “As such, they were able to see the outstanding facilities that we have at ASU, and they were able also to interact with the best and brightest of current ASU students who assisted with the Olympiad competition. As has been the case in the past, I expect that several or more of these students will make application for admission and scholarships at ASU.” n
Cinematic Expression 1st place: The Montgomery Academy 2nd place: Loveless Academic Magnet Program (LAMP) 3rd place: John T. Morgan Academy Web Design 1st place: Loveless Academic Magnet Program (LAMP) 2nd place: Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School 3rd place: Demopolis High School
WVAS Awards By Hazel Scott
WVAS Radio, the “Voice of Alabama State University,” won several awards from the Alabama Broadcasters Association during its annual awards banquet in Birmingham. The March 23 awards ceremony recognized “Alabama’s Best in Broadcasting” -- otherwise known as the ABBY’s. The radio station won five awards in the Medium Market category. "The staff members of WVAS are truly a team, and their superior efforts have been rewarded time and again,” said Station Manager Candy Capel. “How can you not be proud of this group of spectacular achievers?" n Best PSA -- “Car Donation” Best Sportscaster -- Robb Taylor Best News Reporter -- Melanie Hogan (Her third consecutive) Best Newscast -- 6/12/12 (East Montgomery Stand-Off/Search for Auburn Shooter) Public Service Project -- Halloween Spooktacular (with Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office)
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Motorcycle Club Contributes to ASU’s Legacy By Tina Joly
The rich legacies of Alabama State University and the national Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club recently merged as the group's Montgomery Chapter donated $8,000 to help the University continue its legacy of preparing students to compete in the global workforce. Nearly 300 members from as far away as New York and California attended a banquet at ASU which was held as part of a weekend of events culminating in a commemorative Selma-to-Montgomery voting rights ride. The check was presented to ASU during the banquet in support of the University’s mission and its students. The motorcycle club is named for the historic Buffalo Soldiers Regiment — the
Trenholm’s Legacy Honored at E.D. Nixon Symposium By Deonshay Danson
Alabama State University honored the life and legacy of its fifth president during the annual E.D. Nixon Institute for Research and Cultural Enrichment Symposium. The symposium, titled “The Legend and Legacy of Dr. H. Councill Trenholm: Fifth President of Alabama State College,” was held at the National Center for the Study of Civil Rights and African-American Culture at ASU. Dr. Howard Robinson, University archivist, delivered the occasion and remarked about Trenholm’s dedication to the school. “It’s somewhat daunting to see how much this one man accomplished in a lifetime and how critical he was in education, not only in the state of
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first all-black cavalry unit established in 1866. “Our group educates the public about the history of the Buffalo Soldiers, and we help keep the legacy of the soldiers alive. ASU educates “Smokey” Russell (middle) presents $8,000 check to African-American students Selma (from left) Dr. Janice Franklin, Zillah Fluker, Dr. Howard and keeps the history of Robinson and Rolundus Rice. our people alive; so, it only ASU a part of their historic Selma-tomakes sense that we would support this Montgomery ride, they made sure we great University,” said Selma “Smokey” had a financial gain from this whole Russell, president of the Buffalo Soldiers experience by making a donation to the Montgomery Chapter. University.” Zillah Fluker, associate vice president On Saturday, March 23, the Buffalo for Development, said the Soldiers are Soldiers held a Selma-to-Montgomery longtime supporters of ASU. Commemorative Voting Rights Ride, “I always heard that friends are the traveling the same route taken by family that you choose, and the Buffalo protesters during the 1965 Voting Rights Soldiers are our friends,” said Fluker. March. The ride was co-sponsored by “They stand on the shoulders of great ASU’s National Center for the Study leaders; people who stepped out at a of Civil Rights and African-American Culture. n time when it wasn’t easy. Not only was Alabama, but throughout the nation,” Robinson said. “He was a giant among intellectuals and educators in the state of Alabama; so, I think it’s appropriate that we take the time to remember how much of an impact, how much of a Dr. Thelma Ivery speaks and Dr. Ralph Bryson listens during contribution this the National Center for the Study of Civil Rights and Africanman made and American Culture's annual E.D. Nixon Symposium. how much of his for Student Affairs, shared fond life he gave to this memories of Trenholm. institution.” “Dr. Trenholm was what The discussion, moderated by Charles extraordinary really looked like,” said Varner Jr., was themed “Reflections Williams. “He was a visionary, a top on the Influence and Impact of Dr. H. administrator and an innovator who was Councill Trenholm” and featured three always looking for a way to advance the panels that explored related topics. Dr. Jacqueline Williams, a 1960 cause of education for the ‘least of these.’ graduate of ASU, former executive With his shrewd administrative prowess, secretary for ASU’s sixth president, Dr. Alabama State College experienced Levi Watkins, and former vice president tremendous progress.” n
Photo by Deonshay Danson
APRIL
MARCH
CAMPUS NEWS
CAMPUS NEWS
By Deonshay Danson
Students got a taste of “Mardi Gras in May,” as they kicked off the summer semester with a “Party Gras.” Attendees gathered in the Fred Shuttlesworth Dining Hall on May 29 for the Mardi Gras-inspired event, where guests were greeted with beads, masks and door prizes. The sounds of jazz kept the crowd on its feet, as students, faculty and staff danced together in a show of camaraderie and Ole ‘Bama State Spirit. Partygoers feasted on a New Orleansthemed menu of jambalaya, red beans
Dropout Prevention Video Debuts By Deonshay Danson
With help from their ASU mentors and WVAS-FM radio station, a group of Montgomery-area high school students premiered their own documentary at a local independent theater. Students from ASPIRE (Amazing Students Putting in Resilient Effort),
ASU student and ASPIRE mentor Desmond Reese counsels male students from Jefferson Davis High School during a weekly ASPIRE meeting.
and rice, seafood, king cake and beignets. Darrick Long, a senior theatre arts major and newly elected SGA vice president for 2013-14, helped coordinate the event. “We [the SGA] wanted to make sure that students feel welcomed and at home,” Long said. “The home environment here is really about getting together, unifying and showing Students enjoy the "Party Gras" held in the Fred Shuttlesworth Dining Hall. that we are all in this together as one Hornet family.” things that are already in motion for the Long also said he is optimistic about upcoming fall semester,” he said. “It’s the activities the SGA has planned for going to be a big year and a great time to the upcoming 2013-14 school term. be a Hornet.” n “We have set the bar high. We have a lot of plans in mind and a lot of ASU’s high school mentoring program, debuted the student-produced documentary titled “Inspiring ASPIRE” at the Capri Theatre located in Montgomery’s historic Old Cloverdale neighborhood. Area high school students and their parents, ASU students and the local community attended the Oscar-themed, red carpet event, which was held on May 9. Attendees watched three presentations, including ASPIRE’s rendition of the popular “Harlem Shake,” a film showing the ASPIRE students participating in a video conference with students in Michigan and the feature presentation of the “Inspire ASPIRE” documentary. Vydreon Moon, WVAS production technician and ASU alumnus, played a leading role in helping the students videotape and produce the documentary. “Today, we are giving the students the rare opportunity to see themselves on the big screen,” said Moon. “They have been working on this documentary since September 2012, and it’s all about staying in school. We want the community to see this unique way of talking about an
MAY
‘Party Gras’ Welcomes Students Back for Summer
old topic.” The documentary featured ASU students, local high school students and Cynthia Handy, ASPIRE director, with special appearances from local radio personalities, including WZHT's JoJo McToy. McToy shared his thoughts on education and how to address the dropout crisis. “I firmly believe the reason we have kids that drop out of school so early and the reason the dropout rate is so high is because kids just are not challenged anymore, and that’s definitely one of the things we need to change in education,” McToy said. “Kids have to be challenged; not only should we tell the kids to stay in school, but also why they need to stay in school.” The documentary project was funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) through its national initiative, “American Graduate: Let’s Make It Happen,” which helps local communities to identify and implement solutions to address the high school dropout crisis. n To view the documentary, visit www.alasu.edu/ASPIREvideo.
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MAY
CAMPUS NEWS
Theatre and Dance Symposium By Deonshay Danson
ASU alumni and other professionals shared their personal stories of success in the performance arts during the inaugural Theatre and Dance Symposium on May 3. Hosted by the Department of Theatre Arts, the symposium was themed “Deep Roots, Strong Branches, Rich Fruit — A Theatre and Dance Symposium.” The symposium consisted of three parts, a panel discussion, two workshop sessions and a roundtable discussion. Guest presenters included actors Bonita Hamilton-Caesar (cast member of Broadway’s “The Lion King”), J. Bernard Calloway (cast member of the Tony Award-winning “Memphis”) and Yohance Myles (co-star of “Treme,” “K-Ville” and
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“Fire with Fire”), technical theatre professionals Jane Childs and Richard Morris Jr., and dancer and choreographer Michael Medcalf. Many of the panelists who attended ASU talked about their experiences on stage and behind the scenes. They encouraged current theatre students to follow their passions. Hamilton-Caesar (’97), who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communications, shared her story of landing a job at a newspaper after graduating from ASU and then being encouraged by Stewart to pursue her passion in theatre arts. She followed Stewart’s advice and earned a full scholarship and fellowship to Brandeis University, where she received an MFA in theatre. Today, she is an awardwinning Broadway actress. “The one thing that I want to say about this theatre is that it instilled in me a tremendous work ethic,” Hamilton-Caesar said. “Something about this theatre stirred something inside of me. I lived and breathed on this stage every day.”n
Top left: J. Bernard Calloway gives an impassioned delivery during the symposium. Top right: Bonita Hamilton-Caesar participates in one of the panel discussions. Bottom: Yohance Myles speaks about his professional experiences in theatre.
CAMPUS NEWS
New Members Appointed to BOT By Tina Joly
Robert E. L. Gilpin
Montgomery attorney Robert E. L. Gilpin brings a longstanding record of professional accomplishments and community service to the Board of Trustees. He said he is honored to receive the appointment. “Education is near to my heart, as both my wife and one of my daughters are teachers,” Gilpin said. “I believe serving your community in any way possible is a responsibility all citizens need to share, and I look forward to working with President Harris and the other professional men and women on the Board and at ASU.” Gilpin is a partner in Gilpin Givhan, PC, a Montgomery-based law firm. He has practiced law with the firm since graduating from New York University with a Masters of Law in Taxation
in 1983 and has served on the firm’s management committee for a number of years. Gilpin attended the University of Alabama as an undergraduate studying accounting and then attended the University of Alabama Law School, graduating in 1982. “I hope to use any skills that I can bring to the table to help further mold ASU into the kind of University that we
Larry Thornton
Alabama State University alumnus Larry D. Thornton (’75) says he never expected to be appointed to the Board of Trustees of his alma mater. “Although it is certainly an honor to have been invited to serve as a Trustee at ASU, it is also a very humbling experience in that I've been given the opportunity to give back to the University that has given me so much,” Thornton said. “I often wonder how Mrs. Nichols, my senior English teacher who encouraged me to attend college, would feel to know that I am now a Trustee of my alma mater.” Thornton, president and owner of Thornton Enterprises Inc., is a McDonald’s franchisee who owns and operates five McDonald’s restaurants in the Birmingham area. The Montgomery native also is on the board of directors of the Coca Cola Bottling Company United Inc. and First Commercial Bank, and has served on the boards of numerous Birmingham-area civic organizations.
Thornton recently spent two days on campus visiting with deans and members of the Student Government Association (SGA). He said he could not have been more impressed. “The deans’ willingness to share insight regarding their programs and their zeal to extend the academic reach of the schools under their auspices was inspiring. The leadership and fantastic interpersonal skill set displayed by the marvelous student ambassadors of the SGA left no doubt that our students are fortunate to have such great young people to represent them,” Thornton said.
are proud to have in Alabama,” Gilpin said. The Montgomery native has been very involved in the community, working intensely on Westside development issues serving as head of the I-65 Corridor. He also has served as a director on the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Board and the Montgomery County Community Punishment and Corrections Authority. Gilpin said ASU holds an important position in the Montgomery area. “I believe ASU is a strong force in the community, and I see that force growing in the future. I believe the past is grand, and the future is great,” Gilpin said. “I envision ASU continuing to achieve greatness in preparing our young people to meet the needs of Alabama’s growing employment force.” n Thornton said that at the end of the day, paying it forward is what life is really all about. “As a Trustee, I look forward to becoming more familiar with the academics of our students in an effort to ensure that they have the best preparation possible for what awaits them on the other side of their degrees. I also have a strong appetite for enhancing our approach to planned giving,” Thornton said. While known for his business acumen, Thornton also is an accomplished artist. As a student at ASU, he assisted the sculptor who created the Equinox that sits in the middle of campus. Over the years, he has produced sketches of iconic figures such as Rosa Parks, Maya Angelou and Martin Luther King Jr. Owners of his limited edition prints include Maya Angelou, Oprah Winfrey and former U.S. Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice. n
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DEVELOPMENT NEWS
Laying a Foundation for Excellence
A By Timothy C. Ervin
ASU alumni and supporters have an exciting opportunity to leave a lasting legacy and be an integral part of the University’s transformation through the “Help Lay a Foundation for Excellence” campaign. The Office of Alumni Relations is sponsoring the campaign to increase funding for University initiatives by selling legacy pavers (personalized bricks). The commemorative bricks will serve as permanent reminders of supporters’ enthusiasm and passion for ASU. The pavers, which may be engraved to honor alumni, family and friends of
the University, will be located at the north entrance of the Amphitheater located behind the John Garrick Hardy Student Center. “This is a wonderful and highly visible opportunity to show support for the University,” said Cromwell Handy, director of Alumni Relations. “Each paver may be personalized to commemorate your graduation date, to honor a loved one or to memorialize a relative or friend.” The bricks range in price from $100 to $1,000 and are available in three sizes. n
Help Lay a Foundation for Excellence at Alabama State University “If it wasn’t for the rich heritage of Alabama State University, we would not have the many opportunities to be ‘Builders,’ laying the cornerstone to the future for our youth. ” – David E. Clinkscales, Class of ’87 Town of Franklin, Ala. Council Member
Legacy pavers may be personalized to commemorate your graduation date, to honor a loved one or to memorialize a relative or friend! Funds raised from the purchase of legacy pavers will support University initiatives. The legacy pavers will surface the entrance to the Amphitheater located behind the John Garrick Hardy Student Center.
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For more information, please contact the Office of Alumni Relations at 334-229-4280 or asualumni@alasu.edu.
PAVER PRICES n 4 x 8 inches, black, with up to three lines of 14 - 16 characters each for $100 n 4 x 12 inches, reversed granite, with two lines of 20 characters each for $500 n 12 x 12 inches, granite slab, with two lines of 20 characters each for $1,000
Development Office Leads Visit to University’s Birthplace
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By Timothy C. Ervin
For Rosie Kynard, March 8, 2013, is a date that she had looked forward to with great anticipation. On that day, she was excited to greet a group of ASU students and administrators who had traveled by bus to her beloved town of Marion, Ala. They were there to visit local high schools and to learn more about the Lincoln Normal School, the predecessor of Alabama State University. At Robert C. Hatch High School (Uniontown) and Frances Marion High School, the group visited classrooms and held general assemblies for junior and senior students. The students were given a “what to expect in college” tutorial, as well as the opportunity to ask questions about life as an ASU student. “We had a chance to meet and talk to high school students not only about ASU and the history of ASU, but also the importance of coming to ASU,” said Sheamon McCants, a Golden Ambassador and junior communications major. The trip to Marion was coordinated by ASU’s Office of Development and Kynard (’58), a longtime member of the Lincolnites Club Inc., which works to preserve and honor the Lincoln Normal School’s history. Members of the club also oversee the school’s national alumni chapters and coordinate biennial reunions. Founded in 1867 as The Lincoln School of Marion, the school was
incorporated by recently freed AfricanAmericans in Marion and Perry counties. The school became a state venture by 1874, moved to Montgomery in 1887 and later became Alabama State University. “We know that ASU originated from Lincoln School, and we want to keep the legacy going,” Kynard said. “We have a lot of people who graduated from ASU and have succeeded in life; so, we want to use those people, as well as others, as examples of what ASU once was on the campus here in Marion in conjunction to what it is now in Montgomery.” When the group arrived for a lunch reception at Lottie’s Restaurant, they were greeted by several Lincolnites who shared stories about themselves and
Top: Golden Ambassadors pose in front of the landmark Lincoln Normal School in Marion. Above: Alumna Rosie Kynard gives Golden Ambassadors a tour of the Lincoln Museum.
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Hornets Play First Black and Gold Game in The New ASU Stadium
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By Deonshay Danson, Tina Joly and Lois G. Russell
Excitement was in the air on April 27, as thousands of fans enjoyed a day of fun, food, festivities and football at the 2013 Hornet Fest and Black and Gold Game. The traditional game, held for the first time in The New ASU Stadium, signaled the end of spring training for the Hornets. “We are very excited about the tremendous turnout and opportunity for engagement with the community, with the Hornet family and with those who partner with this great
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University,” said Interim President William H. Harris. “We are pleased with the support that we received today, especially since this is the first Black and Gold Game in the new stadium. We certainly hope that today's showing portends a great season of fan support this fall.” The Hornet Fest featured a full slate of activities leading up to the game. The day began with the final leg of the 2013 President’s Tour, where more than 20 scholarships were awarded to Montgomery-area students. Many of the students and their parents left the ceremony in the John Garrick Hardy Student Center to make their way to the traditional Hornet Fest, held in the
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stadium just prior to the game. The stadium concourse was transformed into a colorful Fun Zone with huge inflatables, face painting, games, a photo booth and one of the more popular attractions, a miniature train that carried passengers on a ride above the stands. Just before game time, a group of “Future Hornets” followed the ASU cheerleaders during a Tunnel Run onto the field just ahead of the Hornets football team, who entered the stadium to the cheers of expectant fans. David Dexter (’69/’72) said he drove from Alexander City to watch the game. “I wanted to see the quarterbacks,” said Dexter, who is a season ticket holder. “I wanted to get an idea of who would be replacing the (player) we had last year and see what kind of game we will be running.” The day featured many of the festivities that will be part of football at “Our House,” including tailgating. Helen Brooks and her family are veteran Hornets tailgaters. “We have strong ASU blood in my family, and we are strong supporters of ASU,” said Brooks. “Tailgating is something that we do to show up and support the University as a family. We are very proud of ASU’s accomplishments and the new stadium. It’s extremely exciting to be part of ‘Our House’ and the ASU family.” For communications major Ryan Sellers, the event was a chance to display the unity of the Hornet Nation. “I always enjoy days like this where the alumni and students come together to show our pride in our ASU,” said Sellers. 1. The Mighty Marching Hornets play during the inaugural Black “Everyone seems happy to be here, and I can’t wait for next and Gold Game in The New ASU Stadium. 2. Running back Isaiah Crowell scrimmages against the defense. season so we can get our first win in our new stadium.” n
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To view the fall football schedule, visit bamastatesports.com.
3. Face painting was a popular attraction at the Kids Fun Zone during the Hornet Fest. 4. Fans cheer during the Black and Gold game. 5. Donald Evans and Helen Brooks are longtime tailgaters at Hornets football games.
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University Birthplace Continued from page 37 ASU’s rich history in Marion. Betty Lipscomb Walker, a 1961 graduate of the Lincoln Normal School, recalled her friendship with the late Jean Childs Young (Andrew Young’s first wife) and the late Coretta Scott King, both graduates of Lincoln Normal School. “I was always at Jean’s house — babysitting or taking the kids to New Orleans while they traveled. I also would babysit Coretta’s children as well,” Walker said. “I did not march or sit in, but I helped in other ways. They were all Honey Beez Leonesha Jordan, Carlisa Ray and Jassmin Oliver react as they appear on just like my family.” the “Steve Harvey” show. The trip also included a tour of the old Lincoln Normal School campus and Honey Beez Jasmine Robinson and Gabrielle Hollis share a moment of a visit to the Lincoln Museum. Located laughter during the watch party. adjacent to the school, the museum houses a wealth of artifacts, historical documents, memorabilia, videos, photos during the 1950s, drove from Columbus, and newspaper articles related to the history of Lincoln School and Alabama Ga., to attend the watch party. She State University. said she didn’t want to watch the show “Some of the students we anywhere else or with anyone else. brought today don’t know this side “It’s important for me to be on ASU’s of ASU’s story,” said Zillah Fluker, campus to watch our Honey Beez on ASU’s associate vice president for TV. It’s great to see the University receive this kind of recognition because Development. “This has been an we are great, and it’s a great time to be a excellent opportunity for all of us.” Honey Beez Fluker said the University plans Hornet,” Battle said. Continued from page 30 to continue to foster engagement That sentiment was echoed by the support,” Robinson said. more than 250 people who attended the opportunities with the Lincolnites and James Oliver, Mighty Marching Watch Party. The crowd gave the Honey the residents of Marion. n Alabama State University will honor Hornets band director and Honey Beez Beez a rousing standing ovation after founder, said the national attention the their segment aired. They later lined up the Lincoln Normal School and group has received is a blessing. Marion, Ala., as the birthplace of the as the ladies signed their autographs “The ladies are an integral part of University during the 2014 Founders’ on commemorative cards bearing their the Mighty Marching Hornets. They Week celebration. More information signature photograph. do an awesome job, and they are truly regarding the event and associated The group also received a letter of superstars,” Oliver said. activities will be provided in upcoming recognition, a certificate and other Alumna Gloria J. Battle, who was mementos from Interim President editions of ASU Today, as well as on the a member of the Marching Hornets University’s web site at www.alasu.edu. William H. Harris. n
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A Championship Season
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By Duane Lewis, Sports Information Director
Alabama State University claimed the women’s 2013 All-Sports Trophy as the best all-around women’s sports program in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). The award was announced at the league's meeting in New Orleans in June. It was the first time Alabama State has earned the award in the women’s all-sports competition. Alabama State finished third in the men’s all-sports standings, and that combination helped to give Alabama State its third consecutive runner-up finish in the overall SWAC Commissioner’s Cup Standings. “To win the women’s all-sports award is a great honor for Alabama State University,” said Acting Athletic Director Melvin Hines. “We will continue to strive to bring home the Commissioner’s Cup Award and to be one of the top Division I athletic programs in the country.” Alabama State finished second in the overall standings. The women’s award, the Barbara Jacket/Sadie Magee Trophy, was named for two conference pioneers. Jacket was a long time track coach at Prairie View and is in the U.S. Track and Field Hall of Fame. Magee is the winningest coach in Jackson State women’s basketball history.
Track Leads the Way Highlighting ASU athletics in 2012-13 was the women’s track program’s second consecutive “Triple Crown.” The Lady Hornets earned SWAC championships in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track. It was the second straight league title in cross country, the fifth consecutive title in indoor track and the fourth consecutive outdoor track championship.
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Championship Season
Continued from page 41 “It is difficult to express how excited I am about this year's accomplishments. I am so proud of the student-athletes, my staff and ASU because they have given so much to this program,” said head coach Ritchie Beene, who also was named SWAC Women's Coach of the Year. “It is always an honor to be Coach of the Year. Six in a row is amazing, but I still feel there is more that I can give to this program.”
Golf Sweeps SWAC Both the women’s and men’s golf programs won SWAC Championships this spring, earning NCAA Tournament appearances. The women’s team earned its second SWAC title in three years, while the men’s team won its second consecutive conference title. “I am pleased with the performance of our players both in the classroom and on the golf course,” said head coach Gary Grandison. “All of our men and most of our women players made the dean’s list this year while playing some demanding schedules. I am very optimistic about both of our teams’ potential because they won this year’s championships with rosters of mostly freshmen and sophomore players. We have the opportunity to grow into a really strong program.”
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“ To win the women’s all-sports award is a great honor for Alabama State University.”
– Melvin Hines Acting Athletic Director
Historic Accomplishments
Classroom Accomplishments
In women’s sports, ASU softball finished second for the first time in school history, and volleyball finished tied for third for the second straight year. The bowling team was ranked in the national poll for the first time in school history, and the soccer team posted its highest win total in school history. In men’s sports, the football team tied for the best record in the division for the third straight season, and tennis tied for third for the second straight year. The baseball team posted a school record for wins, and its tie for third-place finish in the SWAC was the highest in school history.
Hornets student-athletes excelled in the classroom as well. More than 172 ASU athletes earned at least a 3.0 GPA during the fall of 2012, with another 160 earning at least a 3.0 GPA this past spring. In the fall, 23 achieved 4.0 GPAs, while 30 achieved a perfect GPA this spring. “Our coaches and student-athletes had another outstanding season, in both intercollegiate competition and in the classroom,” Hines said. “To excel in both areas takes a special commitment, and we are proud of their accomplishments.” ■
For the latest ASU athletics news, visit bamastatesports.com.
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Above: Interim President William H. Harris and Band Director James Oliver receive a $30,000 check from former University President Leon Howard, cochair of the Class of 1963 Golden Reunion Task Force. Middle: The Reunion was a time to renew acquaintances and share fond memories. Far right: The memorial service is always a special time of remembrance during the Golden Reunion.
Class of 1963 Continued from page 21 County Courthouse, stayed in jail until her uncle bailed her out. The next day, she was called in to President Trenholm’s office. “I was so scared,” she said. “He knew my mother!” Frederick Frazier, who earlier had been part of the Bus Boycott, was among the students who had dared sit down in the all-white courthouse café. “We were cautious,” he says. “But we were not afraid.” Lovely Juanita Harris Duncombe participated in the movement by singing in Dr. King’s Taborian Chorus. “We thought we were the Supremes,” says Duncombe, who traveled extensively with King during those years. One mass meeting at First Baptist Church on Ripley Street turned into a spend-the-night-party. It was considered too dangerous to leave with an angry mob outside. “We were so scared,” she said. Dr. King called President Kennedy for help. The next morning, the National Guard arrived and took students back to campus in trucks. Newsmaking events, however, were
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not the only memories made by the classmates. William E. Cooper was a member of “all the bands,” including the Marching Hornets. “I loved marching in the Thanksgiving parade and playing at dances,” he said. Cooper brought his trumpet back to campus for the Reunion and joined fellow class musicians in entertaining at the Friday night “Songs of the Sixties Soiree.” Robert Belser says he came to school “strictly for the grades” and didn’t have much time for demonstrating, as he lived out in the country some miles away. “My favorite teacher was Dr. Zelia Evans (Stephens),” he said. “She got me my first job. She took care of her students.” For many of the ’63 class, the return to campus for the Reunion came after many years of absence. Others, like Velora Cannon Ford, have continued to make ASU a second home. Ford made a name for herself as the only female in a campus jazz band, playing both piano and trombone. As busy as she was, she made several mass meetings, including those at Hutchinson Street and Beulah Baptist. Today, she is still actively involved with her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and the ASU National Alumni Association. Recent growth has amazed her. “When I was here, there were nine or 10 buildings and that’s it,” she said. “It was small, but we loved it. We made our own fun.” Zerubbabell I. Flemming Jr. was president of the Science and Math Club and served as chaplain of the student council. His days were filled with study,
student activities and jobs. He worked first in the dining hall and then in the science lab. At the end of the day, he went home to B4 in the barracks, a space he shared with Alvin Holmes (longtime Alabama legislator). “It was less supervised there, but we behaved ourselves all right,” Flemming said. Among those attending the Reunion was Ellen Johnson Conley, who married Charles S. Conley, the state’s first black judge. He was already practicing law in 1963 and would soon be among the linchpins of the Selmato-Montgomery March. “My husband wired Columbia University and N.Y.U asking for help from among the white students,” she said. “They came, too, and went across that bridge, but you don’t usually see that.” In a souvenir program to honor the occasion, ASU’s Dr. Alma Freeman provided a detailed account of the historical events that punctuated the class’s collegiate years. “I’m happy that so many of my classmates came back,” she said. It’s been half a century since the members of the class of ’63 strolled the “sweet and pleasant soil” of the University. Times have changed, and so has Alabama State. Dr. Leon Howard, another coed inhabitant of the barracks (B1), returned to serve for eight years as president of his alma mater (1983-1991). He describes this change and growth as amazing. “I’m so excited about the evolution of ASU — from what our yearbook shows to what we have become.” n
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