Latest news with #VirginiaStateUniversity
Miami Herald
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
HBCU Graduation flexes with Boots on the Ground dance
Virginia State University's 2025 commencement ceremonies turned into unforgettable celebrations of HBCU culture and unity on Saturday as graduates in both ceremonies broke into the viral "Boots on the Ground" dance-sparked by a surprise moment led by VSU President Dr. Makola M. Abdullah. The university held two commencement exercises inside the VSU Multipurpose Center. The morning ceremony at 8:30 a.m. honored graduates from the College of Education and the College of Humanities & Social Sciences. The afternoon ceremony at 1:30 p.m. celebrated those graduating from the College of Agriculture, College of Engineering & Technology, College of Natural & Health Sciences, and the Reginald F. Lewis College of Business. In both ceremonies, just after the turning of the tassels and before students crossed the stage, President Abdullah invited graduates to look beneath their seats. There, they found handheld fans-placed intentionally as a nod to the popular lyric from 803Fresh's hit: "Where them fans at?" What made the moment even more adorable on the livestream of the event was the sign language interpreter getting in on the action and dancing on screen. President Abdullah encouraged the new HBCU graduates to dance along or simply enjoy the moment. As the beat dropped, students erupted into movement, clapping the fans in rhythm and performing the viral "Boots on the Ground" dance. The celebratory interlude lasted about 1 minute and 20 seconds, capturing the joy, pride, and cultural richness of the VSU Class of 2025. The post HBCU Graduation flexes with Boots on the Ground dance appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
Miami Herald
18-05-2025
- Miami Herald
From incarceration to an HBCU graduation
Courtesy: Virginia State University Spending 23 hours every day in a jail cell with only one hour of free time gives you plenty of time to think about the choices you've made. For Dennis Freeman, most of that time was spent ruminating on the firearms possession charge that had landed him there. After his release, a judge gave Freeman a choice: find a job or go to school. Though he had fallen in with the wrong crowd, Freeman had always done well in school. So, he started applying to colleges across Virginia. Few people get a second chance and even fewer are willing to hand them out. When Freeman received his acceptance letter from Virginia State University, he was given the opportunity to turn his life around. 'Getting accepted into Virginia State was one of the most important moments of my life,' said Freeman. 'Some people I went to high school with were already going here and were telling me about how great it was. I knew this was where I needed to be.' Enrolling in 2021, Freeman became a member of the Residential Royal Court and later joined the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, finally surrounding himself with people who actually wanted what was best for him. He also joined Kultured Men Making A Change, a VSU organization focused on mentoring young African American men. Freeman had always been entrepreneurial, so when it came time to choose a major, he enrolled in the reputable Reginald F. Lewis College of Business at VSU. Though his tattoos and past drew skepticism, he soon proved his commitment. His professors were champions of his growth, helping him land internships and launch a fashion business. Freeman wants to eventually open a one-stop shop store that is heavily involved in the community and allows kids to purchase affordable clothing and be around people who can be a positive influence. 'When I was in jail, I came up with a vision for myself and who I wanted to be,' said Freeman. 'Because of Virginia State University, I was able to escape the situation I was in and elevate my life. I am the best version of myself thanks to VSU.' But adversity didn't end there. At the start of his senior year, Freeman was hospitalized with an illness and forced to miss the first two months of classes. Used to overcoming challenges, he persevered to graduate on time. So, when Freeman walked across the stage to receive his business management degree, he did so with a 3.17 GPA to complete an improbable journey. Back when that judge presented Freeman with options, the unspoken third option was going down the same path and returning to life as an inmate. Fortunately, he became a lifelong Trojan instead. Freeman was among the more than 600 students who graduated during Virginia State University's two Commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 17. The 8:30 a.m. processional/ceremony honored graduates from the College of Education and College of Humanities & Social Sciences, with Virginia Speaker of the House Don Scott delivering the keynote. The 1:30 p.m. processional/ceremony celebrated graduates from the College of Agriculture, College of Engineering & Technology, College of Natural & Health Sciences, and the Reginald F. Lewis College of Business. Virginia Senator Louise Lucas served as the guest speaker. The post From incarceration to an HBCU graduation appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
A call to collective action as nation responds to presidential executive orders
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Hampton NAACP president Gaylene Kanoyton and Virginia State University political scientist Dr. Wes Bellamy will speak near the site where slaves were auctioned in the 1800s as part of the multi-state and non-partisan this weekend.'What we're just trying to do is just activate folks, motivate people, get out and vote and do your part,' Kanoyton said. Bellamy told 10 On Your Side the tour has met with audiences in Raleigh, Atlanta, Durham, Birmingham, Jackson, New Orleans, Detroit, Louisville and Newark. A future stop will include Los Angeles. 'This will be an effort for us to move our community forward, and this is the beginning,' Bellamy said. 'Everything won't be solved this weekend, but we will continue to move forward.' 'The State of the People Power Tour is a response to Project 2025,' Kanoyton said. 'It is an effort to motivate, educate, advocate and activate the base, the Black base. This is where you have national leaders, local leaders, grassroots leaders, all come together, and it's a listening session. It's also workshops to teach us how to motivate and move forward.' As part of the Project 2025 agenda, President Donald Trump has tried to erase Congressional actions, court orders and part of the Constitution. This week, members of the Supreme Court fired back on the President's plan to end birthright citizenship. The Latest: Supreme Court hears arguments in case over Trump's birthright citizenship order 'If I were in your shoes, there is no way I would approach the Supreme Court with this case,' said Justice Elena Kagan. The State of the People Power Tour aims to amplify Black voices that are rooted in justice. Organizers say the tour will spotlight various leaders, from academics to artists, who will use multiple platforms to help shape public opinions. 'So everybody has an individual calling, and they have an individual purpose, and they have to go and do their part,' Bellamy said. 'So it's all about us empowering each other to work collectively, use our talents, our time, our treasures to be able to assist in empowering our communities. And we've seen in prior generations, sometimes when you have singular leadership, it's a little bit easier to take out.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Renovation and expansion projects at 10 Va. colleges and universities put on pause
Virginia State University, a historically-Black school in Ettrick. (Photo courtesy of NBC 12) The College of William and Mary: Replace Law School Central Utility Plant University of Virginia: Construct Center for the Arts Virginia Tech: Expand VT-Carilion School of Medicine and Fralin Biomedical Research Institute Virginia State University: Renovate Virginia Hall Longwood University: Replace Roof, Windows, and External Doors Lankford Hall James Madison University: Renovate Johnston Hall Virginia Commonwealth University: Acquire Altria Building Virginia Community College System: Renovate Amherst/Campbell Hall, Central Virginia Virginia Institute of Marine Science: Construct Marine Operations Administration Complex Institute for Advanced Learning and Research: Expand Center for Manufacturing Advancement Source: House Bill 1600 (Reenrolled) Gov. Glenn Youngkin paused over $600 million in funding requests for 10 renovation and expansion projects at Virginia's higher education institutions to prepare for possible statewide repercussions stemming from uncertainty about the country's economic future. As President Donald Trump's administration continues slashing federal spending and programs and overhauling global trade policies, Youngkin and lawmakers are keeping a keen eye on the state's purse strings. On May 2, the governor announced that Virginia will retain $900.4 million from its budget, leaving a projected $3.2 billion surplus as a cushion. Of the $900 million removed from the state spending plan, $626 million would have been allocated to cover 10 one-time capital projects at Virginia's colleges and universities. Youngkin carves out $900 million as Virginia prepares for Trump-era uncertainty 'While the 10 new projects included in the 2025 Higher Education Capital Outlay Pool are each worthy investments, it would not be financially prudent for me to advance these projects to the construction phase with the current risks to our general fund forecast,' Youngkin wrote in his veto letter. 'As chief executive officer of the commonwealth, the conservative course of action is to delay appropriation for these projects.' The affected schools include Virginia State University, which plans to renovate Virginia Hall because of multiple infrastructure issues, and Virginia Commonwealth University, which plans to acquire the Altria research building to expand its lab space. 'The project remains of critical importance and we are hopeful it will be restored at the next opportunity,' a VCU spokesperson said in a statement to the Mercury. The governor said he plans to reintroduce the projects in his December budget proposal 'should the revenues required to support their construction continue to be available.' In his veto letter, Youngkin said the commonwealth has spent 17%, or $551 million, of its $3.2 billion in authorized capital outlay projects at Virginia's public institutions of higher education. The Virginia Community College System (VCCS) is also among the institutions that now must wait for their projects to proceed. VCCS plans to renovate Amherst and Campbell Halls at Central Virginia Community College (CVCC) in Lynchburg, which are the core classroom spaces for the college. Amherst Hall was built in 1968 and Campbell Hall was completed in 1974. Neither has had a significant renovation since then. As federal funding and systems dwindle, states are left to decide how and whether to make up the difference. Susan Pollard, a VCCS spokeswoman, said in a statement that CVCC is currently in the planning and design phase for both buildings and is using a limited amount of other available resources to continue moving forward until state funds may become available. 'Virginia's Community Colleges are positioned well in the near term to navigate what we understand is a temporary postponement to the impacted higher education capital outlay budgets,' Pollard said in a statement to the Mercury. 'We understand that difficult decisions regarding the reallocation of budgets are necessary at times, and we are hopeful funding will be restored as the situation allows.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Don Scott, Sen. Louise Lucas to speak during Virginia State University Commencement
PETERSBURG, Va. (WAVY) – Virginia Speaker of the House Don Scott and Virginia Senator Louise Lucas are set to speak during Virginia State University's (VSU) Spring 2025 Commencements. The university expects to confer 650 degrees Saturday, May 17, across two ceremonies. The first ceremony will take place at 8:30 a.m. and Scott will deliver the keynote address. The second ceremony will take place at 1:30 p.m., with Sen. Lucas as the guest speaker. The university says both ceremonies will be viewable via live stream on both the university's YouTube and Facebook pages. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
