Lincoln University – America's First Historically Black University -- Begins Yearlong Sesquicentennial Celebration, Thursday, April 10 TV Commentator and Educator Tony Brown to Deliver Keynote Address

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Founded in 1854, the University's Distinguished Alumni include U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and Poet Langston Hughes.

Tony Brown

Tony Brown

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, PA (www.lincoln.edu)– Lincoln University –America's first Historically Black University, which has a legacy of producing generations of distinguished alumni who have significant impact upon the nation and the world, including U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and Poet Langston Hughes – will kick off the yearlong celebration of the institution's Sesquicentennial Anniversary with a commemorative program on Thursday, April 10, 2003, at 11 a.m., at Manuel Rivero Hall on the campus in southern Chester County, PA.

The program is being presented in conjunction with Lincoln's Annual Honors Convocation in which the University will salute its highest achieving students. Highlights of the special program will include faculty recognition of students for their academic achievements, as well as speakers and a short video paying tribute to Lincoln on the celebration of its 150th anniversary.

Television commentator, educator and author Tony Brown will deliver the keynote address on the topic of the "Significance of Academic Achievement in the Global Society."

From April 10, 2003 through May 2004, the University will celebrate its sesquicentennial anniversary with an array of campus and external events, activities, and announcements. These include the presentation of grand gala events in four cities (Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, and New York City); eight major events, including at Homecoming in October 2003 and two Founder's Day programs in May 2003 and 2004; 150 campus programs for students, faculty, alumni and visitors; and anniversary services in major churches in 10 American cities.

"As we celebrate our sesquicentennial and the Lincoln Legacy, I am pleased to recognize Lincoln's outstanding achievements and historic milestones and to participate in its most promising future," said University President Ivory V. Nelson, Ph.D. "Lincoln University's agenda for the decade is to continue preparing our student to live and compete successfully in a highly technological and global society."

The University is nationally recognized as a major producer of African Americans with undergraduate degrees in the physical sciences (biology, chemistry, and physics); computer and information sciences; biological and life sciences. Lincoln has the unprecedented distinction among all of the nation's colleges of having two of its distinguished alumni honored with commemorative, first-class mailing stamps by the U.S. Postal Service. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, class of 1930 and world-acclaimed poet Langston Hughes, class of 1929, were honored in January 2003 and February 2002, respectively.

Tony Brown is the commentator of the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) series Tony Brown's Journal, the longest running of all PBS series. In 2002, Brown also became the first recipient of the National Director's Legacy Award for Journalism from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Minority Business Development Agency. Within weeks of that honor, Brown was inducted into the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' prestigious Silver Circle. With this honor he joins such television icons as Walter Cronkite who "have made enduring contributions to the vitality of the television industry and set the highest standards of achievement for all to emulate.

"A media entrepreneur, Brown has been an innovator in many areas. He was the first and founding dean, as well as professor, of the School of Communications at Howard University. At Howard, he established a highly distinguished academic and professional record. In addition, Brown has distinguished himself as a producer, writer, and film director.

He is the author of a new book, What Mama Taught Me that describes core values that were instilled in him by his mother. His other two books are Black Lies, White Lies: The Truth According to Tony Brown, and Empower The People, both published by William Morrow & Co.

In 1980, Brown founded the annually held Black College Day, and, as the honorary chairperson of the National Organization of Black College Alumni, Inc. spearheads a movement to preserve Black colleges. He earned his bachelor's degree in sociology and his master's degree in psychiatric social work at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. He has received numerous honorary doctorates for his achievements in civil rights, education, economics and journalism.


Founded in 1854 as America's first Historically Black University, Lincoln University provides the best elements of a liberal arts and sciences-based undergraduate core curriculum and selected graduate programs to meet the needs of students living in a highly technological and global society. The University enrolls approximately 2,000 undergraduate and graduate student and is led by President Ivory V. Nelson, Ph.D. who has achieved a national reputation for his distinguished leadership role in higher education. He is listed among the world's top scientists.

Lincoln University, the nation’s first degree-granting Historically Black College and University (HBCU), educates and empowers students to lead their communities and change the world. Lincoln offers a rigorous liberal arts education to a diverse student body of approximately 2,200 men and women in more than 35 undergraduate and graduate programs.