The Black & Gold

December 9 | Issue 14 | Black & Gold 2020

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 makes that possible and sustains 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

Recent UNCP graduates urged to change the world

“Never underestimate your potential to make a significant contribution to society. Dream big dreams and go change the world.”

Former Wingate University President Jerry McGee shared those words of wisdom and encouragement to 686 graduates as part of UNC Pembroke’s drive-thru fall commencement on Saturday.

And change the world is just what the graduates plan to do with the experiences they had at UNC Pembroke—experiences they say shaped who they are and will become.

A convoy of decorated vehicles, including a few stretch limos and buses, lined Prospect Road, parading toward a stage in the roundabout in front of Givens Performing Arts Center. Graduates exited their cars and were greeted on stage by Chancellor Robin Gary Cummings and other platform guests. A husband and wife pair along with two sets of twins were among hundreds of graduates whose proud parents, grandparents, siblings and friends shouted, honked horns, displayed signs–some even rang cow bells–and snapped cherished photos in celebration of this milestone accomplishment.

HAPPENING ON CAMPUS

UNCP junior Kamren Lewis honored for community service

UNC Pembroke junior Kamren Lewis has been selected for outstanding leadership and service by North Carolina Campus Compact.

Lewis is a recipient of the network’s Community Impact Student Award, which recognizes one student leader at each member school who demonstrates a deep commitment to community involvement and the ability to inspire peers. Campus Compact honored the recipients during a virtual awards ceremony on November 13, 2020.

NCCU, UNCP, Lumbee Tribe launch COVID testing initiative

North Carolina Central University and two partners from the state’s Sandhills region are coming together to provide free COVID-19 testing and education for North Carolina’s Lumbee community.

NCCU is partnering with the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina and The University of North Carolina at Pembroke to implement the program, which was funded by a $1.8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health. The project is aimed at reducing rates of COVID exposure in Native Americans, who are 3.5 times more likely than Caucasions to contract the disease and 5.8 times more likely to be hospitalized.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: Brooke Grooms '01, '07, '09

Bachelor of Science Biology

Bachelor of Science Nursing

Master of Public Administration

Grooms provides care at the recently opened Respiratory Clinic set up in the old wound care building on 27th street assessing, screening, and treating patients with any respiratory issues, and, if suspected COVID, they were sent to ER.

She volunteered for a 21-day assignment to New York City to assist on the front lines in the COVID crisis. She was stationed at Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx.

Department of Music honors Julia Dawn Merritt with memorial concert

Read more about Julia and the concert here.