Students and faculty at Grambling State University held a vigil last Thursday morning to honor the life of Alexandria Shelton, the student found dead in Lafayette park after her friends reported her missing. According to the Lafayette Parish coroner’s office, Shelton’s death was the result of an accidental drowning, but more information regarding the incident won’t be released until three months from now. Shelton was to receive her diploma on May 9. (Via Shreveport Times)

First Lady Michelle Obama will give the main speech at Dillard University’s commencement ceremony on May 10th. According to the White House, Dillard University was chosen because its regarded as one of the top historically universities and supports the First Lady’s higher education initiative which is to ensure that by 2020 American has the most amount of college graduates in the world.

 

Fisk University took home the champion title at the 25th annual Honda Campus All-Star Challenge. The competition uses a quiz-show type of format of the old television show, College Board, asking students questions based on academics. This was the first time Fisk won the competition and  the university was awarded $50,000, with the students on the team getting an additional $1,000. (Via Fisk)

Producer 9th Wonder’s “Hip Hop in Context” course to be taught this fall semester will also help to launch a The Hip Hop Institute at North Carolina Central State University. The new program will be a part of the university’s history departments as well as work with the mass communications and music departments. 9th Wonder was a former student at North Carolina Central State University, but didn’t graduate, and he has previously taught hip hop courses  at Harvard University and Duke University. (Via Herald Sun)

In sports news, there has been some shift in the coaching departments at several universities. Florida A&M University fired head football coach, Clemon Johnson, after he completed three years out of his four year contract. The University put Johnson on administrative leave with pay until July 29, when he will be officially released of his duties as football coach. (Via Tallahassee.com)

Tennessee State University hired new basketball coach, Dana Ford, according to The Tennessean. Ford will replace Travis Williams who was relieved of his duties by the University as serving as head coach for just two seasons. Previously, Ford was an associate coach at Illinois State University and an assistant at TSU. The official announcement is to be made this week.

Delaware State University made interim basketball coach, Keith Walker, the permanent head coach of the program. He served as interim head basketball coach for only a few games last season, but previously served as DSU’s men’s basketball assistant coach, a head coach at Shaw University and professional player in both Europe and the US, playing a season with the Philadelphia 76ers. (Via WBOC)

 

PLUS:

FAMU student wins boxing Title, featured In Sports Illustrated 

Texas South University marching band heading to Canton for Michael Strahan’s induction into Hall of Fame

Southern University celebrates 100 years