Jackson State NAACP to host Scott Sisters for march and meeting

Spencer McClenty
601-979-1457
spencer.l.mcclenty@jsums.edu       
______________________________________________________                               

Jamie (left) and Gladys Scott

The Jackson State University chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) will host the event, “Come Meet the Scott Sisters” at 2 p.m., Friday, April 1 in the JSU Liberal Arts Building, Room 266, which is located on the university’s main campus. The event will be preceded by a protest march at 10 a.m. in downtown Jackson from the Farish Street Park to the State Capitol Building.
            The purpose of the march is to demand a full pardon for Jamie and Gladys Scott, who were convicted of orchestrating a 1993 armed robbery in Forest, Mississippi. Both sisters received double life sentences. On December 29, 2010, Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour suspended their sentences on the condition that Gladys donate a kidney to her ailing sister. The two women were released from prison on January 7, 2011, but must remain on parole and pay the state of Florida, where they’ll reside, $52 a month for the rest of their lives.
            “This is very important,” said Michael Teasley, president of the JSU NAACP chapter. “We can use the Scott Sisters case to bring light and raise awareness about the injustices that has been conflicting Mississippi for decades. We are in an era of mass incarceration when we should be trying to educate and not incarcerate.”
            The “Meet the Scott Sisters” event will be followed by a Community Strategy Session at 6 p.m., also in the JSU Liberal Arts Building, room 266. For more information contact Michael Teasley at 662-528-6363.

JSU hosts Diversity Traffic Safety Summit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tommiea P. King
601-979-2950
tommiea.p.king@jsums.edu

(JACKSON, Miss.) – Jackson State University, along with the Mississippi Department of Public Safety Planning Division of Public Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), will host the second Mississippi Diversity Traffic Safety Summit from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 19.

This summit is intended to raise awareness about the dangers of driving under the influence, new distracted driving laws, seat belts and other traffic safety issues

This summit will seek commitments from community partners to:  “Bridging the Gap: Building Partnerships to Save Lives.”

“By working together to promote and improve traffic safety in Mississippi, we can effectively impact the ultimate goal of reducing fatalities and injuries on “all” public roads in Mississippi,” said Dawn McLin, program director for the Jackson Teen Seatbelt Coalition.

There is no fee to attend the summit; however, registration is required. Lunch will be provided with registration.

Please return the registration form by April 1Forms may be submitted by mail to: Jackson Teen Seatbelt Coalition, Jackson State University, Department of Psychology, JSU Box 17750, Jackson, MS 39217; via fax: 601-979-2659; or online at: http://www.envisageregistration.com.  A confirmation notice will be sent upon completion of registration.

– JSU –

About Jackson State University: Bridge to a Brighter Tomorrow

Jackson State University, founded in 1877, is a historically black, high research activity university located in Jackson, the capital city of the state of Mississippi. Jackson State’s nurturing academic environment challenges individuals to change lives through teaching, research and service. Officially designated as Mississippi’s Urban University, Jackson State continues to enhance the state, nation and world through comprehensive economic development, health-care, technological and educational initiatives. The only public university in the Jackson metropolitan area, Jackson State is located near downtown, with three satellite campuses throughout the city. For more information, visit www.jsums.edu.

JSU civil engineering students win awards during Deep South Conference and Concrete Canoe Competition

By Jean Gordon Cook
601-979-1571
jean.g.cook@jsums.edu

 (JACKSON, Miss.) – The Jackson State University American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) student chapter had a very successful presence at the 2011 ASCE Deep South Regional Student Conference held in Starkville, Miss., March 24-26. The conference featured the annual concrete canoe and steel bridge competitions, as well as other competitions related to civil engineering. Fourteen universities representing the Deep South and about 300 civil engineering students participated in this year’s competition.

The JSU team took first place in the Mystery Event Competition, making them the regional champions in the Deep South. In the surveying competition, the JSU competitors earned second place. In the concrete canoe competition, the JSU team captured four awards, including second place in the men’s race and the men and women’s race, and third place in overall canoe aesthetics and the women’s endurance race.

The concrete canoe is the most exciting and visible competition in the conference because the use of concrete to make a canoe is unusual and challenging. Though it may seem impossible to float such a canoe, it can be done with the right mix of technical knowledge, creativity, project management skills and time.

The JSU team’s objective was to successfully construct a 20-foot long canoe with a structural mix lighter than water and that accounts for sustainability, workability, and structural integrity to withstand the rigors of the competition. The competition consisted of four parts including a design paper, an oral presentation, an evaluation of overall aesthetics and a series of races to measure performance on water. The JSU concrete canoe, named ITASCA, won in four categories.

In the men’s sprint event, Donald Hendon and Samuel Rhoads raced and finished second. In the women’s endurance race, Naomi Brigetty, Adrienne Spencer and Sarai Price raced and finished third. In the co-ed sprint event, Donald Hendon, Samuel Rhoads, Naomi Brigetty and Sarai Price finished second. Other student members including Yulian Kebede, Fatimata Diop, Charles McKenzie, Philip Barnes, Mufaweli Lewanika, Allen Pugh, Ennis Crosby, Andrew Hooker and Chris Herron worked on the actual design and construction. Because of their hard work and dedication, ITASCA secured the third position in the overall aesthetics among the 14 contestant universities.

The team credits their winning to the leadership of Abenezer Nida, a senior student in the JSU Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and the advisement of Himangshu S. Das, assistant professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department.

“This was a very important achievement since this was only the second time for JSU to participate in the competition,” said Farshad Amini, professor and chair of the JSU Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Photo: www.jsums.edu/announcements/canoe2011.jpg

JSU’s Walter Payton Center hosts annual ‘Fight Against Obesity’ 5K Run/Walk

Tommiea P. King

(JACKSON, Miss.) – Jackson State University’s Walter Payton Recreation and Wellness Center will continue its ‘Fight Against Obesity’ during its annual 5K Run/Walk at 8 a.m. Saturday, April 2.

            Registration for the event begins at 7 a.m. on the university’s main campus at 34 Walter Payton Drive. Registration is $5 for JSU students and $2 for students of the Jackson Public Schools District. General registration on race day is $15.

While many events focus on specific health issues, event coordinator Rachel Cowan wanted to focus on prevention.

            “Obesity leads to many of the health problems commonly found in Mississippi,” said Cowan. “By preventing obesity and living healthier lifestyles, we can prevent many of those issues.”

This event is a great opportunity for Mississippians to commit themselves to a healthy lifestyle, said Nyoki Morton, Payton Center assistant director for marketing.

            “Maintaining your healthy lifestyle is no one-week diet test run,” said Morton. “Somewhere I read it takes one moment to commit to change, seven days to implement a successful game plan, 14 days to develop a routine, and 21 days to create a habit…good or bad. I say, right now, it is Mississippi’s moment to commit and fight against obesity.”

            For more information about the race, call 601-979-1368 or visit the following link: http://www.jsums.edu/announcements/2.1.11entry.pdf .

– JSU –

About Jackson State University: Bridge to a Brighter Tomorrow

Jackson State University, founded in 1877, is a historically black, high research activity university located in Jackson, the capital city of the state of Mississippi. Jackson State’s nurturing academic environment challenges individuals to change lives through teaching, research and service. Officially designated as Mississippi’s Urban University, Jackson State continues to enhance the state, nation and world through comprehensive economic development, health-care, technological and educational initiatives. The only public university in the Jackson metropolitan area, Jackson State is located near downtown, with three satellite campuses throughout the city. For more information, visit www.jsums.edu.

JSU Student Government Association wins big at 2011 HBCU Awards

Spencer McClenty
601-979-1457
spencer.l.mcclenty@jsums.edu
___________________________________________________

Andross Milteer, 2010-2011 Jackson State SGA President

The Jackson State University Student Government Association won the Best Student Organization award during the inaugural 2011 Historically Black College and Universities (HBCU) Awards ceremony held March 18 in the Alumni-Foundation Event Center on the campus of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. The awards program was sponsored by The Center for HBCU Media Advocacy, Inc., and featured winners in 15 categories as well as a special recognition.

“This is awesome,” said Andross Milteer, president of the JSU Student Government Association. “It feels great that we’re able to win something like this because it lets us know that we’re doing our job and we’re representing the students.”

“This is a testament that our students are doing positive things on campus,” said Lori Stewart, director of Communications and Outreach in the Office of Student Life. “It’s great that they’re being recognized externally for what they do.”

This event, attended by about 150 people, is the first of its kind recognizing Historically Black Colleges and Universities for their impact in the fields of leadership, the arts, athletics, research, journalism and community engagement. The winners were chosen by a national committee of 30 voters whose selections were based on the 2009-2010 academic year.

Jarrett L. Carter, Sr., founder and executive director of The Center for HBCU Media Advocacy, Inc., said the ceremony will be held at a different HBCU each year.

During the two-hour long ceremony, the following winners were announced:

• Best Marching Band: Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University in Tallahassee, Fla.
• Best Choir: Fisk University in Nashville, TN.
• Best Alumni Publication: Spelman College in Atlanta, GA.
• Best Student Publication: Bennett College for Women, Greensboro, N.C.
• Best Homecoming: North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, N.C.
• Best Alumni: North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, N.C.
• Best Student Organization: Jackson State University’s Student Government Association in Jackson, Miss.
• Best Athletic Program: South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, S.C.
• Best Academic Programming: Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas.
• Best Research Initiative: Hampton University Proton Therapy Institute in Hampton, Va.
• Student of the Year: Bishop Walker, Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, N.C.
• Faculty Member of the Year: Dr. Racquel Henry of Albany State University in Albany, Ga.
• Alumnus of the Year: Dr. Charles Mosee of St. Augustine’s College in Raleigh, N.C.
• President of the Year: Dr. William R. Harvey, President of Hampton University in Hampton, Va.
• Lifetime Achievement Award:  Deborah Scott Thomas, Alabama State University class of 1974.
• HBCU of the Year: Paul Quinn College in Dallas, Texas.

JSU President Carolyn Meyers honored during women’s history celebration, JSUAdvance reception

By Jean Gordon Cook

601-979-1571

jean.g.cook@jsums.edu

JSU President Carolyn Meyers

(JACKSON, Miss.) – Jackson State University President Carolyn Meyers was honored during the university’s JSUAdvance Project Reception and Women’s History Month Celebration on Tuesday, March 29, in the JSU School of Engineering building atrium. The event celebrated women’s history month and JSU’s new National Science Foundation-funded project called JSUAdvance. The $3.5 million, five-year project is designed to advance the careers of women faculty in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and the Social and Behavioral Science (SBS) disciplines and transform the institutional climate of Jackson State University.

“For us to be the first HBCU to get this type of award is a spectacular feat,” Meyers said at the reception.

Although women faculty serve in leadership positions at JSU and other universities, those in the STEM and SBS disciplines are notably less visible in administration levels, said Loretta Moore, who is the project’s principal investigator and chair of Jackson State’s Department of Computer Science.

“Students need to be exposed to a variety of people,” Moore said. “The value of diversity helps to better prepare students.”

Jackson State University is the only Historically Black College or University to ever receive a full award from the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) ADVANCE Institutional Transformation program, and is one of seven schools selected in 2010 to receive the NSF funding. Other awardees include the University of Maryland, Lehigh University, the University of Maine, Syracuse University, West Virginia University and Texas A&M University. Like Jackson State, the other awardees are challenged to increase the participation and advancement of women in academic science and engineering careers.

“Jackson State submitted a highly competitive proposal,” said Kelly Mack, program director for the National Science Foundation ADVANCE program. “NSF was particularly struck by the level of commitment from senior administration and by the university president.”

Over the next five years, the project at JSU will include such activities as university-wide surveys to measure attitudes about gender, seminars to examine women’s barriers to promotion and international travel opportunities, leadership training and summer writing programs for female faculty. The project also will look at university policies that affect the promotion of women faculty.

The project is expected to add an understanding of the issues that impact women faculty in the STEM and SBS disciplines and promote strategies that can be adopted by other HBCUs. It is also expected to foster a culture that seeks the inclusion of faculty regardless of gender, race and other target characteristics

“At the end of the five years, we really should see a different institution that is more supportive and a better environment for equal opportunity,” Moore said.

Meyers is the first woman selected to be president of Jackson State University. She has more than 30 years of experience in higher education, serving most recently as president of Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Va. She holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Howard University, a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology and a doctorate from the Georgia Institute of Technology’s School of Chemical Engineering.

For more information, contact Loretta Moore at loretta.a.moore@jsums.edu or 601-979-2105.

– JSU –

About Jackson State University: Bridge to a Brighter Tomorrow

Jackson State University, founded in 1877, is a historically black, high research activity university located in Jackson, the capital city of the state of Mississippi. Jackson State’s nurturing academic environment challenges individuals to change lives through teaching, research and service. Officially designated as Mississippi’s Urban University, Jackson State continues to enhance the state, nation and world through comprehensive economic development, health-care, technological and educational initiatives. The only public university in the Jackson metropolitan area, Jackson State is located near downtown, with three satellite campuses throughout the city. For more information, visit http://www.jsums.edu.

JSU graduate students elected to the Executive Board of the National Black Graduate Student Association

Melanie McHenry (left), Lecia Gresham, Antonio Williams, Sarah Foote (GSA Advisor) and Charlotte Wallace

A group of Jackson State University graduate students attended the National Black Graduate Student Association (NBGSA) National Conference in Columbia, S.C. March 10-12, where two JSU students were elected to serve on the association’s executive board.  Lecia Gresham, president of JSU’s Graduate Student Association and a doctoral student in environmental science, was elected serve on the Finance Committee. Antonio Williams, vice president of JSU’s Graduate Student Association and a master-level student in rehabilitation counseling, was elected to serve as Parliamentarian.  Congratulations to both students for demonstrating excellent leadership qualities.

During the conference, Melaney McHenry, a doctoral student in environmental science, made a presentation on mercury ecotoxicity and risk assessment at the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Gresham made a presentation on “Vernonia amygadalina inhibits the expression survival, tumorigenesis, metastasis, and invision signaling molecules in human breast cancer cells.”

NBGSA is a 501(C) (3) non-profit association that is recognized as the primary student organization addressing the needs of black graduate students.  The organization is managed 100 percent by its members and offers leadership training, professional development, mentoring opportunities and career placement services.

For more information about this organization, contact Sarah Foote, Coordinator of Student Support Services, at sarah.l.foote@jsums.edu, or Lecia Gresham, GSA President at jsu-gsa@jsums.edu, or visit www.nbgsa.org.

JSU alum elected to Mississippi Legislature

(JACKSON, Miss.) – Jackson State University class of 2000 College of Business graduate Derrick Simmons was elected to the Mississippi State Senate in the March 1, 2011, special election for District 12. Simmons, a Democrat, will fill the vacancy created by former senator Johnnie Walls, who was elected to the Circuit Court. Simmons will serve until the 2011 Mississippi legislative elections.

An attorney and businessman, Simmons graduated from JSU as the top accounting student. He earned his law degree from the Howard University School of Law and his M.B.A. from the Howard Business School. The Greenville native is married to the former CuWanda Flowers.

Jackson State professor named 2011 Miss. Small Business Person of the Year

Spencer McClenty
601-979-1457
spencer.l.mcclenty@jsums.edu

______________________________________________________

Jackson State University professor John D. Calhoun was recently named

John D. Calhoun, Ph.D, will appear on The Paul Gallo Show on Super Talk 97.3FM in Jackson at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, March 31.

 the  2011 Mississippi Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small

Business Administration (SBA). Calhoun is co-founder and CEO of Integrated Management Services (IMS), a 15-year-old client-focused, full-service corporation providing engineering, emergency management, technical, program management and operations services to its clients.

“I am very humbled and honored to receive the award for Mississippi Small Business Person of the Year,” said Calhoun, who serves as assistant professor of Entrepreneurship in the Department of Entrepreneurship in the JSU College of Business. “I have been blessed over the last 15 years to have had the privilege of working with a great business partner, a staff with a wealth of expertise, and businesses and clients throughout Mississippi, and the United States. IMS will continue to deliver global solutions to local problems for many years to come.”

 IMS is made up of four main operating units: IMS Engineers, IMS Technical Institute, IMS Federal Programs, and IMS Autrans, LLC, which is a tier-one supplier for Nissan North America. Under Calhoun and his business partner Rod L. Hill, the firm has received a number of awards, including the Inner City 100 Award for the fastest growing inner-city business in the United States for a fourth straight year in 2008. In 2007, IMS was named to the 2007 Inc. 5000, the first ever list of the 5,000 fastest growing businesses in the country with a rank of 833 and a three-year sales growth of 414 percent. In 2006, IMS was named to the Inc. 500 list as one of America’s fastest growing companies for the fourth straight year. IMS ranked 449th, with a three-year sales growth of 330 percent.

“Hard work, innovative ideas, and dedication to the community have helped him succeed,” said Karen G. Mills, administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration. “The SBA is pleased to recognize Calhoun’s achievements and role in driving our nation’s economic growth.”

As an award winner, Calhoun is invited to attend the National Small Business Week celebration to be held in Washington, D.C., May 18-20, 2011 at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School students win Mississippi Region II Science Fair at JSU

By Jean Gordon Cook
601-979-1571
jean.g.cook@jsums.edu

(JACKSON, Miss.) – Vineet Aggarwal (left) and Ria Goel took the top prize at the Mississippi Region II Science and Engineering Fair Friday, March 25, at Jackson State University.

The 10th graders won “Best of Fair” for their project titled, “A Spatial and Temporal Analysis of Algal Assemblages in Central Mississippi.”  

The winners will advance to the Mississippi Science and Engineering Fair slated for March 29 at Mississippi State University and the International Science and Engineering Fair in May in Los Angeles.           

 This year’s regional fair attracted close to 1,300 students from public and private schools in Claiborne, Copiah, Hinds, Jefferson, Madison, Rankin and Warren counties. Jackson State University has been hosting the fair for more than three decades. The competition helps spark interest among young people in science and math, and serves as the preliminary to the Mississippi Science and Engineering Fair.

Student projects included experiments in biochemistry, botany, chemistry, physics, microbiology, zoology, medicine and health, and earth, space and environmental science. Close to 200 experts with advanced degrees in science, mathematics or engineering volunteered to judge the entries.           

Photo of Vineet Aggarwal and Ria Goel: http://www.jsums.edu/announcements/2011scifairwinners.jpg

 

 

– JSU –

About Jackson State University: Bridge to a Brighter Tomorrow

Jackson State University, founded in 1877, is a historically black, high research activity university located in Jackson, the capital city of the state of Mississippi. Jackson State’s nurturing academic environment challenges individuals to change lives through teaching, research and service. Officially designated as Mississippi’s Urban University, Jackson State continues to enhance the state, nation and world through comprehensive economic development, health-care, technological and educational initiatives. The only public university in the Jackson metropolitan area, Jackson State is located near downtown, with three satellite campuses throughout the city. For more information, visit www.jsums.edu.