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As the nation’s oldest Historically Black College and University (HBCU), Cheyney University has cultivated a history of long-standing, respected traditions that celebrate our 181 year legacy and culture. One of the many traditions calls for the class celebrating its 50th Anniversary of graduation to lead the Commencement processional. This year, over 50 members of the vibrant class of 1968 graciously returned to their alma mater to proudly usher in a new class of Cheyney alumni.

As they carried the University banner, that honored the group as the members of the 50th Anniversary Class, they held their heads with pride, some even held back tears of sheer joy and immense gratitude.

“This experience has been one of the highlights of my life,” said Reverend Dr. Barbara Green Moses, who was the senior Class President of ‘68. “I’ve been all over the world, blessed with many wonderful experiences, but my years at Cheyney were truly a monumental period in my life.”

During the Commencement ceremony, Dr. Moses took to the stage to address the packed house, remarking that it had been “18,250 yesterday’s ago” since her class had sat where the class of 2018 were now seated, and later presented the University with a check for $40,000, raised by the class, to benefit student scholarships.

Dr. Moses’ presentation marked the culmination of their yearlong fundraising efforts, which may not be over, as she noted that donations were continuing to roll in.

Following the ceremony, the group gathered in Carnegie Hall’s Great Room for a luncheon that took them back down memory lane. Leola Williams of Chester, PA who received her BA in elementary education recalled how she was the first member of her family to attend Cheyney, and now she leads a legacy of generations that later followed in her footsteps to become graduates of this institution.

“It feels wonderful to be able to come back to my alma mater today to celebrate the 50th anniversary of my graduating class. It is also amazing to see all of the changes that the University is making, it is a sign of progress in the right direction,” said Williams.

Dr. Moses also took a moment to reminisce and pay homage to her devoted English professor, Dr. Jane Russell, who instilled in her the skills needed to be great writer, lessons that have stuck with throughout her successful career as a teacher and administrator in Philadelphia.

“During those times, there weren’t many opportunities for young people of color from low-income or poor families, so I am forever grateful for the dedication, love and concern that my professors – and everyone else at Cheyney, showed me.”

Dr. Moses, along with her fellow classmates, have pledged to maintain their on-going connection with their alma mater. They will continue to raise funds with the goal of making a sizeable donation to the University every other year during Homecoming.

Cheyney University of Pennsylvania celebrated its 163rd Commencement on Saturday, May 12, and welcomed a total of 236 graduates (including master’s candidates) to the network of alumni that represent the nation’s oldest Historically Black College and University (HBCU).

More than 2,000 visitors, ranging from distinguished guests, to alumni, to family and friends, convened under the large, white tent, on University’s Historic Quad to grab a glimpse of this significant moment.

In true Cheyney tradition, the 2018 graduating class was led by the Class of 1968, who returned to their alma mater to celebrate their 50th class anniversary. The graduates, decked in their traditional academic regalia, topped off with expressively decorated mortarboards, beamed with pride as they entered the ceremony space to large rounds of applause and cheers from the audience.

“I am inspired by the commitment of this senior class who excelled academically, participated in internships, research programs and who have studied abroad”, said President Aaron A. Walton, who also marked Commencement 2018 as a personal milestone – his first to preside as Cheyney President.

On the 20th Anniversary of his graduation, keynote speaker and alumnus, Dr. Irvin Clark drew wisdom from the influential likes of James Baldwin and Nelson Mandela to craft his speech that highlighted the theme of perseverance and responsibility and the role it, alongside with the training they’ve received from the University, will play during their journey.

“At Cheyney, we produce leaders. We produce innovators. We produce men and women who are ready to be the change that this world needs. From our humble beginnings, Cheyney has been a cornerstone for building strong, intelligent, proud Black people who never bow to policy, practice or false prophecy that claims we are less than excellent,” said Dr. Clark.

Following the ceremony, Dr. Clark reflected on his experience, recounting his first time walking along the quad as a Cheyney freshman and his feelings of gratitude on being able to return to his beloved alma mater, with a family of his own, to offer words of inspiration to the new class of alumni.

“The one thing I hope that the graduates took away from my speech is that it is important to be champions of Cheyney University,” said Dr. Clark. “Cheyney has prepared them well, but they have to be motivated and inspired to reach back and leave no one behind. That’s what Cheyney did for me, and I know that it’s done the same for the students that graduated today.”

Class Valedictorian, Samuel Owusu, a biology major and Keystone Honors Academy scholar, will intern this summer at the Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, NY, where he will conduct original research under the instruction of world-class scientists. Following his internship, he will enroll in a post-baccalaureate program at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD.

Owusu spoke the sentiments of his class, saying that while they will never forget their time at Cheyney, the day was a culmination of all their hard work and that it felt like a dream come true. He closed out his speech, offering a piece of advice to his fellow grads on how they should allocate their first big paycheck, “Give 50 percent to your parents, 25 percent to the University and now that we’re all geniuses we should be able to figure out how to spend the remaining 25 percent.”

Fellow Keystone Honors scholar and this year’s class Salutatorian, Abioye Mohammed, shared this, “I am humbled and honored to be the Salutatorian of my class. The journey was not easy, but it was worth it.”

Mohammed will now put her education in computer science to excellent use in her new position as a software engineer with tech giant Microsoft to begin this July. She credits the University, and the honors program, for instilling in her the importance of networking and taking advantage of career and professional development opportunities prior to graduation.

Before the close of the ceremony, Reverend Dr. Barbara Green Moses, of the class of 1968 presented the University with a check for $40,000, raised by the class, to benefit student scholarships.

President Walton ended convocation by extending sincere congratulations on behalf of the entire Cheyney community, reminding the graduates to stay connected with the institution and sharing these final words of wisdom, “May you continue to carry on the tradition of excellence that is the cornerstone of our historic legacy.”

TaKayla Ellis and Jowan Lewis-Kearse were named Cheyney University Student-Athletes of the year on Tuesday evening at the annual Athletic Department Student-Athlete Success Banquet, honoring the accomplishments of the student-athletes and cheerleaders, held inside Ada Georges Banquet Hall.

Interim Athletic Director, Suzanne Kilian opened the festivities, while Cheyney University President Aaron A. Walton served as the evening’s keynote speaker. Kilian, along with the coaches, spoke on the student-athletes and those who supported the department throughout the year and distributed Awards.

Lewis-Kearse made a career-high 29 catches for 273 yards during the football season and then joined the indoor track and field squad for the spring semester. In his first meet, he took the title in the Triple jump and qualified for the PSAC Championships, then recorded the second longest triple jump indoors in Cheyney history.

During the Championships, Lewis Kearse earned all-conference honors in the both events with a third-place in triple jump and a second-place finish in the long jump.

Today, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania has agreed to make its campus environment healthier and announced a three-year commitment to Partnership for a Healthier America’s (PHA) Healthier Campus Initiative, a commitment designed to enhance the campus environment by supporting and promoting healthier eating and improved physical fitness.

“Our students are our nation’s future leaders,” said Thom Nixon Director of Residence Life and Housing at Cheyney. “During their formative college years, many students will develop lifelong habits. It’s our goal to promote and support them in developing healthier nutrition and fitness habits that will set the stage for a lifetime of wellness. We are proud to be a pioneer in the movement to creating a culture change towards health and hope our example leads others to join the movement.”

Cheyney is one of more than 60 forward-thinking institutions of higher learning to make a commitment to implement PHA’s promising practices that range from offering healthy wellness meals to providing access to drinking water and more diverse opportunities for physical activity.

“We are extremely pleased to have Cheyney University as a HCI partner,” said Nancy Roman, President and CEO of the Partnership for a Healthier America. “Cheyney University’s leadership is important step forward towards realizing PHA’s goal that all young people grow up free from obesity, diabetes, heart disease and other conditions associated with excess weight.”

PHA and its campus partners use the hashtag #HealthyCampus to promote healthy living.

For more information, please contact Thom Nixon, tnixon@cheyney.edu.

Top Photo: Thom Nixon, Director of Residence Life and Housing at CU photographed with Cheyney’s Wellness Specialist & Coach, Tracey Smith and Healthy Summit Coordinator, Kimberly O’Shields. O’Shields is also the granddaughter of Coach William O’Shields, a Cheyney pioneer and legendary athletic coach, whose legacy lives on at the University in the football stadium that bears his name.

About Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA)

PHA’s mission is to leverage the power of the private sector to bring lasting systemic changes that improve the food supply, increase healthy choices, increase physical activity and contribute to a culture of health. In 2010, PHA was created in conjunction with – but independent from – Former First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! effort. PHA identifies, accelerates and celebrates voluntary business practices that improve or increase choice or lead to new norms and behavior around food and physical activity. For more information about PHA, please visit www.aHealthierAmerica.org and follow PHA on Twitter @PHAnews.

On Thursday, April 19, a team of four Communication Arts students from Cheyney University of Pennsylvania won the Best Use of Prop award for their original film, Ms. Mason, at the 2nd annual 48HR DubC Film Race (48HRFR), hosted by West Chester University. More than 20 teams entered in the creative arts competition, and the award was announced on review results from four established media professionals including Courtland Bragg, an Emmy Award-winning journalist.

The Cheyney team consisted of Comm. Arts juniors and seniors: Rick Patrick (Director, Cameraman, Editor), Temiloya Milton (Producer, Actress), Kelvonn Hucks (Assistant Producer, Actor), and Tazha Mathews (Actress, Writer, Art Director). The group was arranged by Dr. Kim, Assistant Professor of Communication Arts, and Prof. Amachi, who served as the coordinators of the event at Cheyney University.

The 48HRFR is a 48-hour student video competition, open to current Cheyney and West Chester students, that tasked participants to collaborate with their peers to write, shoot, edit and produce a three to five minute film in just 48 hours. Following competition registration, the student teams also drew, at random, key elements to be featured in their film, including the genre and highlighted prop (the Cheyney team received the horror genre and a French baguette as their prop).

And, as if this weren’t enough, submission criteria lastly called for all films to include a line of dialogue originating from the Hungarian proverb, “She who wakes up early finds gold.”

The talented group of emerging filmmakers tackled the race with ease, and ultimately produced the five-minute film, Ms. Mason that Assistant Producer Kelvonn Hucks describes as “a horror film with an apocalyptic twist.”

The Film Race took place from Friday, April 6 at 7:00 pm through Sunday, April 8. To check out the Cheyney team’s film, and other submissions from the 2018 48 Hour DubC Film Face, visit YouTube.