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On Thursday, February 22, 2018, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania partnered with the UPS Chesapeake District African-American Business Resource Group (BRG) to host the 2018 African-American Business Leadership Forum: Building Bridges for Future Leaders.

A bright mix of emerging student leaders from Cheyney, and Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, filled the auditorium of the Marian Anderson Music Center to gather expert insights from UPS executives and fellow professionals, on leadership, personal branding, networking, professional development, and more.

Guest speakers and panelists included; host, Helen Darling-Tot (former WNBA player and current Children’s Literacy advocate), Art Lee and Valencia Pamphile (entrepreneurs and personal branding experts), Trayce Parker (President, UPS Chesapeake District), Charlene Thomas (President, UPS Mid-South District), Freddie Andre Mack (Deputy Director for the Office of External Affairs – United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Rural Development and Lieutenant Colonel – Retired), Laura James (Community Relations Managers, UPS East Region) and Bill Washington (Vice President, UPS Business Development).

The event, which ran from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., also gave students the opportunity to exchange ideas, build relationships with peers and management through networking exercises and voice their opinions on topics such as using social media for personal branding and interviewing techniques. The group was also provided with information on how to obtain a spot in UPS’ competitive internship program, and introduced to the full-time corporate opportunities offered by the company.

Top photo: Helen Darling-Tot [standing], [seated – l to r]:  Art Lee, Valencia Pamphile, Freddie Andre Mack, Charlene Thomas, Bill Washington .

Following the screening of the film Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities, the auditorium of the Marian Anderson Music Center was met with an enthusiastic response, as large rounds of applause grew from the audience.

“As the oldest HBCU Cheyney knows something about this subject [referring to the film’s title]. We survived slavery, Jim Crow laws, two world wars, racism and beyond – yet still we rise,” said President Aaron A. Walton in his opening remarks to the packed house.

During the event, viewers were given a preview of the origin of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), to gather an in-depth view of their evolution and the impact they’ve had on not only Black history, but American history, culture and national identity.

The panel discussion that followed the screening featured moderator Lisa-Wright Bryant and panelist; Dr. Chuck A. Baker (an educator and Cheyney alumni), Cara Fantini (a Cheyney senior), Adiah Ferron Reid (Senior Counsel at AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals and Howard University graduate) and Dr. Janelle L. Williams (the Assistant Director for Health Policy at the University of the Sciences, a visiting scholar at the Penn Center for Minority Serving Institutions and CU alumna).

The evening’s distinct blend of panelists, who hail from varying educational and professional backgrounds, each shared a commonality in their ties to and knowledge of the inner workings of an HBCU and rendered their experiences with audience members.

The panel discussed many of the challenges historically faced at HBCUs including underfunding and the protection of their historical value and legacy. With Baker, Fantini and Williams sharing a connection to Cheyney, they provided direct insight on how attending the nation’s oldest HBCU has played a fundamental role in shaping their lives and why it is important to encourage future generations to attend.

Dr. Baker, who graduated from the University with a BA in Sociology and later obtained a Ph.D. from Rutgers University, credits Cheyney for establishing the foundation for his further intellectual pursuits. He summed up his CU experience by saying, “I learned here, thrived here and felt safe here.”

Fantini, who served as the only current student on the panel noted, “An HBCU is one of the best places to be to become prepared for the world.” She continued, “I feel that HBCUs thrive because they teach you how to succeed and how important it is that you believe that you can succeed. Coming to Cheyney and seeing people who look like you succeeding inspires you to want to do the same.”

“There is no better value for anyone’s dollar than an education from Cheyney University,” proudly stated Dr. Williams, who developed the “pick one, bring one” strategy that calls on alum to bring an aspiring college student to the campus to visit and assist them through the application process. “As alumni we need to do whatever we can to push the HBCU experience and share our success stories in order to encourage future generations to attend.”

Tell Them We Are Rising premiered nationally on the PBS program Independent Lens on February 19 and can be viewed, in full, using this link. View additional photos from the screening event at Cheyney, here.

Top photo courtesty of WHYY/Laurie Beck Peterson [l to r]: moderator, Lisa-Wright Bryant and panelist; Dr. Chuck A. Baker, Dr. Janelle L. Williams, Cara Fantini and Adiah Ferron Reid.

On Saturday, February 17, 2018, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania honored its 1978 men’s Division II National Championship team prior to the start of the men’s basketball game inside of the Cope Hall gymnasium. Several members of the 1978 men’s basketball championship team were joined on the court with Naismith Hall of Fame head coach, John Chaney and former athletic trainer Joe Iezzi.

The 1978 men’s Division II National Championship Team was comprised of All-American Milt Colston, Tournament MVP Andrew Fields, Kenny Hinson, John Butts, Duane Coleman, Jeffrey Hutcherson, Roger Leysath, Gerald Mills, Charles Murphy, Gilbert Saunders, Arthur Stone and John Walter.

The team was well-balanced, having four players averaging in double figures, led by senior Milt Colston at 15.1 points per game (ppg) and his backcourt mate and fellow senior Jeff Hutcherson who averaged 13.4 ppg, junior Andrew Fields averaged a double-double with 11.2 points and 10.9 rebounds per game and 11.2 ppg from sophomore Charles Murphy.

In the first Division II poll of the season (published on January 11, 1978), Cheyney State College opened as the #2 team in the nation behind Green Bay, who held the number one spot the entire season with its only loss of the season coming at Division I: DePaul University. The Wolves were never lower than 7th ranked and headed into the post-season ranked fourth in the nation.

Coach Chaney was assisted by the late Charles Songster and Joe Iezzi. Iezzi is also the father of one of the current Wolves Athletic Trainer’s, Steve Iezzi.

Top photo courtesy of Ronald Gray of The Philadelphia Tribune [standing from left]: Arthur Stone, Arthur Stone III, Duane Coleman, Andrew Fields, Charles Murphy, Roger Leysath. Seated, Jeffrey Hutcherson, coach John Chaney, Gerald Mills and trainer Joe Iezzi.

Cheyney University will be honoring its 1977-78 Division II National Championship Men’s basketball team on Saturday,  February 17, 2018 following the Women’s contest against PSAC East rival, Kutztown University that begins at 1:00 PM, inside Cope Hall on the campus of Cheyney University.

#4 Cheyney State College defeated #1 Wisconsin Green Bay 47-40 in the Championship game in Springfield, Mo., under the tutelage of Naismith Hall of Fame Coach John Chaney, to finish with a 27-2 record and bring home the Division II crown.

The Wolves team was comprised of All-American Milt Colston, Tournament MVP Andrew Fields, Kenny Hinson, John Butts, Duane Coleman, Jeffrey Hutcherson, Roger Leysath, Gerald Mills, Charles Murphy, Gilbert Saunders, Arthur Stone and John Walter.

Coach Chaney was assisted by the late Charles Songster and Joe Iezzi, who served as the Athletic Trainer. Iezzi is also the father of one of the current Wolves Athletic Trainer’s, Steve Iezzi.

Cheyney was a well-balanced team with four players averaging in double figures, led by senior Milt Colston at 15.1 points per game (ppg) and his backcourt mate and fellow senior Jeff Hutcherson who averaged 13.4 ppg, junior  Andrew Fields averaged a double-double with 11.2 points and 10.9 rebounds per game and 11.2 ppg from sophomore Charles Murphy.

The first Division II poll of the season came out January 11, 1978 and Cheyney State College opened as the #2 team in the nation behind Green Bay, who held the number one spot the entire season with its only loss of the season coming at Division I DePaul University. The Wolves were never lower than 7th ranked and headed into the post-season ranked fourth in the nation.

Cheyney won its sixth consecutive Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference title with a 66-59 victory over Slippery Rock, then hosted and defeated #15 Adelphi University, 78-64 in the first round and captured the regional title with a 73-60 victory over Philadelphia College of Textile and Science, now Thomas Jefferson University, inside Cope Hall.

Cheyney had to travel to New Haven, CT to face Sacred Heart in the quarterfinals and survived the trip with a 59-57 win, to make its first trip to the final four, held in Springfield Missouri.

The Wolves handled #2 Florida Tech (UCF) 79-63 in the semifinal round and then took care of top ranked Wisconsin Green-Bay (Green Bay), 47-40 in the Championship Game.

The recognition ceremony is scheduled to take place in between the Women’s and Men’s games at approximately 2:50 p.m.

Visit the Cheyney Athletics website or follow Cheyney Athletics on Facebook (Cheyney Athletics), Instagram (@cheyney_athletics) or Twitter (@cuwolves) for details, changes and/or additions to the scheduled recognition.