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Livingstone Athletics fills four positions

In News, Pebbles by KHarrington

SALISBURY, NC — Livingstone College Athletics has hired four new employees to fill the roles of compliance, sports information, sports performance and assistant to the athletic director. Aaron Williams is the new sports information director; Kyle Dexter joins the team as director of sports performance; Alexis Anderson has been named associate athletic director for compliance and business operations; and TyNiece Sutton is the new assistant to the athletic director. “I am excited about the talent that we have added to our team,” said Athletic Director Lamonte Massie-Sampson. “As we get ready for growth in our athletic department, it’s great to know they will be instrumental in that progress. They will hit the ground running, executing and leading.” Aaron Williams Williams has spent the last four years in retail operations management with stints at Walmart and CVS Health, driving store operations’ metrics and aiding fiscal partnership formations with local businesses and institutions. But he is no stranger to the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). He served as a tournament media relations assistant for more than eight years, aiding in the video compliance for NCAA tournament requirements and press room management during post-game press conferences. In concert with his retail employment, Williams served as an athletics contractor for game day production for Howard University Athletics. At Howard, he sharpened the overall live broadcast and production strategy, creating a foundation of more than 26,000 viewers across the power four sports on the Bison Sports Network. Williams has also served as the communications manager for Voices …

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Rising music mogul Da’ud Carter, who discovered DaBaby, is Livingstone commencement speaker

In Pebbles by Donnie ButlerLeave a Comment

Da’ud Ramiz Carter, also known as King Carter, rose to prominence in the music industry by managing the Grammy-nominated rapper, DaBaby. Today, he is focused on building an empire of his own to develop other talented creatives through his label, Social Currency Enterprises, which recently announced a partnership deal with Empire. The partnership will allow the label to provide management, booking, publishing and publicity. Social Currency Enterprises’ mission is to do more than manage an artist, but to educate them as well. “They have to understand the importance of building their social currency to grow within the industry,” he said. Those in the Hip-Hop culture or who follow the Charlotte Hip-Hop movement, have probably heard of King Carter. He became a local and regional success on the Carolina Hip-Hop scene in the late 2000’s. After retiring from the mic, Carter shifted his focus to A&R (artist and repertoire) and artist development. He took advantage of an opportunity to help build Arnold Taylor’s vision for South Coast Music Group in 2014. “When I was coming up, there wasn’t any true local representation for artists besides Arnold Taylor’s South Coast Marketing. I knew with my ear for talent and Arnold’s expertise in working with labels, we would be a force to be reckoned,” Carter said. Taylor and Carter started looking for the label’s first act. After a year and a half of searching, Carter found a young artist named Baby Jesus. Fast forward seven years and DaBaby (formally known as Baby Jesus) …

We won again in the Home Depot Retool Your School Program $30,000 will be used for podcast cafe and game room

In Pebbles by Donnie ButlerLeave a Comment

Livingstone College has won $30,000 in the Home Depot’s Retool Your School Program, which will be used to build a podcast café and upgrade its game room. The Home Depot Retool Your School Program strives to give back to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) what they have so generously given to their communities: a strong foundation, renewed purpose and distinctive character. Livingstone will use its $30,000 to repurpose its existing game room, located on the first floor of the Walls Center, into a Podcast Café and Game Room that would benefit students and serve the community. Click here to read more: https://livingstone.edu/lc-wins-30k-for-podcast-cafe/

Broadcast legend Bill Rollins donates $200,000 for proposed communications program

In Pebbles by Donnie ButlerLeave a Comment

Broadcast legend William “Bill” Reid Rollins has donated $200,000 to Livingstone College to support the genesis of a communications program. Rollins, former chairman and chief operating officer of Suburban Radio Group, visited the Salisbury campus on April 30 with his attorney, Mark Prak. During a business luncheon in the Hilliard Room, Rollins presented Livingstone President Dr. Jimmy R. Jenkins Sr., with a check for $200,000. The gift was due to a proposal submitted by Dr. State Alexander, vice president of communications and public relations. Alexander worked for Rollins when he owned WPEG FM in Charlotte.   More details coming soon.

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Freshmen, new transfers to get free, new laptops

In Pebbles by Donnie ButlerLeave a Comment

Other incentives also offered Livingstone College will offer each incoming freshman and new transfer student in the fall of 2021 a free new laptop computer. All freshmen and new transfers who are fully enrolled and registered, have completed their 2021 FAFSA, cleared the student health services office and satisfied all related fees will receive the new laptop. “An area of concern for the college is closing the digital divide,” said Livingstone President Dr. Jimmy R. Jenkins, Sr. “We have discovered that as a result of this pandemic, many students do not have the necessary tools to render their matriculation successful. A critical tool is having access to a laptop computer, which is compatible with the upgraded campus network.” Click here to read more: https://livingstone.edu/freshmen-to-get-free-new-laptops/

Elizabeth Duncan Koontz Awards banquet to air April 8

In Pebbles by Donnie ButlerLeave a Comment

The 2021 Dr. Elizabeth Duncan Koontz Humanitarian Awards Virtual Program will air Thursday, April 8, at 5:30 p.m. on WSRG – Hotwire (HD channel 394) and Spectrum (channel 16) as well as the Human Relations Council Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/SalisburyHRC/.  This year’s honorees will also be featured in the April issue of the Lamplighter newsletter. Koontz is a notable alumna of Livingstone College. She was the first African-American president of the National Education Association and director of the United States Department of Labor Women’s Bureau. She died on Jan. 6, 1989.

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Dr. Jenkins named to NCICU Board of Directors

In Pebbles by Donnie ButlerLeave a Comment

Livingstone College President Dr. Jimmy R. Jenkins, Sr., has been elected vice chair of the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU) Board of Directors. The election took place at the organization’s annual meeting held virtually this week. Dr. Jenkins previously served on the board as secretary. NCICU is the statewide office for North Carolina’s 36 private, nonprofit colleges and universities. Its board is made up of the presidents of those institutions. Other executive committee officers elected at the meeting are President Jo Allen, Meredith College, chair; President Rhett Brown, Wingate University, secretary; and President Nido Qubein, High Point University, treasurer. The new board will assume office on July 1.

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Former AD Wiggins dies

In News, Pebbles by KHarringtonLeave a Comment

Mr. Morris Lee Wiggins Sr., 81, of Salisbury, NC, died Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021, at the Novant Health Hospice House after a long illness. Mr. Wiggins was a 1962 graduate of Livingstone College, having earned a degree in history. He transferred to Livingstone College from Voorhees Junior College in Denmark, S.C., on a football scholarship. Mr. Wiggins was a star halfback in the 1960 and 1961 seasons, and was a student assistant in basketball during his senior year. In 1969, Mr. Wiggins returned to Livingstone College as assistant football and basketball coach, later becoming head basketball coach in 1970. He held various positions while at Livingstone including dormitory director, director of student activities and athletic director. In all of his positions, he mentored students about life situations and endeavors. He was an inaugural member of the Livingstone College Hall of Fame, having been the first running back to gain 1000 yards. He also won the National Black College Golf Championship as golf coach for Livingstone. Memorial services are at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 7, 2021, in the A.R. Kelsey Memorial Chapel. Noble and Kelsey Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to www.nobleandkelsey.com.  

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Former basketball coach, athletic director Morris L. Wiggins Sr. dies

In Pebbles by Donnie ButlerLeave a Comment

 Mr. Morris Lee Wiggins Sr., 81, of Salisbury, NC, died Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021, at the Novant Health Hospice House after a long illness. Mr. Wiggins was a 1962 graduate of Livingstone College, having earned a degree in history. He transferred to Livingstone College from Voorhees Junior College in Denmark, S.C., on a football scholarship. Mr. Wiggins was a star halfback in the 1960 and 1961 seasons, and was a student assistant in basketball during his senior year. In 1969, Mr. Wiggins returned to Livingstone College as assistant football and basketball coach, later becoming head basketball coach in 1970. He held various positions while at Livingstone including dormitory director, director of student activities and athletic director. In all of his positions, he mentored students about life situations and endeavors. He was an inaugural member of the Livingstone College Hall of Fame, having been the first running back to gain 1000 yards. He also won the National Black College Golf Championship as golf coach for Livingstone. Memorial services are at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 7, 2021, in the A.R. Kelsey Memorial Chapel. Noble and Kelsey Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to www.nobleandkelsey.com.