New baseball, soccer coaches coming to LU

By Dan Carr/Assistant AD for Media Relations

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Vice President for Advancement and Athletics Dr. Kevin Wilson announced on Thursday (June 1) that Grant Reynolds will be the new head baseball coach at Lincoln University. Wilson additionally announced that Sammy Samuels has been selected to coach the men’s soccer team and Leah Stringer will be the first-ever head coach of the LU women’s soccer team.
 
“I am excited to welcome Grant, his wife Erin, and their daughters Hannah, Eleanor, Madelyn, and Claire; Sammy, his wife Theresa, and their son, Mali; and Leah all to the Ambush!” Wilson said. “They all bring different experiences to the table, but share one thing in common: a deep desire to promote student success on the field, in the community and in life. I look forward to seeing them lead our respective programs against our GLVC and HBCU peers as well as the rest of the country!”
 
Reynolds helped develop one of the best offensive baseball programs in NCAA Division II during his time as an assistant coach at Albany State, as he recruited a lineup that finished this past season sixth in the country in batting average, second in on-base percentage and second in scoring output per game. ASU finished this past season 38-11 overall and 30-2 in conference play en route to qualifying for the Black College World Series.
 
While the batting at Albany State was outstanding with Reynolds on the staff, the pitching was even better, posting NCAA Division II’s fourth-best ERA and hits allowed per nine innings average in 2021, and the country’s 14th-lowest ERA in 2020. In 2019, ASU’s pitchers combined to lead the SIAC in ERA while the Rams won the regular season championship with a 21-1 conference record. During Reynolds’ five seasons on the staff, Albany State posted a combined record of 122-64.
 
Reynolds, a member of the Oakland Athletics’ minor league affiliates from 2003-05, formerly served as the head coach of Ohio Christian, an NAIA program, and has served stints as an assistant coach at Wheaton and Davenport. Reynolds graduated from Kennesaw State in 2003 with a degree in health and physical education, and later earned master’s degrees in coaching and exercise science and coaching and athletic administration from Concordia-Irvine. As a player at Kennesaw State, Reynolds was twice named the Peach Belt Pitcher of the Year and earned multiple All-American and Academic All-American honors.
 
“I am incredibly thankful that President Moseley, Dr. Wilson and the search committee have entrusted me with the future of the Blue Tigers Baseball program,” Reynolds said. “I know there is much excitement around Jefferson City and with the alumni about the return of baseball to Lincoln University, and I look forward to finding athletes that will fit the school’s core values and our baseball program.
 
“I am forever grateful to Coach Hemmings and Albany State University for allowing me to get back into college coaching. I am looking to build a program that will hopefully mirror some of our success at ASU. My family and I look forward to moving to Jefferson City and starting this new chapter of Blue Tiger Baseball.”
 
 
Samuels served as the head coach at the University of Maine at Fort Kent from 2018-23, and led the Bengals to the 2022 United State Collegiate Athletics Association national championship. Samuels also directed UMFK to national runner-up performances in 2019 and 2021 as well as the national semifinals in 2018. Samuels directed the Bengals to a 53-12-8 record and coached 13 All-American first team selections, 28 All-Academic honorees and 14 players chosen for the national all-tournament team.
 
Before being elevated to the position of head coach, Samuels joined UMFK as an assistant coach in 2014 and helped the program win USCAA national championships in both 2015 and 2016. During his other two seasons on the coaching staff in 2014 and 2017, the Bengals finished as the national runners-up. As an assistant coach, Samuels helped lead the Bengals to a pair of undefeated seasons and 85 total victories.
 
Samuels played collegiately at the University of Maine at Fort Kent and was enshrined in the school’s hall of fame in 2016. Samuels was a four-time All-Academic performer for the Bengals and led UMFK to a national championship in 2010. Samuels earned a bachelor’s degree in business management with a minor in coach in 2011, and also earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from UMFK in 2012. Samuels then served as a graduate assistant at Union (Ky.), where he earned a master’s degree in education leadership in 2014. In 2022, Samuels earned an MBA from the University of Maine.
 
“I want to thank athletic director Dr. Kevin Wilson and president Dr. John Moseley for trusting me to lead the Lincoln University men’s soccer program,” Samuels said. “This is an exciting new chapter as we pioneer the program through academics, athletics and community initiatives. With hard work, confidence and consistency, I believe the soccer program will prepare our student-athletes for life long after they’ve graduated from Lincoln.”
 
Stringer is no stranger to Missouri or NCAA Division II, as she has been on the coaching staff at Missouri Western since joining the program as an assistant coach in 2020. Stringer helped lead the Griffons to their highest national ranking in program history, as they peaked at No. 13 in the nation in 2021. She also helped MWSU improve its winning percentage from .306 in the fall of 2019 to .708 in the spring of 2021. Stringer, who served as the interim head coach of MWSU in 2022, has developed six All-MIAA players, coached three MIAA All-Tournament selections, and mentored 47 athletes who have been named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll or who have earned one of the league’s Academic Excellence or Scholar Athlete awards.
 
Before coming to Missouri, Stringer spent three seasons as the assistant men’s and women’s soccer coach at Northeast Texas Community College, helping both teams achieve their highest-ever national rankings. Stringer coached the only two goalkeepers in school history ever to earn all-region accolades, and she developed 19 total all-region performers. Stringer was a member of the 2018 National Junior College Athletics Association’s South Regional Division I Staff of the Year.
 
Stringer broke into the coaching ranks as the goalkeeper coach for the Manchester Soccer Club United ’96 Boys team from 2011-14, and she also interned with the McPherson Strikers in 2011. Stringer was a goalkeeper at Central Christian College of Kansas, graduating in 2011 with a degree in sports management. She later earned a master’s degree from Texas Woman’s University in 2018.
 
“I want to thank president Dr. John Moseley, vice president Dr. Kevin Wilson, the search committee and all the wonderful people I met on my visit to Jefferson City,” Stringer said. “It’s exciting and humbling for me to be the first Head Women’s Soccer Coach at Lincoln University of Missouri. When I arrived on campus and met the administration, as well as the members of the Blue Tiger Athletics Club, I knew this was where I wanted to be.”
 
Both of Lincoln’s soccer programs will begin competing as members of the Great Lakes Valley Conference in the fall of 2024. The Blue Tiger baseball team will play its first season as a member of the GLVC in the spring of 2025.
 
What people nationally are saying about…
 
Grant Reynolds
“There is no doubt that Lincoln University got this hire right. Coach Reynolds has been an unbelievable pitching coach and recruiting coordinator for our program since the fall of 2018. He was not only an unbelievable player, but he took that same talent and knowledge and did an amazing job in developing several high-level arms. He has an infectious personality and the players love being around him and playing for him. I truly believe his genuine personality led to a lot of top end players coming to our program. Lincoln is very fortunate to have Coach Reynolds as he will take our same model and put his own spin and style on his program to create a winning culture. Coach Reynolds is a tireless worker on the recruiting trail and does a great job of creating a well-rounded team that can compete at a high level. I am sad to see Coach Reynolds leave our program, but I am extremely proud of him and wish him and his family nothing but the best.”  – Scot Hemmings, Head Baseball Coach at Albany State University
 
“Grant Reynolds is a great baseball coach with a great baseball mind. I was fortunate enough to have Grant coach high school baseball with me. When it comes to knowledge of the game, professionalism and the ability to teach things in a way players understand, there is no one better! He helped recruit for our club program while coaching 18u, and he knows what it takes to be successful.”  – Cary Daniel, President/Founder of CBC Marucci Blackhawks and Varsity Baseball Head Coach at Indian Hill High School
 
“Grant was a gifted pitcher and outstanding teammate while we played together. Since then, he has become a talented coach and recruiting coordinator, leading his programs to new heights. He has been a lifelong friend and colleague in the coaching world. He has been an amazing father and husband to his beautiful family. Grant will be a great leader for the Lincoln baseball team and the athletics department.”  – Josh Beauregard, Head Baseball Coach at Eckard College
 
Sammy Samuels
“Coach Samuels has proven himself as one of the top up-and-coming soccer coaches in U.S. college soccer. Samuels’s on-field success as a head coach is unquestionable, and he has demonstrated himself as a masterful recruiter of talent both domestically and internationally.  Lincoln University is fortunate to have a coach of Samuels’ caliber who will be devoted and invest significantly in its student-athletes, support Lincoln University’s overall mission, and be an active member of the community of Jefferson City.”  – Bill Ashby, Former Athletic Director at the University of Maine at Fort Kent
 
“There are not enough words to wholeheartedly describe Coach Samuels. His unique talent for motivating individuals has profoundly impacted my personal and professional life, as well as many others. He is an exceptional leader who embodies the qualities of resilience, compassion, and unwavering determination, leaving a lasting impression. Sammy’s ability to overcome challenges in pursuit of excellence makes him an invaluable asset to any institution. He has achieved remarkable results that many deem impossible, and I am certain there are more remarkable results to come. He is truly a role model, not just to his student-athletes but to anyone he encounters. I am immensely grateful to have met Sammy, and I look forward to seeing the amazing things he will achieve in this new chapter.”  – Alex Smith, Head Men’s Soccer Coach at Concord University
 
“Coach Sammy is a great hire. His ability to recruit, coach, and mentor student-athletes is of the highest quality, and he has the winning mentality that every program desires. Bringing Coach Samuels to Lincoln undoubtedly sets up the men’s soccer program to succeed nationally.”  – Jonathan Shaw, Head Men’s Soccer Coach at Union College
 
Leah Stringer
“Leah is a passionate, detail-oriented leader. She is positive, supportive, respectful, genuine, and sincerely caring about the lives of her players. I cannot think of a better person to lay the foundation for the Lincoln University of Missouri’s women’s soccer program.”  – Damian Macias, Associate Head Women’s Soccer Coach at the University of North Dakota
 
“Leah is a bright young and up-and-coming coach. She is an ambitious and caring leader who has the heart and determination to help lead Lincoln University of Missouri as a new program. There is no question that she will be a great ambassador for both the institution and her student-athletes.”  – Cole Ouren, Assistant Women’s Soccer Coach at Baylor University
 
“Leah is a fantastic coach with a tremendous passion for the game. She works tirelessly on and off the field to help her student-athletes be better players and better people. She is also a fantastic recruiter that will grow the game at Lincoln. She will build a culture and foundation for the program to achieve long-lasting, sustainable success.”  – Daniel Hill, Head Women’s Soccer Coach at Seminole State College

LU field & track athletes head to nationals

(stock photo by Jordan Parker/Clarion News)

By Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Nineteen members of Lincoln’s women’s and men’s track & field programs qualified to compete at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships, which will be held from Thursday (May 25) through Saturday (May 27) in Pueblo, Colo. Lincoln’s programs combined to qualify 13 individual entries and four relay entries to the national title meet.

Eleven members of the LU women’s team are headed to nationals, including Maria Diamond, Shenese Walker and Jovanna Gustave, each of whom will compete in multiple events. Diamond will represent LU in the 400m hurdles and the 4x400m relay, while Walker and Gustave will both race in the 100m and the 4x100m relay. Completing LU’s entries in the 4x100m relay are Hughasia Fyffe and Monae Carey.

Shantae George, Denita Jackson and Chrissani May round out the competitors on LU’s 4x400m relay squad, while Sophia Myers and Shanette Allison will both compete in the 100m hurdles. Annalisa Barclay will represent the Blue Tiger women in the triple jump.

Shanthamoi Brown, left, and Sophia Myers are two of 19 Blue Tigers selected to attend the 2023 NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships being held May 25-27 in Pueblo, Colo. (Photo by Jordan Parker/Clarion News)

Eight members of the LU men’s team qualified for nationals, including Troy Whyte, who will represent Lincoln in four events. Whyte will race in both the 110m hurdles and the 400m hurdles, and he is also a member of both the 4x100m and the 4x400m relay teams. Reuben Nichols, meanwhile, will compete in three events: the 200m, the 400m and the 4x400m relay.

Shanthamoi Brown qualified to race in both the 400m hurdles and the 4x400m relay, and Dimitri Beckford, Jamar Treasure and Shemar Fletcher will both run in the 4x100m relay. Kewani Campbell was selected to compete in both the 400m hurdles and the 4x400m relay, and Rashane Bartlett will compete in the 110m hurdles.

Final exams begin Monday, May 8

LU journalism student Emmette Page reviews notes in JOU 418 the week before spring final exams. May 4, 2023. (Clarion News photo)

Clarion News

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY – Another school year is coming to end. Final exams will be given May 8-11. The schedule is below. Congratulations on completing another semester and a special congratulations to our graduating seniors and grad students!

Softball wins last home game of season

The new LU softball field. Drone photo by Clarion News photographer Jordan Parker. April 25, 2023.

By Dan Carr/Assistant AD for Media Relations

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Lincoln softball team won its final home game of 2023, beating Southwest Baptist, 3-2, on Wednesday afternoon (April 26). The win came in the second game of the non-conference double-header, with Southwest Baptist winning the opener, 8-0.

The Blue Tigers scored the first two runs of the second game, starting with Maris Ollison hitting the first out-of-the-park homerun at the newly renovated LU Softball Field to lead off the bottom of the second. Kennedy Schanuth scored the second run, getting on base via an error before reaching third on a sacrifice bunt from Hailey Dudenhoeffer. Schanuth then made it a 2-0 lead for the Blue Tigers by scoring on Leah Wagner’s single through the right side.

Southwest Baptist (11-35) answered in the top of the third, scoring its first run on a ground-rule double and its second on a base hit into centerfield. The game would stay deadlocked until the bottom of the fifth, when Qwynn Marquez came home on a bases-loaded walk. Lincoln (7-37) made multiple outstanding defensive plays to preserve the win, including all three outs in the top of the seventh. Shortstop Myah Dwyer made a pair of fantastic grabs, including a diving catch for the final out of the ballgame. First baseman Emma Rakes also caught a very hard-hit line drive, holding onto the softball while falling to the ground.

Ashton Stalling pitched the complete game, striking out four while allowing seven hits. Ollison went 2-for-2 at the plate and Schanuth also had a hit. Wagner had a team-high five putouts, followed by Dwyer with four.

Lincoln will travel to St. Joseph, Mo. on Friday (April 28) to play an MIAA double-header against Missouri Western. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. CDT.

International students gather for photos

International students gather midfield at Dwight T. Reed football stadium. Clarion News drone photo. April 25, 2023. (Photo by Prof. Will Sites and journalism student Jordan Parker)

Clarion News

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY – International students gathered at the Quad and Dwight T. Reed football stadium for a photo on Tuesday, April 25, 2023. Journalism associate professor Will Sites and journalism student and Clarion photographer Jordan Parker used a drone to capture the memorable event.

LU Director for Global Education’s Jeannie Culberson planned the event to show support for the international students and staff studying and working across the campus. The students displayed country flags and some dressed in native clothing.

The first set of photos were taken on the Quad. After that, students took a ride to the football field via the new Blue Tiger shuttle.

International students gather on the Quad. Clarion News drone photo. April 25, 2023. (Photo by Prof. Will Sites and journalism student Jordan Parker)

Power outage hits LU campus

By Mark Oliver/Clarion News

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY- A campus-wide power outage occurred on the evening of April 10, 2023, causing some chaos on campus. According to Lincoln University staff, a transformer failed, which caused the power to shut down. Though students were asked to evacuate the building, many students were already outside escaping the dark and trying to learn what to do next. The Clarion talked with a few of the affected students.

“I really couldn’t do much really because I had assignments that I had to do and stuff. I was very disappointed.” -Landry Rudasingwa, a freshman biology major from Kigali, Rwanda.

“It was dark and I couldn’t see anything. I ran outside and saw that I’m the first one outside. Everybody was outside getting irritated after a while.”-Kelyjah Carter, a freshman computer science major from Chicacgo (right) and Robert Gray, a freshman sport management major from Chicago.

“I’m not going to lie for me, it kinda sucks because I couldn’t fall back to sleep. It messed with me mentally because I didn’t really feel secure.”- Alec Reigel, a freshman criminal justice major from St. Louis.

New softball field ready for play

Athletic Director Dr. Kevin Wilson, left, shares a commemorative bat with LU President Dr. John Moseley during the unveiling of the new softball field. April 11, 2023. (Photo by Devyn Sigars/Clarion News)

By Devyn Sigars

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY – Softball play returns to campus this spring following the completion of facility improvements. The first home game of the season took place April 16, 2023 when Nebraska Kearney visited Blue Tiger Nation. The new field was recently recognized when LU President Dr. Moseley and Director of Athletics Dr. Kevin Wilson held a commemorative event at the field on April 11, 2023.

The improvements include new dugouts, improved drainage, and new turf.   For a fee, the field will be available to non-Lincoln teams.

During the commemoration, President Moseley thanked the contractor, Kansas-based Mammoth Sports Construction, for completing the $630,000 project. An anonymous donor provided $500,000 to fund the new facility, with the remaining paid for with existing student fees.

Moseley said he promised the players, their parents, and the community a new and improved softball complex. On Tuesday, it was delivered.

“I made a promise to you girls and your parents two years ago and I didn’t think we would go through so much to get here,” Moseley said. “But I never doubted the process.”

A drone photo of the old LU softball field. March 16, 2022. Photo by Jordan Parker/Clarion News.

Blue Tiger Shuttles Adds New Stops

The Blue Tiger shuttle departs from Scruggs University Center. (Clarion photo by Jordan Parker)

By Lamarr Spencer

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY- After the Blue Tiger Shuttle took off for the first time in early March, the system has been a huge success. Students have been pleased with how smooth the process has been going thus far. 

“I’ve taken the shuttle to Walmart at least three times already and I’ve had zero problems,” freshman Cory Macon said. “The drivers have been timely (every time) while also driving safely.” 

Due to the success of the first shuttle, Lincoln has now added an additional shuttle with some brand-new stops. Shuttle services will now provide students with free roundtrip transportation to the Capital Mall and Wildwood Shopping Center.

The second shuttle took off for the first time from Scruggs University Center on Wednesday evening. “My friends and I took the first shuttle to the shopping center, ate dinner at Chili’s, and were taken back to campus on the last shuttle,” sophomore Mariah Wilson stated. “We are already planning to take the next trip to the mall.”

The second shuttle will continue to operate weekly on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 5:15 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

Blue Tigers do well at Lincoln Open

By Dan Carr/Assistant AD for Media Relations

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Lincoln women’s outdoor track & field team put on a show for its home fans on Saturday (April 8), winning eight events at the Lincoln Open.

Eight Blue Tigers finished among the top-11 in the 200m, led by Monae Carey’s winning time of 25.01. Denita Jackson (25.23) and Shantae George (25.26) closed out the top-three, and Hughasia Fyffe finished in fifth with a time of 25.53. Shevanae Thomas (25.54) was close behind in sixth, and Nattesha Palmer (26.01) came in eighth while Jovanna Gustave (26.40) and Nehlia Mills (26.50) respectively finished in 10th and 11th.

LU also had a dominant showing in the 100m, sweeping the top-four places. Fyffe won in 12.27, Danneika Lyn was the runner-up in 12.37 and Carey claimed third in 12.39 while Gustave finished in fourth at 12.53. Sophia Myers won the 100m hurdles, clocking in at 13.79, while Shanette Allison (13.91) and Ray-Donna Lee (15.05) respectively placed fourth and fifth.

Maria Diamond (59.63) and Myers (1:04.71) swept the top-two spots in the 400m hurdles, and Chrissani May took 11th in the 800m, timing in at 2:26.90. Lincoln also had five of the top-10 finishes in the 400m, with George claiming second in 56.07. Thomas (56.40) took fourth and Palmer (58.47) came in sixth while Shenese Walker (1:01.19) ended the race in 10th.

The Blue Tigers swept the two relay events, with the foursome of Fyffe, Gustave, Lyn and Carey emerging victorious in the 4x100m with a time of 46.53. Lincoln’s team of Myers, Diamond, Thomas and George won the 4x400m relay, clocking in at 3:46.19, while the team of May, Jackson, Jameaka Mannings and Abigail Brooks placed third after timing in at 3:55.45.

In the field events, Annalisa Barclay won both the long jump (5.64m) and the triple jump (10.88m). In the former event, Shamar-Kaye Fable was the runner-up with a leap of 5.28m. Mills, meanwhile, came in third in the high jump at 1.58m.

The Lincoln men’s outdoor track & field team also put on an impressive showing at its home meet, winning nine events at the Lincoln Open.

LU swept the relays, including posting each of the top-two times in the 4x400m relay. The team of Shanthamoi Brown, Reuben Nichols, Troy Whyte and Kevaughn Goldson won in 3:11.47 while the foursome of Michael Cunningham, DauJaughn Murray, Donovan Bruce and Leondre Francis claimed second in 3:18.01. In the 4x100m relay, LU’s squad of Shemar Fletcher, Jamar Treasure, Davian Clarke and Dimitri Beckford had the winning time of 41.64.

Lincoln swept the top-three of the 400m hurdles as Whyte came in first (50.73), Kewani Campbell was the runner-up (52.89) and Brown finished in third (52.90). Rashane Bartlett was the victor of the 110m hurdles with a time of 14.57, and Nichols (21.44) and Fletcher (21.65) respectively took first and second in the 200m. In the latter event, Beckford placed 10th in 22.86.

The Blue Tigers won both the 100m and the 400m, and had four top-10 finishers in each race. In the 400m, Nichols timed in at 46.77 to win the race, and Goldson (48.51) claimed third while Murray (49.14) came in sixth and Francis (50.12) finished in eighth. In the 100m, Fletcher had the winning time of 10.81, and Beckford (11.07) placed third. Wesley Tyndall (11.26) took fifth in the 100m, and Clarke (11.38) ended the race in eighth.

Lincoln also picked up three victories in the fied events, with Dejone Raymond winning the high jump with a mark of 1.95m. Malik Drummond was the champion of both the long jump (6.89m) and the triple jump (14.47m), while Raymond placed seventh in the latter event with a distance of 12.78m. In the long jump, Raymond (6.70m) took fourth and Tyndall (6.39m) came in seventh.

LU also had two notable finishes in the 800m. Bruce clocked in at 1:57.65 to take fourth in that event. Cunningham, meanwhile, came in fifth with a time of 1:57.84.

Up next for the Blue Tigers are the Kansas Relays, hosted in Lawrence, Kan. by the University of Kansas on Friday and Saturday (April 14-15).

Student visitors involved in campus bus crash

Kansas City middle-schoolers were aboard when the bus rolled into a pole near Scruggs

A bus from AC Prep Middle School rests against a light pole foundation near Scruggs. April 6, 2023. (Photo by Tobias Hunter/Clarion News)

By Gracen Gaskins/Clarion News

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY – A school bus loaded with Kansas City middle school students crashed Thursday afternoon into a light pole near Scruggs University Center. According to L.U.P.D., none of the students or staff from the African-Centered College Preparatory Academy (AC Prep) was injured.

According to several AC Prep students, the bus had encountered mechanical issues en route to their schedule LU campus tour. The bus allegedly stopped along the highway, was worked on, and then continued to the university. Students said they toured the campus and then boarded the bus for the return trip to Kansas City.

“We were on the bus waiting for the driver and the bus just took off,” said one of the students. The driver was allegedly away from the bus when it began to roll down Chestnut Street before turning right and impacting a light pole.

The bus came to rest against the concrete base of the pole. Students were evacuated from the bus immediately after the 1:50 p.m. incident. LUPD officers arrived and took control of the scene, which closed Chestnut Street.

“The driver got off and the bus had a mind of its own,” said LUPD Chief Gary Hill. As of press time, it’s unclear how the students will return to Kansas City.

Chestnut Street was closed after a bus crashed near Scruggs University Center. April 6, 2023. (Photo by Jordan Parker/Clarion News)

LUPD officers assist students from AC Prep after their bus crashed into a campus light pole. April 6, 2023. (Photo by Jordan Parker/Clarion News)

Students from AC Prep wait outside Scruggs after their bus was involved in an accident. April 6, 2023. (Photo by Tobias Hunter/Clarion News)

LUPD Chief Gary Hill on the scene of a campus bus crash. April 6, 2023. (Clarion News photo)

Lincoln Open track&field event April 7-8

By Dan Carr/Assistant AD for Media Relations

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Blue Tiger fans will get to see LU’s nationally-recognized track & field team at home this weekend at the Lincoln Open on Friday and Saturday (April 7-8).

The running events and some of the field events will take place at Dwight T. Reed Stadium in Jefferson City. Admission is free.

The shot put and hammer throw will begin on Friday at 3:00 p.m. CDT while the 10,000-meter will begin at 6:00 p.m. CDT. The majority of the events will be held on Saturday, with field events scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. CDT. The track events will start at 1:00 p.m. CDT with the 4x100m relay.

Click here for more info.

Student-on-the-street: Women’s History Month

By Jordan Parker and Mark Oliver II/Clarion News

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY – Women’s History Month is during the month of March, one of the busiest times of the year on the LU campus. We decided to let a few students reflect on the history of women and/or the women in their life. We asked: “When you think of women’s history, who do you think of?” 

“During Women’s History MonthI think about my mother and any other ladies who have had an impact on my life because I don’t think I would have survived without them.” – Devyn Sigars, a senior broadcast journalism major from Kansas City, Missouri.

“Women’s History Month makes me think of my mother and Rosa Parks. She is my role model since she is a strong, independent woman. She stepped up and took care of me when my father wasn’t around.”- Marc Hill, a freshman agriculture major from Belleville, Illinois.

Women battling for women’s rights comes to mind when I think of women’s month and I had a close buddy keep an eye on me while I was going through a difficult time. -Travis Barrett , a junior biology major from Jefferson City.

“I consider myself. As a young woman, when I thought of myself, I set a lot of standards and restrictions for myself. I’m happy for everyone who helped me and led the way.” – Lonnie Williams is a freshman sociology major from St. Louis.

“When it comes to Women’s History Month, I think mostly of the ladies I look up to, including my mother, aunt, grandmother, sisters, and many others.” – Cory Macon, A sophomore from Kansas City, Kansas.

LU Track & Field take 6 wins at Rolla

(LU Invitational 2022/Clarion stock photo)

By Dan Carr/Assistant AD for Media Relations

ROLLA, Mo. – The Lincoln men’s track & field team opened its 2023 outdoor campaign in winning fashion, taking first place in six events at the Miner Invitational, hosted by Missouri S&T on Friday and Saturday (March 24-25).

The Blue Tigers swept both the 4x100m (41.45) and 4x400m (3:16.47) relays, and Dejone Raymond took first place in the high jump with a mark of 2.01m. In the long jump, Wesley Tyndall led LU with a fourth-place result, posting a distance of 6.95m, and Malik Drummond came in ninth (6.55m) while Raymond finished in 11th (6.51m). In the triple jump, Drummond was the runner-up at 14.60m, and Raymond claimed fourth at 13.54m.

Shemar Fletcher won the 200m in 21.52, with Dervin Walker taking fourth (22.31) and Dimitri Beckford placing ninth (22.52). Beckford also placed third in the 100m (10.91) while Tyndall claimed seventh place (11.10).

Kevaughn Goldson had the winning time of 48.70 in the 400m dash, while DauJaughn Murray was the runner-up in 48.84. Lincoln also swept the top-two of the 400m hurdles, as Kewani Campbell won the event in 52.22 while Shanthamoi Brown was the runner-up in 53.21.

The Lincoln women’s outdoor track & field team also opened its 2023 season on Friday and Saturday, winning four events at the Miner Invitational.

Two of the wins came in field events, with Annalisa Barclay taking the triple jump with a distance of 12.33m and Nehlia Mills winning the high jump at 1.68m. Barclay also posted a fourth-place result in the long jump with a leap of 5.51m.

Shantae George was the winner of the 400m dash, timing in at 57.36, while Denita Jackson turned in a time of 58.45 to finish as the runner-up. Sophia Myers, meanwhile, won the 400m hurdles in 1:05.85. In the 100m hurdles, Vivian Akunna took second (15.55) and Ray-Donna Lee came in third (16.21).

Chrissani May finished as the runner-up in the 800m, clocking in at 2:20.20. In the 200m, Monae Carey claimed third (25.20), Jackson took fourth (25.56), Shanette Allison placed eighth (26.53), and Mills closed out the top-10 (26.65).

Lincoln also excelled in the 100m dash, with six Blue Tigers finishing among the top-11 in the event. Hughasia Fyffe posted LU’s quickest time of 12.13, good for third place, and Carey checked in at fourth after timing in at 12.27. Jovanna Gustave (12.62) and Danneika Lyn (12.65) respectively placed seventh and eighth. Barclay (12.85) took 10th, and Mills (12.87) finished in 11th.

Up next for the Blue Tigers is the CMU Invite, which will be hosted by Central Methodist University in Fayette, Mo. on March 31 and April 1.

Click here for more info on Blue Tiger athletics.

Campus employees take active-shooter training

LUPD Chief Gary Hill explains how to disable a gun during active shooter training held in Young Hall 300. March 23, 2023. (Clarion photo)

By Clarion News

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY – The difference between life and death was the simple point of mandatory active-shooter training for campus faculty and staff held March 20-24 in Young Hall 300. LUPD’s Chief Gary Hill and Sgt. Jenna Mendez discussed a variety of strategies for anyone facing a violent intruder.

“You have to know what to do,” said Mendez, noting that it often comes down to a run-hide-fight situation. The LUPD officer noted that some campus doors don’t lock, but that’s going to change. “They’re going to fix the doors that don’t lock.” The campus uses a variety of notification procedures when a threat enters campus.

The RAVE system sends texts to smart phones, a public broadcast siren may blast across campus, emails are sent, and campus phones can also be alerted. Chief Hill noted that even highly trained persons may not be able to act when facing a shooting threat.

“Not everyone is going to have the fortitude to do what we’re asking you to do,” Hill said. “We get that.” However, he said training gives campus employees the ability to make decisions in chaotic situations. Using two audience volunteers, Hill graphically demonstrated how a pistol and an assault rifle can be jammed by strategically grabbing the weapon. Acting as a would-be shooter, Hill began to point the weapon in a threatening manner. Using Hill’s training method, one of the volunteers grabbed the weapon, forcing the barrel down and likely jamming the gun if fired.

It worked. Hill noted the importance of acting quickly and correctly. Run-hide-fight. Training can make a difference in the outcome.

LUPD Chief Gary Hill and LUPD Sgt. Jenna Mendez explain tactics during active shooter training held in Young Hall 300. March 23, 2023. (Clarion photo)

LUPD Sgt. Jenna Mendez shows a video during Active Shooter Training held in Young Hall 300. March 23, 2023. (Clarion Photo)

English professor honored for teaching excellence

Professor Eli Burrell, left, with Dr. Sunder Balasubramanian, dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. (Photo courtesy Eli Burrell)

By Devyn Sigars/Clarion News

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY – An LU English professor was recently recognized for being one of the state’s best teachers in higher education. The Governor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching is presented annually to one faculty member from each higher education institution in Missouri.

On March 15, 2023, Professor Eli Burrell was honored with the award for “effective teaching, effective advising, service to the university community, commitment to high standards of excellence, and success in nurturing student achievement.”

The Clarion asked Professor Burrell a few questions about the award.

The Clarion: You graduated from Lincoln. How does it feel to teach here and to be recognized for excellence in teaching?

Burrell: My mother also graduated from Lincoln, so I’m a legacy student. Because of that, I’ve always felt connected to LU. During my time as a student at the university, I learned from many talented and dedicated professors. Although that time was years ago, some of those same professors are still here teaching students. Now they are my peers. I’m still learning from many of them. Instead of learning how to solve an equation or write an effective thesis sentence, I witness how they interact with students and one another. That’s the truth of it. You never stop learning. It means so much to be recognized for excellence of any type. Still, it’s incredibly gratifying to receive this award for teaching in the very place I once was—and in many ways still am—a learner.

The Clarion: What are your favorite classes to teach and why?

Burrell: I cherish time spent with English majors and minors. Those upper-level courses are challenging and rewarding; students continually amaze me with their creativity. Everyone has a story to tell, and they must figure out how to tell it. Everyone can relate to and learn from excellent writing from the past—and the present—they have to find the writing that speaks to them. I enjoy meeting students every semester in ENG 102: Advanced Composition & Rhetoric who learn to write compelling arguments and do research. It’s satisfying to see them find their way into what they read in the course (whether it’s someone like James Baldwin, Yusef Komunyakaa, Kendrick Lamar, or W.B. Yeats), then apply it to their own writing. It’s deeply fulfilling for me—and, more importantly, for them—when they see themselves in others’ writing and realize they’re never really alone in the world.

Clarion: What makes a good student, and how can students excel in your classes?

Burrell: A good student is a good communicator. That means keeping an open dialogue with and getting to know their professors. A good student is a student who’s willing to engage and grow by reading the materials. A good student is a curious student. A good student sees those that have come before them and been successful and wonders, “Why not me?”

Congratulations professor!

Track & Field athletes receive All-American honors

Shanthamoi Brown, left, and Sophia Myers are two of 12 Blue Tigers selected to attend the 2023 NCAA Division II Indoor Championships being held March 10-11 in Virginia Beach, Va. Brown is a junior sprinter and Myers is a sophomore hurdler. Both are journalism majors. (Photo by Jordan Parker/Clarion News)

By Dan Carr/assistant AD for Media Relations

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Lincoln’s men’s and women’s indoor track & field teams combined to receive 11 All-American awards from the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

From the Lincoln women’s team, Sophia Myers and Shanette Allison each earned first team All-American honors in the 60m hurdles. Annalisa Barclay also received first team All-American accolades in the triple jump while Maria Diamond earned second team All-American status in the 400m.

Five members of the Lincoln men’s team earned All-American recognition, including Reuben Nichols and Kewani Campbell, each of whom claimed two All-American awards. Campbell took home first team All-American awards, while he, Nichols, Troy Whyte and Shanthamoi Brown all earned second team All-American recognition in the 4x400m relay. Rashane Bartlett garnered first team All-American honors in the 60m hurdles, Nichols was a second team All-American in the 400m.

Any athlete who scores a point by finishing in the top-eight at the NCAA Division II Championships earns first team All-American status, while athletes who finish ninth through 12th claim second team All-American recognition.

Indoor track & field earn 7 awards

Sophia Myers (Photo by Jordan Parker/Clarion News)

Dan Carr/assistant AD for Media Relations

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Lincoln men’s and women’s indoor track & field teams combined to earn seven United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Division II All-Region Awards. The top-five individuals in each event from each NCAA Division II region earn the awards.

For the LU men, Reuben Nichols was named all-region in the 400m, and Shemar Fletcher was feted in the 200m. Kewani Campbell was recognized in the 800m, and Rashane Bartlett rounded out the Lincoln men’s team’s honorees by earning the distinction in the 60m hurdles.

For the LU women, Annalisa Barclay earned all-region status in the triple jump. Sophia Myers was recognized in the 60m hurdles, and Shenese Walker closed out Lincoln’s honorees by claiming the award in the 60m dash.

LU softball wins first game of season

By Dan Carr/assistant AD for Media Relations

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Lincoln softball team scored four runs in the first inning and held off a Missouri Southern comeback to beat the Lions, 4-3, in the opening game of a double-header on Tuesday (March 14). MSSU won the second game, 7-3.

After forcing the Lions to go three-up, three-down in the top of the first, Leslie Callahan led LU off with a base hit. In the next at-bat, Qwynn Marquez tallied a double that brought in Callahan, and forced an MSSU pitching change. Leah Wagner later drove in Marquez with a single through the right side, and Maris Ollison hit a homer to put LU ahead, 4-0.

Solo homeruns in the second and third cut the LU lead in half, and an RBI double in the sixth pulled the Lions within one. Lincoln (4-14, 1-3 MIAA) stranded nine Missouri Southern (17-6, 3-1 MIAA) base runners in the contest, however, including notching a strikeout to end the fifth inning with two Lions in scoring position. LU used a pair of ground outs to hold a runner at third in the fourth, and stranded MSSU players on second and third in the top of the second.

A fly-out prevented Missouri Southern from scoring the tying run in the sixth, then reliever Ashton Stalling forced MSSU to go down in order in the seventh to earn her first save of the year. Jordan Galliher started the game and pitched 5.2 innings, and got the victory while striking out three batters. Wagner led LU defensively with five putouts and Emily Williams and Myah Dwyer were next with four apiece. Ollison turned two assists.

Lincoln had seven hits in the win, with Callahan going 3-for-3 at the plate. Ollison had two RBI while Stalling also had a hit.

LU Students Participate in Archaeological Survey and Infrared Scan

By: Dr. Christine E. Boston

Dr. Boston and students using the infrared camera at the dig site. (Photos provided by Dr.Boston)

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY- On Saturday, Feb. 25 Lincoln University students, under the supervision of Associate Professor of Anthropology and Sociology, Dr. Christine E. Boston, participated in an archaeological survey and Infrared Scan at the Don Carlos site in mid-Missouri. Infrared specialists Taimen and Marie Taylor were on hand to demonstrate the utility of infrared technology in archaeological work.

“I’ve never heard of infrared scanning being used as part of a survey before, and I wanted to see the technique used and learn how it could help archeologists with finding potential artifacts.” said Clarion News interviewees.

Infrared Scanning is one of my remote sensing techniques that allows archaeologists to preview what may be beneath the ground surface prior to excavating. Infrared scanning requires a specialized camera that reads the ground for temperature differences that may be evidence of something under ground that warrants further investigation. The Taylors have previously worked with cemetery specialists who are working to locate missing and lost grave sites, and they provided their expertise to educate the students and aid Boston in locating potential areas of further investigation this spring and summer.

Student showing how to use an infrared camera at the dig.

Boston provided students the opportunity to conduct a pedestrian survey prior to conducting the Infrared scan of the site. Blake Oakley, a history major, and Travis Barrett, a biology major, walked across the site and located various surface artifacts, including pieces of embossed glass and ceramic fragments. These artifacts are similar to those previously recovered from the historic period site, which was the home of one of the earliest residents of the area: the Don Carlos family.

Oakley and Barrett then participated in the Infrared Scan. They used the camera to scan the site and identify specific areas for further investigation.

“I learned a wide variety of new information about Infrared technology and archeological site practices,” said Oakley about his experience. He also noted that he enjoyed the experience as it allowed him to apply the skills he was learning while pursuing his history degree.

Information about the Don Carlos family and site:

The Don Carlos family lore holds that the original immigrant Don Carlos was the second son of Elizabeth Farnese and Philip V of Spain. After the War for Polish Succession in 1739, the prince lost his land and title. Rather than depending on a family allowance, his pride and family tradition drove him to the New World to make his own way, arriving in New York and settling in Patrick County, Virginia.

One of his son’s, Carter Morgan Don Carlos, moved with his first wife to Rocheport, MO, in 1825, where he was encouraged by a prominent politician to move south, which he did in 1828. According to the historical and family records Carter Morgan and his wife arrived with one slave that had been given to them by another family member, and they had to purchase all new home goods due as their property was lost in a boat fire.

The first family home was completed in 1832, and a second was built between 1854 and 1866 on newly acquired land a few miles north of the first home.

Carter Morgan lived on this property with his three wives and 22 children (15 raised to maturity). Carter Morgan passed away in 1888, and the property was passed on to his wife, who resided there with their youngest son Carter. Carter and his wife eventually sold the property to the Meyer family in 1942.

According to research conducted by Spencer (one of the authors) Carter Morgan Don Carlos was of lower to middle class means, which was derived from the costs of their land holdings, analysis of glass artifacts at the site, and anecdotal and historical records about their occupations, past times, and material goods

Blue Tigers end season, fall to Emporia State

By Dan Carr/Assistant AD for Media Relations

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Lincoln men’s basketball team mounted a furious second half rally, pulling to within four after trailing by as many as 21, but the Blue Tigers fell to Emporia State, 79-70, on Friday afternoon (March 3) in the quarterfinals of the MIAA Men’s Basketball Championship.

Artese Stapleton led all scorers with 26 points and dished five assists to go with four steals and three rebounds. Kevin Kone added 18 points, eight boards, a steal and a block while DJ Richardson finished with 12 points and two steals. The Blue Tigers had eight steals in the contest and created 13 turnovers, including four over the last five minutes of the game.

Facing a 55-34 deficit, Lincoln (17-10) used a 14-3 run to close the gap down to 58-46 with 7:08 remaining. Later in the half, an 8-0 run, keyed by five points from Stapleton, made it a 68-62 affair with 1:46 left in regulation. Stapleton would later drain a three to pull LU to within 74-70 with just under 40 ticks left on the clock, but Emporia State (22-7) made five free throws down the stretch to secure the win.

The Hornets were hot, shooting .500 from the floor and .478 from beyond the arc. After a cold first half, Lincoln heated up in the second to shoot .500 overall and .500 from three-point range, finishing with a .444 overall accuracy rating for the game. LU outscored ESU 46-26 in the paint, and received 21 points from its bench.

Franck Yetna just missed double figures, scoring nine points to go with seven boards and an assist. Jamar Madge, Jr. blocked a shot and had a steal to go with three points, while Sai Witt closed the scoring with two points and four rebounds.

Sam Rautins grabbed two rebounds and Tyson Robinson dished an assist. Caleb Wright, Arash Yaqubi and Emmette Page also represented the Blue Tigers in Kansas City’s Municipal Auditorium.

12 Blue Tigers to compete at track championships

Shanthamoi Brown, left, and Sophia Myers are two of 12 Blue Tigers selected to attend the 2023 NCAA Division II Indoor Championships being held March 10-11 in Virginia Beach, Va. Brown is a junior sprinter and Myers is a sophomore hurdler. Both are journalism majors. (Photo by Jordan Parker/Clarion News)

By Dan Carr/Assistant AD for Media Relations

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Seven members of the Lincoln women’s track & field team and five from the men were selected to compete in the 2023 NCAA Division II Indoor Championships, which will be held in Virginia Beach, Va. on March 10-11.

The Lincoln women, currently ranked No. 16 in the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association’s Division II ratings, qualified five individual entries and one relay entry into the national championship meet. Sophia Myers, Shevanae Thomas, Maria Diamond and Jameaka Mannings will represent LU in the 4x400m relay, with Diamond also qualifying to compete in the 400m.

Shenese Walker will represent the Blue Tigers in the 60m dash, and Shanette Allison and Myers will both compete for LU in the 60m hurdles. Annalisa Barclay also received an invitation to the NCAA Division II championships in the triple jump.

The Lincoln men will have three individual entries and a relay entry into the championships, with the foursome of Kewani Campbell, Troy Whyte, Shanthamoi Brown and Reuben Nichols competing in the 4x400m relay. Nichols will also race in the 400m, and Campbell will run in the 800m. Rashane Bartlett, meanwhile, was selected to compete in the 60m hurdles.

Blue Tiger Shuttle begins making the rounds

LU students board the new shuttle service on Tuesday in front of Scruggs University Center. Feb. 28, 2023. (Photo by Tobias Hunter/Clarion News)

By Lamarr Spencer and Tobias Hunter

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY – The new Blue Tiger Shuttle transported students for the first time from Scruggs University Center Tuesday evening after beginning its first 5 p.m.-8 p.m. run. Students were ready to go for the debut roundtrip service.

“I think this is a really cool upgrade to the university,” said senior Omar Allen. The first tour was indeed a success, as students had zero complaints about the ride and were transported to the store and back safely and on schedule.

This new service will provide Lincoln students with free roundtrip transportation from the front of Scruggs University Center to Walmart and Target. The shuttle will run weekly on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, with the fist pick-up at 5 p.m and the last drop off at 8 p.m. Students will be allowed to shop for 30 minutes before being picked up by the shuttle and carried back to Scruggs.

“I am super grateful that we have this shuttle now,” sophomore Dontonio Moore said. “Now I can save money instead of paying for an Uber to the store and back.”

A student boards the new Blue Tiger Shuttle. Feb. 28, 2023. (Photo by Jordan Parker)

LU students during the first day of the new Blue Tiger Shuttle. (Photo by Tobias Hunter)

Students getting on the shuttle. Feb. 28, 2023. (Photo by Tobias Hunter)

New Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Scott Hopkins

Dr. Scott Hopkins in the LU Writing Center (Photo by Jordan Parker)

By Jordan Parker 

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY- In a recent interview with The Clarion News, Dr. Scott Hopkins, a new assistant professor of English and director of the Writing Center at Lincoln University, discussed his plans for students and his future at LU. 

Clarion: Where are you from originally and what is your background?  

Hopkins : I’m From Australia, where I spent a long time in the Defense Department in publications, research, and intelligence. I ended up in strategic studies doing future research, imagining what the Defense Department might need 30 years into the future. While I was doing that, I was getting my doctorate in writing. So, I was using all the skills I was learning on the day job and incorporating it into fiction. But when I came to America in 2009, I switched over into education and have been teaching since 2010. 

Clarion: Where have you been teaching? 

Hopkins: I’ve spent a lot of my career in Florida working part and full-time for Lake-Sumter State College, which is a junior college. I rose through the ranks to become Dean of Arts and Letters, in charge of all the academics through that area. 

Clarion: What are your initial impressions of Lincoln University and what do you want to accomplish here? 

Hopkins: So far, I’m impressed with what I see at Lincoln. I am training tutors and then I have to program the tutors to be available for the students. We need to spread the word across the campus about what we do and how we can help. We need to communicate that we’re here for every need and every course. It’s not just where you come to do your English homework. If you have a writing assignment in biology class or you’re a graduate student in the Master’s of Education program, this is the place to come and get help. 

Dr. Scott Hopkins assists student Amanda Oniyama with a paper in the Writing Center located in MLK Hall. (Photo by Jordan Parker/Clarion News)

Clarion: How did you become interested in writing? 

Hopkins: I first became interested in writing when I was very young. I remember encountering the story of the headless horseman and I was unhappy with the way that it ended. So, I rewrote it to make it more satisfactory to me and there was such an incredible power in that ability to control (the ending). 

Clarion: What is the thing you are most proud of? 

Hopkins: It’s helping students learn how to think in a structured way. I’ve had former students send me emails five years after they graduated, saying they are now at Princeton studying law because of what they learned as freshman. It really shows me that this job can make an impact in a student’s life. I once worked with an army veteran – an adult learner – and he was ready to give up because he found college very hard. But I gave him some feedback on one of his papers – and that changed his direction.  

Clarion: How can you ensure that your students comprehend the lesson? 

Hopkins: It’s tricky because many of today’s students feel a lot of anxiety. One of the harsh things about being in college is that it’s OK to feel that you can’t let it slow down. You have to jump in and try, and it’s OK if you get it wrong . You have to learn from your mistakes.  

Clarion: How do you cope with the pressures of teaching? 

Hopkins: I thrive off working with students. I tell people I’m a vampire, you know.  I drain the life out of a class of students, and then they bring me a fresh batch next semester. It’s the students that keep me young and engaged and that keep me focused and energized because everybody comes in with different ideas. 

Clarion: Was becoming an English professor a dream of yours? If not, what other professions did you have in mind? 

Hopkins: My father was in the Air Force in logistics, so I grew-up wanting to be a fighter pilot, and that turned out to be, you know, you’ve got to be good at math to be a fighter pilot, and math is not my thing. I like words. Set an alarm. I love puns. I love word sounds. I love crossword. When I was quite young my mother, who was a single mother, went back to university and she couldn’t afford child care, so she used to take me to classes when I was 10, and I thought this was great. When I was about 13, I read a book by American author John Irving. The book is called The World According to Garp, where he becomes a creative writing teacher at a university and I thought, “You can really do that, you can teach and write books on the side” and I knew that I could make it happen in my life – and I did. I win. 

Clarion: What distinguishes you from other instructors of English? 

Hopkins: I have a strong background in the practical applications of writing, so much of my background is in government jobs, private industry jobs, and how you use writing in so many different ways.  

Clarion: What recommendations would you give to college students who desire to teach English in a university setting, if any? 

Hopkins: Involve yourself early as a student (and) publish your work in the campus newspaper. Get involved in writing competitions. Often there’s not even an application fee; they just put out an open call and you send it in, and then suddenly you know you’re starting to win a couple of these competitions and you get your stuff published and that builds a lot of confidence. Anybody that wants to join this field must be a reader and they have to be a writer. Getting a degree in English opens up many more career options than merely teaching English; it also prepares students for careers as editors, readers, and lawyers, many of whom first need to develop their reading skills. 

LU journalism student joins White House briefing

A visit from Vice President Kamala Harris highlighted the special student-presser

LU journalism graduating senior Darianna McGee listens to Keisha Lance Bottoms during a White House briefing. Feb. 23, 2023. (Clarion News photo)

By Clarion News
 
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY – Senior Advisor to the President for Public Engagement Keisha Lance Bottoms held an HBCU-related briefing Thursday afternoon at the White House. She was later joined by Vice President Kamala Harris, who also fielded questions from attendees. The event was designed to provide HBCU journalism students an opportunity to ask questions relative to their academic and professional pursuits. Students from about 30 HBCU’s attend either in-person or virtually – including one from LU.
 
Darianna McGee, a graduating senior journalism student at Lincoln, joined the briefing via Zoom from the MLK 114 media lab. After a brief introduction by Bottoms, a former Atlanta mayor, students were invited to ask questions.
 
The first question, concerning state legislation affecting HBCU’s, came from a Florida A&M student. Bottoms stated that the Biden administration is very focused on HBCU legislation and funding.
 
“President Biden and Vice President Harris have been very intentional with funding for HBCU’s,” said Bottoms. The Florida A&M alum said there is also a focus on the importance of smaller schools – not just the big ones. Another student asked about the historic under-funding of HBCU’s.
 
Bottoms said HBCU funding is very important to the Biden-Harris administration. She noted that a $6 billion financial support by the administration is creating current and future opportunities for partnerships with private industry. The next question came when Lincoln University’s journalism student was called to the virtual floor.
 
“How can HBCU students get better access to local and regional U.S. government internships?” asked McGee, who is currently a reporter and digital content manager for LU’s digital newspaper, the Clarion News. 
 
Bottoms answered the soon-to-be LU grad by saying students need to stay connected through informative newsletters, alumni, and other resources. “Make sure you are getting our newsletters,” said Bottoms. Another student asked about the mental health needs and issues of HBCU students.
 
According to the public engagement advisor, the Biden administration is concerned with some of the current teen behavior trends. America’s teens, she said, are spending too much (non-academic) time online. Noting that she (Bottoms) has a son attending an HBCU, there is a focus on how to help students with mental health. Another question pointed toward a survey indicating 71 percent of Americans believe the country is heading in the wrong direction.
 
“The Biden-Harris administration is making policies to help everyday people,” Bottoms said. “We’re trying to make sure our policies are focused on people.” Following the answer, a special guest was introduced.
 
Enter Vice President Kamala Harris, the first vice president to graduate from an HBCU. Harris wasted no time telling attendees how proud she is of her Howard University roots and how important the educational experience should be for the journalism students attending the briefing.
 
“As a proud graduate of an HBCU, you have a special responsibility,” Harris said. “We are counting on you – we stand on broad shoulders.” The vice president said the Biden-Harris administration is putting funding into HBCU infrastructure, student debt, and other issues relevant to students. She talked about the importance of financial literacy, small businesses, and climate change.
 
She said HBCU journalism students have unique skills and abilities.
 
“Use your voices,” Harris said. “We need you!”

For McGee, being part of the briefing was a learning experience. She said it’s good to have federal officials with the same type of background. “Although we may feel that we’re being overlooked, there are people in the White House that come from the same background, ” McGee said. “And they’re pushing to make things happen for us.”

Lincoln University graduating journalism senior Darianna McGee virtually joins a White House briefing with Senior Adviser to the President for Public Engagement Keisha Lance Bottoms and Vice President Kamala Harris (shown on laptop screen) during a special event for HBCU journalism students. Feb. 23, 2023. (Clarion News photo)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Blue Tigers head to Oklahoma

LU junior guard Sam Rautins in action against Washburn. Feb. 16, 2023. (Photo by Jordan Parker/Clarion News)

By Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations

THE TIP OFF: With its ticket to the MIAA tournament punched, the Lincoln men’s basketball will try to end the regular season on a high note with a pair of rematches in Oklahoma this week. On Thursday (Feb. 23), Lincoln will be in Tahlequah, Okla. to play Northeastern State at 7:30 p.m. CST, while on Saturday (Feb. 25), the Blue Tigers head to Claremore, Okla. to face Rogers State at 3:30 p.m. CST. The Blue Tigers beat both opponents in Jason Gym back in January, defeating NSU, 76-68, and RSU, 76-74, with the latter victory coming in overtime. LU has won 13 MIAA games and is currently fifth in the standings. Northeastern State, with seven league wins, still is in the mix for one of the last two spots while Rogers State, with 10 MIAA victories, has also clinched a berth.

FAST BREAKS

• On Thursday, Lincoln and Northeastern State will meet for the 15th time, with the RiverHawks leading the all-time series, 8-6.
• The teams last played in Tahlequah, Okla. last season, with the RiverHawks winning, 59-50.
• Lincoln and Rogers State will meet for the fifth time on Saturday, with RSU leading the series, 3-1.
• The Blue Tigers have swept four series against MIAA opponents this season, and have the chance to make it six if they win both games this week.

PREVIEWING THE BLUE TIGERS: Lincoln has three prolific scorers in Artese Stapleton (17.0 ppg., 5.0 rpg., 3.3 apg.), Sai Witt (14.2 ppg., 7.8 rpg.) and Kevin Kone (13.0 ppg.), with Kone additionally leading LU in rebounds with a 12.8 average. Lincoln is out-scoring opponents, 70.1-62.2, and out-rebounding its foes, 39.9-30.5. Franck Yetna is averaging 3.8 boards while DJ Richardson is tallying 8.6 points per night.

HEAD COACH JIMMY DREW: In his first year as the head coach at Lincoln, Drew came to LU following a six-year run on the staff at Division I Central Florida. Drew helped lead UCF to a pair of 20-win seasons and a berth in the second round of the NCAA tournament, and he coached three players who went on to play in the NBA.

LAST TIME OUT
Lincoln 64, Washburn 58
Sam Rautins led five Blue Tigers in double digits with 15 points, DJ Richardson scored 14 and Sai Witt added 11 points as the Blue Tigers won at home against Washburn, 64-58, last Thursday (Feb. 16). Kevin Kone has a double-double with 11 points and 12 boards, and Artese Stapleton had 10 points and three assists.

Emporia State 72, Lincoln 66
The Blue Tigers rallied from an 11-point deficit at halftime to pull within one with 3:04 to play, but Emporia State, riding a 32-point day from Owen Long, escaped Jason Gym with a 72-66 victory on Saturday (Feb. 18). Kevin Kone (17 points, 11 boards) and Sai Witt (14 points, 10 rebounds) each had double-doubles, and Artese Stapleton scored 12 while Sam Rautins added 10 points.

SCOUTING THE RIVERHAWKS: Christian Cook leads a Northeastern State team that scores 70.9 points per night with 16.2 points per game, and Dillon Bailey averages 15.0 points, 4.4 boards and 2.6 assists. Rashad Perkins is third on the list with 12.7 points per contest, and Tylor Arnold is leading NSU with 1.1 steals per night.

NSU HEAD COACH JA HAVENS: After winning three GAC championships in seven seasons at East Central, Ja Havens came home to his alma mater to serve as the head coach of the RiverHawks in 2020-21. Havens won 131 games at East Central and had a winning record every season. In his three seasons at NSU, Havens led the team to a 31-45 record.

SCOUTING THE HILLCATS: Rogers State scores (72.8) nearly as many points as it allows (72.6), with Chris Whitaker leading the team with 14.0 points per night. Joey Saracco is next with 13.8 points and is averaging a team-high 6.8 boards while Sherwyn Devonish-Prince, Jr., who leads the team with 3.4 assists, averages 9.3 points. Kofi Hamilton pulls down 5.6 rebounds per contest and Whitaker averages 2.6 assists.

RSU HEAD COACH JUSTIN BARKLEY: The third head coach in Rogers State history, Barkley is now in his 13th year leading the team and has led the program to at least 16 wins in 11 of his first 12 seasons. Barkley, who won a national title as a player at Northeastern State, has directed the Hillcats through transitions from the NAIA into NCAA DII and now into the MIAA.

SAI ANYTHING: Since joining the lineup on Dec. 19, Sai Witt has given Lincoln a huge spark in every aspect of the game. Witt is averaging 14.2 points, the second-most on the team, as well as 7.8 rebounds, the second-most on the squad. Witt has also dished 21 assists, recorded 17 steals and blocked 11 shots while shooting .454 from the field.

TOP OF THE GLASS: Lincoln continues to be one of the best rebounding teams in the country, averaging 39.9 per night, the most in the MIAA and 17th-most in Division II. LU ranks fifth in DII in rebound margin (+9.4); is 19th in the nation in offensive rebounding average (13.2); and Lincoln is third in the MIAA in defensive boards with 26.7 per game.

THE ART OF SCORING: Artese Stapleton enters the week as the MIAA’s fourth-leading scorer with 17.0 points per game, and he has scored at least 10 points in 22 of his 23 games this season. Stapleton, who has four 20-point games, had a 27-point, 10-assist day in the victory over Calvary. He is also leading LU with 3.3 assists per night, the eighth best mark in the MIAA.

LEADING THE NATION: Kevin Kone has proven to be the country’s top rebounder, as he continues to lead NCAA Division II in rebounds per game with 12.8 per night. He is also leading Division II in offensive rebounds per contest (4.9), while his 294 total rebounds are the third-most by a Division II player this season. Kone’s 7.9 defensive boards per game rate fifth in the country.

DEFENSE! DEFENSE!: The Blue Tigers allow just 62.2 points per game, the 12th-fewest by any Division II team this season. LU ranks third in the MIAA and 34th in the nation in three-point defense (.312), and Lincoln is 63rd in the country in defensive rebounding (26.7). In terms of field goal defense, Lincoln is 49th nationally at .422.

BEST MIAA SEASON EVER: With Lincoln’s 63-49 win over Washburn last week, the Blue Tigers now have 13 MIAA victories on the season. That is the most-ever league wins (in any conference) by an LU men’s basketball team, breaking the previous record of 12, set in 2020-21.

JOIN THE CLUB: The Blue Tiger Athletics Club is a great way to engage with other LU fans while supporting Lincoln student-athletes. Every dollar raised by the club goes towards scholarships, improving facilities and purchasing equipment. To join the BTAC, or to learn more, please visit http://www.LUBlueTigers.com/BTAC.

WATCH LIVE: Fans who are unable to attend a game in person will still be able to cheer on the Blue Tigers to victory via The MIAA Network. All 14 LU home games will be broadcast through a new multi-camera system and can be seen at http://www.TheMIAANetwork.com/LUBlueTigers.

GEAR UP FOR THE GAME: Lincoln fans can get everything they need for the game at http://www.BlueTigersStore.com, the official online store for LU athletics. Everything from jerseys to office supplies can be found on the site, with a portion of all sales going to benefit Lincoln athletics.

NEXT UP: The Blue Tigers travel to Kansas City, Mo. next week to play in the MIAA tournament in Municipal Auditorium.

Dr. Self out as provost

Dr. Michael J. Self Sr.

By Clarion News staff

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY – After a short stint as vice president of academic affair/provost, Dr. Michael J. Self Sr. is officially out of his campus job. The news arrived via email Wednesday afternoon, alerting faculty and staff where to guide inquiries and issues usually bound for the provost’s desk. Self began his duties just six months ago. A Clarion News interview with Self was recently published.

LU President John Moseley penned the following words found in yesterday’s email inbox:

“As of February 20, 2023, Dr. Self is no longer performing the duties of the Vice President of Academic Affairs/Provost and Interim Dean of Agriculture, Environmental, and Human Sciences. Until further notice, all questions that would otherwise be directed to the VPAA/Provost should be directed to the persons below based on their assigned subject areas: 

Dr. Sunder Balasubramanian
College of Arts & Sciences
• Department of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (through the conclusion of the spring semester)
• Department of Humanities and Communication
• Department of Science, Technology, and Mathematics
• Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Choir

Dr. Ann McSwain
College of Professional Studies
• School of Business
• School of Education
• School of Nursing

Dr. Jennifer Benne
Graduate and Extended Studies
• Graduate Studies
• Dual Credit
• Continuing Education
• Liberal Studies

Dr. Darius Watson
University Farms, Cooperative Research & Cooperative Extension (Dr. Douglas 
Lavergne will assume these responsibilities on 4/1/23)
• Academic Success Center
• Mentoring & Tutoring
• Honors Program
• Page Library
• ROTC/Veteran Affairs
• Online Learning
• Center for Teaching & Learning

Blaine Bredeman
Registrar

Beth Nolte
Institutional Research”

New football players coming to LU

By Dan Carr/Assistant AD for Media Relations

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Twenty-one players have signed National Letters of Intent to continue their playing careers with the Lincoln football team.

The following players will join the Blue Tigers beginning this fall. Each will enter LU as freshmen with four seasons of eligibility.

Couri Adkisson, OL (6-6, 305, Peoria, Ill./Richwoods)
Adkisson started at right tackle for the Richwoods Knights.

Mohaimin Alwaely, K/P (5-10, 150, Kansas City, MO./Lincoln Prep)
Alwaely was named to the all-district team following his senior season at Lincoln Prep. Alwaely made every point-after attempt he tried and had 27 touchbacks on kickoffs.

Jordan Batts, DB (6-1, 185, Arlington, Tenn./Arlington)
Batts closed his senior season by playing in the Autozone Liberty Bowl High School All-Star Game. Batts was selected to the all-region third team. 

Bryant “Bob” Coley, DB (6-1, 180, O’Fallon, Ill./O’Fallon Township)
Coley earned first team all-conference honors following his senior season at O’Fallon Township. His play helped the Panthers go 8-2 in 2022, including 4-1 in conference play.

Martez Curry, OL (6-5, 295, Memphis, Tenn./Freedom Prep)
Curry was invited to the Nashville All-American Bowl following his senior season at Freedom Prep. He blocked for an Eagles team that won eight games and finished second in 2A Region 8.

Juan Delgado, K/P (5-10, 190, Kansas City, Kan./Bishop Ward)
Delgado helped Bishop Ward achieve its first winning season since 2009 last fall. Delgado kicked a 47-yard field in October, the longest of the season by a Kansas high school kicker. He kicked 23 extra points and made six field goals on the season.

Ethan Garnett, LB (6-1, 190, Jefferson City, Mo./Jefferson City)
Garnett helped Jefferson City High win six games and reach the second round of the MSHSAA Class 4 Tournament in 2022. He made 74 total tackles, including two for loss, and also had three sacks as well as a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. 

Khi’len Gates, OL (6-2, 280, Jonesboro, Ark./Nettleton)
Gates was invited to the Podyum Preps All-American Bowl in 2022.

Nikolas Green, OL (6-2, 275, Grayslake, Ill./Grayslake North)
Green helped Grayslake North post a 9-2 overall record and a 6-1 record in league play this past fall. Grayslake North ended up finishing as the co-champions of the NLCC. Green started three years and earned all-conference honors.

Mason Igou, OL (6-3, 310, Independence, Mo./Van Horn)
Igou earned first team all-conference and first team all-district honors playing on the offensive line at Van Horn.

Isiah McKenzie, DL (6-3, 215, Little Rock, Ark./Parkview)
McKenzie led Parkview High to a 13-2 overall record and a 7-0 mark in league play as a senior.

Travis Reeves, WR (6-4, 190, Wentzville, Mo./Timberland)
Reeves earned second team all-conference recognition as both a wide receiver and a defensive back at Timberland High. Reeves caught 10 touchdown passes as the Wolves went 9-4 in 2022.

Dante Sample, RB (5-11, 215, Springfield, Mo./Hillcrest)
Sample earned second team all-league accolades at Hillcrest High.

Ramar Smith, DB (6-1, 175, Little Rock, Ark./Parkview)
Smith led Parkview High to a 13-2 overall record and a 7-0 mark in league play as a senior. 

Teddy Smith, OL (6-4, 295, Rockledge, Fla./Rockledge)
Smith was named to the Elite 100 third team and invited to attend the Elite 100 Prospects Senior All-Star Game.

Israel Tate, WR (6-1, 175, Germantown, Tenn./Germantown)
Tate started at wide receiver on a Germantown High squad that went 11-3 in 2022 and advanced to the state quarterfinals. 

Jaylen Thomas, QB (6-5, 170, Merrillville, Ind./Merrillville)
Thomas was selected to the all-conference team after throwing for 2,101 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior at Merrillville High. Thomas led the Pirates to a 9-3 record last fall.

Jaydan Trotter, LB (6-0, 190, Florissant, Mo./Hazelwood Central)
Trotter received all-state and all-district recognition following his senior season at Hazelwood Central. Trotter had nine sacks and 92 total tackles as well as two interceptions last fall.

Calvon “Tre” Turner, OL (6-4, 275, Jacksonville, Ark./Jacksonville)
Turner was a starter on the offensive line at Jacksonville High.

Konner Vaughn, DB (6-2, 170, Osage Beach, Mo./Osage)
Vaughn earned all-conference honors as a senior at Osage High. During his final season, he made 36 tackles, broke up five passes and recorded three interceptions. Vaughn also earned second team all-district accolades.

Jeremiah Watson, LB/DB (6-0, 175, Florissant, Mo./Hazelwood Central)
Watson returned an interception for a touchdown in Hazelwood Central’s 20-15 playoff win over Pattonville last fall. He capped his senior season by being named by the Missouri Football Coaches Association to the Class 6 Academic All-State Football Team.  

New dean for College of Ag, Environmental & Human Sciences

By Tobias Hunter/Clarion News

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY- According to an article on the Lincoln University website, Douglas LaVergne, who has a doctorate in agricultural education, has been hired as the new dean of the College of Agriculture, Environmental and Human sciences. President John B. Moseley of Lincoln University is excited to add LaVergne to our school’s roster.

“We are excited to add Dr. LaVergne to our leadership team,” Moseley says, “As a land-grant institution with a particular interest in empowering underserved populations, Lincoln possesses great potential and responsibility for ag education, innovation, and research. Dr. LaVergne is filling a key position as CAEHS dean, and his education and experience will well serve our students and overall mission.”

LaVergne will be acting as the chief academic officer of the college. This means he will oversee:

• The management of resources.
• The development and fundraising efforts.
• And the recruitment and retention of faculty, staff, and students.

LaVergne will be starting at his new position on April 1, 2023. With his experience as an associate dean of Texas A&M, we are looking forward to seeing how he handles his new position here at Lincoln University.

“It is a tremendous honor to be named dean of the College of Agriculture, Environmental and Human Sciences,” LaVergne says, “I am humbled by the opportunity to serve in this role and, in turn, to contribute further to the legacy that Lincoln University has embodied since 1866.”

Student On the Street: Who’s Your Favorite Professor and Why?

By Amya Milligan/ Photos By Grace Gaskins

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY- Each week Clarion News reporters go around campus asking students the question of the week. This week reporter duo Amya Milligan and Grace Gaskins asked students:

Who is your favorite professor at LU and why?

“Dr. Amber Bell because she cares for her students and wants us to succeed.” – Andronae Johnson, a junior from East Saint Louis, majoring in social work.

“My favorite professor at Lincoln is Mr. Sites because he goes above and beyond for his students, is patient with us and is always looking for opportunities to get us to the next level.”- Darianna McGee, a graduating senior from Omaha, majoring in journalism.

“Dr. Larry Newby because he taught a lot of valuable lessons and helped me get my dream job.”- Chyann “Spookii” Taylor, a graduating senior from Collinsville, IL, majoring in Psychology.

“Dr. Michelle Gambling Green, she is the choir director. She really cares for her students, she goes above and beyond to make sure we are taken care of.”- Amari Anderson, a graduating senior from Chicago, majoring in accounting.

“Dr. Kirk Deboard because he makes the psychology major fun, and also when it comes to lessons and lesson plans, he is very interactive and caring with his students. He also comes from a very diverse background.” -Donielle Coach, a graduating senior from St. Louis, majoring in psychology with an emphasis in education.

Love Is In the Air!

By: Gracen Gaskins

The ladies of the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs Inc.

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY- The National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs Inc. hosted their annual Valentines Day event titled “Crush For Your Crush” in the SUC foyer this past Tuesday. They sold various love themed goodies ranging from cookies, cupcakes, strawberries and of course crush sodas. The sale was a huge success as it is every year. Be on the lookout for more events from these lovely federated women.

Black History Month: “Trouble & Triumph” now on display in Inman E. Page Library

Dr. Christine Boston discusses the collaboration between Lincoln University and the Missouri State Museum at Page Library. February 7, 2023. (Photo by Miriam Bazylewicz/ Clarion News)

Clarion News

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY – To help celebrate Black History Month, Inman E. Page Library on Tuesday hosted Dr. Christine Boston and her discussion on the collaboration between Lincoln University and the Missouri State Museum. “Trouble & Triumph,” the student-created Missouri Black History display, can now be viewed at Page Library throughout February.

A Clarion News article recently discussed the student work here.

LU student Princess Garner in front of a panel she worked on for an anthropology class project. The student-reworked panels are now on display in the Missouri State History Museum inside the state Capitol. (Photo by Sydnee Bryant/Clarion News)

LU students Mary Franklin, left, and Kennedy Thompson with their Pennytown panel at the Missouri History Museum inside the state Capitol. Oct. 13, 2022. (Photo by Sydnee Bryant/Clarion News)

A panel discussing mob violence in southern Missouri. (Photo by Sydnee Bryant/Clarion News)

A panel discussing Lloyd Gaines and Margaret Bush-Wilson. (Photo by Sydnee Bryant/Clarion News)

Lincoln women fall to MSSU

LU’s Niyah Jackson drives against MSSU in Thursday night play at home. Feb. 2, 2023. (Photo by Sophia Haight/Clarion News)

By Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Niyah Jackson scored a game-high 24 points to lead the Lincoln women’s basketball team against Missouri Southern, the No. 24 team in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s Division II poll, on Thursday night (Feb. 2). MSSU shot well in the second half, however, and claimed a 67-58 victory.

Jackson also secured six rebounds, dished three assists, notched two steals and blocked a shot as Lincoln (5-16, 3-11 MIAA) trailed just 35-31 against the nationally-ranked Lions entering halftime. There were 11 lead changes and the score was tied on nine occasions, but Missouri Southern (20-4, 12-4 MIAA) shot .538 from the field in the third quarter and .417 in the fourth to pull away for the win. Lincoln also shot the ball well for most of the night, connecting on a .538 clip in the second quarter while shooting .400 in the third, but MSSU held LU to just .250 shooting in the final period.

The Blue Tigers forced the Lions into 19 turnovers and ended the day with 10 steals, three of which came courtesy of Ashlyn Alloway, who also had eight points and a team-high eight boards. Saniya Simmons also scored eight and collected four rebounds to go with a steal and a game-high six assists.

Aliyah Bello added seven points, two boards and a steal, and Kelsey Mitchell finished with six points, a rebound and a takeaway. Mercy Gonzalez rounded out the scoring with five points, three rebounds, an assist and a steal. Ayreona Carter also had a takeaway for the Blue Tigers.

Lincoln remains at home to host Pittsburg State on Saturday (Feb. 4) at 1:00 p.m. CST. It will be LU’s annual Coaches vs. Cancer/Think Pink Game, and fans are invited to join the Blue Tigers in donning pink apparel as Lincoln promotes cancer research awareness.

Student on the Street: Most memorable moment?

By Aderias Ealy/Photos by Amya Milligan

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY – Each week a Clarion News reporter combs the campus looking for answers to a variety of important questions. This week, we asked:

What is your most memorable moment from your time at LU?

 “The most memorable event at Lincoln was becoming a student leader because it helps me develop myself and get more exposure to life outside of college. Also, being the Director of Entertainment(CAB).” – Kenyatta Hampton, a junior from St. Louis majoring in mathematics/education with a CET minor.

“The most memorable moment at Lincoln for me was winning freshman Rep at Large and my whole class rooting for me.” – Jesse Canamore a sophomore political science major from St. Louis.

“The most memorable moment that happened at Lincoln for me was the football tailgate for Homecoming ’22 because I was able to meet all the queens from Lincoln’s past – even the one from 1999.” Babari Naabien, a senior psychology major from St. Louis.

“My most memorable event that happened at Lincoln was my Spring 22 Probate ( Alpha Kappa Alpha). Also, when I first came to Lincoln I joined the student leadership with no prior experience, becoming class president while also earning a full-ride scholarship.” – Bria Lackland, a senior criminal justice major from St. Louis. 

“My most memorable event for me at Lincoln was my Probate ( Kappa Alpha Psi).” – Floyd Lyles TAnnan, a junior accounting major from St. Louis. 

Blue Tiger Athletics Joins GLVC

Lincoln University President John Moseley speaks during a news conference announcing LU athletics’ move to the Great Lakes Valley Conference. LU will add baseball and soccer teams for both men and women. Jan. 26 2023. (Photo by Mark Oliver/Clarion News)

By Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) announced on Thursday (Jan. 26) that Lincoln University has been admitted to the Conference for full-time membership, following a vote of approval by the GLVC Council of Presidents on Monday.
 
In addition to transitioning into the GLVC, the university announced that it will add three sports programs: baseball, men’s soccer and women’s soccer.

“This is a significant day for the future of Lincoln University,” said Dr. John Moseley, President of Lincoln University. “This puts us in a position athletically where we’ve leveled the playing field by realigning ourselves with others of similar size and similar fiscal commitment. This will also give us the opportunity to compete and recruit in areas where Lincoln already has a large alumni base.
 
“For me personally, bringing baseball back is special. It’s a sport that’s had a lot of history here at Lincoln, so I’m excited about its return. Soccer is a growing sport and will give us a chance to have an international presence. Adding these sports, in addition to joining the GLVC, will give us more opportunities to recruit students, not just student-athletes.”

Lincoln will officially become the 15th GLVC member upon receipt of initiation fees, entitling the institution to voting privileges, and will begin regular season competition and be eligible for GLVC Championships in 2024-25.

“This is an historic day for the GLVC,” said Jim Naumovich, Commissioner of the Great Lakes Valley Conference. “It’s the first time in the 45-year history of the conference that we’ve had an HBCU member. Under the leadership of Dr. Moseley, and what he’s done for Lincoln as the university president, and Dr. Wilson with intercollegiate athletics, it will be a great fit. There’s a lot of enthusiasm behind Lincoln University and we’re thrilled to welcome them into the league and begin competition in the fall of 2024.”

Founded in 1866 by members of the 62nd and 65th United States Colored Infantries, Lincoln University is a public, historically black, 1890 land-grant institution committed to providing excellent undergraduate and graduate degree programs to a diverse student population. Located in Jefferson City, Mo., Lincoln offers educational opportunities through teaching, research and extension services while cultivating a nurturing, student-centered environment.

The Lincoln Blue Tigers compete in NCAA Division II and have been a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association since 2010. Dating back to its first football game in 1920, Lincoln has a long and proud tradition of participation in collegiate athletics, as well as a history of national success. Most notably, Lincoln’s women’s track & field team has won 14 NCAA Division II National Championships in the past 20 years, and has combined with the men’s team to win 14 MIAA Championships.

Despite being a full member of the MIAA, the Blue Tigers are no stranger to the GLVC, as Lincoln was an associate, football-only member of the conference from 2014-2018.

“Commissioner Naumovich, his stellar team and the evaluation committee were overwhelmingly encouraging throughout the entire process,” said Dr. Kevin Wilson, LU Vice President for Advancement, Athletics and Campus Recreation. “On behalf of our dedicated student-athletes, faculty, staff, alumni and administration, we are humbled to become the 15th member of such a competitive conference. Our shared values and mission truly result in a match made in the Midwest. We look forward to all of our athletic programs calling the GLVC home in 2024.” 

With its three new teams, Lincoln will now sponsor 14 athletic programs: baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, women’s cross country, football, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s indoor track & field, men’s and women’s outdoor track & field, men’s and women’s soccer, and softball.

The GLVC is currently one of the largest NCAA Division II conferences in the country, featuring 15 schools and 24 sports. The Conference was established in 1978 and made up of six schools in Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio, but has moved westward to include four Illinois schools and nine Missouri schools among its membership. Once Lincoln officially moves into the league in 2024, the membership of the GLVC will include: Drury University (Springfield, Mo.), University of Illinois Springfield (Springfield, Ill.), University of Indianapolis (Indianapolis, Ind.), Lewis University (Romeoville, Ill.), Maryville University (St. Louis, Mo.), McKendree University (Lebanon, Ill.), Missouri University of Science & Technology (Rolla, Mo.), University of Missouri-St. Louis (St. Louis, Mo.), Quincy University (Quincy, Ill.), Rockhurst University (Kansas City, Mo.), Southwest Baptist University (Bolivar, Mo.), Truman State University (Kirksville, Mo.), Upper Iowa University (Fayette, Iowa) and William Jewell College (Liberty, Mo). 

“Joining the GLVC is a great move for us,” said Victor B. Pasley, President of the Lincoln University Board of Curators. “For two years, the Board of Curators have been discussing the need to join an athletic conference that is more appropriately aligned with LU’s size and values. The institutions in the GLVC are of similar size and similar values, and their investment in sports programs are about the same as LU’s. Joining this conference brings a level playing field for our programs, and allows us to become more competitive.”
 
Lincoln will begin national searches for a baseball coach and a director of soccer, who will serve as the head coach for both the men’s and women’s programs. All three programs will officially begin operation in the fall of 2023, and will begin playing opponents in 2024-25.
 
The baseball program, which started in 1970, will return to Lincoln after being discontinued following the 2016 season. The team will play its home games at Vivion Field, the home of the Jefferson City Renegades, a member of the MINK Collegiate Baseball League. Both of LU’s soccer programs, meanwhile, will play their home games on the field at Dwight T. Reed Stadium.
 
GREAT LAKES VALLEY CONFERENCE (GLVC) 
The Great Lakes Valley Conference is one of the premier NCAA Division II conferences, made of 13 member institutions from three Midwest states (Illinois, Indiana, Missouri) and comprised of 8,000 student-athletes, 64,000 students and 600,000 alumni. Founded in 1978, the GLVC has grown to sponsor 24 Conference championships and is among the nation’s elite in academic and athletic success. GLVC schools have captured 20 NCAA Division II national championships, including 11 on the men’s side – seven of which are in basketball – and the most recent coming for University of Indianapolis women’s lacrosse in 2022. Among the 23 NCAA Division II conferences analyzed in the December 2021 report published by the national office, the GLVC ranked tied for third in the Federal Graduation Rate (FGR) at 69 percent and third in Academic Success Rate (ASR) at 85 percent for all student-athletes. The GLVC is also home to the GLVC Sports Network – the first NCAA Division II conference-wide digital streaming network that launched in 2014. GLVCSN can be found on GLVCSN.com, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, and Roku devices, as well as iOS and Android mobile apps. For more information about the GLVC, visit GLVCsports.com.

Lincoln University selected for FAA training program

LU was the first HBCU to offer drone journalism training

 
Clarion News
 
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has selected the Lincoln University journalism program for the Unmanned Aircraft Systems-Collegiate Training Initiative program – or the UAS-CTI.
 
“This partnership with the FAA will significantly improve our drone journalism training,” said LU journalism associate professor Will Sites.” According to Sites, Lincoln University was the first HBCU to incorporate drones into a media program.
 
Drones are used during the production of the Clarion News campus news and across the journalism curriculum, including JOU 499 Senior Capstone as part of FAA drone licensing test-prep coursework. Sites said obtaining practical flight experience and/or an FAA Part 107 drone license (required for journalism work) can lead to jobs beyond journalism.

LU senior Amoni Lewis flies a drone in the senior capstone drone journalism pilot training program. April 12, 2021. (Clarion News photo)

“I want students to get comfortable flying drones in all kinds of conditions and for a variety of reasons,” Sites said. “It’s a skill that goes well beyond the newsroom.”
 
According to the FAA, the UAS-CTI program recognizes institutions that prepare students for careers in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), commonly referred to as drones. In order to qualify for the initiative, schools must offer a bachelor’s or associates degree in UAS or a degree with a minor, concentration, or certificate in UAS. Schools must provide curriculum covering various aspects of UAS training, including hands-on flight practice, maintenance, uses, applications, privacy concerns, safety, and federal policies concerning UAS.
 
“It’s important that we work with the FAA to provide our drone journalism students updated regulations and best-practices,” Sites said from his office in MLK Hall. “Being part of the UAS-CTI program will provide access to other schools and industries – it’s a win-win.”
 
Lincoln University was the first HBCU to offer a journalism degree program (1942) and has one of the oldest four-year public HBCU campus newspapers, the Clarion News, which was founded by LU Kappa Alpha Psi members in 1932.
 

Ready, set, bowl!

After being closed during Covid, the lanes have reopened in Scruggs

Students return to the LU bowling alley inside Scruggs. The lanes were closed during Covid. Jan. 19, 2023. (Photo by Tobias Hunter)

By LaMarr Spencer/Clarion News

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY – The bowling alley located at the heart of Lincoln’s campus has officially reopened. Students got the ball rolling again at the Scruggs University Center during a bowling party hosted by the University’s Campus Activity Board on Thursday evening.

Lincoln’s CAB decided to host a bowling night as part of its Welcome Back Week activities. Both new and returning students were able to partake in the event as they kicked off the spring semester.

“We had a great turnout,”CAB President Michaela Crenshaw said. “I’m ecstatic that the bowling alley is open and I’m glad that the Campus Activity Board was able to host a great welcome back event for the student body.”

The bowling alley was previously shut down in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a variety of maintenance issues. After nearly three years of anticipation, students returned to the lanes, eager to bowl with their friends. A great turn-out led to plenty of laughter, music, and the sounds of rolling balls and falling pins.

“I think it’s really cool that I can walk from my dorm room and go bowling right here on campus,” said freshman Donte Moore.

The bowling alley will be open Wednesday through Saturday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Students will be charged $8 per game, per lane.

The bowling lanes re-opened in Scruggs University Center after being closed during Covid. Jan. 19, 2023. (Photo by Damia Day)

Students return to the LU bowling alley inside Scruggs. The lanes were closed during Covid. Jan. 19, 2023. (Photo by Tobias Hunter)

Clarion Spotlight: Dr. Michael J. Self Sr.

Dr. Michael J. Self Sr.

By Darianna McGee/Clarion News
 
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY- This month the Clarion News is spotlighting one of our newest members of the Blue Tiger Nation, Dr. Michael J. Self Sr., Lincoln University’s Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs. Self was hired in July of 2022 (news release here). A few questions for the new administrator.
 
CLARION: Where are you from?
 
SELF: “I am from Louisiana, more specifically Baton Rouge.”
 
CLARION: What made you choose Lincoln?
 
SELF: “Lincoln has, when I looked at the website, so many things they were working on that seemed exciting. They had a big focus on improving the culture for students and for faculty and staff, and I’ve always been a huge culture person and so that excited me to be able to go to a place and have such a strong cultural blueprint.”
 
CLARION: What do you see as Lincoln University culture?
 
SELF: “Well, I see is a place where there’s been a long history, then there’s been a recent history, and I think now there is an opportunity to bridge the gap between those two. What can we hold on to from Lincoln’s traditional history, and what can we embrace from Lincoln’s current reality that now creates a Lincoln that everybody feels that they are a part of?”
 
CLARION: So far, what has been your experience at Lincoln?

SELF: “It’s been good! The people are friendly. They seem excited about me coming, they seem very excited about some of the things they believe we can do together – so really it has been a good experience.”
 
CLARION: How have you been connecting with the staff and students?
 
SELF: “A Lot of talking to people. I’ve been to the cafeteria and just started talking to random students. I’ve had so many meetings on my calendar with different faculty and staff. Just really knowing who people are. Where are you from? What are you majoring in? What are your goals? I feel like I’ve just been interviewing a lot of people and building a mental database of who everyone is, and now that I know who people are, I can see how I can connect with them better. So really just talking to as many people as possible. Not just inside, outside.”
 
CLARION: How has your past work experience helped you with being provost?
 
SELF: “I’ve been a dean, I’ve been an assistant provost, I’ve been over academic affairs at many different places. It’s like a hodgepodge of different experiences that enabled me to see different people in different ways that I think have now helped me be able to engage with anyone. And regardless of where you are, I can help you get to the next place.”
 
CLARION: What’s your favorite thing about Lincoln?
 
SELF: “A bunch of things are coming to my head. I’m OK with the school colors – blue, gray they go with almost everything. But I also like the fact that when you go into a space, people love Lincoln. Even with all the challenges, all the issues, all the concerns. If you’re at Lincoln, you love Lincoln. The blue and the gray is still a good one, but that love you feel it! You may see people that are frustrated, but they don’t quit.”
 
CLARION: What are some of the challenges that you see when it comes to student academic success?
 
SELF: “We have some students that aren’t as prepared, so a challenge is helping them to get to the point they need to be to take off. Another challenge is resources – we don’t always have access to the amount of resources that we really need.”
 
CLARION: What does working at an HBCU mean to you?
 
SELF: “Oh man, what I love about HBCU’s the most, and I missed this because I went to LSU. I had to figure out who I was in an environment where it wasn’t always safe to do so. What I love about HBCU’s is that I get to figure me out, without feeling uncomfortable being me. I didn’t have that. I love that HBCU’s provide a safe space for Black students to define themselves. That’s important – the world is already hard when you go outside, so going outside and not knowing who you are is worse. So having a place where I can really groove and figure out who I am? Comfortably without judgment? Man. And I know some people still question the purpose of HBCU’s, but you can’t get that anywhere else. Some people already know who they are, but if you’re still trying to figure out who you really are and what your rhythm is – we provide that.” 
 
Darianna McGee is a senior journalism student at Lincoln University. She has served on the staff of the Clarion News for three years.
 
 
 

Lady Blue Tigers take Northeastern State

LU freshman Ashlyn Alloway takes a shot against Northeastern State during a home victory. Jan. 14, 2023. (Photo by Sophia Haight/Clarion News)

Dan Carr/Assistant AD for Media Relations

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Lincoln women’s basketball team shot .431 from the field and forced 11 turnovers en route to a 61-57 home win over Northeastern State on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 14).

The victory was the second-straight for Lincoln, which defeated Rogers State on Thursday night, as well as the Blue Tigers’ third win in their last four games. The win was the first for LU over Northeastern State since 2016-17, and also marks the first time that the Blue Tigers have won two-consecutive MIAA games since Feb. 11 and Feb. 14 of 2017.

Ashlyn Alloway led Lincoln (5-11, 3-7 MIAA) with 14 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals, while Le’Yanna McGinnis had 11 points, six boards and a pair of blocks. The Blue Tigers blocked six shots in the contest and allowed Northeastern State (5-10, 2-9 MIAA) to shoot just .333 for the ballgame. Lincoln also scored 12 of its points off NSU turnovers, compared to just three points off turnovers for the RiverHawks.

Lincoln jumped out to a 9-2 lead, but Northeastern State came back to tie the game at 11. After a three-pointer allowed NSU to take the lead, Lincoln ended the quarter by scoring six-straight points to take a 21-16 lead. LU would extend its lead to 35-28 at halftime, and the Blue Tigers later led by as many as 10 in the third quarter.

The RiverHawks rallied, ultimately pulling to within 57-55 with 1:56 remaining in the contest. NSU had a chance to take the lead on its next possession, but Alloway grabbed the rebound after a missed three-pointer, and hit a jumper to make it a two-possession game on the other end of the court. Alloway also collected the rebound on Northeastern State’s next attempt, and Jackson essentially sealed the win by making two shots at the free throw line, part of an .889 performance for LU at the charity stripe.

Jackson had four points, two assists and a block, and Kelsey Mitchell provided 10 points and three rebounds. Aliyah Bello had five points, four boards and a pair of assists and Saniya Simmons finished with five points and four assists. 

Ayreona Carter came off the bench to pull down two rebounds while AJ Bradley added six points, an assist and a steal to the winning effort. Miriam Bazylewicz rounded out the Blue Tigers with six points, five boards and a team-high three blocks.

Lincoln will be on the road for its next three games, starting on Thursday (Jan. 19) with a 5:30 p.m. CST game in St. Joseph, Mo. against Missouri Western.
 

Blue Tigers finish strong, beat Northeastern State

LU men’s basketball coach Jimmy Drew talks with the team en route to a win over Northeastern State. Jan. 14, 2023. (Photo by Sophia Haight/Clarion News)

Dan Carr/Assistant AD for Media Relations

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Lincoln men’s basketball team outscored Northeastern State, 20-7, over the final seven minutes of the game as the Blue Tigers beat the RiverHawks, 76-68, for their third-straight victory on Saturday (Jan. 14).

Sai Witt scored 19 points, all in the second half, and grabbed 10 rebounds to go with two blocks, a pair of steals and an assist. Artese Stapleton also had 19 points and dished seven assists to go with a block, two steals and two boards. Sam Rautins finished with 17 points and three rebounds while DJ Richardson also reached double figures, scoring 12 to go with four rebounds and three assists.

The lead changed 10 times and the contest was tied on six occasions, but Northeastern State (9-6, 6-5 MIAA), which led 41-38 at halftime, was on top for most of the second half. The RiverHawks led by six with 7:47 remaining, and had a 61-56 advantage entering the game’s final seven minutes. Back-to-back jumpers by Witt and Rautins, however, sprung the Blue Tigers onto an 8-0 run, and a pair of free throws from Witt made it a three-possession game inside the final minute.

Lincoln (10-4, 6-4 MIAA) shot .519 from the field and .429 from long range, draining nine treys in the process. Both teams had 27 rebounds, but Lincoln forced Northeastern State into 16 turnovers, resulting in 19 points for the Blue Tigers. NSU shot .667 in the first half, but LU tightened up defensively in the second, allowing the RiverHawks to shoot just .346. The Blue Tigers also shot .722 at the line, including going 9-for-11 in the game’s final three minutes.

Jamar Madge, Jr. had five points and two rebounds while Kevin Kone closed the scoring with four points and four boards. 

The Blue Tigers will be on the road for their next three contests, starting on Thursday (Jan. 19) when Lincoln visits St. Joseph, Mo. to play Missouri Western at 7:30 p.m. CST.
 

Snow closes campus

By Clarion News

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY – A quick-moving cold front brought about two inches of snow Thursday morning to the LU campus. Employees were notified that they should work from home. Students began arriving on campus Wednesday and classes will begin on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023.

A gradual warm-up will begin on Friday, with a high near 60 expected early next week.

LU holds holiday concert

The holiday concert was conducted by LU’s Michelle Gamblin-Green.

Article and photos by Darianna McGee

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY- On Friday, Dec. 2, 2022 the Lincoln University Department of Visual and Performing Arts presented their annual holiday concert with the Lincoln University Vocal Ensemble and the LU Choir. The event took place in Richardson Fine Arts Center’s Mitchell Auditorium.

This served as an opportunity for the Jefferson City and Lincoln University communities to join together for some holiday cheer. The choir sang many popular Christmas carols, including “Jingle Bells” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

The Clarion News staff wishes you a happy holiday season!

The holiday concert was held in LU’s Mitchell Auditorium.

The holiday concert was held in LU’s Mitchell Auditorium.

LU students read poetry at MRRL event

LU students, left to right: Kennedy Thompson, DeAni Blake-Britton, Jaida Gray, Chenia Walker, professor Eli Burrell, Jestine Lange, Crystal Taylor, and Ethan Robinett.

From Clarion staff reports/Photos courtesy Eli Burrell

JEFFERSON CITY – The undergraduate poets from the English 376: Intermediate Poetry Workshop and English 476 Advanced Poetry Workshop (taught by Elijah Burrell, poet and associate professor of English) presented a public reading on Nov. 29, 2022 during the November meeting of the Missouri River Regional Library Lecture Series event.

The Lincoln University Poetry Workshop Live Series showcases the range and energy of contemporary poetic voices with an emphasis on cultural and aesthetic diversity. 

For more info, go to the MRRL website.

DeAni Blake-Britton reading presenting at the MRRL Lecture Series live event.

Chenia Walker

Ethan Robinett

Poetry enthusiasts enjoy the live readings by LU students during the MRRL Lecture Series live event. Nov. 29, 2022.

Kennedy Thompson

Crystal Taylor

Jestine Lange

Improved Blue Tigers wow crowd on Senior Day

The Blue Tigers in action against Emporia State during Senior Day at Dwight T. Reed Stadium. Nov. 5, 2022. (Photo by Sophia Haight/Clarion News)

By Dan Carr/Assistant AD for Media Relations

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Lincoln football team scored first and forced four turnovers, but Emporia State beat the Blue Tigers, 35-24, in LU’s Senior Day football game on Saturday (Nov. 5). It was the final home game of the year for Lincoln, which will close its 2022 campaign in St. Joseph, Mo. against Missouri Western on Saturday (Nov. 12) at 1:00 p.m. CST.

Before the game, Lincoln recognized its seven graduating seniors: Cody Bagby, Julius Jackson-Linkhart, Javier Moreno, Jaylon Mosley, Charles Ransom, Caleb Rozar and TeAndre Skinner.

The Blue Tigers won the coin toss, elected to receive, and then marched down the field to score the first points of the afternoon on Moreno’s 34-yard field goal. Aderias Ealy caught a 19-yard pass from Zamar Brake to get the ball down close to the red zone after Omar Allen picked up 13 yards on a pair of carries earlier in the drive. Damon Bell, meanwhile, made a seven-yard reception to get LU within range for the field goal.

Emporia State (8-2, 8-2 MIAA) answered with a touchdown drive, but both defenses stepped up and the score remained at 7-3 heading into the second quarter. During that second period, Aeneas Tibbs intercepted two passes while Eric Brown picked off another as Lincoln (0-10, 0-10 MIAA) trailed by just 13-10 entering the final four minutes of the half. ESU scored a touchdown earlier in the quarter, but the extra point attempt was no good. Ealy then helped make it a three-point affair with an 85-yard catch-and-run touchdown.

The Hornets would end up taking a 35-10 lead into the final quarter, but Lincoln refused to go down quietly. A 19-yard punt return from Chrisshun Robinson gave LU great field position on its next scoring drive, and a six-yard reception by Samuel Ingoli followed by a three-yard scamper from LaMarco Yates gave the Blue Tigers a first down at the ESU 13. Brake then found Ealy wide open in the end zone for another touchdown, pulling LU to within 35-17 halfway through the fourth period.

The Lincoln defense forced a three-and-out, and the Blue Tiger offense once again marched down the field. Ealy caught a 22-yard pass to start the drive, and later hauled in an 18 yard pass to get down to the visitor 27. A 13-yard run by Brake, followed by a pair of grabs by Ingoli, allowed Lincoln to reach the one-yard line. Yates punched the ball in on the next play to close the gap down to 11, but Emporia State ended up recovering the ensuing onside kick to seal the win.

Brake threw for 273 yards while Ealy finished with seven grabs for 170 yards. Ingoli caught six passes for 52 yards, and Bell also tallied six receptions on the afternoon. Clayton Winkler had four punts travel at least 50 yards, two of which pinned ESU inside its 20, and Moreno went 4-for-4 on kick attempts. Michael Cunningham averaged 52.5 yards on kickoffs.

Defensively, Mosley led the Blue Tigers with 15 tackles while Jackson-Linkhart was next with 12, and Skinner broke up a pass to go with eight takedowns. Bagby had a hurry and four tackles, and Brown, who recorded a 38-yard return on his interception, finished with three tackles and a hurry. Markey Mallary recorded six tackles, Cory Macon had five takedowns and a tackle for loss, and Pat Harris and Kyvin Carroll each also recorded five tackles apiece. 

The Blue Tigers played their last home game on Saturday against Emporia State during Senior Day at Dwight T. Reed Stadium. Nov. 5, 2022. (Photo by Sophia Haight/Clarion News)

Panini press fire leads to Scruggs evacuation

Jefferson City Fire responding to a call at Scruggs Friday morning at about 10;30 when oil from a panini press caused a small fire, setting off an alarm. The building was evacuated until an all-clear was issued at 10:50 a.m. Nov. 4, 2022. (Photo by Gracen Gaskins/Clarion News)

By Clarion News

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY – According to the Jefferson City Fire Department, hot oil from a Scruggs cafeteria panini press ignited, creating enough smoke to set-off alarms. The building was evacuated. Two fire department trucks arrived at about 10:30 a.m. The incident was cleared at 10:50 a.m. and no injuries were reported. Scruggs and the cafe reopened.

Jefferson City Fire responding to a call at Scruggs Friday morning at about 10;30 when oil from a panini press caused a small fire, setting off an alarm. The building was evacuated until an all-clear was issued at 10:50 a.m. Nov. 4, 2022. (Photo by Amya Milligan/Clarion News)

Jefferson City Fire responding to a call at Scruggs Friday morning at about 10;30 when oil from a panini press caused a small fire, setting off an alarm. The building was evacuated until an all-clear was issued at 10:50 a.m. Nov. 4, 2022. (Photo by Amya Milligan/Clarion News)

Trunk or Treat at Jason Gym

Kids, parents, and students at Saturday’s Trunk or Treat event held at Jason Gym. Oct. 29, 2022. (Photo by Darianna McGee/Clarion News)

By Darianna McGee

JEFFERSON CITY- Lincoln University – along with the new campus chapter of the NAACP and Building Community Bridges – hosted an annual Trunk or Treat for the children of Jefferson City. This year the event took place on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022 on the Jason Gym parking lot. The event provided an opportunity for community service and a chance for kids to score a lot of candy.

Kids, parents, and students at Saturday’s Trunk or Treat event held at Jason Gym. Oct. 29, 2022. (Photo by Darianna McGee/Clarion News)

Children and parents at Saturday’s Trunk or Treat event held at Jason Gym. Oct. 29, 2022. (Photo by Darianna McGee/Clarion News)

Kids, parents, and students at Saturday’s Trunk or Treat event held at Jason Gym. Oct. 29, 2022. (Photo by Darianna McGee/Clarion News)

Basketball season begins at twilight

Members of the LU Blue Tiger women’s basketball team at the annual Twilight event held in Jason Gym. Oct. 26, 2022. (Photo by Gracen Gaskins/Clarion News)

By Lamarr Spencer/Clarion News

JEFFERSON CITY – Basketball season arrived Wednesday evening with the annual Blue Tiger Twilight, which allows the teams to introduce themselves to the community and give a sneak peek into what the MIAA will face this year.

The women’s squad returns seven vets and adds nine newcomers to complete a balanced roster. Drea Mize hopes to lead the Lady Blue Tigers to success in her second season as head coach.

The men’s squad is almost completely different as 13 new players join five returners led by former University of Central Florida assistant coach Jimmy Drew. In his first year as a head coach, Drew will have the opportunity to lead Lincoln to success in the MIAA.
The Lady Blue Tigers start their season with an exhibition game against the Indiana State Sycamores Nov. 3 in Terre Haute. The men’s team will travel to Kansas City, Mo. to face the University of Missouri-Kansas City in an exhibition game on Nov.7.

Go Blue!

(for more info and schedules, click here)

Men’s basketball coach Jimmy Drew at the annual Twilight event held in Jason Gym. (Photo by Gracen Gaskins/Clarion News)

Members of the LU Blue Tiger men’s basketball team at the annual Twilight event held in Jason Gym. (Photo by Gracen Gaskins/Clarion News)

NAACP holds first informational meeting

(Photo: Cameron Huey, president of the LU NAACP chapter, and Lyniya Pruitt, vice president.)

By Emoni Herron/Clarion News
Photos by Jordan Parker

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY- The NAACP hosted their first informational meeting on Oct. 24, 2022 in Page Library. During thE meeting they introduced the executive board members, did group greetings, and discussed what they plan to work on this semester and other initiatives. On Saturday afternoon the NAACP will hold their first campus community event on the parking lot of Jason Gym with Trunk-Or-Treat, which is in partnership with Building Community Bridges. 

For more information on the benefits of NAACP, go to NAACP.org.

Dress for success!

Jillian Patton, Kimberly Hill, and Gabrielle Hodges with their ties to success. (Photo by Jordan Parker/Clarion News)

By Gracen Gaskins/Clarion News

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY – The LU Office of Career Services hosted a How to Dress for Success event Wednesday evening in Page Library. Hosted by student-intern Austin Gaither, he demonstrated how to properly tie a tie. The purpose is to learn how to look professional and dress for a business setting.

“In a professional business setting it’s always good to have a tie,” Gaither said. ““It will show the students that whenever you express yourself, the best thing you can do is to show them you know how to impress them. Profess your success to the rest.”

For more information, contact Career Services at careerservices@lincolnu.edu
or visit Page Library, Suite 232.

Austin Gaither, host of the Tie for Success event held Oct. 19, 2022 in Page Library. (Photo by Jordan Parker/Clarion News)

Gabrielle Hodges (Photo by Jordan Parker/Clarion News)

Nebraska Kearney too much for Blue Tigers

Daimon Bell eludes a tackle during Saturday’s game against Nebraska Kearney. (Photo by Jordan Parker/Clarion News)

By Dan Carr/Assistant AD for Media Relations

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Chrisshun Robinson and LaMarco Yates each scored touchdowns and Javier Moreno kicked a 32 yard field goal, but the Lincoln football team lost to Nebraska Kearney at home on a blustery Saturday afternoon (Oct. 22).

Nebraska Kearney (6-2, 6-2 MIAA) scored in all four quarters, including twice on special teams as both programs faced winds of 15mph that often knocked the ball off the tee. UNK ended the game with a 66-17 victory, though the Blue Tigers did force one turnover on a strip sack by Charles Ransom. Demarea Ball recovered the football, and both he and Ransom finished with three tackles on the afternoon.

Lincoln (0-7, 0-7 MIAA) scored on its first drive of the second quarter, which was kept alive when quarterback Zamar Brake, under duress, found Samuel Ingoli deep down the middle to pick up 15 yards on third down. Ingoli later hauled in an 11-yard pass, and Brake later connected with Robinson for a 17-yard touchdown.

Both of LU’s other scores came in the fourth quarter, with Moreno’s field goal being made with 11 seconds left on the clock. A 22-yard run by Omar Allen started Lincoln’s other touchdown drive, which was set up by 56 total rushing yards from the LU offense. Yates had an 18-yard scamper to move the ball down to the UNK 14, and Nathan Valencia later moved LU down to the six on a two-yard gain. After successfully converting on a fourth down play, the Blue Tigers pushed the ball into the end zone on Yates’ five-yard carry.

Brake threw for 130 yards and Valencia completed four of his five pass attempts. Yates led the rushing attack with 65 yards, followed by Dawan Lomax with 50 and Allen with 39. Blayden Brown averaged 14 yards per carry, and Brake gained 32 yards on the ground. Daimon Bell had a team-high nine receptions for 94 yards.

Markey Mallary led the Blue Tiger defense with 13 tackles, including one for a loss, and Cody Bagby recorded a sack while Aeneas Tibbs, who tallied six tackles, broke up a pass. Kyvin Carroll and Samuel Amituanai each recorded tackles for loss, and Jaylon Mosley made six takedowns while Jahkari Larmond was next with five. Elvis Bridgeman and Cory Macon added four tackles apiece.

Michael Cunningham averaged 34.0 yards on punts and 43.5 yards on kickoffs while Moreno was successful on all three of his kick attempts during the contest. Aderias Ealy gained 108 yards on kick returns with a long of 23.

The Blue Tigers will be on the road next Saturday (Oct. 29), traveling to Warrensburg, Mo. to play Central Missouri in a 1 p.m. contest.

LaMarco Yates escapes a tackle during action against Nebraska Kearney. (Photo by Gracen Gaskins/Clarion News)

Aderias Ealy on the move against Nebraska Kearney on Oct. 22, 2022. (Photo by Jordan Parker/Clarion News)

LU players getting fired-up against Nebraska Kearney. (Clarion News photo)

Students update Black history panels in Capitol museum

LU students Mary Franklin, left, and Kennedy Thompson with their Pennytown panel at the Missouri History Museum inside the state Capitol. Oct. 13, 2022. (Photo by Sydnee Bryant/Clarion News)

By Sydnee Bryant/Clarion News

JEFFERSON CITY – Visitors to the Missouri State Museum inside the Capitol will now see three revamped panels completed by Lincoln University students. A reception held Oct. 13, 2022 recognized the efforts of seven students enrolled in one of Dr. Christine Boston’s anthropology courses. The fall 2021 ANT 498: Special Topics: Museum Studies class required the students to redo three Missouri Black History panels. The panels illustrate Missouri’s history with Ozarks lynchings, the historic Black village known as Pennytown, and the story of Lloyd Gaines and Margaret Bush-Wilson, a graduate of the Lincoln University School of Law, civil rights activist, and the second Black woman to pass the Missouri bar.

During the reception, students Mary Franklin and Kennedy Thompson discussed their work on the faith and resilience of Pennytown, a historical Black town near Marshall, Mo.
“What I enjoyed the most was being able to learn about the schools and the history of Pennytown,”said Thompson. Student Princess Garner, who worked on projects highlighting the story of Lloyd Gaines and former LU law student Margaret Bush-Wilson, said she appreciates the connections between the past, present, and future. “Personally, what this project means to me is that I now want to get into museum curatorship,” Garner said. “It was nice to work on this project to see if this is what I really want to do.” 

Students participating in the fall 2021 museum project include: Louie Delk (now serving in the U.S. Army), Mary Franklin, Princess Garner, Jaida Gray, Alexandre Mugisha, Crystal Taylor, and Kennedy Thompson. Their professor is proud of the work they accomplished.

“In the end, we feel that the students succeeded in their projects, and the Missouri State Museum and the public benefits with this new exhibit on display,” Boston said. “It is our hope that the students’ work helps other institutions realize new and innovative ways to develop and incorporate diverse voices into any new exhibits.” Boston noted that other people have shared positive thoughts on the project.

Retired English teacher Bev Price attended the reception and was impressed by the work. Price told Boston said she is looking forward to showing her grandson the new panels, especially the one concerning Ozarks lynchings, since the topic is barely discussed (if at all) in Missouri schools.

The museum is free and open to the public seven days a week.

LU student Princess Garner in front of a panel she worked on for an anthropology class project. The student-reworked panels are now on display in the Missouri State History Museum inside the state Capitol. (Photo by Sydnee Bryant/Clarion News)

A panel discussing Lloyd Gaines and Margaret Bush-Wilson. (Photo by Sydnee Bryant/Clarion News)

A panel discussing mob violence in southern Missouri. (Photo by Sydnee Bryant/Clarion News)

A panel revamped by LU students Kennedy Thompson, Louie Delk, and and Mary Franklin. (Photo by Sydnee Bryant/Clarion News)