HU Black Family Conference a Success

HU Black Family Conference a Success

This year, the College of Education and Continuing Studies hosted Hampton University's 32nd Annual Conference on the Black Family.

Keynote Speaker, Dr. Dianne Boardley Suber '71.

HU President Dr. William R. Harvey presents Dr. and Mrs. McKinley Price with the 2010 Honored Black Family Award.

Dr. McKinley Price on receiving the Honored Black Family Award.

HU partnered with NASA and the Virginia Air & Space Center for STEM-Tastic Day.

More than 200 city of Hampton elementary and middle school students participated in STEM-Tastic Day.

The conference closed with a "Salute to Grandmothers" Ladies Luncheon.

The conference honored six leading ladies in the community: Mrs. Norma B. Harvey, First Lady, Hampton University; Mrs. Molly Ward, Mayor, City of Hampton; Mrs. Debra Flores, Administrator and Vice President, Sentara CarePlex Hampton; Mrs. Amanda Murray, First Lady, First Baptist Church – Bute Street (Norfolk, Va.); Minister Sylvia Harris, First Lady, First Baptist Church Denbigh (Newport News, Va.); Pastor Janeen McBath, First Lady, Calvary Revival Church (Norfolk, Va.)

The luncheon was held in the HU Student Center Ballroom.

HU Annual Read-In Event Welcomes Author Leanne Howe

HU Annual Read-In Event Welcomes Author Leanne Howe
Selected novel "The Miko Kings" features scenes set at Hampton Institute

Hampton University’s Department of English welcomes LeAnne Howe, author of “The Miko Kings,” to the campus for the university’s Annual Read-In Event on March 24 at 7 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom. The event is free and open to the public.

Howe will read excerpts from “The Miko Kings,” provide a brief discussion on federal Indian policy, and also discuss the writing process. The event will also feature a performance by the Four Rivers Inter-Tribal Drum group.

Set during America’s baseball fever of 1907, “The Miko Kings” tells the story of an all-Native American baseball team from Ada, Okla., set to play against the United States’ Seventh Cavalry team for the Twin Territories’ pennant. Howe’s novel shifts continually through several time periods and locations, including scenes set at Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute (now Hampton University).

Howe is a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and a professor of English and American Indian studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her first novel, “Shell Shaker,” received an American Book Award in 2002. Visit her blog at http://mikokings.wordpress.com/.

HU Hosts 20th Annual Education Career Fair

HU Hosts 20th Annual Education Career Fair

The Hampton University Division of Education hosted the 20th Annual Career Fair on March 16 in the Student Center Ballroom. The event featured 50 school systems from nine states, offering career opportunities in education, counseling, psychology, sociology, nursing, physical therapy and communicative sciences and disorders.

HU Hosts Adventures in Engineering for Local Youth

Local youth are invited to Hampton University to explore future careers in Engineering. The Hampton University Society of Women Engineers along with the Region E Members at Large section will host the Adventures in Engineering program on April 10 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the HU Olin Engineering Building.

The event has been designed as a career guidance project, for children in grades 4-8. The main goal of the conference is to introduce students to engineering.

The conference will feature various engineering demonstrations and experiments about the laws of physics. A panel of professional engineers and academics will be available to answer questions from students and parents. The conference will include information about careers in engineering and how students can prepare academically for an education in engineering.

"There are enormous opportunities in engineering careers for young people in the next millennium," stated Dr. Jale Akyurtlu, HU chemical engineering professor.

Breakfast and lunch will be provided for all participants. Children will also have the opportunity to win door prizes. Registration is limited and open until March 22. There is a $3 registration fee. For registration forms or to volunteer please contact Sharon Hollins at sharon.hollins@ngc.com.

HU CELEBRATES HONORS EDUCATION

HU Celebrates Honors Education
The Past and the Future

The Hampton University Honors College will host Honors College events throughout the weekend. The 15th Annual Honors College Induction Ceremony is on March 19 at 7p.m. in the McGrew Towers Conference Center. Carlos Stringer Smith, HU Class of 2003 and honors college graduate, will address the incoming class.

On Saturday, March 20 at 1:30 p.m. the university will host Honors Day in Ogden Hall. This years theme will be “Honors @ Hampton University: Character, Competency and Service.”

This year’s ceremony will include a keynote address from, Sashi Brown, a ’98 graduate of HU and the Honors College program. Brown currently serves as the assistant general counsel for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Throughout the event, students in the program will be honored with departmental and honor society awards. HU President Dr. William R. Harvey will present the President’s Award, an award presented annually to an outstanding student.

“The semi-finalist for the [President’s] award are exceptionally good this year, their experiences are so different,” stated Freddye Davy, director of the Honors College. “Forty-five students competed this year. It is wonderful to know the quality of student we produce.”

Honors weekend activities are free and open to the public. For more information contact Honors College at (757) 727-5076 or by email at honors@hamptonu.edu.

HU Hosts Robotics Conference and Olympiad

HU Hosts Robotics Conference and Olympiad

The Hampton University Department of Computer Science will host the second annual ARTSI Student Research Conference and the eighth annual Computer Science Olympiad. The conference and Olympiad will be held March 25-27 in the Hampton University Student Center Ballroom.

The Advancing Robotics Technology for Societal Impact (ARTSI) Alliance is a collaborative project between HU and several HBCUs and Research I institutions. The alliance focuses on robotics research and education in healthcare, entrepreneurship and the arts.

The three-day ARTSI Conference includes a research conference where students can present and observe oral and poster presentations.

The ARTSI conference also involves a computer science Olympiad. Students will have the opportunity to compete for prizes and demonstrate their talents in the areas of hardware and software integration, cryptography, robotics and programming.

HU teams have done well in past ARTSI competitions. At the 2009 ARTSI Olympiad an HU team placed second in the overall Olympiad.

“The HU Department of Computer Science is looking forward to the conference,” stated Dr. Chutima Boonthum, HU assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science and principal investigator of ARTSI Alliance at HU. “Our teams are competitive and hope to win the Olympiad prizes again this year. And of course, we are ready to welcome our guests from ARTSI HBCUs and R1s to our Home by the Sea.”

The opening session on Friday, March 26 at 9 a.m. is open to the public. Registration for the remainder of the Olympiad is $150 for non-ARTSI/ADMI members.

For more information regarding the conference please contact Dr. Chutima Boonthum at chutima.boonthum@hamptonu.edu or 757-727-5082.

HU Presents Encore Performance of "A Love to Call My Own"

HU Presents Encore Performance of "A Love to Call My Own"

Special Performances feature Grammy-nominated artist Tank

Back by popular demand, the Hampton University Players proudly present an encore performance of “A Love to Call My Own,” the sequel to the nationally toured “Mama Dee’s Girls.” This unforgettable drama will be held March 26-28 and April 2-4 in Armstrong Hall’s Little Theater; with Friday and Saturday performances at 8 p.m.; Sunday matinees at 3 p.m. Tickets are $12 for general admission; $8 for senior citizens, children and students; and admission for HU students is free.

“This production is going to be over the top because we’re taking it to a whole new level, making more dynamic,” said writer Dr. Karen T. Ward (K.T. Price), chair of the HU Department of Fine and Performing Arts. “The enhanced script has additional songs offering a really diverse musical production this year. I think people will enjoy the new characters, the revolving turntable set and beautiful costumes.”

This production picks up ten years after we witnessed Lil Sis and Junior’s whirlwind career rise to the top in the music business only to watch her professional triumph plunge to personal turmoil in “Mama Dee’s Girls.” With Mama Dee gone, and Lil Sis vowing never to sing again, a grown up Mia must struggle to make the right decisions regarding her plans for a career in music, her dangerous boyfriend, and her relationship with her now separated parents. Throughout it all, Lil Sis stands by her daughter, loving her and trying to lead her on the right path.

On April 3 at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., the HU Players welcome Grammy-nominated R&B artist Tank as a special guest for two select performances. He will portray himself, singing one of his top hits as well as a song written by Ward exclusively for the production. Tank has written for such artists as Jennifer Hudson, Jamie Foxx, Aaliyah, Chris Brown and Omarion.

“This show has a strong, powerful message about living your dream but also knowing the consequences of your actions,” said Ward.

“A Love to Call My Own” is the sequel to “Mama Dee’s Girls,” which, in 2001, toured nationally to 22 cities with Jennifer Holliday, Ali Woodson, Shirley Murdock and Phillip Michael Thomas.

Costume design by assistant professor Bresean Jenkins and assistant professor C. Perry Otto will head scenic and light design.

For ticket information, please contact the HU Box Office at (757) 727-5236 or (757) 727-5402.

"A Love to Call My Own"

Tank

HU Child Dev. Center Celebrates Read Across America

HU Child Development Center Celebrates Read Across America Teachers and students at Hampton University’s Child Development Center celebrated the National Education Association’s (NEA) Read Across America program on March 2 at 11 a.m. with two guest celebrity readers. The HU Child Development Center welcomed Fort Monroe Garrison Commander Col. Anthony D. Reyes, HU Class of 1984 and Ms. Nell Crawford, HU assistant vice president for business affairs, as celebrity guest readers. The two read books to the children and sign autographs, including "Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You?" by Dr. Seuss. The NEA's Read Across America, the nation's largest celebration of reading with an estimated 45 million readers across the nation, falls annually on or around the beloved children's author's birthday of March 2. "Reading is a part of our everyday lives and a celebration such as this offers the children exposure to persons with successful careers who value reading," said Constance Goode, director of the HU Child Development Center. "Col. Reyes and Ms. Crawford gave their time to show that lots of people care about the importance of reading." Ms. Nell Crawford read to the two year olds. Col. Anthony Reyes read to the three to five year olds. Col. Reyes with the Child Development Center.