Category: News

LANGSTON GRADUATE HEADS BACK TO ROOTS AS THE NEW DIRECTOR OF BANDS

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By Christina Gray, Media Relations Specialist

Langston University recently named in-demand performer and alumni Lonnie Easter as the new Director of Bands. He brings with him a wealth of knowledge in the field of music and stays ahead of the curve by choosing songs from the Billboard Top 25 list.

Easter earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Langston University, where he graduated magna cum laude from the Edwin P. McCabe Honors Program. He also earned a Master of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of Central Oklahoma.

Easter recently served as the Director of Bands for Douglass High School in Oklahoma City, restoring a once proud program. The Douglass High School marching band is now known for its outstanding performances at halftime events and performances at the OKC Arts Festival. He served as the Director of Bands for nine years at Millwood Public Schools in Oklahoma City. The most memorable performance was for the Battle of the Bands in 2006. It was Easter’s creative approach that caused News 9 to feature Millwood as its ‘band of the week’ for their winning performance that had the crowd dancing in the stands.

Easter is best known for crafting contemporary and upbeat performances and is now continuing that tradition as he prepares the Langston band for its upcoming performances this fall.

LANGSTON UNIVERSITY LAUNCHES NEW YOUNG WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT INSTITUTE

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By Christina Gray, Media Relations Specialist

The Young Women’s Empowerment Institute is a mentoring program for freshman female students attending Langston University. It is a one-year program that provides transformative opportunities to young women between 17-21 years of age who are first-time, full-time entering freshmen. The program helps improve their self-esteem and equip them with a life plan. The program is a series of seminars for the participants focused on professional development, social etiquette, health and wellness. Additionally, mentors are brought in to educate and guide these young women. The follow-up and monitoring of the progress of participants’ life plans continues through graduation and two years post-graduation.

The Young Women’s Empowerment Institute is a partnership between Langston University and the Central Area of The Links Incorporated. As the First Lady of Langston University, Tiffany Hill-Smith wanted to create a mentoring program that addressed the need to empower young college women to successfully manage the collegiate landscape and graduate ready to engage the global community. The program is a result of her efforts along with Alice Strong Simmons’, Central Area Director of the Links, Incorporated, vision partnering with Central Area Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s) to work with young women attending these institutions, beginning with Langston University.

A Women in Leadership Luncheon was held earlier this month as a fundraising initiative to benefit the Young Women’s Empowerment Institute. Sophia A. Nelson, Esq., the keynote speaker at the luncheon, is an award-winning author and black women’s empowerment activist. She is the author of the award-winning 2011 non-fiction book “Black Women Redefined: Dispelling Myths and Discovering Fulfillment in the Age of Michelle Obama.”

“I am an award-winning author, but I still look for guidance in my two mentors at this stage in my life when I make a mistake,” Nelson said.

She explained a scenario where she was advised that she should think things through because so many young women look up to her. She explained that she realized the importance of admitting when she makes mistakes.

“That is why I feel it is vital that young women have a mentorship program to learn good citizenship practices”, she said.

Nelson believes that there is an order and a structure for success and that we are obligated to teach the younger generation how to live and succeed.

“I want to challenge you to do something different because this is a different generation and often we don’t communicate effectively,” Nelson said. “This generation is smart and savvy; build them up, counsel them and provide guidance. Don’t just talk the talk but walk the walk. This generation is looking for and wants something genuine.”

Nelson expressed that it doesn’t matter where one lives but how one is raised and the strong role models one has that shape a person. She applauded the participants of the mentoring program for wanting to develop their skills and referred to Titus 2 as a guide, “if you are wise, you accept counsel.” Nelson abruptly stopped and pointed directly to Beautiful- Joy Fields, a Mathematics major and academic scholar at Langston University, to say, “she is the exception, not the rule.”

“The Young Women’s Empowerment Institute has had a very personal and influential impact on my life,” Fields said. “It offers a life plan for young women that will aid us even after college. I am thrilled to be a part of a program that is helping make our dreams a reality. I am thankful for your commitment to me.”

Fields aspires to develop a chain of charter schools across the nation upon graduation and currently holds a 4.0 GPA.

Strong Simmons and Hill-Smith are dedicated to the growth and development of the mentoring program and will host this luncheon annually to create awareness and raise funds.

“It is imperative to invest in the young women on campus and ensure that the Young Women’s Empowerment Institute will continue to help future Langston students”, said Hill-Smith.

If you would like to make a donation or to learn more about how to become a mentor, please contact the Langston University Foundation for more information at (405) 466- 3482. Langston University is dedicated to the development of tomorrow’s leaders, are you?

Biology senior Kellyn Pollard presents at the 12th Annual K-INBRE Symposium in 2014.

LANGSTON UNIVERSITY STUDENT TAKES HOME FIRST PLACE AT ANNUAL BIOSCIENCE SYMPOSIUM

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By Koshia Silver, Director of Public Relations

Kellyn Pollard, of Lawton, was one of eight students honored for their scientific research oral presentations at the 12th annual Kansas IDeA (Institutional Development Awards) Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (K-INBRE) symposium Jan. 18-19.

All oral presenters are awarded for their participation, with first place receiving $500, second place $250, third place $150 and honorable mentions $100. Pollard, a senior in biology at Langston University and the daughter of Van and Talisa Pollard, earned a first place award for her presentation “Beta 2 glycoprotein I-derived peptides alter angiogenesis in melanoma tumors.”

The annual symposium is part of the K-INBRE initiative to identify and recruit promising college science students into biomedical research careers in Kansas. Led by the University of Kansas Medical Center, 10 campuses in Kansas and northern Oklahoma are a part of this collaborative network.

“This program is vital for the continued development and recruitment of biomedical researchers in Kansas,” said Doug Wright, principal investigator for K-INBRE and professor of anatomy and cell biology at KU Medical Center. “With this program, we hope to keep the biosciences in Kansas growing and thriving.”

Students work in laboratories alongside scientist mentors to develop research projects. These projects give students early hands-on experience in putting the scientific method into practice. The students presented their research findings at the symposium.

“Langston was very influential and helped me prepare for this symposium,” Pollard said. “My professors encouraged me to present at the K-INBRE Symposium, and I would not have pursued this if it were not for them. “

The annual K-INBRE Symposium brings together the network of students, faculty and staff from KU Medical Center, Emporia State University, Fort Hays State University, Haskell Indian Nations University, Kansas State University, Pittsburg State University, University of Kansas, Washburn University, Wichita State University and Langston University in Langston, Oklahoma.

Langston University is located 12 miles east of Guthrie, OK. Langston offers over 38 degree programs, including 5 masters degrees and one doctoral program.

ABOUT K-INBRE:
K-INBRE is a multi-disciplinary network designed to inspire undergraduates to pursue careers in biomedical research, enhance research capacity through faculty development and retention and expand the biomedical research infrastructure connecting several academic institutions. More information about the program can be found at www.k-inbre.org.

This program was made possible by an Institutional Development Award (IDeA) from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under grant number P20 GM103418.