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4 Leaders of Tomorrow! OCTOBER 1997 MBC Wolverine OBSERVER
In My Opinion
Maintaining This
Positive Energy
Carvel Bennett, Director Student
Activities & Student Publications
By Carvel G. Bennett
I vowed that I would not teach New
Students Success Seminar anymore.
After five years I think I’ve had
enough, at least so I thought. Then came a
request from Dr. Haire and his staff and the
next thing I know I’m in the Griffin -
Hightower lecture room facing about 100
new students, about to start teaching New
Students Success Seminar...again.
I’ve always enoyed teaching and being in
the classroom but this year is somehow
special. There is a certain energy about this
group, something I’ve noticed since I met
the first group in mid-Summer.
Despite all the problems associated with
registration, housing, financial aid, etc.,
there seems a fortitude within this group that
I cannot explain. Yes, like all the other
groups of new students in the past they
complain, but not only is this group
complaining, they are willing to get involved
and be a part of the solution. Upperclass -
men, take notes.
They have been stopping me on campus,
asking how they can be a part of Student
Government, their Freshman class, campus
newspaper or yearbook, home town club,
Cheerleader or one of our popular dance
teams. This is exciting and a step in the
right direction.
I welcome this new breed of Brownite - a
group committed to social responsibility,
academic excellence, and a true educational
experience. I hope on our part, we the
faculty, staff and administrators can channel
this enthusiasm and positive energy into
something big. The class of 2001 needs our
guidance, nurture and expertise, we must
fulfill our obligation.
To them I say, stay focused and undaunted
and make the best of your college years.
You are not a generation gone astray, but a
generation oftentimes misunderstood. The
ones I teach have now come to understand
me and I them. We are going to use this
understanding to ensure that we...maintain
this positive energy.
ALUMNI UPDATE
Morris Brown College Office of Alumni Affairs
(A Department of the Institutional Advancement Division)
The Reunion Year is a Great
Time to Reinvest in Our Alma
Mater! Get Active with Your
Class or Chapter!
By Clarence Williamson, Director for Alumni Affairs & Staff
Clarence Williamson, Director
The Augusta Chapter
Hosts Its First
Student Reception
Under the leadership of Ann Parks ‘72,
the Augusta-Central Savannah River Area
(CSRA) Alumni chapter sponsored its first
annual reception on August 3, 1997 for
prospective and returning students.
The student reception included a
presentation of gifts, and a “getting to know
you” session. The program was coordinated
by Shirley Walker Godbee ‘76.
Hettie Frazier Copland ‘55 brought
greetings from the Board of the CSRA
Football Classic, which will be held on
October 25th in Augusta.
MBC Sports Hall of Famer and 1957
football team captain Leamon Grier ‘58,
John Ivey ‘69, and four returning students
talked about their times at Morris Brown.
Alumni Director Clarence Williamson
‘71 brought greetings from the College and
the Alumni Association.
Many of the prospective students from
Augusta are expected to participate in the
“Marching Wolverines” band.
North Georgia
Alumni Chapter
The vision of Catherine Britt Purdue ‘49
to establish an alumni chapter in the North
Georgia area has taken form. August 23,
1997 is the official charter date for the
newest alumni chapter of the Morris Brown
National Alumni Association. St. Paul
A.M.E. Church in Rome, GA is the founding
site of the new chapter. The chapter will
serve the north Georgia communities of
Rome, Cave Springs, Cedertown, Calhoun,
and Summerville. For more information,
contact Mrs. Purdue at (706)291-8726.
Columbus Chapter
Hosts Reception
The Columbus-Phenix City Alumni
Chapter hosted a reception on August 2nd to
promote the Atlanta Labor Day Football
Classic. Morris Brown, Clark Atlanta, and
Labor Day Classic Board of Directors
representatives met with Columbus media.
The alumni chapter used the occasion to
invite returning and prospective students to
leam more about the college. Admissions
and Recruitment Director Vory Billups
spoke to the audience of more than 40 about
the admissions process.
Athletic Director Gene Bright introduced
head Football Coach Joe Crosby, who spoke
about the upcoming season, and emphasized
the need for our supporters to buy tickets
and attend our games.
Alumni Affairs Director Clarence
Williamson gave greeting from the College
and the National Alumni Association.
Board of Trustee member Dr. Francis Blake
was presented her President’s Club plaque.
Visionary Club member Dr. Samuel
Charleston ‘28, and Life and President’s
Club member Dr. Isaac Hadley ‘71 were
presented plaques in absentia.
ALUMNI St
PRE-ALUMNI
IN THE NEWS
Teen Parents
Get Help Turning
Lives Around
Tammie Williams ‘97, was a high school
honor student and basketball player when
she got pregnant. While she had family
support, some of the teachers turned their
backs on her, and she received plenty of
cold stares.
Yet, going against and beating all odds,
Tammie graduated with honors from Morris
Brown with a degree in Therapeutic Recre
ation. She is among more than 300 young
mothers to have gone through the Teen
Parent Program (TPP) that began at Carver
High School in Atlanta. Ms Williams is one
of the first to reach the goal of a college
education.
The TPP was conceived in 1988 by
Former Carver principal Norris Hogan ‘59.
It is a collaborative effort between the
Fulton County Department of Family and
Children Services and Atlanta Public
Schools to assist teen parents unable to
complete or start their high school education
because of a lack of day care.
Church and volunteer groups contribute
time, supplies, and services to supplement
the program. “The program gave me the
desire to continue and want to do better and
stay in school,” said Miss Williams.
Brownite Honored
Rev. Roy Holmes ’74, was recently
honored as an Outstanding Alumnus by the
Chicago Inter-Alumni Council of The
College Fund-UNCF. A brunch was held to
honor 18 Chicago area award recipients,
who are graduates of HBCU’s, for their
contributions in providing financial
resources to the UNCF, and for positively
promoting the education of young black
minds.
Rev. Holmes is currently Pastor of Greater
Walters A.M.E. Zion Church in Chicago, IL.
He holds a Masters Degree in Divinity from
Hood Theological Seminary, and has had
pastoral appointments in South Carolina,
North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.
Brownite Promoted
Karon Ammons Daniel ‘87 has been
promoted to senior producer for public
affairs at Turner Entertainment Network.
Alumnae Daniel has been the co-producer of
interact.america since 1995. Her
responsibilities will include special project
production such as public service
announcements, African American Moments
and the Black History Month specials, and
SuperTeacher and SuperStudent projects.
Phipps
Opens Agency
Charles W. Phipps ‘69 has announced
the opening of his State Farm Insurance
Agency at 4804 Flat Shoals Parkway in
Decatur, GA. (770) 987-2481. Mr. Phipps
was the lead drum major for the “Marching
Wolverines” from 1964 to 1968. He was the
short Charles, since the other drum major
Charles Frye ‘69 was over 6’7”.
Brownites Inducted
DECA, the association for high school
marketing students bestowed its highest
award as honorary life member to Nina L.
Gaskin ‘65. Alumnae Gaskin was honored
for 20 years of service to the organization on
the local, state, regional, and national level.
She is a marketing education director for the
District of Columbia Public Schools.
Lester Mason, Jr. ‘52 was inducted as
a patron by the Alabama Retired Teachers
Association. The honor is presented to
distinguished retired educators, and their
name is engraved on a plaque in the
Teachers Hall of Fame.
Edmonds Retires
Lt. Gen. Albert Edmonds ‘64 has
announced his retirement after 33 years of
service. Gen. Edmonds is recognized as a
leader in the world of computer technology.
He will become the president of a company
in Washington, DC.
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