Category: Students

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-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.

LANGSTON UNIVERSITY STUDENT CHOSEN AS A 2016 HBCU ALL STAR

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By Christina Gray, Media Relations Specialist

LANGSTON, Okla. – The White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities recently named Langston University senior biology major, Nicholas Simon, a 2016 HBCU All-Star.

Simon was among 73 students across 63 HBCUs in 24 states, the District of Columbia, Ghana, Nigeria, and the Virgin Islands selected out of 300 applicants. The All-Stars, comprised of undergraduate, graduate and professional students, are being recognized for their accomplishments in academics, leadership and civic engagement.

“I believe that all of my hard work has paid off,” Simon said. “Everything I have done for my school and community has provided the opportunity for me to represent Langston University on a national level.”

Over the next year, Simon will help promote and create outreach opportunities for his fellow students about the value of education. He will also participate in the White House HBCU Week Conference, national and regional events, and webinars with Initiative staff and other professionals on a range of disciplines that support a spirit of engagement and personal and professional development.

“We are proud of Nicholas and the work he has accomplished to receive this prestigious honor and know he will represent the University well at the White House HBCU Conference,” said Dr. Kent J. Smith, president of Langston University.

Nicholas Simon, an honors student from currently serves as president of the campus NAACP chapter and co-chair of the Langston University ambassador program. This past summer he conducted biological research for NASA at the Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California as part of an internship program.

“It’s an honor to be recognized among so many talented scholars. I am excited to have a chance to learn more about other HBCUs and collaborate to help build and grow our institutions,” Simon said.

Langston University is a public historically black college enrolling a close-knit community of under 4,000 students. Founded in 1897, LU is located in rural Logan County and has two urban campuses in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. LU was recently 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 over 40 associate, bachelors, masters, and doctoral programs across six academic colleges. Visit us online at http://www.langston.edu.

Student Leadership Institute 2015

LANGSTON UNIVERSITY CREATES CULTURE OF LEADERSHIP

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By Christina Gray, Media Relations Specialist

LANGSTON, Okla. – Langston University Office of Student Life recently held the annual Student Leadership Institute (SLI), where student leaders learned best practices for leading and developing their organizations.

The weeklong event included guest speakers, seminars, group exercises and other activities to help the students develop as leaders. The theme was “Back to the Basics: Remembering The Foundation For Success.”

Brittany Carradine, Assistant Director of Student Life in the Office of Student Affairs, has led the SLI since 2013 with the goal of helping students lead successful organizations.

“The SLI is where students develop skills, connect with peers, and grow as leaders,” Carradine said. “Leaders who understand how they lead are more engaged, productive, and successful. This will help students understand their top strengths to become better leaders.”

Students were taught how to run effective meetings, the fiscal responsibility of leading organizations, the importance of communication within an organization, especially during times of conflict, and how to use social media effectively.

Students then had the opportunity to use what they learned as they met with student leaders from other schools to develop a plan for supporting each other in success.

Shaquille Anderson is a senior Business Management major is the newly appointed 2015-16 Student Government Association president. His goal is to increase communication between the students and administration, as well as with his fellow students.

“It is in my nature to factor in people’s perspective,” Anderson said. “I think it is important in any leadership role to take in the opinions and viewpoints of others in order to make a positive impact. It is our priority as campus leaders to keep the student experience at a high level.”

Student leaders have been equipped with the tools needed to fulfill their responsibility to their peers, future students and themselves to represent Langston and their organizations well.

“They are ready to work and take action,” Carradine said.

Langston offers more than 38 degree programs, including 5 masters degrees and one doctoral program. Langston University is located 12 miles east of Guthrie, Oklahoma.
To learn more about Langston University, please visit http://www.langston.edu.

Junior natural resources major William C. Moore III teaches kids about wildlife during his internship with the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge.

LANGSTON UNIVERSITY STUDENT WILD ABOUT SUMMER INTERNSHIP

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By Christina Gray, Media Relations Specialist

Langston University student, William C. Moore III, a junior Natural Resources Major was selected out of three applicants to work as a student intern for the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. The Student Conservation Association (SCA) aims to help students find internship opportunities through different environmental government agencies.

During Moore’s freshman year, his Associate Professor in the School of Agriculture and Research, Raymond F. Faucette, Jr., Ph.D. introduced him to a representative of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It was this contact that led Moore to apply for the internships.

Moore is currently working with the Environmental Education Specialist to facilitate two environmental camps for local kids in Soldotna, Alaska. ‘Critter Camp’ was geared toward outdoor learning about plants and animals, their habitats, life cycles, and adaptations.

Each day included trail exploration and arts and crafts activities. ‘Get Out and Get Dirty’ camp is a chance for kids to spend time outdoors participating in skill-based exploration of orienteering, plants, birds, fish, and other animals.

During the camp, he taught the kids a nature-related curriculum provided by the program about the salmon life cycle, parts of an insect and salmon migration. He also assists with tasks such as recycling and cleaning trailheads. Moore said the internship has given him the opportunity to receive valuable training and work experience. “I’ve been here for two and a half months and I can truly say that this internship has been a life-changing experience,” said Moore.

“This internship taught me how to work independently. I was able to interact with the employees, try new things, and step outside of my comfort zone.”

Moore is a McCabe Scholar and also a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc.

The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge serves as an anchor for biodiversity on the Kenai Peninsula. Using the best technology available, they ensure that biological health is maximized and human impacts minimize the Refuge staff and partners work together to ensure that biological health is maximized and human impacts. To find more information, visit the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge webpage.

Langston offers more than 38 degree programs, including 5 masters degrees and one doctoral program. Langston University is located 12 miles east of Guthrie, Oklahoma. To learn more about Langston University, please visit the Langston University webpage.

Blongshia Cha at the Miss Langston University Pageant in 2015

CHANGING THE WORLD ONE STEP AT A TIME

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By Christina Gray, Media Relations Specialist

LANGSTON, Okla. – Five female students participated for the title at the annual Miss Langston Scholarship Pageant that took place on Saturday night. The title of Miss Langston represents a woman who is the face and voice of Langston University.

The participants were judged on their performance in an onstage question-and-answer portion, a talent and physical fitness portion and an evening gown and swimsuit portion. All participants were required to adopt a platform, or cause they can support, for something they can tie into the community.

A sophomore who is currently working to obtain a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Science, Blongshia Cha from Denver, Colorado, was crowned Miss Langston in 2015. Her platform is based on the issue of college readiness and retention. She was inspired by the common phrase; the journey of 1000 miles begins with the first step.

She believes that education is one of the most important common denominators in our society and that regardless of your social or religious background if you had the same education you’re just as competitive.

“I would like to bring attention to the need to continue education. Using my platform I would like to promote mentoring students at the middle school, high school, and university level,” said Cha.

“One of the ways I plan to do this is through tutoring students at Coyle schools. By doing this I am able to not only help them academically but also talk to them about other issues. Therefore, I am not only able to educate but mentor as well.”

“It is imperative that we educate our youth,” Cha said.

“I plan to pursue the title of Miss. America to the best of my abilities. If crowned I plan to use my title as a launching pad for my platform,” she said.

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