Homecoming Date Changed!!

The date for JCSU’s Homecoming 2006 has been changed to October 27-29, 2006, due to circumstances beyond our control. We understand that some of you may have already made hotel reservations and that is why we wanted to inform you immediately about the change.

The official hotel for Homecoming is the Blake Hotel (the old Adams Mark). This hotel has gone through recent renovations. To make reservations, please call 888-66-HOTEL (664-6835) or call the hotel directly at 704-372-4100 between 10am - 7pm. To receive the group rate of $99.00 please use the JCSU Group #2026.

Thank you in advance for your patience, and we look forward to seeing you on October 27-29, 2006. JCSU vs. Savannah State at 1 p.m. Saturday, October 28, 2006. Go Golden Bulls!

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JCSU Class Notes

Class of 1945

Darius Swann ('45) was featured in the Cheraw, SC Morning News on January 15, 2006 for his contributions to the civil rights movement. He joined 25,000 others from across the country to march with Martin Luther King, Jr. from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama on March 25, 1965. He also left his mark on Charlotte, NC during the 1960s. He and his wife, Vera, filed a lawsuit that led to the desegregation of Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools.

Class of 1949

When the new West Boulevard YMCA located in Charlotte, NC opens in late 2006, it will be named after two Charlotte community activists Jim Richardson and Willie J. Stratford, Sr. ('49). Aligned with the YMCA of Greater Charlotte's "Promises for the Future" campaign, the Stratford Richardson YMCA's Board of Directors developed the "Friends" Commemorative Fund. This new fund honors the late Jim Richardson (1926-2003) and the late Willie J. "Strat" Stratford, Sr. (1923-2002), who were lifelong friends and among the first African Americans to serve as Trustees on the Metro Board of the YMCA.

Class of 1952

Clayton Richardson ('52) was featured in the Messenger newspaper on February 22, 2006 in Hartsville, SC for being a quintessential community activist and volunteer who continues to work for the betterment of the entire community. He is the co-founder of People to People, an organization formed in 1992 with Hazel Puyet, to promote racial harmony and unity in their community.

Class of 1954

Bertha Maxwell Roddey was featured in the Rock Hill, SC Herald on February 26, 2006. The newspaper highlighted African American Rock Hill residents as part of Black History Month. She was a teacher and principal with Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools for 17 years and had a long tenure at the University of NC at Charlotte, where she established an African American studies program. She is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Althea Gibson Foundation and co-authored the book "Born to Win, the Authorized Biography of Althea Gibson."

Class of 1955

The Honorable Eva Clayton ('55) was featured in the Greenville, NC Daily Reflector on February 13, 2006 during Black History Month. Congresswoman Clayton was the first woman to serve in the U.S. Congress from NC. She and Representative Mel Watt were the first blacks elected since 1898.

Class of 1958

A photo of Charles Jones ('58) appeared in The Charlotte Observer on February 8, 2006 during Black History Month to document black history in the Charlotte region.

The photo of Jones was taken in 1960 as he wrote a letter to the city council. Days earlier, he led more than 200 other students in a six-month sit-in campaign to open up Charlotte lunch counters that refused to serve African American customers. "I was writing about the discrepancy of what we claim to be and what we are," said Jones, now 68. "The Declaration said we're all created equal. But we had to fight like hell for emancipation,". The counters were opened in July of that year. On Jones' next visit, he ordered a tuna fish sandwich and a coke.

Raymond McDougal ('58) was featured on the cover of the February 2006 edition of the Fayetteville, NC Prime Life Magazine. In the article he reflects on his long career in teaching, coaching football and golf at Fayetteville State University. To date he has won more matches, games and titles than any other coach in the history of FSU. His football record is 50-45-3 and the FSU golfers have won the National Minority Golf Championship twice and finished second twice. The golf team also won 11 CIAA Championships and won the CIAA Eastern Division title seven times and the Western Division title six times.

Class of 1961

Cynthia P. Roddey ('61) was featured in the Rock Hill, SC Herald on February 26, 2006. The newspaper highlighted Rock Hill residents as part of Black History Month. She is the library director at Clinton Junior College in Rock Hill, SC. Dr. Roddey was the first African American to enroll and graduate from Winthrop University with a graduate degree. Dr. Roddey also received her doctorate in ministry. Winthrop's minority newspaper, The Roddey-McMillian Record, bears her name.

Class of 1964

The elite Class of '64 sponsored an 8-day Western Caribbean Cruise to Costa Maya, Costa Rica, and the Panama Canal on January 21, 2006. The group of 46 individuals consisting of family, friends, classmates, and JCSU President Dr. Dorothy Cowser Yancy, met in Fort Lauderdale, Florida the day prior to sailing. Upon boarding the ship, the fun was nonstop. "What happened on the ship, stayed on the ship." This was truly a fantastic voyage. Class Elite '64 is interested in future travel to West Africa. Stay tuned!!!

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Class of 1970

James Ewers ('70) wrote an article for the Middletown, Ohio Journal on February 10, 2006 about the 40th Super Bowl. Ewers is an educational consultant for the newspaper.

Class of 1991

Sharon M.Thompson ('91) received her MBA degree from Regis University in 2005.

Class of 1996

Saphronia R. Johnson ('96) is the first African American to receive a Ph.D. in Biomedicinal Chemistry from the University of South Carolina and the first African American female to receive a doctoral degree from the College of Pharmacy.

Class of 2000

Eric Durant ('00) opened Market Place Barbershop, located at 151 Market Place Avenue, Mooresville, NC.

Class of 2002

Letisha S. Crawford ('02) has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, SC.
Markeshia Ricks ('02) is an education reporter for the Herald-Tribune in Sarasota, Florida. She previously worked at the daily paper in Tuscaluoosa, Alabama. Christopher Edmonds ('02) has been contracted to work as a producer/director for the Alley Hoops project in Charlotte, NC.

Class of 2004

LeAnn Harley ('04) became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Alpha Lambda Omega Chapter on February 12, 2000. LeAnn has been accepted to the Queens University MBA program in Charlotte, NC.

Class of 2005

Michele Sturdivant ('05) has accepted a position as a production specialist at WBTV in Charlotte, NC.

Nikiya Campbell ('05) has accepted a position at the Studio Arena Performing Arts Theatre in Buffalo, NY.

Iman Graham ('05) was accepted into the Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC.

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Miss JCSU in Ebony Magazine

Miss Johnson C. Smith University Coreea A. McCoppin, is featured in the April issue of Ebony Magazine. McCoppin is featured in the magazine along with other queens of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. McCoppin is a senior Communications Arts major and is a native of Iva, SC. She is very active on the JCSU campus. McCoppin is a Ronald E. McNair Scholar, Dean's List member, a JCSU resident advisor, a tutor with Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools System, and also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

She plans to continue her education through graduate school when she finishes JCSU in May 2006. She is the daughter of April D. McCoppin of Iva, S.C. and the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.W. McCoppin. Ebony Magazine is part of the Johnson Publishing Company and has 12 million readers.

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Tennis Team Wins Eighth Consecutive Western Division Championship

With their 10th consecutive win, the Johnson C. Smith tennis team won its 8th straight Western Division championship defeating Winston-Salem State University on their farewell tour Thursday, March 30, 2006 in Charlotte.The Rams are leaving the CIAA for Division I and the MEAC conference next year.

J.C. Smith (14-12, 11-1, 5-0) jumped on the Rams early winning two of three doubles led by Romar Douglas and Justin Stuckey at number one (8-0) over Ryan Lindquist and Patrick Jenkins. George Dixon and Frento Burton defeated Andrew Jones and Daren Milbourne, (8-1) at two. The loss drops the Rams to 4-8 overall and 4-5 in the CIAA.

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PR Department Wins Three Additional National Awards

Johnson C. Smith University and Set?Communicate! Marketing firm won three top national honors from Admissions Marketing Report's 21st Annual Admissions Advertising Awards.

“This award proves to the community that we are staying true to our strategic goal of becoming noted as an outstanding liberal arts college with a strong institutional identity,” said JCSU Public Relations Director Benny Smith. “We are excited to receive such an honor with our designer Set?Communicate!"

The Admissions Marketing Report is a national publication for higher education professionals. Set?Communicate! is an education brand marketing firm which has a 16-year working relationship with JCSU. The following includes a list of awards won:

* A Gold Medal will be awarded for Johnson C. Smith University’s “A Decade of Unbounded Distinction” President’s Report.

* A Silver Medal will be awarded for the Johnson C. Smith University Spring 2005 Bulletin.

* A Bronze Medal was awarded for the Johnson C. Smith University "Surround Yourself With Success" Ebony Magazine Branding Ad.

The awards came just weeks after JCSU received notification from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) that the department had won a Special Merit Award for the Bulletin magazine.

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CIAA News

The Charlotte Post featured Steve Joyner, Sr. ('75), Steve Joyner, Jr. ('01), and Edward Joyner ('94). The article highlighted their involvement in the CIAA as a family affair of coaches in the CIAA. Steve, Jr. is the North Carolina Central assistant women's basketball coach, Steve, Sr. and Edward are coaches for JCSU men's and women's team. Edward is Steve, Sr.'s nephew and his dad, Edward Joyner, Sr. is the head basketball coach at St. Paul's University and brother of Steve, Sr.

Also, The Charlotte Observer newspaper recently reported that the tournament generated $15.4 million dollars. Tournament organizers were expecting $12 million to $14 million in economic impact.

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100 Club Presents $7,000 Check to JCSU

The 100 Club presented a $7,000 check to the JCSU Athletics Department during half-time at the JCSU vs Winston- Salem State University basketball game. The Golden Bulls 100 Club is a non-profit organization established for the purpose of generating funds for Johnson C. Smith University. It provides a tangible way for Golden Bulls' fans to express their loyalty and commitment to the student-athletes and their respective sports. Today, the Golden Bulls 100 Club continues to raise funds to supplement the Athletics Department. Membership is granted to all who donate a minimum of $100.00 (or more) annually to the Golden Bulls 100 Club. Members may give monetary gifts as well as raise funds through the clubs annual fundraisers. Currently, the Golden Bulls 100 Club has over 50 active members, businesses and organizations contributing annually.

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Save the Dates

*REUNION WEEKEND
May 5-7, 2006
http://www.jcsu.edu/alumni/reunion.htm

We will celebrate the reunion classes ending with '1s and '6s, along with the Golden Anniversary Class of 1956 and the Silver Anniversary Class of 1981. It is expected that each class agent will routinely correspond with their classmates and establish meaningful relationships in an effort to reconnect and to solicit financial support among alumni and friends of the University. To find out more about the Class Agent Program proceed to the following link - http://www/jcsu.edu/alumni/classagents.htm

Host Hotel Information:
Doubletree Hotel Charlotte - Gateway Village
895 W. Trade Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
(704) 347-0070 or 1-800-222-TREE
www.doubletree.com
Promotion Code: JCSU Graduation 2006
JCSU Rate: $79.00 +13.5% tax per night

Founders' Day - Sunday, April 23, 2006, 2 p.m, Jane M. Smith Memorial Church

Last Day of Classes - April 29, 2006

Senior Baccalaureate, Thursday, May 4, 2006, 6 p.m, Jane M. Smith Memorial Church

139th Commencement, Sunday, May 7, 2006, 11a.m, Cricket Arena

Homecoming 2006

Host Hotel Information:
The Blake Hotel (old Adams Mark)
555 South McDowell Street
Charlotte, NC 28204
(704) 372-4100
(888) 664-6835
www.theblakehotel.net

Promotion Code: 2026
JCSU Rate: $99.00 + 13.5% tax per night (Single/Double)

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Deceased Alumni

Grace Hermia Laws ('46), January 27, 2006
David S. Johnson, Jr ('40), January 18, 2006
Don Pullen ('89), February 13, 2006
Wendell Johnson ('51), November 2005
Rosalind Bush ('64), March 19, 2006

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Jack S. Brayboy Memorial Golf Tournament

For the past eight years, the JCSU Athletics Department has sponsored a golf tournament to recognize the golf team and strengthen the golf program. The tournament honors the valuable contributions of the late Dr. Jack S. Brayboy, Jr., an outstanding athlete and educator at the University, as well as the primary visionary for developing the JCSU golf program in the early 1970's.

Please join us on May 19th for the Ninth Annual Jack S. Brayboy Memorial Golf Tournament. Please download brochure from the website for more details and registration information.

http://www.jcsu.edu/athletics/golfmens/BrayboyGolfTournament2006.pdf

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Chapter Information

The Washington D.C. Chapter will be sponsoring their fourth Annual JCSU Scholarship Golf Tournament on Monday, June 5, 2006. The event will be held at the Marlborough Country Club, 4750 John Rodgers Blvd., Upper Marlboro, MD 20772.

For Additional Information contact:

Charles Thompson (301) 390-1981
Glenda West (202) 581-8924
Marion Massey (301) 736-1980
Anna Presley (301) 669-1848
Bobbie Cooper (301) 442-1044
Jack Cooper (301) 442-1044
Martha Warren (301) 855-6251
Willie Davis (202) 726-8177
Gretel James (301) 449-6636

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100 Club Recognizes F.J. Armstead

The 100 Club and the Johnson C. Smith University Athletics Department recognized Mr. F. J. Armstead as an original 100 Club founder. He also was recognized for continuing to be a loyal supporter of JCSU. The original 100 Club was organized in 1966 by "Jimmy" McKee. During a session with friends, McKee expressed the idea that they should band together to support Johnson C. Smith University or lend aid to some projects in the community. The 100 Club was then organized to help JCSU celebrate its 100th year They decided that each member would raise or contribute $500 to the Centennial Fund. At that time the 100 Club had 34 members. In 1996, the Club opened its doors to female members. As of the new millennium, the name changed to the Golden Bulls 100 Club.

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University Choir Needs Help

Spring is here and it’s time for the annual spring recording by the University Choir on Saturday, April 29, 2006 at 6 p.m. in the Jane M. Smith Memorial Church. This recording is free and open to the public. No children under the age of five please. If you would like to help the choir with this project, you may make a donation of $25.00 or $50.00. Your name will be listed on the program as a patron ($25.00) or sponsor ($50.00). Additionally, Dr. Yancy will have your name listed in the 2005-2006 Presidents’ report. Please make checks payable to Johnson C. Smith University or The Johnson C. Smith University Choir. You may deliver checks to Ms. Odessa Roseboro in the office of Alumni Affairs (315 Biddle Hall) on the campus of Johnson C. Smith University. You may also mail checks to the following address:

Bruce A. Thompson
P.O. Box 561715
Charlotte, NC 28256

Checks should be received by April 26, 2006. If you do not think your check will reach us by that date please give me a call @ 704-378-3585 so that I may include your name on the program. As always, your help and support is greatly appreciated.

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JCSU Releases 2006 Football Schedule

The Johnson C. Smith University athletics department announced their 2006 football schedule with four home games, and a new opponent in Edward Waters College.
Like most other Division II schools, JCSU opted to begin their season on August 26th.The Golden Bulls will travel down I-85 to participate in the HBCU Classic vs. Edward Waters College at 4:00 pm in Greenville, SC. Edward Waters finished their 2005 campaign with a 3-7 mark.

On September 2, the Bulls will make their way to West Virginia to take on the Glenville State University Pioneers. Last season, JCSU fell to the Pioneers 33-9 in Charlotte, NC.The season home opener begins with the Bulldogs of Bowie State University on September 9. The Bulldogs had a successful campaign last season finishing with an 8-4 record including appearances in the CIAA title game and the Pioneer Bowl. The Bulldogs narrowly escaped the Golden Bulls with a 12-9 victory in Bowie, MD.

After taking a week off, the Gold and Blue will begin the rigid conference run with a three-game road trip. First the Virginia Union Panthers on September 23. The Panthers finished the 2005 season with a record of 3-7 and a fifth place finish in the CIAA east. On September 30, Virginia is the place of choice with St. Paul’s College. The Tigers ended their inaugural season after an 18-year hiatus with a 4-6 record.

History repeats itself once again with Livingstone College on October 7, 2006. The renewal of the first historically black college game will be played at 6:00 pm in Salisbury, NC. Three home games follow with St. Augustine’s College on October 14. The Falcons earned a homecoming victory over JCSU 26-7 in Raleigh, NC. The always tough Broncos of Fayetteville State University make their return to Charlotte for the first time since the 2002 season.

Homecoming 2006 will feature yet another set of Tigers, this time it is Division I-AA Savannah State University. The series meeting between the two schools is 3-0 in favor of the Tigers. Finally on November 4, the Bulls will travel to face the defending CIAA champion Eagles of North Carolina Central University. The Eagles finished with an 11-2 record and an appearance in the NCAA Division II Playoffs.

“This is a very competitive schedule like last year,” said second year head coach Daryl C. McNeill, Sr. “We have our challenges with the addition of Edward Waters and Division I-AA Savannah State for homecoming. However, we are excited about the upcoming football season.”