Want to get "locked-in" a social gathering to help needy children and have fun doing it? If so and you are a U of M students with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8 and in good standing with The University, you can get "locked-in" and have fun by joining Black Scholars Unlimited.
Black Scholars president, Cephus Richard III, said the organization's annual lock-in, a community service project, was done to help needy children in the Memphis area.
"We just completed our annual lock-in on Nov. 17, at River's Edge on Midland," Richard said. "Each member was asked to bring a teddy bear. The bears were given to the children of the Child Advocacy Center."
The center, located in midtown Memphis, provides shelter and support for abused and neglected children, Richard said.
The purpose of the Black Scholars Unlimited, according to the organization's charter, is to enhance academic experiences in scholarship, leadership and service with a special emphasis toward African-American students.
Richard, a senior mechanical engineering major, has been the president since Spring 2000. He has been a member since Spring 1998.
"To join one must have received an invitation from the office of minority affairs," Richard said. "The letters are mailed out (each year) and we have our induction ceremony on April 18."
Richard said if a student would like to join and meets the qualifications but has not received a letter, he should contact the Minority Affairs office on the fourth floor of the University Center.
"After one becomes a member," Richard said, "they are expected to complete 10 hours of community service as a condition of membership."
Black Scholars members perform an array of both on-campus and off-campus projects. One on-campus project is the "Adopt-A-Spot" cleaning program.
"We have selected the Patterson Building as our spot to pick up trash around it and keep it clean," Richard said. "We have not been able to cleanup recently due to the cold weather."
The program was proposed and started last year, according to Richard.
Other events include the Black Scholars annual breakfast and the "Igniting Excitement for Academic Excellence Award" reception, which is co-sponsored with the Black Graduate Student Association.
Black Scholars Unlimited membership dues are $10 for one semester and $15 for one academic year. The advisers are associate dean of Minority Affairs, Kevin Carreathers; assistant vice president for student affairs, Rosie Bingham; director of the Center for Student Development, Pamela Cogdal; and Student Development counselor, Joyce Stout.
Black Scholars also offers its members a chance to win a $500 scholarship, open to any active member that has been in the organization for at least two semesters.
"Our next community service project will be a career showcase, which will take place Feb. 18," Richard said. "The event is being co-sponsored with The U of M's chapter of the NAACP."
