As a congresswoman from North Carolina, Alma Adams spends much of her time supporting historically Black colleges and universities.
It was, then, only natural for Adams, a two-time North Carolina A&T State University graduate, to call out the government for lack thereof in speaking at Saturday’s University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff fall commencement.
“We still have work to do, truth be told,” Adams said at the Pine Bluff Convention Center. “Several of our universities, including this one, have not gotten their fair share of all of the federal or state funding. I know by now you know I’m HBCU-strong, and I don’t apologize for that, but inequities are still present.”
Adams in 2019 introduced HR 5363, the Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education Act that provides $255 million in federal funding for all minority-serving institutions, $85 million of which go to HBCUs such as UAPB. Adams also championed a $50 million research and development grant program for such schools in the 2023 federal budget.
“I understand the importance and excellence of our land-grant institutions and what we contribute not only to this country but to this world,” said Adams, who along with retired UAPB art professor Henri Linton Sr. received honorary degrees from the campus. “Extraordinary first-class programs with an economic impact nationwide that exceeds 5.5 billion dollars. With 3% of all America’s higher-education institutions, 40% we educate all Black engineers, 50% of of all Black lawyers, 75% of our doctors and 80% of Black judges, they attended HBCUs.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“You know, I’m tired of this question coming up: Do we need HBCUs? My answer is always the same: What in the hell would we do without our HBCUs?”
In another selling point, Adams took to task politicians who supported the removal of more than 427,000 Arkansans from Medicaid from April to October of this year as a result of post-pandemic eligibility reviews.
The Associated Press reported before the coronavirus pandemic, people who either made too much money to qualify, gained health care coverage through their employer or moved into a new state would lose Medicaid coverage, but a now-expired moratorium was placed on kicking off those subscribers.
Adams’ point in calling out such a purge was to embrace the habit of voting.
Saturday’s graduation saw 122 graduates receive associate’s, bachelor’s and doctorate degrees. Jeremiah Salinger, originally from Spokane, Wash., earned the lone Ph.D. of the day in aquaculture and fisheries.
“I was allowed to walk in 2021 when I thought I was going to be moving away and wouldn’t be able to attend,” Salinger said. “It was important at that time for my family from the West Coast to come. I came to UAPB in pursuit of a fisheries doctorate. This is something I wanted to do since I was 5 years old. I followed in my father’s footsteps, and the icing on the cake is that I got to stay close to my wife while I finished my doctorate.”
Salinger said he chose UAPB because the faculty members are well respected in his field and he wanted to be taught by the best.
Chancellor’s Medallions were awarded to the top graduates in each of five UAPB divisions:
School of Arts and Sciences: Kaea Archer of Fordyce, a criminal justice major with a 3.952 grade-point average.
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UAPB’s fall ’23 graduation
School of Education: Maya Brunt of Memphis, a health, leisure recreation and wellness major with a 3.891 GPA.
School of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences: Allison Jackson of Pine Bluff, an agricultural business major with a 3.886 GPA.
School of Business and Management: Carly Van Hook of Prescott, a business marketing major with a 3.7 GPA.
Division of University College: Cynthia Campbell of Pine Bluff, a general studies major with a 3.523 GPA.
“It meant a lot of know that all my hard work and accomplishment in keeping my head above the goal and making sure this is what I want … to achieve this was a blessing,” said Jackson, a Pine Bluff High graduate who accepted a job with Kubota Tractor Corp. in Grapevine, Texas, and will learn more about finance, marketing sales and business with tractors.
By majoring in agricultural business, Jackson said she “got the best of both worlds” with experience in two fields.
“Being an ag business major, I was able to see more of the ag side as well as the business side,” she said. “I can do more things being an ag business major.”
Mar’Tavius Proctor, a Ward 4 candidate for the Pine Bluff City Council, offered student reflections and recalled the time students were sent to hotels in White Hall and Little Rock during 2021 winter storms that stressed out Pine Bluff’s water system.
“To those who swiped their cards for us, may God bless you,” the Dollarway High alumnus said.
Two young men keep their cool during the processional. (Pine Bluff Commercial/I.C. Murrell)
Four of the five Chancellors Medallion winners received their awards as the highest finishers in each school of UAPB. From left: Allison Jackson in the School of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences; Kaea Archer in the School of Arts and Sciences; Carly Van Hook in the School of Business and Management and Maya Brunt in the School of Education. Not pictured is Cynthia Campbell in the University College. (Pine Bluff Commercial/I.C. Murrell)
One hundred and twenty-two UAPB students received degrees during Saturdays graduation. (Pine Bluff Commercial/I.C. Murrell)
Many decorated and designed graduation caps were on display during Saturdays graduation. (Pine Bluff Commercial/I.C. Murrell)
Quadrea Turner, second from right, receives her masters degree in general science education from Chancellor Laurence B. Alexander, second left, and another faculty member. (Pine Bluff Commercial/I.C. Murrell)
Jeremiah Salinger, right, receives his Ph.D. in agriculture and fisheries as a faculty member walks with him. (Pine Bluff Commercial/I.C. Murrell)
Members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. do a line dance after receiving their degrees. (Pine Bluff Commercial/I.C. Murrell)
MarTavius Proctor delivers student reflections. (Pine Bluff Commercial/I.C. Murrell)
Retired UAPB art professor Henri Linton Sr. speaks after receiving an honorary degree. (Pine Bluff Commercial/I.C. Murrell)
UAPB Chancellor Laurence Alexander presides over the schools 168th commencement. (Pine Bluff Commercial/I.C. Murrell)