Thursday, September 7, 2023 | 11:00 a.m. Mitchell Auditorium Richardson Fine Arts Center OPENING Convocation 2023
PROGRAM OF EVENTS
Presiding
Stevie Lawrence II, Ph.D.
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Academic Processional*
War March of the Priests, Felix Mendelssohn
Lincoln University Band
Posting of Colors*
ROTC Color Guard
National Anthem*
Star-Spangled Banner, Francis Scott Key
Lincoln University Band
Lift Every Voice and Sing*
by James Weldon Johnson and
J. Rosamand Johnson
Lincoln University Choir
In Recognition of Advancement of the Soldiers’ Dream
Adrienne Allen
ROTC Liaison/Veterans Affairs Coordinator, Recipient
Major J. Marc McQuilliams
Professor of Military Science, Presenter
Greetings
Victor B. Pasley ’68, President, Board of Curators
John B. Moseley, Ed.D., President
Erickson Kagame ’24, 21st Mister Lincoln University
Kaci Ashford ’24, 99th Miss Lincoln University
Student Charge and University Oath
George Sherman ’24, President, Student Government Association
*Please rise and remain standing.
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PROGRAM OF EVENTS cont’d
Musical Selection
Babethandaza, by Victor Johnson
Lincoln University Choir
Introduction of Convocation Speaker
Kenyatta Hampton ’24, Chair, Campus Activity Board
Convocation Address
Samantha Thomas ’04
Recognition of Guests and Announcements
Stevie Lawrence II, Ph.D.
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Retiring of Colors* ROTC Color Guard
The Alma Mater*
Lincoln, O, Lincoln, by Dr. Benjamin F. Allen
Lincoln University Band
Academic Recessional*
Pomp and Circumstance – No. 1, by Sir Edward Elgar
Lincoln University Band
Eugene Diggs II, Director of the Bands
Michelle Gamblin-Green, Director of the Choirs
*Please rise and remain standing.
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Keynote Speaker
Samantha Thomas ’04, is CEO of Talk To Samantha Media LLC and an Emmy award-winning journalist. A native of Chicago, Samantha began her career in television news after graduating from Lincoln University of Missouri, where she earned the title of Miss Lincoln University in 2003 and made history as the first Miss National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame from her beloved University.
After graduating in 2004 with a degree in Broadcast Journalism, Samantha immediately began her media career. Starting as a television news producer, Samantha has worked in several local news markets across the U.S., including Missouri, Las Vegas, and Chicago. Her behind-the-scenes work as a producer earned her an Emmy award for “Excellence as a Producer.”
In 2014, Samantha took the entrepreneur and social media influencer route, starting her blog and web series, “SmallTALK with Samantha.” She also returned to Las Vegas as a live reporter for the ABC News affiliate. In 2020, Samantha became an on-air personality at the legendary WVON 1690 AM “The Talk of Chicago,” a Black woman-owned radio station and iHeartRadio affiliate. There, she hosted the weekly “Evening Show with Samantha Thomas.”
Samantha is an active Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. member, serving on the International Media Relations & Production Committee. She is also an active member of the Chicago chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists.
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LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING
Lift every voice and sing, Till earth and heaven ring, Ring with the harmonies of Liberty; Let our rejoicing rise High as the list’ning skies, Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us, Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us; Facing the rising sun of our new day begun, Let us march on till victory is won.
Stony the road we trod, Bitter the chast’ning rod, Felt in the days when hope unborn had died; Yet with a steady beat, Have not our weary feet Come to the place for which our fathers sighed?
We have come over a way that with tears has been watered. We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered, Out from the gloomy past, Till now we stand at last Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.
God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, Thou who hast brought us thus far on the way; Thou who hast by Thy might, Led us into the light, Keep us forever in the path, we pray.
Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee, Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee;
Shadowed beneath Thy hand, May we forever stand, True to our God, True to our native land.
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THE OATH
We will never bring disgrace to Lincoln University by any act of cowardice or dishonesty. We will fight for the ideals and sacred things of the University. We will transmit our University to those who come after us, greater, better and more beautiful than it was transmitted to us.
THE ALMA MATER
Lincoln, O, Lincoln
We thy proud children are; Thou art our guiding star, Lincoln, believe. Ours are hearts that yearn for thee No matter where we be; Morning, noon, and always, we Are Lincolnites.
Thy name, O, Lincoln Shall e’er to us be dear.
Thy mem’ries sacred, near Hold us to thee.
Thy honors ours shall be, Thy cause when just shall we With loyalty defend –For thee we’d die.
Lincoln, O, Lincoln!
We thy proud children are; Our hearts both near and far Love thee with delight. No matter where we are; Whether present, absent, far, Morning, noon, we always are True Lincolnites!
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Lincoln University Board of Curators
Victor B. Pasley ’68, M.S.Ed., President
Richard G. Callahan, J.D., Vice President
Everidge Cade ’73, B.S., Secretary
Richard R. Popp, J.D., Treasurer
Vernon V. Bracy ’82, B.S., Board Member
Stacia R. Bradley Brown ’74, Ed.D., Board Member
Terry Rackers, B.S., Board Member
Tina Shannon, M.P.A., Board Member
Nia C. Walker ’24, Student Representative
Don W. Cook Sr. ’67, Ed.D., Curator Emeritus
Greg S. Gaffke ’69, B.S., Curator Emeritus
Frank J. Logan Sr., M.S., Curator Emeritus
Winston J. Rutledge ’65, ’71, Ph.D., Curator Emeritus
Marvin O. Teer Jr. ’85, J.D., Curator Emeritus
President’s Advisory Council
John B. Moseley, Ed.D., President
Jeffrey Barlow, M.P.A., Vice President for Administration and Finance
Antoinette Candia-Bailey ’98, Ph.D., Vice President for Student Affairs
Jeremy Faulk, M.A., Chief of Staff
Gary L. Hill, M.S., Vice President for Campus Culture and Chief of Police
Stevie L. Lawrence II, Ph.D., Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Misty Nunn ’00, B.S., Executive Director of University and Alumni Relations
April Robinson, M.S., Executive Director of Human Resources
Danisha Williams, Ed.D., Director of Admissions and Recruitment
Kevin M. Wilson, Ed.D., Vice President for Advancement, Athletics and Campus Recreation
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Class year designates graduation from Lincoln University.
