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Posts published in “Education”

Military Dad Captain Keith Robinson Surprises Daughter Ruby Robinson at her Columbia University Graduation

By goodblacknews on May 21, 2014

In video captured by the university, Captain Keith Robinson tells Ruby “Congratulations, young lady,” before giving her a massive hug.  Ruby smiles widely before bursting into tears.

“To have him here in the flesh means so much to me,” Ruby told Columbia’s Office of Communications and Public Affairs following the ceremony. “I didn’t expect it all. I didn’t think it was possible. I’m so happy about it.”

Robinson told his daughter two weeks earlier he wouldn’t be able to make it. He’s been deployed for the past six months in Afghanistan, according to the school’s post.

Robinson flew 14.5 hours from Kuwait to Washington, D.C., followed by a flight to Denver, before returning to New York for the big day.

“I haven’t had time to stop and think about it myself,” Robinson said. “But when I saw her, it was like … it was all worth it.”

article via thegrio.com

Erika Hayes James Becomes 1st Black Female Dean of Emory University's Business School

By goodblacknews on May 21, 2014

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Emory University has announced that Erika Hayes James will be the next dean of the Goizueta Business School, making her the first African-American female dean in the school’s history. She’s also the first among top business school programs. James will assume her role on July 15.

James is a former senior associate dean for executive education at the Darden Graduate School for Business at the University of Virginia. She earned her PhD. in organizational psychology from the University of Michigan, and her expertise is intersecting that knowledge with executive leadership. She has consulted numerous Fortune 500 companies and typically focuses on three key areas: crisis leadership, women in leadership, and commuter relationships. MBA students at Darden and Harvard Business School, where James taught as a visiting professor, gave her high praise, according to the Emory announcement.

Although there are three other minority women who are deans at American colleges of business, James will be the first at the helm of a full-time MBA program at a top-25 business school. Claire Sterk, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at Emory, insisted that James’ race and gender did not impact their decision to hire her, although it is certainly an added bonus to make history. “Erika James has all of the qualities that we want for a leader at Goizueta,” says Sterk, who led the international search. “She brings a background of impressive scholarship and strong skills in academic administration, and she will work collaboratively with faculty, students, staff, alumni and supporters to take the school to the next level—all the while honoring the principled leadership of Mr. Goizueta’s legacy.”
James hopes to strengthen the connection between Goizueta and Atlanta’s business community, as well as, make use of Emory’s expertise in health care to create business solutions for the national challenge of health care delivery systems. “I believe that the Goizueta Business School is a world-renowned school that is on the verge of greatness,” she said. “And I want to be a part of helping the school reach that greatness.”
article by Natali Rivers via uptownmagazine.com

Obama Administration Arts Program Helps Turn Around Troubled New Orleans School

By goodblacknews on May 21, 2014
NEW ORLEANS –– There was a talent show at the White House Tuesday, and the first lady was right in the middle of it. The performers go to troubled schools that have added the arts to their core curriculum to try to turn them around.  It’s an Obama administration program that has been so successful, it was expanded Tuesday to a total of 35 schools.
With so much rhythm in the room, it’s hard to imagine music nearly died at one New Orleans school. But four years ago, everything was failing at the school, now known as the Renew Cultural Arts Academy.
Fewer than 15 percent of students could read at grade level. It was one of the lowest testing schools in Louisiana.  “I heard from friends that there was a lot of stuff going on, like fights, and teachers weren’t really teaching,” says seventh-grader Angela Russell. Angela didn’t want to come to the school, but she says things are different since the school decided to put more emphasis on arts education.
“I like everything about being here,” she says. “It’s, like, the first school I’ve ever really enjoyed.”
Now students like Angela count the measures in band or stand up in math class to act out a bar graph.  “It’s not just to have a music education class, you know, during the school day or after school,” says Ron Gubitz, the elementary school principal. “But it’s actually to use the music and use visual arts and use theater to teach core content.”
With the new curriculum, the school has seen a 20 point rise in standardized tests over five years — plenty of room for improvement, but enough to earn recognition from the White House. Renew is one of the Turnaround schools granted funding to hire more arts teachers, tripling the time kids spend learning the arts.
“We’ve been doing that work to set a template so that any school sees that it’s possible to do this,” says actress Alfre Woodard, who volunteers at the school. “Enrollment stays steady, or it goes up, behavioral problems go down and the culture of the schools are transformed.”
It’s transformed sixth-grader Jarred Gray.  “I was bad,” he admits. “I would get put out of class a lot.”  With his classmates, he just took his first-ever plane ride — to the White House.  Jarred says when he found out he was going to the White House, “I fainted.”
“I got home and I was like, ‘Wait, I’m going to Washington,’ and I laid in my bed and I was like, ‘Oh, goodness,'” he recalls.
Music woke him up — and brought his school back to life.
article by Michelle Miller via cbsnews.com

San Jose State College Expels Three Students Who Racially Harassed Black Freshman

By goodblacknews on May 14, 2014

San Jose State UniversitySAN JOSE — San Jose State has expelled three of the students charged with the racially-tinged bullying of a freshman and extended one other student’s suspension, requiring him to go to counseling and to remain on probation for the rest of his college career if he returns to school.

All four had been suspended pending final disciplinary action for allegedly subjecting then-17-year-old Donald Williams Jr. to repeated abuse, including wrestling him to the ground and fastening a bike lock around his neck, calling him racially derogatory names, locking him in his room and displaying a Confederate flag.
The university’s move comes after news surfaced in November that the freshman reported being tormented relentlessly for weeks. The revelation sparked community outrage, an internal investigation, an apology from the college president, criminal charges and the creation of a task force. All four suspects have pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor battery and hate crime charges.
African-American leaders were pleased to learn Friday that the university had taken stern disciplinary action. The expelled students are banned for life from enrolling in any California State University college, according to university documents and sources familiar with the investigation.
“It’s a no-brainer,” said LaDoris Cordell, a retired judge and city police watchdog who chaired the task force. “They have no business being enrolled at SJSU.”

16-Year-Old Grace Bush Graduates High School and College in Same Week

By goodblacknews on May 7, 2014

Grace BushIt’s that time of year where high school and college students alike are celebrating their academic accomplishments and preparing themselves for the next big challenge in life. But unlike most kids who celebrate their high school and college graduations years apart, Florida teen Grace Bush is celebrating both academic achievements in the same week.
At just 16, Bush already earned her Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice from Florida Atlantic University last Friday and plans to receive her high school diploma from Florida Atlantic University High School on May 9th. Attending a high school that allows high achieving students to also take college courses while working on their diploma, Bush took full advantage of the opportunity.
“I started when I was 13 at Broward College and I also took my classes throughout the summer, so I was able to finish it before four years,” Grace tells CBS Miami.
Now with a bachelor’s degree under her belt and a high school diploma on the way, Grace, who finished college with a 3.8 grade point average, plans to pursue a master’s degree this fall and then attend law school.
“I would eventually like to become Chief Justice of the United States,” says the high achieving scholar on her future career goals.
article by Courtney Connley via blackenterprise.com
 

Father Sherwood Brown Sr. and Son Sherwood Brown Jr. Graduate From College Together

By goodblacknews on May 6, 2014

Father Son Graduate
Sherwood Brown Jr. and his father Sherwood Brown Sr. graduated together Saturday from FAMU. (Image courtesy of FAMU)

Sherwood Brown Jr. and his father, Sherwood Brown Sr., graduated from college Saturday — together.  The father and son each received their degrees from Florida A&M University’s School of Business and Industry, according to a news release from the university’s official website.
Sherwood Jr. entered FAMU in 2008 with his eyes set on a career in the music industry. He took classes in FAMU’s Department of Music and courses on the “business of music” in SBI.
Sherwood’s father graduated from FAMU with a bachelor’s degree more than 20 years ago. He made a promise to himself to return to FAMU and complete a Masters in Business Administration, which he finally did this past weekend.
Sharing the stage was a coincidence, the duo tells the university’s official website:  “It was not planned,” said Sherwood Jr. “We just looked up one day and realized that we would both be graduating at the same time.”
The elder Brown wanted to be an “example to his children” on the importance of “never giving up on your goals.”  The Brown family mantra is: “If you start something, finish it.” On Saturday, they finished their education together.
article via thegrio.com

Learn How to Nominate Extraordinary Teens for McDonald’s 365Black Awards and $10,000 Scholarship

By goodblacknews on May 6, 2014

Fast food workers strike at dozens of food chainsFor the first time ever, McDonald’s is looking to the public to help them decide who should be the lucky recipient of their Community Choice Youth Award and be honored during the 11th annual 365Black Awards.

The chosen winners, one female and one male, will receive a $10,000 scholarship along with recognition at the star-studded event that takes place Saturday, July 5th in New Orleans during the ESSENCE Festival.

Know an exceptional teen between the ages of 13 and 18? Nominate them for this prestigious award by visiting 365black.com, filling out a nomination form, answering three questions about the nominee and submitting a three-minute video highlighting the teens contributions to the community. The deadline to submit is Saturday, May 31.

article by Courtney Connley via blackenterprise.com

First Lady Michelle Obama Initiates #ReachHigher Social Media Campaign

By goodblacknews on May 6, 2014

Michelle Obama Lets Move Project LargeFirst Lady Michelle Obama wants every American student to expand their education beyond just a high school degree and she’s using social media to encourage kids to do just that.

In an effort to move the country in the right direction toward reaching President Obama’s “North Star” goal, which outlines America as having the highest proportion of college graduates by 2020, FLOTUS is asking people to show support for her Reach Higher initiative by taking a picture of themselves in their college T-shirt and posting it on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter using the hashtag #ReachHigher. The new initiative encourages students to attend a professional training program, community college, or four-year university after high school and she’s hoping that through social media she can make the program a trending topic.

Already, a couple of major cities around the country are showing their support for the initiative and celebrating students commitment to higher education. On May 2nd, FLOTUS traveled to San Antonio to attend the city’s annual “College Signing Day.” At the event, First Lady Obama elaborated on the importance of high school students continuing their education saying, “While it’s good news that high school graduation rates have climbed to their highest levels ever in this country, we know that in today’s world, a high school degree simply isn’t enough.”

Watch the video below of FLOTUS talking about the new #ReachHigher social media campaign and be sure to show your support for the initiative.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgIdi9T3kTU&w=560&h=315]

article by Courtney Connley via blackenterprise.com

For the 5th Year in a Row, Chicago's Urban Prep Academy Students Achieve 100 Percent College Acceptance

By goodblacknews on April 10, 2014

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For the fifth year in a row, Chicago’s Urban Prep Academy has again achieved a 100 percent acceptance rate for its 2014 class.  This year, 240 students were accepted into four-year colleges and universities.  “I got into a lot of different schools but right now I’m thinking about four different choices,” student Keshawn Cathery said.

“I got into Georgetown University which I will be attending in the fall,” student Derrick Little said.

As part of an Urban Prep ritual, when seniors are admitted into college, they exchange their red uniform ties for a red and gold striped tie, a symbol of how hard they’ve worked.  “The tie represents to me moving on from a boy to becoming a young man and actually doing something with my life,” graduating senior Dumar Harris said.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel gave the students a pep talk Tuesday, and NBA star Dwyane Wade donated $10,000 through his foundation to offset the cost of the student prom.

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But while students, staff and parents are celebrating the Class of 2014’s achievements, critics say the students in danger of not graduating never even make it to senior year.

“Urban Prep is not for everyone, and those students may leave us,” school founder and CEO Tim King, said. “But the fact that some students choose to leave us should not be used as a weapon against the students who have chosen to stay and have achieved this incredible accomplishment.”

Just ask Urban Prep alumni. The 2010 class the first to graduate from the school in 2010, and now they’re about to graduate from college.  “Being the first graduating class you see a lot of progression, you see a lot of downfall, but everything comes just together. If you keep striving for that one goal, no one can tell you no,” Urban Prep alumnus Paris Williams said.

To see video of this continually wonderful story, click here.
article by LeeAnn Trotter via nbcchicago.com
 

Can't Stop, Won't Stop: Oakland Teen Akintunde Ahmad's 5.0 GPA, 2100 SAT Score, Land Him Acceptance From Multiple Ivy Leagues

By goodblacknews on April 8, 2014
17-year-old Akintunde Ahmad. (Photo courtesy of YouTube/ABC)
17-year-old Akintunde Ahmad. (Photo courtesy of YouTube/ABC)

When most people see 17-year-old Akintunde Ahmad, they find it hard to believe he has earned a 5.0 GPA, a 2100 SAT score and acceptance into almost every Ivy League school in the nation.  This is because Ahmad, who describes himself as a “street dude,” admits that he is often judged by his 6-foot-1 frame and waist-long dreads. In fact, the Oakland teen has been underestimated by his peers to the point where only cellphone images of his grades and test scores provide the most viable proof.
According to ABC, Ahmad — who attends Oakland Tech High in northern California — has been accepted into a number of prestigious schools including Yale, Brown, Columbia, Northwestern, the University of Southern California, UCLA and Howard, among others.
Aside from his exceptional academic record, Ahmad also plays three instruments and is a star athlete on his school’s baseball team. So much so, that he has even been approached by Yale about joining the university’s team.  “Every school he applied to is already Division 1, so he wasn’t taking a step down as far as baseball is concerned,” baseball coach Bryan Bassette told ABC.