Virginia Union University Panther Profile - Week 1

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Fayetteville State University Champions Gridiron Gala Fundraiser

Fayetteville, N.C. - Robert E. Wilson, a 1976 graduate of Fayetteville State University and the North Carolina Assistant Secretary of State, will headline the Inaugural FSU Champions Gridiron Gala on Sept. 2.

Wilson has been in positions of increasing responsibility with the Secretary of State’s Office for the State of North Carolina since March of 1993. He has also held supervisory positions with the N.C. Department of Corrections and with the Community College system.

“It’s very exciting for me,” Wilson said. “It’s an opportunity to come back home and give back to the University after they’ve given me so much.”

Wilson was the first member of his family to attend college when he left his home town of Wilson, N.C., to enter Fayetteville State University in 1972. He graduated in 1976 with a BA in History. He has also continued his studies at North Carolina State University and Wilson County Technical Institute.

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Forty-One Bowie State Student-Athletes Earn Degrees

Bowie, MD - Forty-one current and former student-athletes, managers and cheerleaders were among Bowie State University graduates who received degrees in the 2011 Spring Commencement – Friday, May 20th in BSU's Bulldog Stadium.

“We are very proud of our student-athlete graduates today. These young men and young ladies are the true examples of student-athletes. They have embraced the mission of the Athletic Department and understand the importance we have stressed about academics. It is a proud moment for our coaches and administrators to be a part of the joyous occasion”, said Athletic Director Anton Goff.

The graduating class included six student-athletes who graduated with honors, BSU Athletics Male Student-Athlete of the Year Sterling Grant-Jones, two-time winning CIAA Softball Champion Danielle McClay, two-time winning CIAA Bowling Champion Rebecca Frusciante and Jatyra Heath member of the Women's Volleyball team who won this year's CIAA team's highest grade point average for women's volleyball.

We thank you for your contribution to BSU Athletic Department and your respective sport. Congratulations and best wishes to you as you begin your next journey.

Academic Honors
JaTyra Heath – Magna Cum Laude – Women's Volleyball
Shawnita Briggs – Magna cum Laude – Women's Basketball
Lacreshia Mason – Cum Laude – Cheerleading
Daryl Sanders – Cum Laude – Men's Cross Country/Track
Brianna Taylor – Cum Laude – Women's Basketball
Jayde Gavin – Academic Recognition – Men's Basketball

Current Student-Athletes
Ashley Cook – B.A. Fine Arts - Softball
Ciarra Roulhac - B.A. English - Cheerleading
Adeshola Ashiru – B.S. Biology – Women's Bowling
Santiato Ennis – B.S. Communications - Men's Track
Sterling Grant-Jones - B.S. Communications - Football
Courtney Halsey - B.S. Communications - Cheerleading
Lacreshia Mason – B.S. Communications - Cheerleading
Brianna Taylor – B.S. Communications - Women's Basketball
Rodney Webb – B.S. Communications – Football
Brittney Jackson – B.S. Business Administration - Women's Basketball
Daryl Sanders – B.S. Business Administration - Men's Cross Country/Track
Rebecca Frusciante – B.S. Elementary Education - Women's Bowling
April Johnson – B.S. Elementary Education - Cheerleading
Anthony Green – B.S. Child and Adolescent Studies - Football
Tiffany Queen – B.S. Child and Adolescent Studies – Football Manager
Jayde Gavin – B.S. Sociology - Men's Basketball
Jatyra Heath – B.S. Sociology - Women's Volleyball
Danielle McClay – B.S. Sociology - Women's Softball
Travis Reed - B.S. Sociology - Football
Nicole Robinson – B.S. Sport Management – Football
Joyous Willis – M.A. Organizational Communications

Former Student-Athletes
Shawnita Briggs – B.S. Biology – Women's Basketball
Meron “Mary” Wudneh – B.S. Biology – Women's Basketball
Erica Barron – B.S. Communications – Women's Tennis
Maurice Berry – B.S. Communications – Football
Arthur Bowers – B.S. Communications – Men's Basketball
James Hardaway, II – B.S. Computer Technology – Football
Irby Alexander – B.S. Business Administration – Football
Antonio Carter – B.S. Business Administration – Football
Carmen Herbert – B.S. Business Administration – Softball
Juwuhn Smith – B.S. Business Administration – Football
Jonathan Mason – B.S. Sport Management – Football
Dajuana Hill – B.S. Nursing – Women's Track
Jasmine McNair - B.S. Nursing - Women's Volleyball and Tennis
Elise Perkins – B.S. Early Childhood/Special Education - Women's Track
Ashley Robinson – B.S. Business Administration - Women's Volleyball
Joseph Embree – B.S. Child and Adolescent Studies – Football
Krystle Earle – B.S. Psychology – Women's Basketball
Donovan Carroll – B.S. Sociology - Men's Track
Bianca Lee – B.S. Sociology – Women's Basketball
Annette Makle – B.S. Sociology – Softball
Hamzat Saba – B.S. Sociology - Football

By Bowie State University Sports Information


Videographer: jvspears

Shaw University Shuts Down For Semester After Tornado

RALEIGH, N.C. - Due to extensive damage from the tornado and storms that hit Raleigh on Saturday, Shaw University in downtown Raleigh will be closed for the rest of the semester, although graduation will proceed as planned.

The school made the announcement through its website today.

“While I knew that the situation was adverse during the evening, daylight has revealed that it will be impossible for us to safely conduct classes and return to business as usual,” said Dr. Irma McLaurin, President of Shaw University. “Thus, I have made the difficult decision of suspending classes for the remainder of the semester.”

The school said it would would officially close at noon today (April 17, 2011).





Damage at Shaw sends students home

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Hours after scrambling off campus to escape a devastating storm, students at Shaw University returned Sunday, only to gather their belongings and head home. They won't return for months.

Classes at Shaw are canceled, and the university is closed for the remainder of spring semester as a result of Saturday's storm, which dismantled buildings on the school's downtown campus and displaced almost 150 students.

"The campus is difficult to navigate, trees are down and glass is everywhere," Shaw President Dr. Irma McClaurin said Sunday. "... Many students are in shock."

Shaw officials said a tornado touched down directly over the quad between 4 and 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

Two students were taken to the hospital with injuries. Others were forced to take refuge for the night in the gymnasium at Southeast Raleigh High School.

NCSU Campus considered lucky, 'dodges bullet'

A severe storm cell swept across North Carolina Saturday, killing 22 and injuring 130 others as several tornadoes touched down across the region. Areas of Raleigh hit hardest were South Saunders Street, Stony Brook mobile home park, where three people died, and the area around Shaw University.

Irma McClaurin, President of Shaw University, released a letter to all students and parents stating that the university would be closed for the remainder of the semester. According to McClaurin, Shaw "students will be graded on the work they have accomplished to date. The Math and English Competency Exam requirements are suspended for this semester only."

The storms that hit North Carolina were part of a three-day ordeal that hit the southern United States, killing more than forty people in total. North Carolina was hit the hardest and has the highest number of casualties, with 20 counties facing significant damage and over 200,000 people without power.

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Bowie State Names Goff New Athletic Director

BOWIE, Md. - Bowie State University named Anton Goff as the institution's new director of athletics, effective October 1. Goff, formerly associate director for the Academic Support and Career Development Unit (ASCDU) at the University of Maryland College Park (UMCP), served in collegiate athletics administration for the past 15 years.

A press conference at Bowie State is scheduled for Wednesday, September 15, 2010, at 3 p.m. The event's location is the Thurgood Marshall Library in the Special Collections Room on the second floor.

Goff succeeds interim athletic director Arlene Creek, an alumna who has been associated with Bowie State for over 30 years.

At UMCP, Goff focused on leading the Terps' academic support unit in providing quality developmental programs and need-based services that enhanced academic progress, facilitated career development and encouraged the psychosocial growth of all student-athletes.

"Mr. Goff brings an array of experiences that are certain to enhance the athletic programs at Bowie State University," said Mickey L. Burnim, president of Bowie State University. "His credentials are impressive and we are indeed delighted he is joining BSU to help lead an already thriving Division II program to the next level of excellence."

At Bowie State, Goff will oversee its 13 men's and women's athletic teams, which are part of the NCAA Division II Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA).

Goff will take on the role soon after Bowie State unveils its new artificial turf at Bulldog Stadium on September 25 at the first home football game versus Virginia Union University.

It is a great day to be a Bulldog," stated Anton Goff. "This is a tremendous opportunity for me professionally and personally. My goals and values mirror those of BSU and I am looking forward to leading the Athletic Department in pursuit of academic and athletic excellence as well as community participation. I am honored to be placed in this leadership position. My family and I are excited to become contributing members of the Bowie State University community."

Goff served as the sport supervisor and administrator at UMCP for six of its 27 varsity sports (men's and women's track and field program), while overseeing the program's yearly budget. He managed the areas of student services, academic support, community service, and life skills for all 27 varsity sports and 700 student-athletes.

While at Michigan State University, Goff served as the academic coordinator for the Spartan football team, where he was responsible for tracking the student-athletes' classroom efforts and monitoring progress toward their degrees in compliance with NCAA and Big Ten regulations. Goff was responsible for overseeing the tutoring programs and study table at MSU and coordinated a faculty/staff mentorship program. Goff supervised four full-time academic counselors/learning specialists, graduate students and several undergraduate tutors.

Prior to his tenure at MSU, Goff provided academic support for Maryland men's basketball, men's and women's track, men's and women's soccer and softball programs from 1998 to 2001. During his first stint in College Park, Goff was instrumental in the development of the Terrapin Student-Athlete Handbook and the implementation of educational programs concerning alcohol and drug abuse, academic integrity, gender violence and human diversity.

He completed the NCAA Leadership Institute and is a member of several associations and societies including the Minority Opportunities Athletic Association, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, the African American Scholars Honor Society, the Golden Key National Honors Society, the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics, the Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society, and the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated.

Goff earned a bachelor's degree in the administration of justice from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond in 1991, before receiving a master's degree in the same discipline from VCU two years later. He completed all of the requirements, excluding the dissertation (ABD), for a doctorate degree from Kent State University in Education Administration with a concentration in Sports Administration. He lives in Bowie with his wife and two daughters.

From Press Release: Bowie State University 9/10/2010

WSSU 'officially' accepted back into CIAA

The NCAA has granted Winston-Salem State its re-admittance to Division II. WSSU, which spent four years in transition to Division I, decided to halt that process last September. WSSU was also granted re-admittance into the CIAA.

Jimmy Jenkins, the president of Livingstone College and the chairman of the CIAA board of directors, said: "I speak on behalf of my colleagues as I express our excitement about the fact that Winston-Salem State University has returned." The Rams spent 61 years in the CIAA before leaving following the 2004-05 academic year.