The Black & Gold

May 26, 2021 | Issue 28 | Black & Gold 2021

Alumni & friends,

Welcome to the Black & Gold, a weekly digest of UNC Pembroke news and information! Our faculty, staff, students and nearly 30,000 alumni all over the world never cease to amaze us with stories of resilience, determination and commitment to make their world a better place.

I hope you enjoy this newsletter to learn more about how UNCP, along with our alumni and friends, is making a difference on campus and in the communities we serve.

Your support and friendship make that possible and sustain our university into the future. Thank you for all you do for this university and the students.

Sincerely,

Robin Gary Cummings, MD

Chancellor

Changing Lives Through Education

UNCP graduates encouraged to pursue a passion that ignites 'fire in the belly'

Michelle Scott's road to earning a teaching degree was marked with unimaginable grief and heartache.

Scott lost both parents, a year apart, but never stopped pushing herself. She relied on words her mother would often repeat to get her through tough times with every reason to give up.

"She would always tell me an education is one thing no one can take away from you."

On Saturday, an emotional Scott crossed the stage, joining 1,045 of her fellow graduates at spring commencement at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke. With all its pomp and circumstance and processional led by the Lumbee ambassadors and flutist, the outdoor exercises were a welcome return to a sense of normalcy for thousands of family and friends gathered along the balloon-filled Quad.

HAPPENING ON CAMPUS

Artie Stewart navigates not so easy road to UNCP degree

Legally blind, Artie Stewart earned an associate degree in business management three years ago.

On May 22, Stewart defied the odds, again, during spring commencement at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke when he joined 1,045 graduates.

The 60-year-old has been a source of inspiration for countless students and professors along his academic journey. However, when he crosses the stage, his thoughts will be with John Arthur and Marie Stewart–his late parents and the reason he refused to give up on his dream of finishing his college degree.

“I know my parents are very proud of me,” he said. “They were both college graduates and retired educators, so that will be an emotional moment for me.”

SGA President Cotrayia Hardison accepted to higher education program at Elon University

Cotrayia Hardison, the SGA president at UNC Pembroke, will earn a degree in political science at spring commencement next week and has chosen to further her studies at Elon University.

Hardison is the first UNCP graduate to be accepted to the Master of Arts in Higher Education (MHE) program at Elon. She will be a graduate apprentice for the Center for Designed Thinking. Hardison has also been awarded the Dean’s Scholarship at Elon.

She will be a member of the fourth MHE cohort. The program was established in fall 2018 and is highly selective as only 12 students are admitted each year.

Alumni Spotlight: Rebekah Revels Lowry '01, '11

Rebekah Revels Lowry has been named director of Alumni Affairs and Annual Giving at UNC Pembroke.

Lowry comes to UNCP from Robeson Community College, where she served the past 10 years as director of Foundation and Development in charge of investments and fund disbursements for student scholarships. While considering a new career opportunity, Lowry’s goal was to remain in higher education and transition to a four-year institution.

“I thoroughly loved working at the community college level. However, I wanted to expand and branch out to a university setting. It was extremely important to be able to stay within the community. I have always had a strong desire to work for UNC Pembroke, so I’m excited and thankful for this opportunity.”

Spring 2021 C0mmencement

In-person graduation exercises for undergraduate and graduate students were held this past weekend in the Quad between Livermore Library and Old Main. Two beautiful days to celebrate the Class of 2021 with a traditional graduation ceremony.