Hampton University senior has his eyes on the Supreme Court

Hampton University Class of 2015  #GradHU15

The Hampton University Class of 2015 is ready to soar. The graduates will don their caps and gowns on May 10, 2015 and join the ranks of thousands of Hampton University alumni making an impact all over the world. This blog series will feature a different member of Class of 2015 during Commencement week.  

Hampton University senior has his eyes on the Supreme Court 

 

Demarius Newsome

Becoming a Supreme Court Justice has been Demarius Newsome’s dream since he stepped foot onto Hampton University’s Campus four years ago. After May 10, 2015 he will be one degree closer to achieving his dream. Newsome, a psychology major and leadership studies minor from Meadville, Pennsylvania, is a member of the HU Class of 2015.

Being involved in numerous campus organizations has shown Newsome how working with peers from different backgrounds can be beneficial.  

“Hampton has shown me the importance of depending on others and treating people as equals,” said Newsome. “Hampton has impacted my goals by showing that we as a people can advance and do anything so long as we put our minds to it.”

While at HU, Newsome has been actively involved on campus through the Greer Dawson Wilson Student Leadership Program and the Marching Force. Being a leader on campus has helped him see the wonders of “Black intelligence.”

 “It has truly been an honor to work and study with some of the brightest minds,” Newsome said.

After graduation, Newsome will attend Emory University School of Law. He is interested in specializing in criminal law, constitutional law, trial advocacy and/or litigation. Newsome plans to be just as active at Emory as he has been at HU.  

Newsome is ready for the challenges the future holds but he will value highly the education he has received at HU.

 “I love how the Hampton community embraces and cherishes the students that come each year. I am grateful for having the opportunity to be here.”

- Sechemelia Lewis '15

HUUC Launches Hispanic/Latino Initiative

Members of the HUUC Hispanic/Latino with HU President Dr. William R. Harvey

 HUUC Launches Hispanic/Latino Initiative

The Hampton University University College (HUUC) recently launched a Hispanic/Latino initiative with the goal of making curriculum and school offerings even more diverse and inclusive for current and incoming students.

Officials are hopeful the initiative will also create cultural awareness among the campus and local communities and increase enrollment of Hispanic/Latino students at Hampton University.  HUUC is the branch of HU that caters to continuing education and non-traditional students.

“Our nation has arrived at a very important moment in our society where achieving diversity and inclusion in an era of transformation  is key to the growth of the Hispanic population in Hampton Roads,” said Dr. Almarie Munley, HUUC Dean. “Hampton University- University College recognizes the contributions made and the important presence of the Hispanic/Latino population in our learning communities.”

On April 16 University College organized the first Hampton University Hispanic/Latino Initiative Think Tank which hosted leaders from various Hispanic organizations across the State of Virginia and beyond, including Virginia Latino Higher Education Network(VALHEN),  Hampton Roads Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (HRHCC), Esperanza College from  Philadelphia, Colonial Williamsburg Latino Association, Virginia Coalition of Latino Organizations (VACALAO), Hispanic Advisory Board of Newport News, Scholarship Sharing Organization for Hispanics, and National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC). 

The initiative will be headquartered at 11817 Canon Blvd. in Newport News, but will serve all of Hampton University. It will operate with an internal steering committee comprised of faculty, administrative staff and students to be led by a Hispanic Outreach Coordinator, and a part-time liaison, in collaboration with Munley and Alisha Foster, Director and Project Lead for the Hispanic Initiative.

Increasing access to programs at HU for the Hispanic markets, offering Hispanic scholarships, providing a progressive and innovative approach to educating Hispanic communities, and supporting the fast growing Hispanic communities across the United States are just some of the program’s immediate goals.

“As with all we do at HU and HUUC we want to uphold the standard of excellence, and that means broadening the scope of what we do and what we offer to all students,” Foster said. “Diversity matters to us at HU and we want to show that in all our efforts.”

Leha Byrd

HU alum talks law with students

HU alum talks law with students   

(Left to Right: Dr. Eric Claville, Melissa Chastang '11, Dr. Amee Carmines)

Hampton,Va. - The Hampton University School of Liberal Arts welcomed back recent graduate Melissa Chastang, Class of 2011, to give current students some insight into the world of law. 

Chastang an English major during her time at HU, is a 2014 Harvard Law School graduate. She spoke in front of a group of 80 students from both the English & Modern Foreign Languages department and Pre-Law Institute in the Hampton University Library Meeting Room. In her speech she gave those students advice on what to expect when making the transition from undergrad to law school. 

Chastang’s visit to her “Home By the Sea” was organized through her former advisor Dr. Amee Carmines, associate professor of English.   

Chastang addressing Pre-Law Institute students 

"I hope my visit encouraged someone to apply to a school or a program or a scholarship that they hadn't considered before,” said Chastang. “As Hamptonians, we are capable of pursuing and achieving so much - we just have to make the decision." "When I got to Harvard, I realized many people there had never heard of Hampton University,” said Chastang. “I wanted to come speak to our students to let them know that they can change that.” 

Chastang is currently a practicing associate at the law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer and Feld, LLP in Washington D.C. One major part of Chastang’s presentation to the students is that upon graduation they become ambassadors of HU and need to embrace that role. 

“Melissa Chastang gave an outstanding talk about her transition from the undergraduate degree in English to her stellar performance in the law school at Harvard University,” said Carmines. “She challenged current students to follow in her footsteps and claim their places at the ivy league schools, making Hampton University and all HBCUs more visible. We could not ask for a better advocate for the value of a Hampton education than Ms. Chastang.”

- Matthew A. White '10 

HU biology students travel to Brazil to conduct research in Atlantic Rainforest

HU biology students travel to Brazil to conduct research in Atlantic Rainforest 

Eight Hampton University biology students traveled to the Iracambi Atlantic Rainforest Research Center and to Rio Pomba, where they conducted research on sustainability and conservation from Jan. 5-23. 

The students on the trip were sophmores Brandi Adams, Rebecca Castro, Zenquia Miller; seniors Ashanti Bernateau, Pamela Cameau, Shalanda Grier, Crystal Smitherman and December 2014 graduate Carena Miles.

The first week of the program focused on learning Portuguese, where the HU students explored Rio de Janerio, traveled to Rio Pomba, communicating with locals, and learning about the culture from a group of Brazilian students from the local IF Sudeste-MG campus.

During the second week of the program both HU & IF Sudeste MG-Rio Pomba students studied topics including sustainable communities, reforesting, bird watching, bio-construction and environmental management. Learning took place both inside and outside the classroom, between lectures and presentations. 

"I learned that the purpose of the conservation of forestry is to track development," said Smitherman. "This experience has humbled me and given me an appreciation for the rainforest and all that it contributes to the ecosystem. It is important that we all learn about conservation in the rainforest, in order to protect our world and the environment."    

In the third week of the program the HU students traveled to the IF Sudeste-MG campus where they learned about sustainability, how students conduct research in the forest and how the students in Rio Pomba are preserving and rebuilding the rainforest. 

The trip was sponsored by the Washington Baltimore Hampton Roads-Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (WBHR-LSAMP), which focuses on increasing the number of underrepresented minority students involved in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).   

"My favorite part of the experience was the interaction with other students that were so open to learning about our culture and language as much as we were to learning theirs," said Castro. " This experience opened my eyes to new possibilities for careers."


- - Matthew A. White '10

HU Conference Explored Four Tiers of Hip Hop

Hampton University students artwork auctioned at the beginning of the conference

Hampton University’s School of Liberal Arts hosted the first annual Art of Hip-Hop conference on Feb. 11 - 12. This year’s theme was “Do You Still Love H.E.R (Hearing Every Rhyme)?” The conference extended over the course of two days, with the first being a silent auction built on one of the four tiers of hip-hop, graffiti. The artwork featured many artists who have made a lasting impact on the industry since it began over 40 years ago. Patrons were given the opportunity to listen to hip-hop music from different decades as they enjoyed the work of HU students.

Honoree Freedom Williams with conference coordinator Idonia Barrett and Dana Hubbard

Frederick “Freedom” Williams, who attended HU in the late 80’s was chosen to be the honoree of this year’s conference. Freedom Williams is the former front man and co-founder of the international multi-platinum selling group C&C Music Factory. He sold over 8 million records and has written children’s books. He has also written history chapters and screen plays. Honored by receiving his work, Williams spoke to the audience of students on his success and how he struggled to remain humble through the experiences as well as stay connected to his roots, which helped him to become the person he is today.

Day two was full of events and panel discussions targeting the current state of hip-hop and the development of the culture. There were debates on the state of rap and how it ties into the hip-hop community, if at all. Another topic explored was the role of women in the industry and how they have been demoted to being video vixens and degraded subjects of rap lyrics. Radio personalities, Dominique Da Diva and Paris Nicole spoke on their oppositions to how women are viewed within the industry but also maintained their stance that it will always be popular on the radio because it is what sells.

Hampton University students showcase the evolution of hip hop over the decades 

The panelists were questioned on how we as a community are able to change the views of the public, and who will be the future of hip-hop. “Don’t be afraid to be yourself. It is important that you find out what your purpose is and go for it. Be cautious of what you listen to. Listen responsibly,” said Dominique Da Diva. It all starts with one person, one trailblazer, someone who doesn’t conform to the mainstream view of what hip-hop is.

The conference ended with a showcase of hip-hop through the decades. HU students performed in scenes portraying the evolution of hip-hop. From its origins in the Bronx, NY in the 1970’s engulfing its four tiers, The DJ; The Emcee; Graffiti; and Break Dancing.  Hip-hop has always been more than just a genre of music; it is a culture and lifestyle.

-Sechemelia Lewis ‘15

-Daisha Roberts '15