Attorney Benjamin Crump to deliver commencement address at Morgan State University
By Sheyla Fairley
Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD, has announced that civil rights attorney and social justice advocate Benjamin Crump will be the keynote speaker for its spring 2023 commencement address on Saturday, May 20th at 10:00 a.m.
“Mr. Crump’s passion for addressing injustices committed against marginalized communities and his unrelenting work to hold those responsible accountable, is the type of tenacity we hope will inspire our graduates and current students,” said MSU president David K. Wilson in a release. “While academic and professional success is noteworthy, we want our graduates to recognize that in fullness of life, public service and heeding the call of social responsibility is as equally important to an individual’s character.”
North Carolina HBCU graduate to be first Black CEO of the historic Sumter County Chamber of Commerce in Georgia
By Sheyla Fairley
Amber Batchelor, graduate of Saint Augustine’s University, Raleigh, NC, has been named president and CEO of Sumter County Chamber of Commerce in Americus, GA.
According to an article, Batchelor earned a “Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a minor in International Studies” while at Saint Augustine’s University, served as the “Founder, CEO and Managing Partner of her boutique consulting firm, Batchelor & Bradley Insights Group,” and “worked in Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., and Florida supporting businesses, municipalities, and non-profits with over 17 years of engagement in the chamber industry.”
“Amber brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from business, past Chambers of Commerce, and non-profit organizational and board roles. We look forward to her leadership, ideas, and energy to continue the successful 100-year legacy of the Sumter County Chamber of Commerce,” said Brandi Lunneborg, Board Chair and then CEO of Phoebe Sumter Medical Center.
For more information, read the full article here.
Morehouse School of Medicine, Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia and 23andMe on sickle cell awareness program
By Sheyla Fairley
23andMe Holding Co., a biotechnology company, Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM), Atlanta, GA, and the Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia (SCFG) are teaming up to launch a Sickle Cell Carrier Status Awareness program.
According to an article, the program aims to “increase access to sickle cell carrier status information, raise awareness of sickle cell disease (SCD), and offer resources for individuals with sickle cell trait (SCT) and SCD.” Through this program, 23andMe will offer free Health+Ancestry DNA testing kits “to MSM students, faculty and staff, providing individuals the opportunity to learn more about their ancestral heritage and access over 65 Health reports and features.”
“The collaboration between MSM, 23andMe, and the SCFG offers the potential for impact at scale,” said Herman Taylor, Endowed Professor and Director of the Cardiovascular Research Institute (CVRI) at MSM. “Working together, we have the opportunity to share scientific and health insights for diseases that impact those in the Black and African American community at higher rates, allowing individuals to address health risks early and prevent disease.”
For more details, read the full article here.
Alabama A&M University student wins big on ‘Wheel of Fortune’
By Sheyla Fairley
Tomia Gordon, a junior at Alabama A&M University, Huntsville, AL, participated on and won $31,700 in cash and gifts on the game show “Wheel of Fortune” during its “College Week Spring Break” on April 5, 2023.
“Tomia grew up watching Wheel of Fortune with her grandmother and after seeing an ad looking for college students on social media, she knew she had to apply,” states the press release. “She was so excited to apply, she recorded her application video during a trip to Israel. She has been preparing for her appearance by watching old shows and playing the game diligently on her phone. With any winnings, Tomia would like to pay off her tuition and donate to a nonprofit her college supports.”
HBCU students offered full-tuition scholarship by Pronghorn
By Sheyla Fairley
According to an article, Pronghorn, “a stand-alone business dedicated to cultivating the next generation of Black founders, executive leaders, and entrepreneurs in the spirits industry,” will be offering a full tuition for the 2023-2024 academic year to HBCU students who are “selected as recipients of their new need-based scholarship, the Spirits Grant Initiative.”
To be eligible for the scholarship, students must be: a rising undergraduate senior or graduate student, in good academic standing, interested in the spirits/alcohol beverage industry, and currently utilizing federal or private loans.
Additionally, students will have to “fill out a form that includes a resume, financial need, interest, learning experiences in adversity and leadership, a recommendation letter, and a few other details.”
The deadline to apply is May 1, 2023.
Read the full article, here.
