N.C. A&T One of the Best Universities in America for Public Relations Degree

Tiffany S. Jones

GREENSBORO, N.C. (April 23, 2018) – In its new listing of Best Public Relations Degrees, College Choice ranks North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University’s bachelor’s program No. 8 in the nation.

“This great news is a reflection of the wonderful and talented students and faculty in the public relations sequence,” said Gail Wiggins, interim chairwoman of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication (JOMC). “It also serves as a reminder for us all to continue striving for excellence across all of our concentrations in the department.”

The public relations program is designed for students who seek careers in which they professionally maintain favorable public images for organizations and individuals. Graduates from this program excel in the public and private sector. JOMC is one of only three journalism programs in the state accredited by the American Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications. It has 600 students in three concentrations and boasts a first-year retention rate of 87.5 percent.

College Choice graded the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication’s public relations sequence on five factors – quality, which includes factors like graduation rates, strength of faculty and curriculum; reputation, which includes rankings from the U.S. News and World Report and industry-specific journals and rankings; affordability, based on net price, percentage of financial aid given and average student loan size; value, which is simply the return on investment score; and satisfaction, which is based upon the freshman retention rate and reviews from sites like RateMyProfessor, Cappex, Niche and Students Review.

For more information about the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication at N.C. A&T, visit the website.
 
MEAC ANNOUNCES WEEKLY SOFTBALL HONORS

Ryan McGinty

NORFOLK, Va. – Hampton’s Alana VanDenburg was named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Softball Player of the Week, the conference announced today. Morgan State’s Amy Begg and North Carolina Central’s Courtney Mirabella were named Co-Pitchers of the Week while Howard’s Trinity Gibbs was selected as Rookie of the Week.

VanDenburg (OF, Sr., Wynantskill, N.Y.) batted .400 (6-of-15) in five games this past week as the Lady Pirates finished 4-1. The senior outfielder recorded a pair of RBI while stealing three bases with two runs, a double and a triple. She finished 2-for-3 in games against North Carolina Central and Coppin State last week while driving in the game’s first run in a 2-0 decision over NCCU.

Begg (P, Sr. Christchurch, New Zealand) had a flawless week as she finished 3-0 with a 0.00 ERA. She struck out 15 batters with three complete games while allowing only two runs and holding batters to a .088 average. Begg pitched a two-hit shutout in the win over Villanova while combining to strike out 13 with no earned runs in two wins versus Maryland Eastern Shore.

Mirabella (P, Sr., Bradenton, Fla.) posted a 4-1 record last week while striking out 46 batters with a .097 ERA. She opened the week with a 13-strikeout outing at Norfolk State while throwing a no-hitter at South Carolina State. She fanned 27 batters in the S.C. State series, 17 versus Norfolk State and two at Hampton.


Gibbs (OF, Fr., Kissimmee, Fla.) recorded a .625 average with five hits, three RBI, two doubles and two runs in Howard’s series versus Delaware State. She posted a .700 on-base percentage and an .875 slugging percentage.

OTHER TOP PERFORMERS

Nia Bowe (Coppin State) hit a home run and stole a base in the contest versus Hampton.

Cayla Brown (Coppin State) hit .400 with six hits and was 3-for-3 in the series finale at Hampton.

Kyaira Brown (Florida A&M) pitched a complete game in a 2-1 win over North Florida while striking out seven with no walks allowed. She has won 10 consecutive contests dating back to March 17.

Madison Didion (Coppin State) struck out 26 in four games while recording an ERA of 1.47.

Hunter Halford (Norfolk State) went 1-1 with a shutout win over North Carolina Central.

Amanda Hallman (Savannah State) went 2-0 with a 0.50 ERA and 10 strikeouts in two games.

Cortni Jones (Savannah State) recorded a .400 (4-for-10) batting average with three runs scored, five RBI, a double and a home run in a 3-0 series sweep against North Carolina A&T State.

Anissa Morales (Morgan State) combined for six RBI, four stolen bases and three hits in four games last week.

Seana Moriarty (Norfolk State) batted .556 (5-of-9) with nine fielding assists in four games last week.

Kayla Porter (Norfolk State) posted a 1.00 ERA with three strikeouts in a contest versus North Carolina Central.

Mackenzi Steele (Howard) combined for 11 strikeouts in the series versus Delaware State.

About the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference

The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) begins its 48th year of intercollegiate competition heading into the 2017-18 academic school year. Located in Norfolk, Va., the MEAC is made up of 13 outstanding historically black institutions across the Atlantic coastline: Bethune-Cookman University, Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Florida A&M University, Hampton University, Howard University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina Central University, Savannah State University and South Carolina State University
 
 
Robinson Throws Perfect Game in 10-0 Five-Inning Win Over Livingstone
Trevin Q. Goodwin

WSSU freshman locks down Blue Bears for key division win

WINSTON-SALEM, NC – The Winston-Salem State Rams (10-24, 8-7 CIAA) celebrated Senior Day with the best performance of the season from freshman pitcher Tia Robinson. The WSSU pitcher threw a perfect game to lead the Rams to a 10-0 win over the Livingstone College Blue Bears (2-23, 0-14 CIAA), Monday morning.

With the team’s dominating defensive effort, the Rams turned their attention to their offensive effort. As a team, the Rams totaled nine hits in the game. WSSU junior catcher Kortney Thomas went two-for-two at the plate with two doubles, a run scored, and two RBI in the game. Senior Tiarra Delaney went three-for-three with a triple, two runs scored and an RBI as well.

The Rams struck early and often to claim the win. The team opened the game with four first inning runs. Freshman designated hitter Nyla Howard got things started when she scored on a Livingstone wild pitch. Sophomore third base Erica Davis hit an RBI sacrifice fly to first base to score junior Daijah Chambers while senior first base Samantha Gibbs hit an RBI single to score Holloman and Thomas added an RBI double to score Delaney. The effort left the Rams on top, 4-0 after the first inning. The Rams added two more second inning runs when a Blue Bear fielding error allowed Howard to score fo rht second time in the game while Delaney hit an RBI single to score Chambers. The Rams added two more third inning runs when junior Destiny Snipes hit an RBI ground out to score Thomas. Senior outfielder Anna Marino scored on an LC passed ball and in the fourth inning, Thomas capped the scoring with an RBI double to score Delaney.

Robinson (3-9) threw a perfect five innings with no hits, no runs, no errors, and no walks allowed. She recorded 10 strikeouts on her way to the perfect game.

With the win, the Rams improve to 10-24 overall and 8-7 in CIAA play.
     
12 Bowie State Bulldogs Place in Top Five at Virginia State Trojan Invite
Gregory Goings

ETTRICK, Va. – Eleven different Bowie State University women and junior Robert Thomas led the men with top five finishes at the Virginia State University Trojan Invitational meet on Saturday (4/21).

Junior Krystal Simpson finished 2nd in the women’s 100 meter (12.51) while sophomore Alexa Stewart and freshman Amaree’ Yates placed 3rd and 4th respectively in the same event with a times of 12.67 and 12.81.

Sophomore Kyaja Williams led three Bowie State women in the 400 meter, clocking in at 58.31 for a 5th place.

Juniors Zuwena Johnson and Kayla Wright competed in the 800 meter run and placed 3rd and 4th respectively with times of 2:22.49 and 2:31.93.

In the women’s 3000 meter finals, sophomore Cionne Gourrier came in 2nd place (12:10.84) while freshman teammate Telicia Farmer placed 3rd overall with a time of 12:18.02.

Freshman Kaylia Brown was BSU’s top finisher in the 400 hurdles, crossing the finish in 2nd place at a time of 1:11.99.

Freshman Soljala Jones had two top five finishes, placing 3rd in the high jump, going over the bar at a height of 1.55m and finished 4th in the long jump at 5.22m.

Sophomore De’Sha Manago led two Bowie State women in the discus, finishing in 3rd place with a throw of 12.99m, making her a provisional qualifier for the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Junior Robert Thomas was the top men’s Bulldog finisher at the Trojan Invite, placing 2nd in the 400 meter finals with a time of 49.09.

The Bowie State women and men’s next competition will be at the prestigious Penn Relays – April 26-28, hosted by the University of Pennsylvania.
     
NCCU’s Mirabella Earns Fourth MEAC Pitcher of the Week Award
Kevin C. Buczek
NORFOLK, Va. — A no-hitter was added to a growing resume for North Carolina Central University senior Courtney Mirabella during a four-win week for the ace as she was named Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Softball Co-Pitcher of the Week by the league office on Monday.

Mirabella tossed complete-game victories in all three of NCCU’s wins at South Carolina State University over the weekend starting with the no-hitter. The wins helped the Lady Eagles move up into a playoff position in the league standings with one week left in the regular season.

The right-handed hurler pitched in six of NCCU’s seven games on the week, including five starts. Mirabella boasted a minuscule 0.97 ERA over 36 innings with 46 strikeouts. She held her opponents to a .180 batting average over that span and only five of her eight runs allowed were earned.

Mirabella started the week with a complete-game 5-0 win at Norfolk State in which she struck out 13 Spartans. It marked the ninth time this season she hit double-digit K’s in a contest. Mirabella pitched the second game against NSU and was a hard-luck loser in a 1-0 decision where the only run was unearned.

The product of Bradenton, Florida, tossed all 21 innings in the key series in Orangeburg, South Carolina, over the week. She went 3-0 and had nine strikeouts against the Lady Bulldogs in all three contests for 27 K’s in the series. The no-hitter was Mirabella’s seventh shutout of the season.

For good measure, Mirabella added two innings of scoreless relief in Wednesday’s doubleheader at Hampton University.

Mirabella leads the MEAC with a 1.86 ERA, 13 wins, seven shutouts, .201 batting average against and 256 strikeouts. She ranks amongst the nation’s leaders with an average of 9.9 strikeouts per seven innings.


NCCU will conclude regular season play with a three-game MEAC series at rival North Carolina A&T State University. The winner of that series will be guaranteed to clinch a playoff spot in the league tourney.
     
Fleetwood Selected To All-CIAA Team

Evann Carpenter
NEW KENT, VA. – The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) announced on Friday the All-CIAA Men's Golf Selections along with Yearly honors at the 2018 CIAA Men's Golf Championships.


Christian Fleetwood was named All-CIAA during his senior season posting the fifth best scoring average this season with a 77.3 stroke average. Fleetwood finished tied for fifth at the CIAA Southern Division tournament to grab an all-tournament selection. Christian fired off a 69 (-3) in the final round.


Christian would go on to finish tied for third at the CIAA Northern Division tournament for another all-tournament selection.


The Conway, N.C. native finished his career in ninth at the 2018 CIAA Men's Golf Championships.
 

On TAP
 
Sarin Appointed Interim Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development
Tiffany S. Jones

GREENSBORO, N.C. (April 23, 2018) – North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Graduate College Dean Sanjiv Sarin, Ph.D., has been appointed interim vice chancellor for research and economic development. The appointment was effective April 17, 2018.

In addition to his role as dean and vice provost for research, graduate programs and extended learning, Sarin also previously served as associate dean for the College of Engineering. He is a tenured industrial and systems engineering professor, as well, and has been at North Carolina A&T for more than 34 years.

His teaching and research interests include discrete optimization, collaborative logistics planning and quality assurance. Sarin has also been active in educational research, focusing primarily on outcomes assessment and collaboration among faculty in improving educational quality.

Over the course of his career, Sarin has authored or co-authored more than 50 peer-reviewed articles and participated in more than 30 research and academic program development grants valued at more than $8 million, with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the U.S. Department of Education, the National Science Foundation and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Sarin is a senior member of the Institute of Industrial Engineers and a registered professional engineer in North Carolina. He is also an evaluator for ABET and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

He earned his bachelors in chemical engineering and his master’s in mechanical engineering with an industrial engineering concentration from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and his doctorate in industrial engineering from the State University of New York, Buffalo.

About North Carolina A&T State University
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is the nation’s largest historically black university. It is a land-grant, higher-research classified university by the Carnegie Foundation and constituent member of the University of North Carolina system. A&T is known for its leadership in producing graduates in engineering, agriculture and other STEM fields. The university was founded in 1891 and is located in Greensboro, North Carolina.
 
 
SEEDINGS SET FOR 2018 MEAC TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP

The league office announced the 2018 MEAC Tennis Championships seeding and match times on Monday. The NCCU men’s team is the fourth seed from the South and will play the top seed from the North in Morgan State University in the quarterfinals on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. See email below and attached brackets for more information.
 
Chowan Gears Up For Crusaders, Part II

Evann Carpenter

MURFREESBORO, N.C. – The Chowan Men's Lacrosse team enters the Conference Carolinas Men's Lacrosse Championship as the No. 5 seed and will travel to North Greenville in the opening round of the tournament.

WHEN Tuesday, April 24 | 6:00 pm

WHERE Tigerville, S.C. (Pepsi Stadium)

FOLLOW GAME DAY CENTRAL

HAWKS HIGHLIGHTS
Chowan dropped to 8-7 on the year following their loss to North Greenville in the regular season finale on Saturday afternoon, 12-10. The Hawks have fared well on the road this season going 6-3.

Potential Conference Carolinas Player of the Year candidate, Anthony Alfonso, leads the team with 57 goals, 29 assists, and 86 points. Nick Lavoy is second on the squad with 56 goals and 73 points.

CRUSADERS NOTES
North Greenville bested the Hawks at home on Saturday picking up the win to secure the No. 4 seed.

Ethan Landreth and Chris Carpenter lead the Crusaders with 31 and 25 goals respectively.

MURFREESBORO, N.C. – The Chowan Men's Lacrosse team enters the Conference Carolinas Men's Lacrosse Championship as the No. 5 seed and will travel to North Greenville in the opening round of the tournament.


WHEN Tuesday, April 24 | 6:00 pm

WHERE Tigerville, S.C. (Pepsi Stadium)

FOLLOW GAME DAY CENTRAL