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Freshmen, new transfers to get free, new laptops

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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

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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

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

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 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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Livingstone College to host virtual events for Big Read in Salisbury this month

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College awarded $15K grant for project   SALISBURY – Livingstone College will hold a virtual kick-off celebration followed by a number of events for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Big Read celebration beginning at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 15. The NEA Big Read in Rowan County will focus on Adrian Matejka’s, “The Big Smoke.” The selected text is an exquisite collection of poetry that depicts the heavyweight champion Jack Johnson as a social phenomenon through a literary lens, said Dr. Da’Tarvia Parrish, Big Read in Salisbury program director and history and African-American studies professor at Livingstone College. The Big Read will include book talks, film viewings and panel discussions led by Parrish and other Livingstone faculty members including Dr. Charles Pinckney, Dr. Tarsha Reid, Dr. P. Jane Splawn, Shannon Allen, Michael Connor, Christopher Davis, Damein Greatheart and Phyllis Mahmud. Livingstone College student leaders Shanique Brinkley, William McCorn, Miss Livingstone Eryka Praileau, Deborah Walker and Kameron Wilson will join in the fun as reader leaders to grades K-5. Alumni who will lend their expertise consists of Dr. Momodu C. Taylor and David Gaines, as well as William McKee of Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. Big Read will also feature Livingstone College’s WLJZ 107.1 FM radio host, Mz Good Newz. Livingstone College was awarded a $15,000 grant to host the NEA Big Read in Rowan County. It is presented in partnership with the Rowan Public Library and Families and Communities Together (F.A.C.T.) with support from the NEA. The college was one …

It’s A New Day

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 Livingstone’s newest marketing campaign reflects a “new day” theme and intends to  highlight how our institution responded to and navigated through the coronavirus pandemic, maintaining as much college life normality as allowed under state guidelines and through our own safety protocols. Despite the coronavirus, the Office of Student Activities did a  phenomenal job in providing a comprehensive lineup of sanctioned activities to keep our  students engaged and active in safe ways and spaces to mitigate the spread of the virus. If you are on social media, please share the promototional video (link below)  on your platforms, using the hastag #LCnewday. Also, we welcome you to post positive snippets on your “new day” experiences at Livingstone College using the hashtag. It’s A New Day

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2021 Hall of Fame CIAA inducts Stoutamire

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 Johnny Stoutamire Jr. of Livingstone College was inducted into the 2021 CIAA John B. McLendon Hall of Fame Class on Friday, Feb. 26, during a virtual CIAA program. The CIAA recognizes inductees for their excellence in the conference, significant contributions in the community, leadership within CIAA athletics and commitment to the conference mission. Stoutamire played four seasons at Livingstone College from 1974-1978, earning All-CIAA honors as a junior and senior. In his final two seasons, he was also named All-American by the “Pittsburgh Courier,” becoming the first and only player in Blue Bear history to be honored twice by the publication.  Stoutamire came to Livingstone in the fall of 1974 and quickly built a repetition as one of the hardest hitting and cover defensive backs in the CIAA. He competed in the same sports as he did in high school: football, basketball and track.  Throughout his four years at Livingstone, Stoutamire received awards in football including Rookie Defensive Player Award (1974-1975); Defensive Back of the Year (1975-1976); All CIAA Team; All District 26 NAIA; Pittsburgh Courier All American Team (1976-1977 and 1977-1978); captain of the football team; All CIAA Defensive Back of the Week for September 10, 1977; Schlitz Brewing Company Defensive Player of the Game, November 19, 1977; All CIAA Football Team; All CIAA Academic Team; Mutual Black Network All American Team; and Jet Magazine All American Team.  A 1977 Livingstone College Football Media Guide reads, “Stoutamire might have been the most talented player to ever walk on the …

CNN political pundit Bakari Sellers speaker at Founder’s Day FridayThree honorary doctorates to be awarded Livingstone College will celebrate Founder’s Day on Friday, Feb. 26, with a virtual program premiering at 10 a.m. on its official YouTube Channel. The annual program celebrates the life and legacy of one of its founders and first president, Dr. Joseph Charles Price, and is held in February, the month in which Price was born. The speaker for the occasion will be attorney Bakari Sellers, son of a civil rights activist, a history maker and a rising star in the Democratic Party. Sellers made history in 2006 when, at just 22 years old, he defeated a 26-year incumbent state representative to become the youngest member of the South Carolina State Legislature and the youngest African American elected official in the nation. In 2014, he won the Democratic nomination for Lt. Governor in South Carolina, and has also worked for United States Congressman James Clyburn and former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin. Sellers was born into an activist family. He has followed in the footsteps of his father, civil rights leader Dr. Cleveland Sellers, in his tireless commitment to public service while championing progressive policies to address issues ranging from education and poverty to preventing domestic violence and childhood obesity. Sellers earned his undergraduate degree from Morehouse College, where he served as student body president, and his law degree from the University of South Carolina. He is the author of The New York Times best-selling book My Vanishing Country: A Memoir, which has been described as part memoir, part historical and cultural analysis – illustrating the lives of America’s forgotten black working-class men and women. He also hosts the Bakari Sellers Podcast, a twice-a-week show part of The Ringer Podcast Network that addresses politics, race, sports, media and more. Sellers currently practices law with the Strom Law Firm, LLC

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 Three honorary doctorates to be awarded Livingstone College will celebrate Founder’s Day on Friday, Feb. 26, with a virtual program premiering at 10 a.m. on its official YouTube Channel. The annual program celebrates the life and legacy of one of its founders and first president, Dr. Joseph Charles Price, and is held in February, the month in which Price was born. The speaker for the occasion will be attorney Bakari Sellers, son of a civil rights activist, a history maker and a rising star in the Democratic Party. Sellers made history in 2006 when, at just 22 years old, he defeated a 26-year incumbent state representative to become the youngest member of the South Carolina State Legislature and the youngest African American elected official in the nation.  In 2014, he won the Democratic nomination for Lt. Governor in South Carolina, and has also worked for United States Congressman James Clyburn and former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin.  Sellers was born into an activist family. He has followed in the footsteps of his father, civil rights leader Dr. Cleveland Sellers, in his tireless commitment to public service while championing progressive policies to address issues ranging from education and poverty to preventing domestic violence and childhood obesity.  Sellers earned his undergraduate degree from Morehouse College, where he served as student body president, and his law degree from the University of South Carolina. He is the author of The New York Times best-selling book My Vanishing Country: A Memoir, which has been described as …