- Posted in All University
- Category: Campus News
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, PA – Lincoln students offered a theatrical tribute Thursday, Sept. 20th in honor of the inauguration of Dr. Robert R. Jennings, 13th President of Lincoln University of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in an all University Convocation at the University’s International Cultural Center Theater.
“This tribute performance did much to showcase the plethora of creativity and talents our students possess,” said Dr. Jennings, University president, who will be inaugurated there in a formal ceremony, Saturday, Sept. 22 at 10 a.m. with academic processional beginning at 9:30 a.m. featuring its Board of Trustees members, faculty, staff, students, alumni and distinguished guests. “Their theatrical renditions were both entertaining and deeply moving. I am both humbled and honored to be their President.”
Narrated by Student Government President Pro Tem Brandon Harris, the presentation, which included various students as well as those from the International Student Association, featured dramatic readings, spoken word as well as African and modern dance performances labeled as “a tribute to the present and the past of Lincoln University.”
Two students, JR (unknown) and DeWayne Walker, Jr. portrayed University founder John Miller Dickey, a Presbyterian minister, and James Ralston Amos, to be one of the school’s first students, in a fictional depiction of Amos’ rejection by Princeton University due to his race and Dickey’s inspiration to establish the University.
An African mother and son skit with Kesha Ababio and Igory Nnani as well as a performance troupe of dancers followed, including students: Morgan Green, Calistra Daniel, Rakiya Braham, Uzoamaka Arguboku, Mashari Grissom, Barakat Ladipo, Sherylene Grice, Kesha Ababio.
Other performances included Dustin Fowler’s poetic recitation of Langston Hughes’ “A Dream Deferred,” Wasaba Sidibay’s vocals on “Wade In The Water,” “Say Yes” and “Amen” accompanying the spoken word of Shanay Scott, a moving praise dance by Deandra Hunter and Elizabeth Odom’s soulful rendition of the University’s Alma Mater accompanying the spoken word of Gervon Anderson.
Other observances today included a luncheon with the President, University Trustees and student leaders, a community open house and one of two Gospel concerts over the next two days featuring the University’s Gospel Concert Choir.
Lincoln University of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, founded in 1854 as the nation’s first historically Black degree-granting institution, combines the elements of a liberal arts and science-based undergraduate curriculum along with select graduate programs to meet the needs of those living in a highly-technological and global society. Today, the University enrolls a diverse student body of approximately 2,000 men and women. Internationally recognized for preparing and producing world class leaders such as Thurgood Marshall, the first African American U.S. Supreme Court Justice, Lillian Fishburne, the first African American woman promoted to Rear Admiral in the U.S. Navy, Langston Hughes, the noted poet, Kwame Nkrumah, the first President of Ghana and Nnamdi Azikiwe, the first President of Nigeria.