Sunday, May 17, 2015

JCSU Qualifies 14 for the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships


CSU Track & Field Teams Qualify 14 for NCAA Outdoor Championships

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- The Johnson C. Smith University Track & Field teams had 14 individuals qualify for the upcoming NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

For the JCSU women, Kenrisha Brathwaite (Bridgetown, Barbados) and Shamaz Quince (West Palm Beach, Fla.) each qualified for the 100m hurdles.  Brathwaite qualified by posting a 13.80 at the CIAA Championships while Quince clocked a 13.90 at the Winthrop Invitational.  Freshman Fellan Ferguson (Trelawny, Jamaica) enters the NCAA Championships after posting a qualifying time of 2:08.97 at the Georgia Invitational last weekend.

Tovea Jenkins (St. James, Jamaica) will compete in the 400m after she set a qualifying mark of 52.42 at the CIAA Championships.  That time is currently the third-fastest time of the spring.  Imeshia Jones (Reidsville, N.C.) is the lone JCSU field qualifier in the javelin after tossing a 40.51m at the Auburn Tiger Track Classic.

The JCSU 4x400m relay team of Crystal Campbell (St. Catherine, Jamaica)Domenique Julius-Williams (Oshawa, Ontario)Shanice Pettigrew (West Palm Beach, Fla.) and Jenkins also qualified with a 3:42.31, also at the CIAA Championships.

The JCSU men qualified four athletes in individual events and also qualified for two relays.  Sophomore Patrick Campbell (St. Elizabeth, Jamaica) earned a spot in the 400m hurdles when he returned a 52.46 mark at the CIAA Championships.  Joshua Cunningham (Toronto, Ontario) and Waynee Hyman (Warwick, N.Y.) each qualified in the 400m at the CIAA Championships, with Cunningham posting a 47.04 and Hyman running a 46.77.  Hyman will also compete in the 200m after a running a 20.78.

Michane Rickets (Kingston, Jamaica) earned a spot in the long jump by leaping to a school-record 7.42m mark last week at the Georgia Invitational.

In the relays, the 4x100 team of David Ellis (Katy, Texas)Rajiv Service (Fairmouth, Jamaica), Hyman and Cunningham will participate due to the 40.15 they posted while winning the CIAA Championship.  That time is the second-fastest nationally this spring.  Also in the 4x400, the team of Campbell, Hyman, Service and Cunningham will race after posting a 3:11.77 at the CIAA Championships.

The 2015 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be held on May 21-23 in Allendale, Michigan at the Grand Valley State University Track & Field Complex.

Women's Qualifiers            Event                Time                     Qualifying Meet


Kenrisha Brathwaite             100m Hurdles     13.80                     CIAA Championships (4/17/15)
Fellan Ferguson                   800m                 2:08.97                  Georgia Invitational (5/9/15)
Tovea Jenkins                     400m                 52.42                     CIAA Championships (4/17/15)
Imeshia Jones                     Javelin               40.51m                  Auburn Tiger Track Classic (4/3/15)
Shamaz Quince                   100m Hurdles     13.90                     Winthrop Invitational (3/26/15)
Crystal Campbell                 4x400                 3:42.31                  CIAA Championships (4/17/15)
Domenique Julius-Williams   4x400
Shanice Pettigrew                4x400
Tovea Jenkins                     4x400


Men's Qualifiers                Event                Time                    Qualifying Meet

Patrick Campbell                400m Hurdles     52.46                    CIAA Championships (4/17/15)
Joshua Cunningham           400m                 47.04                     CIAA Championships (4/17/15)
Waynee Hyman                  200m                 20.78                     CIAA Championships (4/17/15)
                                         400m                 46.77                     CIAA Championships (4/17/15
Michane Rickets                 Long Jump         7.42m                    Georgia Invitational (5/9/15)
David Ellis                         4x100                 40.15                     CIAA Championships (4/17/15)
Rajiv Service                      4x100
Waynee Hyman                  4x100
Joshua Cunningham            4x100

Patrick Campbell                4x400                 3:11.77                  CIAA Championships (4/17/15)
Waynee Hyman                  4x400
Rajiv Service                      4x400
Joshua Cunningham            4x400

COURTESY JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Xavier Gold Nuggets fall in national semifinals


MOBILE, Alabama -- Xavier University of Louisiana lost 5-3 Saturday to defending champion Georgia Gwinnett in the semifinals of the NAIA Women's Tennis National Championship.

The Gold Nuggets (17-10) were eliminated in the national semifinals for the third consecutive year. Women's tennis is the only XU sport to advance this far at nationals.

The dual match ended approximately 25 hours after its 1 p.m. Friday start. Play was suspended in the third hour because of a rainstorm and did not resume until 11 a.m. Saturday. There was a second rain delay Saturday of approximately two hours.

Xavier began Saturday with a 2-1 lead after doubles but never overcame the Grizzlies' lead in five singles matches. Georgia Gwinnett won four times in singles and clinched when Valeria Podda defeated Nour Abbes 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (8-6) at the top flight.

"The girls left everything out on the court today," 12th-year XU coach Alan Green said. "They had another good year where we learned so many things together. We know we are one of the elite teams in the NAIA, and today we lost to the best team and the best coach. We're hurting right now, but underneath we know we have a lot to be proud of and thankful for."

The Gold Nuggets' lone singles victory was Caroline Vernet's 6-0, 6-3 decision against Laura Wehner at No. 2. It was Vernet's second consecutive singles victory at the tournament against a ranked opponent, and it gave Xavier a 3-2 lead in the dual.

On Friday, Abbes and Carmen Nelson defeated Luma Schwab and Victoria Svensson 9-7 at No. 2 doubles, and Brion Flowers and Brandi Nelson beat Chiara Di Salvo and Helga Pinones-Haltenhoff 8-4 at No. 3.

Ewell, Flowers and Brandi Nelson lost in straight sets in singles. Still on the court when the Grizzlies clinched was Carmen Nelson, who trailed Judith van Fraaijenhoven 6-4, 6-6 and was tied at 3 in a second-set tiebreaker.

Di Salvo's 6-2, 7-6 (7-2) victory against Flowers tied the dual at 3.

Abbes vs. Podda was a matchup of the NAIA's No. 1 and 3 singles players. Podda, a straight-sets loser to Abbes in September in the final of the USTA / ITA NAIA South Regional Championships, beat top-ranked Abbes for the first time in three collegiate meetings.

In the third set, Abbes led 4-3 in games after a service break -- she had trailed 40-love -- and led 5-3 in the tiebreaker. But Podda rallied to give Abbes her fourth loss of the season in 33 decisions and her first in two appearances (six rounds) at nationals.

Georgia Gwinnett is 9-0 this season against NAIA opponents and has not lost to an NAIA team since Xavier's 5-3 victory in the championship of the 2014 NAIA Unaffiliated Group 2 Tournament.

This was the closest of the Nuggets' three national semifinal duals. They lost 5-0 to William Carey in 2013 and 5-2 to Embry-Riddle (Fla.) In 2014. Both times a top-seeded Xavier team lost to a No. 5 seed.

Georgia Gwinnett will play second-seeded Auburn Montgomery, a 5-2 winner against third-seeded Lindsey Wilson, for the championship Sunday. More rain fell about 10 minutes after Xavier was eliminated and pushed back the men's and women's championship duals a day. Defending champion Georgia Gwinnett will play Embry-Riddle in a rematch of the 2014 men's final.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Eighteen Saint Augustine's Scholar-Athletes Qualify For NCAA Division II Track and Field Championships

Omar Johnson Selected USTFCCCA Atlantic Region Men's Track Athlete of the Year
RALEIGH, North Carolina -- Eighteen Saint Augustine's University (SAU) scholar-athletes qualified for the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships, which will be held in Allendale, Mich., on the Grand Valley State University campus May 21-23, 2015.

Ten Falcon men and eight Lady Falcons are heading to the championship meet. The SAU men are ranked third nationally in Division II and are the two-time defending champions. The SAU women are ranked fourth nationally in Division II. The track and field program has won 35 NCAA Division II indoor and outdoor titles combined under legendary Head Coach George Williams.

Below is the list of Saint Augustine's University track and field qualifiers for the NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships. Go to NCAA.com for a total list of qualifiers.

WOMEN
(Name, Event or Events)

Sherri-Ann Ashman – 4x400 Meter Relay

Tia-Adana Belle – 400-Meter Hurdles, 4x400-Meter Relay

Shakinah Brooks – Long Jump, 4x100-Meter Relay

Shamia Lassiter – 100-Meter Hurdles, 4x100-Meter Relay

Ornella Livingston – 100-Meter Dash, 200-Meter Dash, 4x100-Meter Relay

Cherrisse Lynch – 4x400-Meter Relay

Amenze Uhunmwangho – Long Jump, Triple Jump

Samantha Woodburn – 200-Meter Dash, 400-Meter Dash, 4x100-Meter Relay, 4x400-Meter Relay

MEN
(Name, Event or Events)

Moussa Dembele – 110-Meter Hurdles

JaQuan Demiel – Long Jump

Burkheart Ellis, Jr. – 200-Meter Dash, 400-Meter Dash, 4x100-Meter Relay, 4x400-Meter Relay

Khari Herbert, Jr. – 400-Meter Dash, 4x100-Meter Dash, 4x400-Meter Dash

Kevaughn Hewitt – 4x400-Meter Relay

Immanuel Hutchinson – 800-Meter Run

Daniel Jamieson – 100-Meter Dash, 200-Meter Dash, 4x100-Meter Relay

Omar Johnson – 200-Meter Dash, 400-Meter Dash, 4x400-Meter Relay

Claytin Lewis – 4x100-Meter Relay

David Shaw – Triple Jump

COURTESY SAINT AUGUSTINE'S UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

TSU Tigerbelles Claim Fourth OVC Outdoor Championship

TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY TIGERBELLES
2015 OVC OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONS

Courtesy Austin Peay Athletics

CLARKSVILLE, Tennessee -- The Tigerbelles took to the track for the final event of the 2015 Ohio Valley Conference Championships needing a victory and a little help to claim the team title for the first time since 2008. The Tennessee State women’s track program has been historically known for its sprinters and most importantly, the relay teams.


Amber HughesDiera TaylorChristian Pryor and Kayla Pryor continued the tradition as they teamed up for the 4x400 relay and crossed the line first in a time of 3:44.96. The fourth outdoor championship was captured for TSU as Austin Peay finished two seconds ahead of Eastern Illinois, who entered the final event 2.5 points ahead of the Tigerbelles.

“I am so excited right now,” said head coach Chandra Cheeseborough-Guice. “These young ladies stepped up and got it done. We are down in numbers, but the numbers we had showed out against the larger squads. I am so proud to be a Tigerbelle.”

Tennessee State finished 128.5 points and was followed by Eastern Illinois with 127, Austin Peay at 119 and defending champions Southeast Missouri with 105.5.

Cheeseborough was named Women’s Coach of the Year as she collected her eighth title, four outdoor and four indoor, at the head of the Tigerbelles.

The two day event had many delays due to lightning and heavy rains. Despite the delays, TSU still managed to claim seven events and 23 scoring finishes.

Hughes led the way as she claimed four top finishes and broke a 29-year old record. The sophomore broke the tape in 13.27 in the 100 meter hurdles to erase a OVC Championship mark which had been around since 1986.

Hughes also claimed the top spot in the 200 meter dash (23.66) and the triple jump (12.90m/42-04.00). The Atlanta, Ga., product was also a member of the 4x100 relay team that placed third.

Clairwin Dameus won the heptathlon for the second consecutive year as she amassed 5,396 points. The total was three points shy of her OVC record of 5,399 set in 2014.

Dameus continued her busy weekend as she finished second in the long jump with a leap of 6.16m (20-02.50) and placed sixth in the 400 meter hurdles (1:04.35). The junior was also a member of the third place 4x100 team.

Freshman Kayla Pryor and sophomore I'mani Davis recorded the final two individual championships for the Tigerbelles. Pryor claimed the title in the 400 meter hurdles in a time of 1:00.18, while Davis won the high jump as she cleared the bar in her second attempt at 1.73m (5-08.00).

Davis, a member of the Lady Tigers basketball team, became the first athlete in TSU history to be a part of OVC championships teams in two separate sports. The Tulsa, Okla. is a two-year starter with the Lady Tigers and competed in just her first season with the Tigerbelles.

The Flying Tigers finished sixth on the men’s side with 34 points. TSU had eight scoring finishes led byQuamel Prince. The sophomore broke a record in the 800 meter run that was set in 1976. Prince finished in 1:48.41, besting the previous record by 0.63 seconds. The would-be record setting run was spoiled by Ephraim Dorsey of Eastern Illinois who out-leaned Prince by .26 seconds to claim the honors.\

Prince joined forces with Jason GriffinJakeenan Guthrie and Theodore Nicholson to finish in 3:18.84, good for fourth, in the 4x400 meter relay.



TigerBelles

100 Meter Hurdles
1. Amber Hughes – 13.27R
4. Crystal Williams – 14.10
7. Maya Ramsey – 14.79

200 Meter Dash
1. Amber Hughes – 23.66

400 Meter Dash
8. Diera Taylor – 57.34

400 Meter Hurdles
1. Kayla Pryor – 1:00.18
6. Clairwin Dameus – 1:04.35

800 Meter Run
3. Christian Pryor – 2:13.27

4x100 Meter Relay

4x400 Meter Relay

Heptathlon
1. Clairwin Dameus – 5,396
8. Felicia Oladokun – 3,944

Long Jump
2. Clairwin Dameus – 6.16m (20-02.50)
7. Ja'Lyn Burr – 5.73m (18-09.75)

Triple Jump
1. Amber Hughes – 12.90m (42-04.00)
5. Amber Townsend – 12.10m (39-08.50)
7. Ja'Lyn Burr – 11.93m (39-01.75)

High Jump
1. I'mani Davis – 1.73m (5-08.00)
4. Sharmil Whyatt – 1.67m (5-05.75)
T6. Ja'Lyn Burr – 1.61m (5-03.25)

Discus
5. Angel Davis – 43.83m (143-09)

Shot Put
5. Angel Davis – 13.80m (45-03.50)

Hammer Throw
6. Angel Davis – 47.22m (154-11)


Flying Tigers

400 Meter Hurdles
5. Jason Griffin – 54.83

800 Meter Run
2. Quamel Prince – 1:48.41R

4x100 Meter Relay

4x400 Meter Relay

Decathlon
6. Justin Young – 3,958

Pole Vault
6. Justin Young – 4.10m (13-05.25)

High Jump
3. Daryl Rice – 2.04m (6-08.25)

Shot Put
8. Duaron Williams – 13.31m (43-08.00)

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

WSSU Rams Fall 2-1 To Mercyhurst; Face Millersville To Stay Alive In Atlantic Regional

ERIE, Pennsylvania -- The Winston-Salem State battled until the end, but could not get the tying run home from third base, as the Rams fell to #1 seed Mercyhurst, 2-1, in the NCAA Atlantic Regional at Jerry Uht Park, in Erie, Pa.

Mercyhurst would get on the board in the fourth inning, plating one run on a sacrifice fly to go out in front 1-0.

The Lakers would add one more run it the eighth, as a single to right field would bring home another run to push Mercyhurst to a 2-0 advantage.


WSSU's last ditch effort came in the ninth inning, when Dylan Dombrowskas doubled off the left field wall to start the inning, and was brought home on a double from Nathan Steger, to cut the Laker lead to 2-1. But the tying run would be left stranded at third base, and the WSSU Rams would fall, 2-1.

Aaron Hatch, took the loss for the Rams, despite a valiant pitching effort. Hatch went 6.2 innings, allowing nine hits, but just one earned run, with two walks and seven strikeouts. Hayden O'Neal went 1.0 inning, allowing one run on one hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Jordan Cummings went the final 1.1 innings, allowing just one hit while striking out three.

The WSSU Rams were led at the plate by Dylan Dombrowskas, who finished 2 for 3 with a run scored. Des Roberts and Colby Keene each went 1 for 3, and Gavin Culler and Nathan Steger went 1 for 4, with Steger picking up a late run batted in.

WSSU will face #2 seed, Millersville, at 12:00pm, for a chance to still play for the Atlantic Region Title.

The game can be heard on the WSSU Sports Network, at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/wssu-rams-sports-network.

BOX SCORE

COURTESY WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Nebraska Eliminates Texas Southern From NCAA Tournament

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana – Texas Southern University was knocked out of the NCAA Softball Tournament after falling to Nebraska, 5-0, Saturday afternoon at Tiger Park.

The first run of the day was handed out at the bottom of the first inning in favor of Nebraska. Neither team would score again until the fourth as the Cornhuskers claimed another run due to a triple down the left-field line and a single to first base.

Three more runs came in the sixth inning as the Tigers allowed a double to the left field, a single to the right side, a walk and a triple to left center – making the score 5-0. This loss ended the game and the Tigers’ road to the NCAA Softball Tournament.

Thomasina Garza and Krystalani Yockman were the only Tigers to connect bat-to-ball in the game. Madison Staton stood on the mound, tossing three strikeouts. After seeing 27 batters, she only gave away four walks with six hits.

Interactive Bracket

COURTESY SWAC MEDIA RELATIONS

Texas Southern sweeps Grambling; will face Southern in SWAC championship game Sunday

Courtesy: SWAC.org
NEW ORLEANS -- Texas Southern had to defeat Grambling twice Saturday to reach the championship game of the Southwestern Athletic Conference baseball tournament.

No problem. Texas Southern, the No. 1 seed in the West Division, pounced on Grambling 4-1 and 7-4 and will face the Southern Jaguars at 2 p.m. Sunday for the title.

More important, with Southern banned from NCAA postseason play this season, TSU will represent the SWAC in an NCAA regional.

“I just had to remind the kids just who we were,” coach Michael Robertson said. “Our pitchers gave what we needed coming out of the loser’s bracket; we didn’t want to use a lot of pitchers. We played good defense and we hit the ball. We got back to being us today.”

First-game starter Larry Romero allowed two hits in 6.2 innings, and Robert Pearson, who started the second game, scattered eight hits over 8.1 innings. Texas Southern banged out 24 hits.

For TSU, Saturday also was a measure of revenge. Its only loss in the tournament was to Grambling in Thursday’s late game.

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Saturday, May 16, 2015

Florida A&M - 2015 MEAC Baseball Champions!

SALISBURY, Maryland – After scoring two runs in the opening frame, Florida A&M (23-23, 15-9 MEAC) broke the game open with six runs in the fifth inning on its’ way to an 8-2 win over Bethune-Cookman (19-40, 14-10 MEAC) for the MEAC Championship on Sunday at Perdue Stadium. The win gave the Rattlers an NCAA Regional berth for the first time in program history and their first MEAC Baseball Title since 1994. It also marks the seventh MEAC Baseball Championship for FAMU (1987, 88, 90-92, 94, 2015).

Brandon Fleming, Ricky Page, Chase Jarrell and Brian Davis were each named to the All-Tournament team, while Fleming was named the MEAC Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.

Rattler starter Chase Jarrell (2-4) earned the win after a stellar outing as he worked 6 1/3 innings, tying for his second longest appearance of the season. Jarrell allowed just two runs on seven hits with five strikeouts and two walks.

Florida A&M reliever Alex Carrasco came in to pitch the final 2 2/3 scoreless innings and allowed just one hit with three strikeouts. Carrasco struck out the final two batters he faced in the ninth inning to complete the win.

AJ Elkins (2-for-4), Marlon Gibbs (2-for-3), Michael Birdsong (2-for-5) and Peter Jackson (2-for-4) all recorded multi-hits in the game for FAMU. Ryan Kennedy had two RBI and a run scored, while Jackson also added two RBI on the day.

The Rattlers outscored their opponents 26-8 over the three games and pounded out 38 hits en route to the Championship. The Pitching staff combined for a 1.67 ERA in the Tournament and was 23/8 on strikeouts to walks.

FAMU scored first with a pair of runs, on two hits, for a quick 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Jared Walker drew a leadoff walk and moved to third as Elkins followed with a double down the left line. With runners on first and second, Gibbs took a 2-2 count for an RBI single into left field to plate Walker for the first run of the game. Elkins had moved to third on Gibbs’ single and then scored on Kennedy’s sac fly to right.

Florida A&M broke the game open with six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning as it sent 12 batters to the plate. Walker reached on a fielder’s choice as Peter Jackson was out at second for the first out of the inning. Elkins followed with a bunt single and Gibbs was walked to load the bases with one out. That forced a pitching change as Sidney Duprey came in for relief for Bethune. With the bases loaded, Kennedy drew a walk to bring home Walker and Davis was hit in the helmet to plate Elkins for the second run of the inning. Birdsong kept things rolling with a bases loaded RBI single and Jackson’s two-out, two-run, single up the middle to made the score 8-0.

Bethune-Cookman made the score 8-1 with a single run, on three hits, in the sixth inning. Nathan Bond doubled off the wall in right field, with one out, in the sixth and came around to score on Austin Garcia’s RBI single to left center.

B-CU added one more run as Brandon Amendolare hit his first career home run to lead off the seventh inning in what ended up being the final score of 8-2.



The eight-run deficit in the fifth inning for the Wildcats was their largest of a MEAC Tournament in program history.

Bethune-Cookman starter Michael Austin (3-4) suffered the loss after giving up five runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings of work. Austin recorded three strikeouts and three walks.

Florida A&M now waits to hear where they will be sent for its’ first-ever NCAA Regional appearance. The NCAA Tournament Selection Show will be on Monday, May 25, at 12:00 PM and televised on ESPNU.

As always, fans can follow Rattler Baseball on Twitter @FAMUAthletics and live stats will be available via www.FAMUAthletics.com.

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

19 Lincoln Blue Tigers Qualify for DII Championships

BLUE TIGER WOMEN NO. 3, MEN NO. 23 IN THE NATION
JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri -- Nineteen members of the Lincoln men's and women's track & field teams combined to qualify 22 entries into the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Eleven members of the women's team and eight from the men's will represent the Blue Tigers at the national championship meet, which will be hosted by Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich. from May 21-23.

The official qualifying list was released by the NCAA on Tuesday (May 12).


The defending national champion Lincoln women qualified 12 individual entries and both relays into the championships. Yanique Ellington and Janae Johnson will each compete in the 100m and 200m, as well as the 4x100m relay, where they will be joined by Kimberly Bailey and Keja Christie. Lovan Palmer also will compete in three events, including the 400m, the 400m hurdles and the 4x400m relay. On the relay, Palmer will team up with Ebony Rose, Monique Thompson and Willomena Williams.

Williams will also represent LU in the 400m while Thompson and Jhevere Hall will each run in the 800m. Ladonna Richards was invited to compete in both the 100m and 400m hurdles while Jonelle Campbell was selected to participate in the triple jump.

Miguel Barton leads the LU men with three entries, including the 200m, 400m and 4x100m relay. On the relay, Barton will be joined by Roger Blake, Romone Hill and Wesley Best, who was also invited to compete in the 100m. Winston Edwards and Darran Hunter will both compete in the 400m hurdles while Owen Smith was selected for the triple jump and Sedeekie Edie will enter in the long jump. In total, the Blue Tiger men qualified seven individual entries and one relay into the championships.

The Blue Tiger women were ranked No. 3 in the country earlier on Tuesday by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association while the Lincoln men are currently No. 23 in Division II.

Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Ronald Mason Jr. Selected New President of University of the District of Columbia

RONALD MASON JR.
Washington, D.C.  –  The University of the District of Columbia Board of Trustees has concluded its executive search with the selection of Ronald Mason, Jr. as the new president. Mason will succeed Dr. James E. Lyons, Sr., who has served as interim president of the University of the District of Columbia since March 2013. His presidency becomes effective on July 1.

The Board-appointed search committee, co-chaired by alumnus Trustee Joseph L. Askew, Jr. and Trustee Major General Errol R. Schwartz identified Mason from a field of 91 applicants for the position. In making the announcement, Board Chair Elaine A. Crider described Mason as a proven, highly motivated and accomplished higher education professional who is exceptionally and uniquely suited to build upon the successes that the University has achieved during Interim President Lyon’s tenure.

“The president-elect has proven himself a leader in the higher education community in many parts of the country." She said, "Ron Mason has brought enhanced community relationships, responsible governance, and a strong students-first focus to his past roles and will do the same for our University as we continue to implement our Vision 2020 strategic plan.”

In learning of the appointment, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser praised the Board’s selection of Mason to lead the University. “I welcome Ronald Mason to the District of Columbia and look forward to collaborating to develop programs and initiatives that will better serve residents,” said Mayor Bowser. “I congratulate the board of the University of the District of Columbia for selecting a leader with a wealth of experience as they work to transform the District’s public university.”

Mason, currently serves as president of Southern University and A&M College System, is the Chief Executive Officer and provides oversight for the system's five campuses. He will bring some 30 years of experience in the higher education, community development, and legal fields to the University of the District of Columbia.

Before joining the Southern University System, Mason was President of Jackson State University (MS). While there, Jackson State experienced unprecedented growth, much in keeping with a university-wide strategic plan. The campus also saw growth in fundraising, information technology capability, and the construction of new buildings.

Mason also established a record of success during 18 years at Tulane University where he served in several positions, including Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Vice President for Finance and Operations. Earlier, he served as the Founder and Executive Director of the National Center for the Urban Community at Tulane and Xavier Universities in New Orleans.

A native of New Orleans, Mason has B.A. and J.D. degrees from Columbia University (NY), and is a graduate of the Harvard Institute of Educational Management. He is married to the former Belinda DeCuir and has one daughter, Nia, and two sons, Jared and Kenan.

The University of the District of Columbia (www.udc.edu) supports a broad mission of education, research and community service across its colleges and schools: the College of Arts and Sciences; the College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences; the School of Business and Public Administration; School of Engineering and Applied Sciences; the Community College; and the David A. Clarke School of Law. The University has been designated as an 1862 federal land-grant institution and a Historically Black College and University.

The University of the District of Columbia is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action institution. Minorities, women, veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For a full version of the University’s EO Policy Statement, please visit http://www.udc.edu/equal_opportunity.

The University of the District of Columbia is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, 267.284.5000.

Xavier University of Louisiana Announces New President, Dr. C. Reynold Verret

Dr. C. REYNOLD VERRET
HBCU Educator Dr. C. Reynold Verret Elected on Proven Record of Leadership

New Orleans, Louisiana  (May 14, 2015) -- The Board of Trustees of Xavier University of Louisiana announced today that it has unanimously elected Dr. C. Reynold Verret as the university’s next president.

“I would like to congratulate and welcome Dr. Verret to the Xavier family,” said Michael Rue, chairman of the Board of Trustees. “While there were a number of highly-qualified candidates, Dr. Verret stood out for his proven leadership and experience expanding enrollment and increasing graduation rates. His record of achievement, personal history, and values set him apart as the clear choice to carry on the ideals that our founder, St. Katharine Drexel, and our longstanding president, Dr. Norman C. Francis, wove into the fabric of this institution.”

Dr. Verret is joining Xavier from Savannah State University where he has served as provost and chief academic officer since 2012. The university is recognized as the oldest institution of higher learning in coastal Georgia and the first public Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in the state.

“I am deeply honored to be elected as the next president of Xavier and am excited to engage the entire Xavier community in envisioning a future that sustains the university’s distinct mission in a changing higher education environment and that responds to societal need,” said Dr. Verret. “Upon arriving in this country as a refugee from Haiti in 1963, I was supported by many who nurtured my love of learning and science and gave me the encouragement and confidence to persevere. During my tenure at Xavier, I will continue paying it forward, helping generations of young people realize their dreams, regardless of their backgrounds.”

Dr. Verret is uniquely qualified by his experience, education, and values to guide Xavier’s mission of promoting a more just and humane society by preparing its students to assume roles of leadership and service in a global society. His journey from immigrating to the United States as a young boy to guiding institutions of higher education to success has equipped him with distinctive skills and understanding to lead an HBCU in general, and Xavier in particular.

“From its beginning, Xavier has been dedicated to empowerment of the underserved and voiceless through education, which is a vital instrument of societal strength and justice. In this regard, Xavier’s purpose remains relevant, and I am eager to sustain and strengthen it,” said Dr. Verret. “I have been shaped by the encounter of faith and reason, as a student of the Jesuits at the former Brooklyn Preparatory, of the Sisters of St. Joseph, and before then, by the Fathers of the Holy Spirit.”

Dr. Verret was identified through a national search that followed the September 2014 announcement that Dr. Francis would be retiring on June 30, 2015. During this period, the field of potential candidates was narrowed from an initial pool of more than 300.

This is the first time the Xavier Board of Trustees has ever selected a new president. In 1968, the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, the religious order that established the university in 1925, promoted Dr. Francis to the post of president. He was the first lay, first male, and first African American head of the university.

“This is one of the most important decisions that the Xavier Board of Trustees has ever had to make, and we made it fully knowing its significance to the future of Xavier and the nation. We remain deeply thankful to the Xavier community for the valuable guidance they have provided us over the course of this most important endeavor. The unanimous election of Dr. Verret is an indicator that the Xavier community’s voice was heard loud and clear,” said Gladstone Jones, III, who chaired Xavier’s Presidential Search Committee.

Following the Search Committee’s recommendation, Dr. Francis met Dr. Verret just prior to the vote by the Board of Trustees.

“I am most pleased to welcome Dr. Verret to Xavier. I have complete confidence that the Board of Trustees made a wise decision, and I know that Dr. Verret will carry on the mission and values of this institution far into the future,” said Dr. Francis, who is retiring after more than 56 years of service to Xavier with 47 years as its president.

“The Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament celebrate the appointment of Dr. C. Reynold Verret. We are confident that the depth and breadth of his experience as well as his appreciation of Xavier's unique mission and Catholic identity have well prepared him to be its next great president,” said Sr. Patricia Suchalski, president of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament.

Dr. Verret earned his undergraduate degree cum laude in biochemistry from Columbia University and a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was also a postdoctoral fellow at the Howard Hughes Institute for Immunology at Yale University and at the Center for Cancer Research at MIT.

As a biochemist, his research interests have included the cytotoxicity of immune cells, biosensors, and biomarkers. He has published in the fields of biological chemistry and immunology.

A Proven Leader in Higher Education
In addition to his current role at Savannah State, Dr. Verret has also served as provost at Wilkes University in Northern Pennsylvania and as the dean of the Misher College of Arts and Sciences at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. Dr. Verret has encouraged development of educational programs for undergraduate and graduate students in the humanities, arts, social sciences, and natural sciences. As an administrator, teacher, scholar, and mentor, he brings to Xavier rich experience in and knowledge of higher education.

“I am very pleased Dr. Verret has been selected for this phenomenal opportunity. While his departure is a loss for Savannah State University, he is a proven leader in higher education and is definitely prepared to uphold and advance the strong legacy of the legendary Xavier University,” said Dr. Cheryl D. Dozier, president of Savannah State University.

As provost of Savannah State University, Dr. Verret worked closely with the university president and cabinet to achieve the school’s vision and strategic goals, and he has provided leadership to ensure that the university’s priorities were addressed and implemented. He led the university’s initiatives to build enrollment, enhance the quality and diversity of academic programs and to create cooperative relationships with neighboring institutions and with international partners. He contributed to the university’s advancement efforts by shaping its goals and cultivating donors.

At Wilkes University and the University of the Sciences, he led revisions of general education curricula, oversaw accreditations, developed international programs, established collaborative agreements with neighboring institutions at the K-12 and higher education levels, instituted new state-approved academic programs, promoted interdisciplinary efforts between the humanities and sciences, and planned new facilities.

He has served on the boards of numerous professional organizations and advisory bodies, including those of the National Institutes of Health, the Board of the Pennsylvania Humanities Council, and the Georgia Coastal Indicators Coalition. He has received awards and fellowships for teaching and scholarship.

An Authority in STEM Education
As a scientist, Dr. Verret will build on Xavier’s strong standing in graduating students in the STEM fields. He has helped develop programs to prepare STEM teachers, secure tuition support for teacher certification in STEM fields, and affirm joint instructional and research programs. He has promoted global initiatives in public health and on international science efforts, and as chair of the Chemistry department at Clark Atlanta University, he increased research efforts representing more than $9.7 million of extramural funding.

A Champion for Liberal Arts and Humanities
Throughout his career, Dr. Verret has worked to build bridges across disciplines, recognizing that the significant questions and societal challenges require knowledge and analysis across many fields. He has promoted interdisciplinary curricula between Liberal Arts, Humanities and Sciences that address the interplay of culture, science, and society and prepare students in all disciplines for leadership roles.

An Experienced Educator
Dr. Verret has served on the faculty at Tulane University, the Misher College of Arts and Sciences at the University of the Sciences, Morehouse School of Medicine, and Clark Atlanta University, in addition to holding academic appointments as professor of chemistry and biochemistry at Savannah State University and Wilkes University.

About Xavier University of Louisiana
Xavier University of Louisiana, founded by Saint Katharine Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, is Catholic and historically Black. The ultimate purpose of the University is to contribute to the promotion of a more just and humane society by preparing its students to assume roles of leadership and service in a global society. This preparation takes place in a diverse learning and teaching environment that incorporates all relevant educational means, including research and community service.

Xavier is recognized as the top producer of African American undergraduates continuing to complete medical school and one of the top three producers of African American Doctor of Pharmacy degree recipients. Xavier ranks first nationally in the number of African American students earning undergraduate degrees in biology and life sciences, chemistry, physics and pharmacy.

About HBCUs
According to the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, there are more than 100 HBCUs in the United States that enroll nearly 400,000 students per year. HBCUs represent 3 percent of colleges and universities, yet graduate 20 percent of African Americans with undergraduate degrees –and 25 percent of African Americans with degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields.

EBONY Extends Voting for HBCU Campus Queens



Voting Continues Now Through May 29th for 54 Participating Schools

CHICAGO — The 2015 EBONY HBCU Campus Queens program participation has been stellar and the competition continues to heat up.

Noting that only the Top 10 vote earning Queens will be selected to represent their schools in the September 2015 issue of EBONY, we are extending the voting period by one week so that the campaigns for each campus Queen will have additional time to turn up and finish strong enough to reach the pinnacle of the Top 10.



Therefore, we are thrilled to announce that our new date and time for the voting program to close is 5:00 pm ET on Friday May 29th, 2015. This means you have some additional time to organize your campuses, alumni, sororities and fraternities, families, friends, community groups and influencers to push as hard as possible to cast as many votes as they'd like to select you as a member of the Top 10 EBONY photo shoot finalists.

EBONY magazine is proud to continue the tradition of celebrating the accomplishments of African-American college students with the launch of its annual HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) EBONY Campus Queens feature.



For nearly four decades, EBONY has celebrated the next generation of rising Black professional women in the magazine. The HBCU Campus Queens is one of EBONY’s longest-running editorial franchises, and the young women highlighted are poised to affect great social change within their communities.

The Top 10 vote getters on the website will receive an all-expense paid trip complete with a stay at a luxury hotel. The royal treatment continues as each of the 10 Queens receive a makeover with professional hair, makeup and wardrobe styling for an exclusive photo shoot that will appear in the September 2015 issue of EBONY magazine.



Voters can select their favorite Queen on EBONY.com now through May 29th; however, the Queens will not be the only winners in this campaign. Each voter can enter a sweepstakes to win a free pair of Beats by Dr. Dre headphones each time he or she submits a vote. A total of four sweepstakes winners will be selected, with one winner announced every Friday. Voters are welcome to vote as many times as they like throughout the duration of the online campaign period.

Contest Rules: Only 10 beautiful, talented and accomplished queens will be featured inside EBONY’s September 2015 issues. Votes do not have to come exclusively from students at the schools represented in the contest; so all networks (family, friends, community organizations, etc.) are encouraged to vote. For more information, visit EBONY.com or the HBCU Campus Queens 2015 microsite http://www.ebony.com/hbcu-campusqueens/

ASU sports program needs permanent sponsorship


ALBANY, Georgia -- Organizers of the Albany State University Sports Program are in need of funding.

They requested funding help from the city but were denied. The program which used to be funded by the federal program and also known as the National Youth Sports Program (NYSP) is a program that gives young people ages 9 to 15 a productive summer.

Coordinators have a fundraiser going on to raise $40,000. The fundraiser is asking people to donate $40 for every year the program has been around, which is 40 years.

The program starts in two weeks and organizers said to avoid being in this position again, there needs to be constant sponsorship and a sense of ownership.

“What needs to happen is some sponsorship, the city, county government, somebody has to see a need to really wanna work with these kids and keep the kids in some type of productive activity during the course of the summer,” said Coach Robert Skinner Project Administrator, Albany State University Sports Program.

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Valdosta High track’s McKinnon inks letter-of-intent with FAMU

Zakirra McKinnon
Courtesy: Facebook
VALDOSTA, Georgia — Valdosta High track star Zakirra McKinnon made her trip to Florida A&M University on Monday.

Friday morning she was sitting behind a table between family members in the lobby of Valdosta’s Performing Arts Center signing a letter-of-intent with the Division I university.

McKinnon, who lettered all four years in the sport, celebrated her special moment Friday morning with coaches, family, friends and the piece of mind of knowing she made the best possible decision in becoming a Rattler.

“It’s an amazing feeling,” the Wildcat senior said. “It’s been a long journey and I just thank God for bringing me this far.”

Before inking her name, McKinnon announced to the congregation that she knew she was going to cry. As she held back tears, her voice cracked as she thanked everyone for coming and for their love and support.

McKinnon considered offers from Jacksonville State, Kennesaw State, Savannah State and Austin Peay before traveling to Tallahassee, Fla., for a tour of the FAMU campus and meeting the women’s track coach, Dr. Darlene Moore.

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