The Cougar's Byte

Issue date: 6/18/07 Section: Campus Life

On Thursday May 3, 2007 the Concerned Black Personnel of Kean University (CBP) celebrated its 21st annual African Heritage Graduation Ceremony in Wilkins Theatre. As family and friends took their seats, they were entertained by the Spektrums African Folkloric Drummers and Dancers who danced through the aisles. The dancers were dressed in traditional African garb which added to the theme of celebration. The graduates followed them in, each and every one of them dressed in business attire. Dr. James Conyers, Associate Professor and Director of Africana Studies, lead the libation to begin the ceremony.

Dr. Barbara Wheeler, Professor and President of CBP, welcomed everyone and gave a special thank you to Janice Murray-Laury, Vice President for Student Affairs, assisting in founding the African Heritage Commencement in 1986. Dr. Morgan Laury, Department of Public Administration, cheerfully served as the Masters of Ceremony, while one of the graduates, Tynisha Roches, warmed everyone up with a special rendition of the African-American National Anthem.

The Keynote speaker, Dr. Derrick Bell, was a visiting law professor from New York University. As he took to the podium, he grinned at the graduates promising them he wouldn't turn his speech into a lecture. Dr. Bell praised the graduates for reaching such a milestone in their lives and jokingly thanked them for realizing there are other career options than becoming a rapper. He spoke about issues that are prevalent in the black community such as racial discrimination, poverty, and education. He said, "These issues do not affect Americans equally. We now have two societies divided by economic lines." The panel members seated behind him nodded intently as he continued to speak. Dr. Bell left a message everyone in Wilkins Theatre will never forget, he instilled the belief success can only truly be achieved if you arm yourself with knowledge and determination as your weapons.

Dr. Sharon Boyd-Jackson presented the Valedictorian of African Heritage award to an unsuspecting Quyloon N. Reese. She also presented another award for the Outstanding Student Service. Dr. Boyd-Jackson became a little emotional introducing this award by saying, "The recipient of this award is very involved on-campus and he is very outspoken in my classroom and he will be truly missed." Graduates looked around at each other trying to figure out who was receiving the award. The student she spoke about was Reginald Marc, and he walked to the stage grinning from ear to ear and humbly accepted his award.

Other awards were given out too, no one could forget about those students were able to maintain a 3.4 GPA or better throughout their years at Kean. Honor students took to the stage to receive their handmade kente cloth stoles. Dr. Morgan Laury congratulated the honor students who received summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude. He also recognized everyone is not able to receive honors in college so he acknowledged the students graduating with, "Thank you Laude." The entire audience busted out into laughter.

The ceremony ended by graduates receiving recognition by having their names called according to college. Students who were a part of the Africana Studies program also received certificates for all of their hard work. A beautiful reception followed the program in Downs Hall, where a live band played current and old school music that both graduates and their family members grooved to. Graduating from college is excellent, but to have a ceremony dedicated to your culture just shows Kean really does appreciate diversity.

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