Director’s Message
Greetings, Alumni.
Very shortly, many of us will come home to alma mater to celebrate Homecoming 2013. Some of our classes will hold their reunions, some for the first time in many years and others as an annual tradition. Other alumni will enjoy their own special reunion, at the football game, on the quad or at the home of a family member or friend. Wherever the place, there is nothing like a Morgan Homecoming. It is our hope that you have already made plans to come back. We’re excited to welcome you home! Again this year, many changes are taking place on campus. The buildings adjacent to the Alumni House have been torn down. On the northwest corner of Hillen Road and Argonne Drive, there is clear evidence that our new School of Business and Management is a reality, because the foundation is now being placed. In spite of all of our progress, we still face challenges. Many of our students were not able to matriculate this year, some because of financial problems caused by the weak economy and by new government policies restricting student loans. When there is a cry for help, the first place you look is to your family. In this case, our alumni are our family. Our President, Dr. Wilson, reached out to you, and many of you responded. And for that, we are grateful. We did not reach our fundraising goal, but we were able to save some of our students. Thank you, Morgan alumni, for your continued dedication and support! As we continue to move forward, the need for financial assistance remains. If you have not made a gift this year to the MSU Foundation, we encourage you to do so. If you can find it in your heart to send even $5 a year, our alumni participation rate will increase significantly. I know we can do it. I come in contact with so many of you, and I know that Morgan Alumni are “Bear” to the Bone. We’re depending on you! I look forward to seeing you during the weekend of Oct. 4–6, 2013. Sincerely,
Joyce A. Brown MSU Director of Alumni Relations
MSUNAA New National Alumni Officers
On Alumni Day 2013, the new officers of the MSU National Alumni Association (MSUNAA) Board of Directors were announced at the 73rd Alumni Awards and Class Reunion Luncheon. The following officers were installed at the June 15, 2013 Business Meeting of the MSUNAA for a two-year term, July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2015: Jacqueline L. Lawson, ’75, President; Charles D. Fletcher, Jr., Ph.D., ’70, First Vice President; Denise D. Adams, ’76, Second Vice President; Joanne S. Mack, ’78, Secretary; Charles Pollard, ’57, Treasurer; Barbara A. Tiller-Ferguson, ’93, Financial Secretary.
HOMECOMING 2013
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‘Let Justice Prevail!’
s Athletic Director at MSU, Floyd Kerr has to think about the long term. So when we talked with him in early August, Homecoming and his department’s 10-year strategic plan were among the topics at the top of his mind. But he was also excited about a big event only three weeks hence, involving a high-profile opponent for Morgan’s football team. The University had just announced the Bears’ game against Army, at West Point. “We’ll be playing one of the service academies that represent the entire nation,” he adds. “Matching that with the history of Morgan and all of its contributions to the United States Army, with all of the generals that have been produced by Morgan, all of that puts Morgan on a great national platform.” Kerr expects the Bears’ Homecoming opponent to attract a lot of positive attention, as well. Florida A&M University is a perennial football power in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), and the team has a big following to support it on the road. “I think this will be our most well-attended Homecoming in a number of years,” Kerr says. Morgan’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics also had good news to report from the academic front. The University had 55 students on this year’s MEAC Commissioners All-Academic Team, which is composed of scholarathletes who have grade-point averages of 3.0 or higher. “All of those students were recognized at our Salters Scholar-Athlete Brunch, an annual event that we hold in December,” Kerr says. “That’s a highlight of our program.” “The commitment to academic excellence is one of the things we constantly work on, throughout the University, and we integrate the athletic program into all of the University’s academic support services,” Kerr says. “Our goals are to recruit athletes, keep them at Morgan and graduate them. Through the leadership of our President, Dr. Wilson, and our Vice President for Student Affairs, Dr. Banks, the commitment is there to support our recruits.”
Q&A with the MSUNAA President
Alumni News spoke with Jacqueline L. Lawson, ’75, recently, to get an update on her work as President of the MSU National Alumni Association. AN: Some have said 2012–13 was a tough year for Morgan. Do you agree? Lawson: Morgan and the Alumni Association faced some real challenges during the last school year, but the Morgan alumni community rose to the occasion and faced those challenges head on. We are on the road to recovery. AN: Do you have any numbers to support that assessment? Lawson: Thanks to the efforts of many, our capital campaign continues: the alumni giving rate topped 13.8 percent in 2012, a 100 percent increase over 2010 and 33 percent over 2011. Alumni chapters around the country are energized, and chapter membership rolls are growing. In fact, we chartered a new chapter in May — the Northern Virginia Alumni Chapter — with 41 charter members. AN: What’s your call to action for members of the MSUNAA? Lawson: I am challenging all Morgan alumni to reach out to others and get involved with an alumni chapter and the MSU National Alumni Association. I also am challenging alumni to be advocates to attract the best and brightest students to the University. Sign up to represent Morgan at college fairs and other recruitment events in your community. Morgan needs your continued support.
CHAPTER AND CLASS NEWS Become a Class Agent
Do you like to stay in touch with your MSU classmates and connected to Morgan? Then you have what it takes to be an MSU Class Agent! We are seeking Class Agents for the following classes: Class of 1948, 1951, 1954, 1988, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2013. Please contact Alison Hillen, Assistant Director, Alumni Relations Office, at (443) 885-3015, or e-mail alison.hillen@morgan.edu.
Alumni Day 2013
The 73rd Annual Alumni Awards and Class Reunion Luncheon, held on Friday, May 17, 2013, was attended by more than 500 alumni and guests. There was something special about this luncheon that was felt by all who attended. The group seemed more excited than ever to see their classmates, as they greeted one another with robust hugs. Morgan President David Wilson brought the alumni up-to-date with his state-of-the-university address. One of the highlights of the annual luncheon is the presentation of class gifts by the reunion class representatives. These gifts include all of those made to the individual classes, regardless of designation, since their last reunion five years ago. This year, the giving period was from Jan. 1, 2008 to May 10, 2013. As each representative approached the podium, there was an air of anticipation, as class members hoped their class had raised more funds than the others. Some, after the amount of their gift was announced, realized they had some work to do in preparation for their next reunion. It was exciting! The following is a list of the class gifts that were presented: Class of 1943 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,565.00 Class of 1948 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3,581.00 Class of 1953 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64,940.00 Class of 1958 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62,424.00 Class of 1963 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74,305.00 Class of 1968 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .128,738.00 Class of 1973 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .123,782.45 Class of 1978 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42,547.00 Class of 1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23,796.00
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Class of 1988 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125,510.00 Class of 1993 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6,115.54 Class of 1998 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17,941.00 Class of 2003 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5,572.56 Total Contributions . . . . . . . . . .$680,817.55
Classes ending in “4” and “9”: What will your class gift look like on Alumni Day 2014? Start giving now! Any amount will do!
Top Three Classes Win Awards
Also during the 2013 Annual Alumni Awards and Class Reunion Luncheon, the following classes were presented with awards for having the highest alumni participation rates for calendar year 2012: Class of 1952 – Chairman’s Award – 38.8 percent Class of 1957 – President’s Award – 37.6 percent Class of 1960 – Dean’s Award – 37.5 percent
Reunion Classes Ending in ‘4’ and ‘9’ Time to Celebrate!
Classes ending in ‘4’ and ‘9’, 1944 through 2009, will celebrate their reunions during the 74th Annual Alumni Awards and Class Reunion Luncheon, scheduled for Friday, May 16, 2014. Special recognition will be given to our 50th Anniversary Class of 1964, along with Emeritus Class of 1963 and earlier. Time flies by so quickly, it has been five years since your last reunion. Is your class ready? If not, we encourage you to start as soon as possible by contacting your Class Agent(s), spreading the word and making plans to meet and celebrate! In addition, it is important that your class begin working on your class gift, one that you can be proud to present on that day. If there is no Class Agent listed for your class, please help us identify someone to serve in that capacity. The Alumni Relations Office looks forward to working with your class and is available to assist in any way we can. To get started, we will provide lists and labels, as well as do the mailings. Let’s start planning! Continued on page 3
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