White House Initiative on HBCUs Announces Third Class of All-Stars

"Two North Carolina A&T State University students have been included in the 2016-17 class of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) All-Stars.

Senior public relations major Niyah Brooks and third year mechanical engineering doctoral candidate Paul McGhee are among 73 students from across 63 HBCUs named to the 2016 HBCU All-Stars, which includes undergraduate, graduate and professional students.

“Being nominated for the 2016-17 White House HBCU All-Stars for North Carolina A&T State University was one of the most honorable and exciting opportunities I've ever received,” said McGhee. “I’m an active leader, scholar and supporter of the community, university and the rest of the world, striving to bring out the best in everyone that I have the honor to cross paths with.” 

HBCU All-Stars are recognized for their outstanding accomplishments in academics, leadership and civic engagement.

Throughout the next year Brooks and McGhee will serve as ambassadors by providing outreach opportunities and communicating with other students about the value of both education and the White House Initiative as a networking source.

"Now that I have been appointed as [an] HBCU All-Star, I will be tasked with serving as a liaison between N.C. A&T and the White House,” said Brooks. “I will spread awareness of initiatives that are important to me. I really want to focus on the "It's On Us" initiative, which aims to reduce sexual assault on college campuses. I also want to promote the importance of voting to my peers."

Using social media, relationships with community-based organizations, and sessions with industry professionals, Brooks, McGhee and all other HBCU All-Star ambassadors will share proven practices that support opportunities for all young people to achieve their educational and career potential. They will also participate in the White House HBCU Week Conference, national and regional events, and webinars with Initiative staff and other professionals on a range of disciplines that support a spirit of engagement and personal and professional development.

“During the course of one academic school year, the 73 All-Stars will distinguish themselves as exemplars of the talent that HBCUs cultivate and as noble ambassadors of their respective institutions,” said U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. “The Initiative is looking forward to working with this third class of All-Stars and is confident this opportunity will allow the Initiative to meaningfully connect with HBCU students and advance academic excellence at their schools.”

“Our goal is to provide a unique opportunity for these talented students that exposes them to critical national conversations and thought leaders. No doubt they will make their mark and represent their campuses well,” said Deputy Under Secretary of Education and Acting Executive Director White House Initiative on HBCUs Kim Hunter Reed.

The All-Stars were selected from over 300 students from 24 states, the District of Columbia, Ghana, Nigeria, and the Virgin Islands."

- A Press Release

N.C. A&T Partners with Zipcar to Offer Car Sharing on Campus

"North Carolina A&T State University has launched a new partnership with Zipcar, the world’s leading car sharing network, to offer a Zipcar car sharing program on campus. The transportation option is now available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for students, faculty, and staff ages 18 and older, as well as members of the local community over the age of 21.

N.C. A&T will initially offer three vehicles—two Ford Focuses named “Jasen” and “Jeslyn” and a Volkswagen Golf named “Grunwald.” The Zipcars will have designated parking spots located in a campus lot outside the parking deck and Aggie Dome for convenient pick-up and return. 

This year, N.C. A&T members can join for $15, with rates for Zipcar vehicles on campus starting at $7.50 per hour and $69 per day. After the first year, members will have an option to pay an annual membership fee of $25. Gas, insurance and up to 180 miles of driving per day are included in Zipcar rates, and cars can be reserved for as little as an hour or for multiple days. 

“We are delighted to partner with Zipcar to bring a service that is tailored to the needs of our students,” said Angela Peterson, N.C. A&T associate vice chancellor for campus enterprises. “Our students will be excited and truly inspired by the opportunity to have mobility, flexibility and convenience within the footprint of their campus, giving them an alternative solution for transportation. We look forward to a successful partnership.”

Zipcar members with iPhones and Android devices may download the Zipcar mobile app to make reservations, lock and unlock the vehicles and honk the horn to help locate the vehicle. Reservations can also be made over the phone or on Zipcar’s website.   

“The Zipcar program on campus gives students, faculty and staff the freedom of using a car without the hassle of owning one,” said Katelyn Bushey, Zipcar director of university sales. “We’re happy to partner with N.C. A&T, to give their community a transportation option to fit their needs and their wallet.”

N.C. A&T students, faculty and staff can join Zipcar at http://www.zipcar.com/NCAT.

Zipcar is a leading car sharing network, driven by a mission to enable simple and responsible urban living. The company operates in urban areas and university campuses in over 500 cities and towns across Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States. Zipcar is a subsidiary of Avis Budget Group, Inc., a global provider of vehicle rental services. 

About North Carolina A&T State University
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is the nation’s largest historically black university. It is a land-grant, higher research university and constituent member of the University of North Carolina system. A&T is known for its leadership in producing graduates in engineering, agriculture and other STEM fields. The university was founded in 1891 and is located in Greensboro, North Carolina. "

- A Press Release

GCS Students Present at National Service-Learning Conference

Pictured at the National Service-Learning Conference, from the left, are Charlos Banks, executive director of student services and character development; Erin Gamba, junior at Southwest High; Kinza Hussain, junior at Ragsdale High; Meenakshi Immaneni, senior at STEM Early College at N.C. A&T; and Rachel Scott, junior at Southwest High.

Students invited to share experiences as a model for educators around the world

"Greensboro, N.C. – Four Guilford County Schools students spent part of their spring break discussing how they benefit from GCS’ focus on character and service-learning with educators from around the country.

The four students were invited to give a presentation at this year’s National Service-Learning Conference in Minnesota. The conference brings together more than 1,500 national and international attendees who gain the tools, resources, ideas and support to improve their practice, their schools and their communities.

Meenakshi Immaneni, a senior at the STEM Early College at N.C. A&T, along with Kinza Hussain, junior at Ragsdale High, and Erin Gamba and Rachel Scott, both juniors at Southwest High, gave a presentation at the conference titled, “Service-Learning Everywhere!” The presentation highlighted how each student engages in service-learning opportunities in their schools and communities to make a difference as they prepare to move from classroom to college and career.

“It was truly been an honor to be able to attend the National Youth Leadership Council Conference and represent Guilford County Schools and the significant role our community plays in incorporating service learning throughout our clubs, curriculum and community,” says Hussain. “Not only did the conference create new opportunities for myself and others, it was also an unforgettable experience in which I gained an immense amount of knowledge about leadership and youth empowerment.”

Gamba was also invited to serve as the youth emcee at this year’s conference.

“Service learning is a valuable teaching method that extends learning experiences from the classroom out into our communities,” says Charlos Banks, executive director of student services and character development. “Our students are gaining knowledge and skills that will not only prepare them to be active citizens in our community, but also equip them with the tools needed to be successful in their college and career aspirations. We are extremely proud of our young people and have no doubt that they will positively transform our world.”

GCS students who will be in high school next year have the opportunity to continue their service over the summer. GCS is partnering with the Volunteer Center of Greensboro to host a Service-Learning Leadership Camp from June 27 to July 21. The program is designed to empower students to engage in service-learning experiences and impact their community during the summer months. Applications for the camp as well as scholarships for the camp are due by May 18.

Find more information about the Service-Learning Leadership Camp by clicking here.

About Guilford County Schools

Guilford County Schools, the third largest school district in North Carolina, serves nearly 72,000 K-12 students at 127 schools. With approximately 10,000 employees, GCS works alongside local parents, businesses and colleges to deliver an education that connects student interests and skills with the careers and economy of our future here and around the world. Guilford County is also a Say Yes to Education community, giving eligible GCS graduates the opportunity to apply for last-dollar tuition scholarships to attend any 2- or 4-year public institution in North Carolina. Combining choices to meet the individual educational needs for a culturally diverse citizenship and new opportunities makes our families say, “GCS, Yes!” For more information, visit the district’s website at www.gcsnc.com."

- A Press Release

N.C. A&T Advisory Board represents School of Agriculture

"Twenty experts representing agricultural industries and organizations, government agencies, and financial and educational systems recently joined the advisory board to the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. The group’s core duties are to advise school leadership on the most effective strategies for achieving excellence in the SAES’s food, agricultural, family and environmental sciences through instruction, research and Cooperative Extension programs, in accordance with the university’s Preeminence 2020 strategic plan.

Advisory Board members will help the SAES enhance and expand its partnerships and provide greater outreach to core audiences, says Dr. Shirley Hymon-Parker, the SAES interim dean who recommissioned the panel.

“Whether it be through enterprise, employment or funding, having such engaged industry- and service-leadership representatives with us means opportunity,” Hymon-Parker says. “The Advisory Board provides the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences with extra advice and resources to achieve our mission.”

Meeting for its inaugural session Nov. 20 on campus, the Board elected Justin Gayliard of Chapel Hill, BASF Corporation manager for the Demand Group, as chairman; DeShon Cromartie of Graham, N.C. Farm Bureau Federation team leader for the Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee, as chairman-elect, and Ra’Tasha Rouse of Erwin, an SAES graduate-student representative, as secretary.

Other Advisory Board members are:

1. Mike Atkinson of Durham, senior vice president and manager of community development for First Citizens Bank in Raleigh.
2. Denver Caldwell of Cary, John Deere marketing manager and marketing support, Agriculture and Turf Division, Cary.
3. Dr. Lisa Chapman of Sanford, senior vice president and chief academic officer, North Carolina Community College System, Raleigh.
4. Elworth Cheek of Ramseur, chairman of the Strategic Planning Council advisory board to The Cooperative Extension Program at A&T.
5. Susan Perry Cole of Rocky Mount, president and chief executive officer of the N.C. Association of Community Development Corporations, Raleigh.
6. Vance C. Dalton Jr. of Maiden, chief executive officer, Carolina Farm Credit, Statesville.
7. Dr. Darlene Dixon of Durham, a veterinarian with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences’ National Toxicology Program of the Molecular Pathogenesis Group, Research Triangle Park.
8. James Eure of Ahoskie, senior vice president with the Ahoskie branch of the State Employees’ Credit Union.
9. Jimmy W. Gentry of Statesville, president of the North Carolina State Grange, Statesville.
10. Edward L. Gregory Jr. of Henderson, risk management specialist with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency, Raleigh.
11. Trequan McGee of Enfield, SAES undergraduate student representative.
12. Roland McReynolds of Pittsboro, executive director of the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association, Pittsboro.
13. Dr. Carroll Moseley of High Point, senior environmental stewardship and policy manager, Syngenta Crop Protection, Greensboro.
14. Erica Peterson of Cary, executive vice president of the N.C. Agribusiness Council, Cary.
15. Dr. Richard C. Reich of Winston-Salem, assistant commissioner for Agriculture Services, N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Raleigh.
16. George C. Scott of Greensboro, president and CEO of fashion retailer Fabali World and chair of the Advisory Board to the SAES Department of Family and Consumer Sciences.
17. Larry B. Wooten of Raleigh, president of the North Carolina Farm Bureau, Raleigh."

- A Press Release

A&T to host kickoff for CISCO sponsored robotics competition for teenagers

"North Carolina A&T State University and CISCO Systems Inc. will host the FIRST Technology Challenge (FTC) Kickoff on Saturday, Sept. 6 at 8:30 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. at CISCO Systems, 7100-7 Kit Creek Road Durham, N.C. 27709. At the event, FTC coaches, team mentors and volunteers will participate in interactive workshops and the FTC tournament theme will be announced.  

FTC is a technology competition for students in grades 7-12. Teams are responsible for designing, building and programming robots to compete in an alliance format against other teams. FTC’s mission is to teach students the value of hard work, innovation and creativity. FTC goes beyond competition by teaching teens the importance of working together, sharing ideas and treating each other with respect and dignity.

The College of Engineering at N.C. A&T manages all regional and state competitions for NC FIRST LEGO League and NC FIRST Tech Challenge. CISCO Systems Inc. located in Research Triangle Park, has been a long time supporter of the FIRST programs.

For more information about FIRST LEGO League and FIRST Technology Challenge contact Dr. Kory Bennett at firstrob@ncat.edu.

- A Press Release

Washington Monthly ranks N.C. A&T in 2014 National Universities list University maintains No. 2 spot for Social Mobility

"For the third year in a row, North Carolina A&T State University ranked No. 2 in the nation for social mobility in Washington Monthly’s 2014 National Universities Rankings.

Social mobility measures how well a university performs as an engine for improved social status.

By using data from the U.S. Department of Education’s Integrated Post-Secondary Education Data System Survey, Washington Monthly compares the percentage of Pell Grant recipients to the predicted graduation rate, the actual graduation rate and other factors. While 57 percent of North Carolina A&T students receive Pell Grants, a figure the magazine uses to determine the school’s commitment to educating lower-income students, graduation numbers soar to 41 percent—well over the predicted graduation rate.

Overall, N.C. A&T ranked No. 49 with a score of 66 out of 100, an improvement from last year’s place at No. 53. In addition to social mobility and overall placements, Washington Monthly ranked the 277 colleges and universities listed in research and service.

N.C. A&T was ranked at No. 19 for ROTC programs in the service category. In the service category, N.C. A&T came in at No. 189 for federal work-study funds spent on service, No. 172 for community service participation hors and No. 174 for service staff, courses and financial aid support.

N.C. A&T was listed at No. 215 for science and engineering PhDs awarded, No. 189 for faculty receiving significant awards and No. 157 for faculty in national academies in the research category.

To view the rankings click here. "

- A Press Release

University appoints academic officer for strategic planning

ALICE STEWART

"Alice C. Stewart, associate professor of strategic management in the School of Business and Economics was named Interim vice provost for Strategic Planning and Institutional Effectiveness.

Prior to joining North Carolina A&T in 2004, Stewart was the director of strategic analysis and planning at the Ohio State University and assistant professor of strategy at the Fisher College of Business. 

“Alice Stewart is an experienced professional equipped with the necessary experience to succeed as the interim vice provost for strategic planning and institutional effectiveness. I am confident in her abilities to lead at this juncture,” said Provost Joe B. Whitehead Jr.  

The vice provost for strategic planning and institutional effectiveness serves as the principal liaison to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to ensure that accreditation requirements are incorporated into the planning and evaluation process of the institution and that all new programs are consistent with SACSCOC guidelines. Areas of direct responsibility and oversight include university planning, institutional research, assessment, and student learning quality enhancement plan.

Stewart is a member of the Academy of Management, the Southern Management Association and the Association to Advance Colleges and Schools of Business. She is also a member of Beta Gamma Sigma and Phi Kappa Phi.

"I am honored to be asked to serve. I believe that higher education is in a time of challenge and transition.  I hope that my efforts will help N.C. A&T thrive in the coming years,” Stewart said.

Stewart received a Ph.D. in Strategic Management from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and an MBA from the University of Kentucky."

- A Press Release

Sports Hall of Fame announces new inductees

"Six of the seven 2014 North Carolina A&T Sports Hall of Fame inductees won at least one MEAC championship during their collegiate careers. The North Carolina A&T Sports Hall of Fame announced its new members on Thursday with five football players, one track and field athlete and one men’s basketball player earning the prestigious honor.

Football’s James Bowden, Darryl Klugh, Connell Maynor, Troy Pelshak, Barry Turner, track and field’s Shenan Robinson and men’s basketball James Sparrow will be announced as the new members on Thursday, Sept. 4 at the North Carolina A&T University Alumni-Foundation Event Center at 7 p.m. The media is invited to a press luncheon for the inductees at the event center at noon on Sept. 4. The honorees will also be recognized on Sept. 6 when the Aggies play their home opener against No. 7 Coastal Carolina at 6 p.m., at Aggie Stadium.

“On behalf of North Carolina A&T State University and the department of athletics, I want to congratulate the 2014 inductees,” said Earl M. Hilton III, A&T’s director of athletics. “We appreciate their commitment to their sport, university and community. Their individual accomplishments translated into team success, and that is the true sign of a Hall of Famer.”

Bowden played wide receiver for A&T from 1991-95. He made 94 receptions for 1,694 yards and nine touchdowns. He helped the Aggies win the 1992 MEAC championship and earn a playoff berth in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs.

Darryl Klugh is considered one of the best defensive backs in school history. He secured three different All-American honors during his career, including Division I-AA All-American accolades. In 1999 he led the MEAC in interceptions and was a first-team All-MEAC selection. The Aggies 1999 team also broke the school record for wins (11), won the MEAC championship and won the school’s first ever NCAA football playoff game. His younger brother Hasaan is a quarterback on the 2014 Aggies football team.

Maynor has continued to have success in football more than 20 years after his collegiate career ended. He led the Winston-Salem State Rams to the Division II national championship game in 2012, and he is the current head coach at Hampton University. Before his coaching career, Maynor established as one of the best all-around offensive players in school history.

Maynor won MEAC Offensive Player of the Year twice (1990 and ’91), becoming the first Aggie to win the award. He threw 18 touchdown passes and only five interceptions in 1991 as he led the Aggies to the MEAC title.

Pelshak was one of the most feared defensive players in the MEAC. He could play defensive end, defensive tackle and nose tackle. He made 52 tackles for loss in his career, including seven in one game.

Robinson was an outstanding athlete on the track. He competed in the 55 meters, 100, 400 meter relay, long jump and triple jump. He helped the Aggies win three consecutive outdoor MEAC championships (1994-96) and one indoor championship in 1996. He was named All-MEAC in the 55, 100 and long jump.

Many Aggie fans would argue that James Sparrow is the best men’s basketball player in school history. He led the team in scoring three straight seasons and during the 1975-76 season he led the team in scoring, assists and steals. He led the Aggies to three MEAC titles (1975, ‘76 and ‘78), and was the MEAC Player of the Year in ‘75 and ‘76. He has the best scoring average in school history at 18.8 points per game.

Turner’s 2,726 rushing yards is fourth all-time on the Aggies rushing list. He also made 92 receptions for 1,148 yards and nine touchdowns. He helped the Aggies win back-to-back MEAC titles in 1991 and ‘92.  He is one of only three players in school history with more than 4,000 all-purpose yards."

- A Press Release

Guilford County teen participates in N.C. A&T agriculture institute

Daija Whitaker of Greensboro participated

in the annual Institute for Future

Agricultural Leaders at North Carolina

Agricultural and Technical State

University June 15 – 20. The pre-college

summer program introduces

college-bound high school

students to professions in

agricultural industries.

"Daija Whitaker of Greensboro was among 39 rising seniors from across North Carolina who were selected for participation in the 2014 Institute for Future Agricultural Leaders (IFAL) at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University June 15 – 20. The institute is an annual pre-college summer program for selected North Carolina high school students interested in agricultural professions.

The program, now in its 27^th year, is co-sponsored by the North Carolina Farm Bureau and N.C. A&T State University. Whitaker was among 39 rising seniors from across North Carolina who participated in the institute to learn about the wide array of professional opportunities offered through the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at N.C. A&T, including veterinary science, laboratory animal science, biotechnology, food science, nutrition, fashion design, child development, biological engineering, natural resources, urban horticulture, landscape architecture, agribusiness, economics, and more. Activities during IFAL also focused on leadership development and other social skills."

A Press Release