Give to Morgan’s ‘Five Dollar Scholarship Fund’
Morgan’s Five Dollar Scholarship Fund is seeking donors to provide financial gifts, large and small, to support academically worthy students of the University. Introduced by Morgan President David Wilson during his inaugural address in October 2010, this ambitious initiative is now building a $5-million endowment fund to be managed by the MSU Foundation. This initial corpus will be augmented by ongoing public and private funding sources. “It is through education that we will empower successive generations of students and prepare them to be responsible citizens and dynamic leaders in their chosen professions,” said Dr. Wilson, who launched the Fund with a pledge of $100,000. The Five Dollar Scholarship Fund is predicated on the simple belief that we must all give whatever we can to support those who seek a college education. Your gift, no matter how small, is deeply valued and urgently needed. Give today, and be counted among the supporters. All donors will be recognized in the Five Dollar Scholarship Fund Honor Roll of Donors. Have you made your contribution to the $5 Scholarship Fund? For more information, please contact: The MSU Foundation, 201 Truth Hall, 1700 E. Cold Spring Lane, Baltimore, MD 21251, (443) 885-3040.
Join the Alumni & Friends Cruise to Bermuda
Morgan’s Office of Alumni Relations and the MSU National Alumni Association are planning a six-night Alumni Cruise to the beautiful island of Bermuda on Royal Caribbean International’s Enchantment of the Seas, June 8– 14, 2012. The cruise leaves from Baltimore and includes a two-day stay in Bermuda. Prices range from $906.93 to $1,766.93, per person, double occupancy. Triple and quad rates are available upon request. Cabin space is limited: Hurry, and get your deposit in now! For more information, please contact the Office of Alumni Relations at (443) 885-3015.
Remember Your Membership Dues
Membership dues cover the fiscal year July 1, 2011–June 30, 2012. If you have already submitted your dues, we thank you. If you have yet to do so, we kindly ask that you submit them as soon as possible. We look forward to your continued support!
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Nearly 500 Turn Out for Alumni Day their classmates, friends and acquaintances with joy and jubilation, as laughter echoed through the entire second floor of the Student Center. The Calvin and Tina Tyler Ballroom was beautifully decorated in the traditional orange and blue motif, with orange balloons hovering high over every table. Immediately after the reception, the attendees feasted on a scrumptious meal during the Alumni Awards and Class Reunion Luncheon, as they reminisced about the changes in their lives and on the campus. Many in attendance had their first opportunity to greet their alma mater’s MSU alumni and friends at the 2011 Alumni Awards and Class Reunion Luncheon new president, Dr. David Wilson, who was With great anticipation and mounting excitement, the also extremely excited to meet the alumni and address the MSU classes ending in “1” and “6” converged upon the group. The alumni listened intently as Dr. Wilson spoke University Student Center for Alumni Day, on Friday, May about his vision for the University. 20, 2011. The day was one to which the alumni had long “The alumni luncheon was superb. Great energy!” looked forward, and it did not disappoint. More than 475 Dr. Wilson said after the event. “I appreciate all of the persons attended the Welcome Back Reception, greeting work that went into making it such a great success.”
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Longtime Morgan VP Recardo Perry Retires
A. Recardo Perry retired from his post as Vice President for Student Affairs on June 30, 2011, after serving the University for 39 years. Perry’s commitment to his work and his desire to help Morgan students were unparalleled. He did whatever it took, often using his own resources, to aid a needy student. A formal retirement tribute in his honor will be held in the University Student Center at 6:00 p.m. on Oct. 1, 2011. For further information regarding the Retirement Celebration, please contact Sharon Taylor at Sharon.Taylor@morgan.edu. Those unable to attend the Retirement Celebration and desiring to encourage Mr. Perry can make donations payable to the Morgan State University Foundation for the Luther and Nina Perry Scholarship Fund.
Alumni Relations Chooses New Assistant Director
Alison Davis Hillen, ’91, joined Morgan’s staff as the new Assistant Director of Alumni Relations on May 18, 2011. She previously served as the Executive Assistant to the President and CEO for Otis Warren & Company and as Regional Services Manager and Executive Assistant to the Vice President of Membership Services for the Child Welfare League of America, Inc., Mid-Atlantic Region in Baltimore. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Morgan in Telecommunications. Hillen has a strong customer service background and has years of experience in the management of membership-based client pools, and recruitment and client retention. Her background also includes consumer sales, office management, event and meeting planning, and fundraising. Away from work, she loves to cook, travel and learn about other cultures. She is looking forward to working with the alumni of Morgan State University.
Academic Quad Receives Major Upgrade
If all goes according to plan, the oldest portion of Morgan’s campus will have an elegant new face for alumni attending Homecoming this year. A $2.5-million improvements project is now under way on the Academic Quad. “We’re putting in new grass, an irrigation system, new trees…also stone seat walls, seat benches and other amenities, to give the area a more stately feeling,” explains Kim I. McCalla, Assistant Vice President of
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Morgan’s Department of Design & Construction Management. “There will be wider walks and then nodes at key intersecting points for gathering. But we are not discouraging people from utilizing the grass areas (to) have casual conversations, as opposed to being relegated to a bench.” Some of the other elements of the renovation include new permanent fencing in front of the McKeldin Center and the McMechen Building, new pavement, bike racks, new emergency telephones, new routes allowing persons with disabilities to travel from Parking Lot H to the Quad, rearrangement of the parking spaces and bus lanes in H Lot to make the area more safe for students, and a new seat wall and bus shelter in the lot. Morgan contracted with Mahan Rykiel Associates for the landscape architecture and design work on the Quad, and with Kinsley Construction, Inc. for the improvements. “We’re excited about all of the new landscaping that’s going to be coming and feel that it’s really going to enhance the feel of the Quad area,” McCalla says. Mohammad Saleem, Morgan’s Manager, Design Services, says the Quad improvements will continue the look and design standards set by earlier construction and renovation projects on the south side of the campus. The Quad renovation is part of a larger campus-wide improvement that includes Morgan Commons, now completed, and two projects now being planned: a new softball stadium on the site of Lois T. Murray field, and new landscaping and other improvements for the areas along Hillen Rd. and Cold Spring Ln.
Alumni Host Reception for Seniors
Graduating seniors and graduate students were invited to the University’s Alumni House for Senior Day, which took place on Wednesday, May 4, 2011 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The event was hosted by the Office of Alumni Relations and the MSU National Alumni Association. A continental breakfast was served from 10:00 a.m. to noon, followed by lunch from noon to 4:00 p.m. Each senior who attended received a tour of the Alumni House and a gift, and had an opportunity to meet with alumni. The Alumni House was decorated inside and out for the special event, and the Alma Mater served as background music, setting the emotional tone for the day.