May 8, 2007
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY CONFERS 426 DEGREES;
AIDOO SELECTED TO FULBRIGHT PROGRAM
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, PA ~
Beaming in the crowd of graduates
at the 148th Commencement at Lincoln University on May 6
was Lamonte Aidoo. He
had good reason. Aidoo became the first ever student
at the university to receive the prestigious Fulbright award.
Lincoln
University President Ivory V. Nelson conferred degrees to Aidoo
and 425 other undergraduate and graduate students at the ceremony,
an annual tradition at the nation's first historically black
college or university that was witnessed by over 5,000 guests
that included members of the Board of Trustees, parents, and
friends of the venerable institution of higher education.
“I am extremely delighted to be selected for this prestigious award,” said
Aidoo, a native of Hartford, Ct. “I am truly grateful for all of
the help and support that I have received during my tenure at Lincoln University. Many
college students aspire to receive awards such as this, and
it is truly a great honor to have been selected.”
Renowned surgeon Ben Carson delivered the
Commencement address and challenged the graduates to think
big.
“As you go forth from here, remember that it is okay to live by the Godly
principles of loving your fellow man, caring about your neighbors and developing
your God-given talents that are of utmost importance so that they become valuable
to the people around you,” said Dr. Carson, who received
an honorary doctorate of science.
President Nelson told the graduates, “You are today
a new generation of leaders. You have the talent to build
an exciting future for yourself, your loved ones, your communities
and for Lincoln University in these very challenging times.
“You will be called upon to use all of your talents
and intelligences and all of your skills to tackle the challenges
ahead of us. You have that special quality of leadership
to make it happen. You go with our prayers, or admirations
and best wishes.”
Valedictorian honors went to Yetunde
O. Ibrahim of Nigeria who had a 4.1 grade-point average and
was followed by Candice Johnson, the salutatorian with a 4.0
grade-point average. Ibrahim majored in chemistry and Johnson
in biology with a concentration in environmental science.
In
another university tradition at Commencement, President Nelson
presented faculty awards. The recipients were Dr. Goro Nagase,
professor of mathematics, for excellence in teaching; Dr. Emmanuel
Babatunde, professor of sociology and anthropology, for service;
and Dr. Jeffrey Hoogeveen, associate professor of English,
for research.
Selected by the J. William Fulbright
Scholarship Board, Aidoo will study in Colombia, South America,
where he will research the influence of oral tradition on
the formation of Afro-Colombian identity. Aidoo previously participated
in study abroad programs in France and the Dominican Republic. He
also has been accepted into a joint master’s and Ph.D.
program at Brown University in Providence, R.I. to study Portuguese
and Brazilian Studies.
In addition to Dr. Carson, honorary doctoral
degree recipients were Dr. N. Joyce Payne (laws), Rev. Jeremiah
Wright (humane letters) and Dr. Arthur Scott (humane letters).
Payne is vice president for the Office of for the Advancement
of Public Black Colleges, Wright is the pastor of Trinity United
Church of Christ of Chicago and Scott is professor emeritus
at Rutgers.
Lincoln
University of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
1570 Baltimore Pike, P.O. Box 179, Lincoln University, PA 19352 \
(484) 365-8000
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