CHAPTER AND CLASS NEWS Dallas Fort-Worth Chapter Served Hundreds for Christmas The Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Chapter volunteered with its community partner Mercy Street Dallas to serve low-income residents of West Dallas last December, during their Christmas Co-Op. Donations of time, money and more than 200 boxes of food provided gifts for 200 families at the event. The chapter has been very active in 2020–2021, with other activities such as its joint virtual mixer with the Greater Houston Chapter and a virtual art gallery fundraiser featuring African-American and abstract art highlighting Morgan, HBCUs, the “Divine Nine,” Black Lives Matter and more. The chapter welcomes Morgan alumni who are new to the Dallas-Fort Worth area. For more information, please contact msuaa.dfwchapter@ gmail.com to learn more about the DFW Chapter and fellow MSU alumni nearby.
NJ, which is the largest anti-hunger, anti-poverty organization in New Jersey. Hosted by the HBCU-NJ Consortium for the eighth year, the NJ Chapter joined 15 other HBCU alumni chapters for the activity, which raised more than $4,800 for the food bank. As participants were not able to meet in-person, a Zoom get together was held with other members of the HBCU-NJ Consortium during the hours that would normally be spent at the food bank.
Northern Virginia Chapter Continues Work and Celebration
Howard L. Cornish Chapter’s Direct-Mail Campaign Raises $52,000 for Scholarships
The work and celebration of the Northern Virginia Alumni Chapter (MSUNOVAAC) have continued apace. When the pandemic prevented Morgan’s in-person Homecoming last year, the chapter decided to show its “Bear Pride” by hosting a Virtual Homecoming Celebration/Happy Hour on Oct. 23, via Zoom. Later last fall, six chapter members participated in the Sixth Annual HBCU Showcase. More than 400 students registered for the virtual event, which gave the Morgan alumni — including retired U.S. Army Gen. William E. (“Kip”) Ward, ’71 — opportunities to talk with prospective MSU matriculants about the University and the benefits of attending an HBCU. In December, after a short business meeting, chapter members and their families celebrated an afternoon of fun, virtually, at MSUNOVAAC’s Annual Holiday Celebration.
Like many other charitable, fundraising events since the spring of 2020, the Howard L. Cornish Metropolitan Baltimore Chapter’s 36th Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Breakfast, scheduled for Jan. 9, 2021, was canceled because of COVID-19. However, the chapter would not let the pandemic stop its annual tradition of awarding much-needed financial assistance to students of its alma mater. Last year, concerned that its perennially sold-out fundraiser would be preempted by the coronavirus, the chapter implemented a direct-mail campaign to ask its many dedicated supporters to donate the amount they would normally give to the MLK Breakfast. As a result of the dedication and unprecedented response of Cornish Chapter members, fellow Morgan alumni and the general public, the chapter has awarded $52,000 in scholarships to 26 deserving MSU students. The funds will be applied to the students’ Spring and Fall Semester tuition this year. Many students now face the stress of additional financial pressures because of the economic impact of the pandemic on their families. These scholarships were welcome assistance!
Pershing Angels Alumnae Stand Strong Amidst COVID-19
Class of 1949’s Giving Reaches a Milestone
The MSUAA Pershing Angels Alumnae Unit (AA-8-5) stood strong for Morgan and the broader community from fall 2020 through winter 2021. After performing a virtual salute on Facebook for Morgan’s Homecoming, sisters of the unit “Zoomed” in to support Morgan and Coppin undergraduate Pershing Angels during the Veterans Day program at Coppin State University, in November. In December, the unit shared the love of giving as Pershing Angels Elves in Baltimore City, partnering with Rosemont Interfaith Coalition to distribute adult winter care packages at Rosemont Towers and distribute Christmas toys and school supply bags to Youth of Rosemont Community. The kickoff of a High Tea Fellowship in February gave the sisters and their friends the opportunity to don fine linen and long white gloves to share the unit’s history and accomplishments. A few days later, the unit was well represented at the virtual Founders’ Day celebration of The National Society of Pershing Angels Sorority, Inc., which was founded on Morgan’s campus in 1965.
The Class of 1949’s contribution to MSU Foundation, Inc., for the Class of ’49 Alumni House Maintenance Endowment Fund has passed the $50,000 mark! Giving is an ongoing tradition for the Class of 1949, which has also made major contributions to the Harold Blackwell, Sr. Endowment Fund and the Dr. Effietee M. Payne Endowed Scholarship Fund and donated $1,949 to the University Memorial Chapel in 2019. The class extends its thanks to the family of Alfonso Owens, ’49, for the memorabilia they donated to the Beulah M. Davis Special Collections, housed in Morgan’s Richardson Library. Thanks also to the Class of ’49 from the Class Agents, Marie Bessick and Elaine Blackwell, for making the 70th Anniversary Class Reunion a success. As it continues its accomplishments in the present, the class acknowledges the work and cherishes the memory of three of its classmates who have passed on since 2019: Dr. Nancy Arnez, Dr. Edward James and Constance B. White.
Delaware Alumni Chapter Holds Raffle to Support Students The Delaware Alumni Chapter is sponsoring a raffle to raise money for the chapter’s MSU College Scholarship Fund. The first prize is a new Vizio 55-inch Smart TV, the second prize is $250 cash, and the third prize is $100 cash. The raffle tickets are $10 each. The drawing of the raffle tickets will be live on Zoom. The prizes will be mailed or delivered to winning ticket holders. Tickets can be purchased by emailing the Chapter President, Howard Sharps, at hesharps@yahoo.com.
Howard County Chapter Pushes Forward Through Pandemic
The Howard County Alumni Chapter has adjusted to the “new normal,” finding creative ways to push forward with its business during the pandemic. Although unable to hold its annual scholarship awards dinner, the chapter awarded scholarships to six deserving Howard County students enrolled in Morgan. Short videos of the students — in which they introduced themselves and expressed what the scholarship meant to them — were viewed during the October chapter meeting. The chapter’s annual Thanksgiving and Christmas donations to the Howard County Food Bank were accomplished this year via an outside “drive-by/ drop-off ” that yielded $1,350 in cash and 844 pounds of food. In lieu of in-person activities, fundraising to support the chapter’s scholarship fund was accomplished with a “Let’s Give Something Back Campaign.” Chapter members were asked to donate or pledge a certain amount and have already pushed past the halfway mark en route to the Fundraising Committee’s goal! Donating a certain amount gets the donor a custom MSU Howard County facemask, which is also available for purchase for $20. Another proud moment for the chapter was the creation of its website. Visit the group at MSUAA-hcc.org!
New Jersey Chapter Remains Active in the State The New Jersey Alumni Chapter has remained an active presence in the state despite the social restrictions enforced during the COVID-19 pandemic. In November 2020, the chapter sponsored its first-ever virtual wine tasting fundraising event. Hosted by “Love, Cork, Screw” of Chicago, the event had almost 30 alumni and friends as participants. It was a unique, fun and educational evening for all — one the chapter hopes to repeat this spring. In February, the NJ Chapter participated in its annual community service activity for the Community Food Bank of THE ALUMNI NEWS The Alumni News is published biannually by the Office of Alumni Relations and the Office of Public Relations and Communications. Any questions or concerns about this publication can be directed to: Office of Alumni Relations, Alumni House, Morgan State University, 1700 E. Cold Spring Lane, Baltimore, MD 21251, (443) 885-3015.
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chapter benefited students in grades 11 and 12 during the Washington, D.C. Metro HBCU Alumni Alliance College Admissions Readiness Virtual Workshop, which focused on STEM, and chapter members helped organize and lead the first-ever Alumni Chapters Workshop, which focused on training to increase awareness and guidance for MSUAA chapters’ operation and management. MSUPGCAC also continued supporting Morgan students with scholarship fundraising and the award of two $1,500 scholarships to incoming freshmen. The University Memorial Chapel likewise benefited from the chapter’s giving: Chapter President Phillip David, ’87, presented a $500 check during an Embrace-the-Chapel service.
Prince George’s Alumni Chapter Gives Back to Alma Mater and Community Despite the pandemic, the Prince George’s County Alumni Chapter (MSUPGCAC) raised its high standards for service with a number of successful activities. The chapter kicked off the giving season with its financial support of the Washington, D.C. Metro HBCU Alumni Alliance’s Hunger Initiative, providing dinner boxes for families on “A Soulful Thanksgiving.” Next, the chapter collected $350, and $200 worth of toys, clothes and toiletries, in December, for the Ronald McDonald House Charities Annual Toy and Supply Drive. Later in the month, chapter members donated $1,050 to Morgan’s Food Resource Center, to help support the approximately 65 students on campus who were unable to return home during the winter break. Volunteer service by the
Class of 1961’s 60th Reunion Will Honor Achievement and Legacy The Class of 1961 will hold a virtual meeting for its 60th reunion, on Friday, May 21, 2021. The class honors Morgan for giving it the tools to make a difference in the world: the tools to legislate, govern, heal body and soul, build financial wealth, teach, write, and create world ambassadors and musicians. At the reunion, the class will honor its own and acknowledge that the classmates have “fought the good fight.” For more information, contact wilsongoodesr@gmail.com. The Class of ’61 asks its members to continue their group legacy by contributing to the class endowment fund. Please make checks payable and mail them to: Morgan State University Foundation, Inc., 1700 E. Cold Spring Lane, 201 Truth Hall, Baltimore MD 21251. Write “Class of ’61 Endowment Fund” on the memo line of your check.
DUES RENEWAL
GIVE A GIFT TO MORGAN
Dues renewal begIns on July 1, 2021.
We are always told, “It is better to give than receive.”
Enjoy all of the benefits of being an alumnus or alumna on an annual basis, for $35 per year: our easiest and most convenient way to contribute to the Morgan State University Alumni Association! Membership dues cover the fiscal year July 1, 2021–June 30, 2022. We look forward to your continued support!
So, on your birthday, anniversary, graduation, holiday or any other significant day in your life, honor your alma mater by giving a gift to Morgan State University! Visit www.givetomorgan. com, and click on “Give Now,” or make your check payable and mail it to: MSU Foundation, Inc., 201 Truth Hall, 1700 E. Cold Spring Lane, Baltimore, MD 21251.
