Jackson recognized
Institute President Shirley Ann Jackson was one of the three African Americans honored at the 15th Annual Black History Makers Award ceremonies on Thursday, February 7, at the Marriot Marquis Hotel in New York City.
Event host Bill Cosby presented Jackson with the George Carver Award on behalf of the event’s sponsor, Associated Black Charities.
She was recognized for her achievements in and contributions to the fields of government, science, and education.
Other individuals who were honored at the event are Dr. Ruth Simmons, recently appointed the first black president of Brown University and the first African American to head an Ivy League university, who received the Mary McLeod Bethune Award, and world-renowned pediatric surgeon Dr. Benjamin Carson of Johns Hopkins Hospital, who received the Dr. Charles Richard Drew Award.
Noting their achievements, Rayton Gerald, chairman of Associated Black Charities’ board of directors, said, "It is fitting that Associated Black Charities embark on this quest by celebrating Drs. Benjamin Carson, Shirley Ann Jackson, and Ruth Simmons, three outstanding African Americans, who have blazed new trails in the world of academia and medicine, and, indeed, left enduring imprints for American youth to emulate. Associated Black Charities is very proud to salute their achievements."
The creation of the William H. Cosby and Camille O. Cosby Philanthropic Award was also announced at the annual gala ceremonies.
The Philanthropic Award will be presented annually to the African American or, in certain instances, the non-African American who most exemplifies the Cosbys’ philanthropy philosophy in service of improved health, human services, and education to disadvantaged African Americans.
Additionally, a cash grant in the amount of $25,000 will be presented annually to help finance an innovative project or study that is designed to advance educational progress and understanding of health and human services which affect the participation of African Americans in American society.
Since 1987, the Black History Makers event has honored Americans such as Thurgood Marshall, Maya Angelou, Marian Anderson, Spike Lee, Colin Powell, and John Hope Franklin.
Associated Black Charities is a federation of 27 community-based charitable health and human service agencies in New York City.
Works exhibited
As part of the month-long celebration of black history, the Rensselaer Union’s Shellnutt Gallery is exhibiting the works of painter Frank W. Wimberley throughout February.
The gallery will be holding a reception with the artist from 5-7 pm, Thursday, February 15.
Since 1969, Wimberley’s work has been exhibited widely in the U.S.
Described as being "bold, exuberant, and expressive," his paintings are currently in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, Howard University, Atlanta University, the Miles Davis Estate Collection, and in several corporate collections.
In a review of Wimberley’s most recent solo show, "Then and Now," The New York Times said Wimberley "has built a solid reputation with forceful abstract paintings and sculptures that combine a sense of order with a sense of relentlessness."
Entries requested
The Severino Center for Technological Entrepreneurship in the Lally School of Management and Technology is asking for entries to its annual $25,000 Rensselaer-Lucent Technologies Student Business Plan Competition.
Rensselaer faculty members are encouraged to make their students aware of this opportunity.
Prizes are $3,000 for first place, $2,000 for second place, and $1,000 for third place. The first-place finisher of the competition will qualify for an additional $20,000 in starting capital used for the launching of a new venture.
The deadline for submitting executive summaries to Jeanne Stefanik at the Severino Center (Pittsburgh 3204) is March 2.
Final plans will be due on April 9 at noon, and final presentations will be held from 6-9 pm on April 25 in CII 4050.
For more regarding the business plan information, visit
http://scte.mgmt.rpi.edu/lucent.html/ or call 276-8398.
