Monday,
March 18, 2003
Lincoln
University – America's First Historically Black University
-- Begins Yearlong Sesquicentennial Celebration, Thursday,
April 10
TV Commentator and Educator Tony Brown to Deliver Keynote
Address
Founded
in 1854, the University's Distinguished Alumni include
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and Poet
Langston Hughes.
Tony
Brown
LINCOLN
UNIVERSITY, PA (www.lincoln.edu) –Lincoln University
–America's first Historically Black University, which
has a legacy of producing generations of distinguished
alumni who have significant impact upon the nation and
the world, including U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood
Marshall and Poet Langston Hughes – will kick off
the yearlong celebration of the institution's Sesquicentennial
Anniversary with a commemorative program on Thursday,
April 10, 2003, at 11 a.m., at Manuel Rivero Hall on the
campus in southern Chester County, PA.
The
program is being presented in conjunction with Lincoln's
Annual Honors Convocation in which the University will
salute its highest achieving students. Highlights of the
special program will include faculty recognition of students
for their academic achievements, as well as speakers and
a short video paying tribute to Lincoln on the celebration
of its 150th anniversary.
Television
commentator, educator and author Tony Brown will deliver
the keynote address on the topic of the "Significance
of Academic Achievement in the Global Society."
From
April 10, 2003 through May 2004, the University will celebrate
its sesquicentennial anniversary with an array of campus
and external events, activities, and announcements. These
include the presentation of grand gala events in four
cities (Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, and New
York City); eight major events, including at Homecoming
in October 2003 and two Founder's Day programs in May
2003 and 2004; 150 campus programs for students, faculty,
alumni and visitors; and anniversary services in major
churches in 10 American cities.
"As
we celebrate our sesquicentennial and the Lincoln Legacy,
I am pleased to recognize Lincoln's outstanding achievements
and historic milestones and to participate in its most
promising future," said University President Ivory
V. Nelson, Ph.D. "Lincoln University's agenda for
the decade is to continue preparing our student to live
and compete successfully in a highly technological and
global society."
The
University is nationally recognized as a major producer
of African Americans with undergraduate degrees in the
physical sciences (biology, chemistry, and physics); computer
and information sciences; biological and life sciences.
Lincoln has the unprecedented distinction among all of
the nation's colleges of having two of its distinguished
alumni honored with commemorative, first-class mailing
stamps by the U.S. Postal Service. U.S. Supreme Court
Justice Thurgood Marshall, class of 1930 and world-acclaimed
poet Langston Hughes, class of 1929, were honored in January
2003 and February 2002, respectively.
Tony
Brown is the commentator of the Public Broadcasting System
(PBS) series Tony Brown's Journal, the longest running
of all PBS series. In 2002, Brown also became the first
recipient of the National Director's Legacy Award for
Journalism from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Minority
Business Development Agency. Within weeks of that honor,
Brown was inducted into the National Academy of Television
Arts & Sciences' prestigious Silver Circle. With this
honor he joins such television icons as Walter Cronkite
who "have made enduring contributions to the vitality
of the television industry and set the highest standards
of achievement for all to emulate.
"
A media entrepreneur, Brown has been an innovator in many
areas. He was the first and founding dean, as well as
professor, of the School of Communications at Howard University.
At Howard, he established a highly distinguished academic
and professional record. In addition, Brown has distinguished
himself as a producer, writer, and film director.
He
is the author of a new book, What Mama Taught Me
that describes core values that were instilled in him
by his mother. His other two books are Black Lies,
White Lies: The Truth According to Tony Brown, and
Empower The People, both published by William Morrow
& Co.
In 1980, Brown founded the annually held Black College
Day, and, as the honorary chairperson of the National
Organization of Black College Alumni, Inc. spearheads
a movement to preserve Black colleges. He earned his bachelor's
degree in sociology and his master's degree in psychiatric
social work at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan.
He has received numerous honorary doctorates for his achievements
in civil rights, education, economics and journalism.
{NOTE
to Reporters and Editors: To register your name(s)
and media company for press credentials in advance of
April 10, contact the University Office of Marketing and
Communications at: (610)-932-1094; fax: (610)-1878; e-mail:
spressley@lu.lincoln.edu.}
Founded
in 1854 as America's first Historically Black University,
Lincoln University provides the best elements of a liberal
arts and sciences-based undergraduate core curriculum
and selected graduate programs to meet the needs of students
living in a highly technological and global society. The
University enrolls approximately 2,000 undergraduate and
graduate student and is led by President Ivory V. Nelson,
Ph.D. who has achieved a national reputation for his distinguished
leadership role in higher education. He is listed among
the world's top scientists.
For more information, visit Lincoln University's Web site
at www.lincoln.edu; also contact Samuel W. Pressley,
director, University Office of Marketing and Communications,
610-932-1094; e-mail: spressley@lu.lincoln.edu;
home: 856-582-9574.
