Category: Students

LU students, faculty pose with Dr Ruth Ray Jackson on the tennis courts

PRESIDENT JACKSON, LUAHPERD USE PICKLEBALL TO HELP STUDENTS DESTRESS BEFORE MIDTERMS

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by Ellie Melero, Media Relations Specialist

LANGSTON, Okla. – Students running around, laughing and having fun while their university’s president teaches them how to play pickleball is probably not what you’d expect to see on a college campus gearing up for midterms, but that’s what awaited any who made their way to the university tennis courts on Friday afternoon.

Langston University’s Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (LUAHPERD) and the ROARS Peer Educators held a “Cruising Into Midterms” event on Friday, which featured bike riding, pickup basketball and Pickleball with the President. The event was open to all students, and many took a break from studying to come hang out with their friends and decompress as they prepared for midterms.

“One of the priorities of the year is programming,” said Interim President Ruth Ray Jackson. “So, I’m very excited to see the HPER clubs adding programming to support good health and destressing for our students as they prepare for midterm exams.”

President Jackson encouraged everyone who came to pick up a paddle and hit the court, and many students were more than happy to learn a new sport from their president. Others preferred to ride bikes with their friends, and some just wanted to relax in the fresh air. Everyone who came was happy for a chance to get out of their rooms and stretch their legs before the grind of midterms fully began.

Kyara Swanson, a senior physical education major, said she thought the event was a fun way to relax, clear her mind and shake off some nerves as she prepared for her upcoming exams.

“Just simply riding the bikes or doing anything physical, it helps with your mental health,” Swanson said. “It helps you just clear your mind sometimes. You know, you’re in college and sometimes you just need a break.”

Giving students a break was the entire idea behind Cruising Into Midterms.

Dr. Desmond Delk, the chair of the Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation and one of the faculty advisors for LUAHPERD, said the goal of the event was to remind people to take care of their mental and physical health because doing so will help them succeed in their classes.

“We’re prioritizing mental health, we’re prioritizing physical activity, and we’re encouraging collaboration between our faculty, staff and students,” Dr. Delk said. “I really commend the students on organizing everything, promoting the activity and really just coming out and enjoying themselves.”

The event lasted two hours, and President Jackson was there the whole time, playing pickleball and getting to know the students. Laughs could be heard on and off the court, and many students were happy for an opportunity to spend time with their president and their peers.

“I have had a blast sharing my love of pickleball with our Langston University students,” President Jackson said. “I’m excited that there’s great interest, and perhaps in the future we can add this as part of our recreational programming.”

LANGSTON UNIVERSITY CLEARS OVER $4.5 MILLION IN STUDENT BALANCES

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LANGSTON UNIVERSITY SUPPORTS STUDENTS BY CLEARING BALANCES THROUGH HEERF GRANT FUNDING
Langston University Office of Public Relations

LANGSTON, Okla. – Langston University announced it will clear student balances through the use of HEERF (Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund) grant for students enrolled in the Summer 2022, Fall 2022, and Spring 2023 academic terms. The debt cleared through this initiative totals $4,587,485.82, and will directly assist students by immediately paying off debt owed to the university. This is the second time Langston University has cleared student debt through the use of the grant. The first debt relief initiative occurred in August 2021.

“Throughout the pandemic, our institution has sought ways to lessen the burden and remove barriers to degree completion for our students,” said Langston University President Dr. Kent J. Smith, Jr. “We are excited for what this debt relief means to our students and to their families.”

This initiative will also eliminate balances for former students not currently enrolled at the institution as well as graduates who will now be cleared of any balance preventing them from receiving an official transcript, as long as they were enrolled in either the Summer 2022 or Fall 2022 semesters. There is no expectation or requirement for enrollment in a future semester to receive this benefit. This initiative will clear balances owed in tuition, fees, and fines. Students are still responsible for their federal, state, or private loans.

In addition to this transformational initiative, the Office of the Registrar will consider late applications for graduation due to the timing of this award.

The full letter from President Smith may be found at this link.

LU students pose in their graduation caps and gowns at graduation

LANGSTON UNIVERSITY TO CLEAR $4.6 MILLION IN BALANCES FOR STUDENTS ENROLLED IN A ‘PANDEMIC SEMESTER’ TO ZERO

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By Christina Gray, Media Relations Specialist

LANGSTON, Okla. – Langston University students and graduates have received life-changing news in a letter from President Kent J. Smith, Jr. Today, the University announced that it will clear student account balances for students enrolled in the Spring 2020, Summer 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021, and Summer 2021 semesters through the support of the HEERF (Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund) III HBCU Award. The amount of student account balances erased through this initiative totals $4,654,112.06.

“We know the hardship that our community has faced over the course of the pandemic,” said Langston University Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Ruth Jackson.

“We care about our students and their families. It is our hope that this will ease some of the financial burdens and provide our scholars more financial freedom in the future. We know for many of our students this will provide them the opportunity to continue in the academic journey.”

This initiative will also include former students not currently enrolled at the institution as well as graduates who will now be cleared of any balance and hold preventing them from receiving an official transcript. There is no expectation or requirement for enrollment in a future semester to receive the benefit of the cleared balance. The funding allows the University to bring balances for students enrolled in a ‘pandemic semester’ to zero. This initiative will clear balances owed in tuition, fees, and fines. Students are still responsible for their federal, state, or private loans.

“At LU, we always put our students first and this initiative directly aligns with our mission to serve. This will provide our students with support to fully focus on academics and further support them in their journey to graduation and a successful career,” said Dr. Kent J. Smith, Jr., Langston University President.

“We are excited for what this transformational gift means for our students, former students, and recent graduates!”

Students who are enrolled or plan to enroll in the Fall 2021 semester will be eligible for additional financial support through the HEERF III student aid fund. Read the full letter from President Smith here.

LANGSTON UNIVERSITY WELCOMES THE HIGHEST ACADEMICALLY ACHIEVING INCOMING CLASS FOR THE FALL 2020 SEMESTER

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By Christina Gray

LANGSTON, Okla. – Langston University welcomed more than 630 students for the 2020 incoming class, with multiple learning modalities giving students options whatever their circumstance. Classes began virtually on Monday, August 17, 2020. LU hosted a new student orientation, Lion Camp, for the incoming students coupled with a two-week intersession entitled “Fallmester”. Fallmester, along with Lion Camp, began on August 3, 2020.

The University was proud to welcome 100 new honors students within the incoming class, which is the largest honors class to date. LU scholars are required to take honors courses designed to develop communication skills, analytical thinking, creativity and leadership. The incoming freshmen class is among the most academically talented to ever be admitted to LU, demonstrating a significant improvement in both GPA and test scores over prior years.

“We continue to see the incredible interest of incoming students,” said LU President, Dr. Kent J. Smith, Jr. “I am proud to report that LU received more than 10,000 applications for our Fall 2020 class.”

With the return of students on the campus, the Emergency Leadership Team (ELT) has done a tremendous job of increasing its monitoring, vigilance, and efforts related to the virus and the health safety of the campus community. Updated protocols and processes were implemented for student move-in and orientation. For more information about the campus safety efforts, please visit the LU Covid-19 Resource Page.

Langston University is a public historically black college and university enrolling a close-knit community of under 3,000 students. Founded in 1897, LU is located in rural Logan County and has urban campuses in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. LU has been recognized as a top institution of higher learning for affordability, ranking number three among all Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the U.S., according to AffordableSchools.net. Langston offers more than 40 associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral programs across six academic colleges. Learn more at https://www.langston.edu.

US CONGRESSWOMAN KENDRA HORN EMPOWERED STUDENT LEADERS

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Written By: Christina Gray

The United States Congresswoman Kendra Horn visited the Langston campus on November 7, 2019. During her visit, she delivered a powerful presentation to the community on effective ways to communicate with their elected officials.

She encouraged the students to look past initial perceptions and be willing to question their assumptions.

“The perception is that we only live in the extremes. We have to change that dialogue,” Horn said.

She explained that people often believe that she is extreme in her political beliefs. She challenged the students to inspire change by sharing their stories, know their resources, and find ways to get involved.

“Looking for opportunities to get engaged, that’s how you can start to move the needle,” she said. “And that is how you change the world.”

Senator James Lankford meets with Langston University students

US SENATOR JAMES LANKFORD MET WITH STUDENT LEADERS

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Written By Christina Gray

United States Senator James Lankford visited Langston University to meet with student leaders and administration on Friday, November 1, 2019.

He met with members of the Student Government Association and the Scholars Club in an open dialogue to discuss ways Congress can support the institution.

Senator Lankford shared information on the current political climate, Ukraine election and economic growth in Oklahoma. He also expressed the importance of communication and civil discourse.

Senator Lankford charged the students to lead by example. “It is up to you to set the example for the generation following you.”

During his visit, he also attended Dr. Meshack Sagini’s honors Government course to provide insight on the current issues with the University’s top scholars.

“We appreciate Senator Lankford returning to Langston University to visit with our students, and we appreciate his continued support,” said Langston University President, Dr. Kent J. Smith, Jr.

LU-SL/SAAS STUDENT RECEIVES JUSTIN MORRILL SCHOLARSHIP

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Written by Kendra Oregon

Langston University’s recipient of the 2018 prestigious Justin Morrill Smith Scholarship is Monica Mascarenas, a senior animal science major. The Justin Morrill Smith Scholarship is awarded by the 1890 Land-Grant Universities Foundation to 19 graduating seniors; one at each of the 1890-member universities.

The $2,500 scholarship is a commemoration to Justin Smith Morrill who advocated dedicating public lands to create higher education institutions that taught agriculture and other subjects to all. In 1862, President Abe Lincoln signed the Morrill Land Grant Act, a law that ultimately funded 1862 Land-Grant institutions, and later established 1890 Land-Grant Universities dedicated to educating African Americans and other minority groups.

Mascarenas is an outstanding student as she carries a 4.0 GPA. Apart from excelling in the classroom, she has participated in research projects both at the small ruminant research campus as well as in research laboratories. Mascarenas is also active on campus. She serves as the president and co-founder of the Animal Science Club; she is a member of the Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS), student representative on the LU-SAAS Publication Committee, and a faithful volunteer in many other groups. With regards to her research endeavors, Mascarenas has participated in a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funded research project, the USDA Food Safety Symposium, the Oklahoma State University (OSU) Research Symposium, and American Dairy Goat Association (ADGA) annual conference.

Mascarenas is known around the School as someone who is reliable and enthusiastic to share her Langston experience. One of her most outstanding characteristics is her positive attitude toward work that has not gone unnoticed by her peers, professors, and the University administration. The scholarship is a blessing to Mascarenas as she says, “Receiving this scholarship means a great deal to me. I am the second oldest of six, and my parents are not able to pay for my college. This scholarship allows me to focus more on classes without having to worry about how I am going to pay for school. It is truly an honor to be selected for my hard work and achievements.”

Department Chair for Agriculture and Natural Resources as well as her mentor, Steve Zeng, Ph.D., expressed high praise saying, “Ms. Mascarenas has exceeded all expectations and has been one of the brightest students to have matriculated into our program.” In presenting the award, Wesley Whittaker, Dean of LU-SAAS, lauded Mascarenas for her outstanding academic performance as well as her dedication to community service and social issues.

Langston University students jumping

LANGSTON UNIVERSITY WELCOMES CLASS OF 2022

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LANGSTON, Okla. – The fall semester officially started this week at Langston University. The University welcomed a new freshman class for the 2018 fall semester, and the campus is bustling with excitement! Freshman move-in started last week. New students participated in a series of events including freshman orientation known as Lion Camp. The orientation is designed for incoming students to get acclimated to campus, meet fellow Lions, and begin their academic and co-curricular experiences.

Student leaders across campus helped lead the efforts of the more than 20 events that assisted new students with getting involved on campus upon their arrival. Members of the Student Government Association, Greek Life, and the LU student ambassadors volunteered at the LU movie night, late-night yell, painting with a twist, the amazing race, and the mixer.

“I am proud of the outstanding leadership and efforts shown by the LU faculty, staff, alumni, and community volunteers who helped students with their transition into college life,” said Langston University President Dr. Kent J. Smith, Jr.

Lion Camp 2018 made one large improvement from last year, spreading out the event over two weeks. “Our goal was to ensure new students received the full Langston University experience at their own pace,” LU Dean of Student Life, Joshua Busby said. “We know there’s a lot of information being communicated at Lion Camp, so it’s better to give them time to absorb it and have more fun while doing it!”

Langston University is a public historically black college and university enrolling a close-knit community of under 3,000 students. Founded in 1897, LU is located in rural Logan County and has urban campuses in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. LU has been recognized as a top institution of higher learning for affordability, ranking number three among all Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the U.S., according to AffordableSchools.net. Langston offers more than 40 associate, bachelors, masters, and doctoral programs across six academic colleges. Visit us online at http://www.langston.edu.

Langston University students present posters at the 16th Annual K-INBRE Conference in Kansas.

LANGSTON UNIVERSITY BOASTS CONTESTS WINNERS AT THE 16TH ANNUAL KANSAS IDEA NETWORK OF BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH EXCELLENCE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM

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By Christina Gray, Media Relations Specialist

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Dr. Kjoy Abraham, the Langston University Biomedical Research Coordinator, led a team of nine students to present their work at the 16th Annual Kansas IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence Research Symposium in Overland Park, Kansas, which was held on January 13-14, 2018.

Four of the nine students, Mr. La’Quan Johnson (Senior), Ms. Celeste Cotton (Junior), Ms. Cayla Moore (Junior), and Ms. Corajean Cunningham (Freshman), presented iposters. These posters are interactive, multimedia research presentations that are displayed electronically on large format HD touchscreen monitors. There were 347 participants including invited scientists, faculty, postdoctoral fellows and students (undergraduate and graduate) at the symposium. Over 100 students competed in the iposter competition.

During the conference, Langston University student, Ms. Justis Petit (Junior), was selected for an oral presentation in biomedical research. Her abstract was also chosen as one of the best eight abstracts from over 100 abstracts. The title of her presentation was “Effect of Euglena Gracilis Water Extract on Cell Death and Toll-Like Receptor Gene Expression Profiles in Lung Cancer Cells.” During this time, Ms. Petit was given 15 minutes to speak and was able to answer questions about her presentation. Ms. Petit was awarded “Honorable Mention” with a cash award of $100 for her oral presentation at the symposium.

Mr. La’Quan Johnson was commended by one of the judges for his excellent work and presentation at the iposter competition.

The Langston University students competed with other undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students from ten institutions that included the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, and the University of Kansas Medical Center. Other Langston University students in attendance were Ashley Michalski (Senior), Celeste Cotton (Junior), Jennifer Ho (Junior), Brianna Anderson (Junior), Kendall Odle (Sophomore), Corajean Cunnigham (Freshman), and Cayla Moore (Junior). All the LU students in attendance are biology majors. Two additional University faculty members also attended the conference, Dr. Diomede Buzingo, Assistant Professor in the Biology Department and Dr. Sharon Lewis, Associate Professor in the Chemistry Department.

Langston University (LU) is a public historically black college enrolling a close-knit community of under 3,000 students. Langston University is recognized as a top institution of higher learning for affordability by afforableschools.net and bestvalueschools.com. Founded in 1897, LU is located in rural Logan County just 10 miles east of Guthrie and 42 miles from Oklahoma City. Langston offers more than 40 associate, bachelors, masters, and doctoral programs across six academic colleges. Visit us online at http://www.langston.edu.

LANGSTON UNIVERSITY WELCOMES CLASS OF 2021

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By: Christina Gray, Media Relations Specialist

LANGSTON, Okla. – The fall semester officially started this week at Langston University. The University welcomed a new freshman class for the 2017 fall semester, and the campus is bustling with excitement! Freshman move-in started last week. New students participated in a series of events including freshman orientation known as Lion Camp. The orientation is designed for incoming students to get acclimated to campus, meet fellow Lions, and begin their academic and co-curricular experiences.

Student leaders across campus helped lead the efforts of the more than 20 events that assisted new students with getting involved on campus upon their arrival. Members of the Student Government Association, Greek Life, and the LU student ambassadors volunteered at the LU movie night, talent show, the amazing race, campus resources panel, and the mixer.

“We anticipate the final enrollment of our freshman class will be between 650 and 700 students,” said Langston University President, Dr. Kent J. Smith, Jr. “I am proud of the outstanding leadership and efforts shown by the LU faculty, staff, alumni, and community volunteers who helped students with their transition into college life.”

Langston University student-athletes from the LU football team also assisted students with moving into their new homes across the Langston campus. “Our goal was to ensure a stress-free move-in for the incoming students and their families,” LU Athletic Director, Donnita Drain Rogers said. “We know how special the first few days are for our new students, so we wanted to help make their first college experience a great one!”

This year marks the fourth consecutive year that Langston University has experienced record freshman class enrollment.

Langston University is a public historically black college and university enrolling a close-knit community of under 3,000 students. Founded in 1897, LU is located in rural Logan County and has urban campuses in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. LU has been recognized as a top institution of higher learning for affordability, ranking number three among all Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the U.S., according to AffordableSchools.net. Langston offers more than 40 associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs across six academic colleges. Visit us online at http://www.langston.edu.