Latest news with #SavannahStateUniversity
Miami Herald
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
HBCU baseball player turned umpire now in MLB
Dexter Kelley, a proud HBCU alum from Savannah State University, made his Major League Baseball debut this spring, becoming part of the umpiring crew for the 2025 season. Since his debut, Kelley has already called eight MLB games. Kelley, 36, worked his first game at Truist Park in Atlanta during a Braves vs. Padres matchup, serving as the second base umpire. He later took assignments at first base and behind home plate throughout the series. His debut was even more special with his family-his wife, son, parents, and close friends-cheering from the stands. Originally an outfielder at Savannah State, Kelley dreamed of playing professionally but moved on after not getting the contract he wanted. That's when his former college teammate, Joe McCrary, suggested umpiring. Initially hesitant, Kelley was intrigued by the side money: '$50 a game for two hours.' What began as a side hustle soon became a career. Kelley enrolled in a six-week umpire school and later attended the prestigious Harry Wendelstedt Umpire School in Daytona Beach, graduating at the top of his class. He quickly advanced through the Gulf Coast League, New York-Penn League, Single-A Florida State League, Double-A Southern League, and Triple-A baseball. This spring, Kelley was among 21 umpires selected to work MLB spring training games and was officially assigned a call-up number. When he finally received 'the call,' it was the good kind. Kelley made his first major league call at second base on a dramatic play by Ronald Acuña Jr., a moment he'll never forget. Kelley knows this is just the beginning. 'It's a great job, very hard job and nothing is promised. You just have to keep working and hope the chips fall your way.' His journey is a testament to the fact that HBCU athletes can still secure their livelihood in sports in more than just one way. The post HBCU baseball player turned umpire now in MLB appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Orange Crush trademark holder gets head start on permit app, but gets denied for now
Shortly after the newly permitted Orange Crush Festival came and went with less fanfare and angst than in years past, Orange Crush trademark holder George Turner submitted the first permit application for the 2026 event. Although the permit was denied by city staff at the end of May, the action does not mean that the event won't be permitted by next April. Orange Crush had existed as a unpermitted event on Tybee Island since the early-nineties, when Savannah State University cut ties with the Spring Break event after a dozen arrests, a stabbing and a drowning. The gathering, marketed to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) on the east coast, was kept alive through word of mouth. Earlier this year, Tybee Island City Council approved a permit after Orange Crush Florida CEO and organizer Steven Smalls who worked with Turner secured the permit. Originally proposed in December 2024 as a three-day event, Smalls and Turner eventually negotiated with city staff to secure a permit for a one-day event with a single stage and agreed to meet several other conditions set by council. Though the event this year went smoothly, tension seemed to be brewing between Turner and Smalls. Turner stopped attending meetings with staff leading up the event and wasn't present the day of. Small, the permit holder who attended the event, said he felt Orange Crush was a success and hoped to do it the same way, although more thoughtfully, in 2026. In the days following Orange Crush 2025, Turner began demanding $50,000 per year for a licensing agreement for the use of the Orange Crush name or $350,000 to purchase and transfer the trademark in emails sent to media. Turner also said he sent a cease-and-desist letter to Smalls and that Smalls would no longer be an organizer for the Orange Crush Festival unless they reached an agreement by May 1. On April 27, Turner submitted to the City of Tybee Island a special event permit application for a three-day event, April 17-19, 2026, on the beach just north of the pier. In his permit application, Turner proposed an event with the 'same exact layout as Orange Crush 2025, but three days instead of only one day.' He then sent more than 20 emails modifying plans for the event in the application, estimated City Manager Bret Bell. A few days later on May 5, Smalls submitted a separate special event permit application for an event called 'Crush Reloaded,' which was proposed for April 18-19, 2026, at the same location on the beach. On May 23, Bell informed Turner by letter that his application had been denied in accordance with city ordinances as outlined below: The feasibility of the event layout 'exactly' as Orange Crush 2025 cannot be determined at this time due to ongoing significant erosion of the beach and the possible further impact from the upcoming hurricane season. Tybee is not able to permit a three-day event, because the need for multiple days of law enforcement and emergency personnel is not feasible for reasons of resource availability. Turner had issued news releases and made other statements to the press indicating that the city manager and mayor had given 'verbal approval' for a three-day music festival in 2026. No verbal or written approval had been given for the event, and it is against the ordinance to promote any special event without a permit. Turner followed up asking for an appeal of the denied permit, indicating that he was willing to modify the duration and event layout, if needed, and had not intended to misrepresent any approvals. He also requested 'reasonable accommodations' in the application process given that he is '100% permanently and totally disabled veteran' and the trademark holder. Day of recap: 'This is just college students having a good time;' Orange Crush one-day crowd about 7,000 By the numbers: Fewer people attended Orange Crush, and police made fewer arrests 'The city would be in a better position to assess beach conditions following the most active part of the hurricane season,' Bell said in the memo. 'The City would then receive presentations from each applicant, and make a decision at that time, which could then be appealed.' Since both applications appeared to be incomplete and competing, Bell proposed that both Turner and Smalls withdraw their appeal requests in a letter sent to them on May 29, and spend time pulling together a final application for submission on Oct. 3. Smalls withdrew his permit, but Turner declined to withdraw his appeal, before eventually relenting. Bell said in an interview that they don't know what the condition of the beach will be like in April — last hurricane season took a chunk off the beach after back-to-back named storms in September. Tybee Island is slated for another beach renourishment, to dump about 1.5 million cubic yards of sand on the beach, but that project would not begin until the end of 2026. Destini Ambus is the general assignment reporter for the Savannah Morning News, covering the municipalities, and community and cultural programs. You can reach her at DAmbus@ This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Tybee Island denies Orange Crush permit applications — for now
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Savannah State University welcomes Make-A-Wish family
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) — Make-A-Wish Georgia is granting an opportunity of a lifetime, offering hands-on experience with the world beneath the surface for a 12-year-old. Mason Downey was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at age five, a genetic disorder that primarily affects the lungs and digestive system. His family traveled from Indiana to Savannah to allow Mason the chance to realize a dream. 'I have been using microscopes to explore plankton and other stuff,' Downey said. 'And then I've also been exploring how to identify a dolphin by their sounds.' Thanks to Make-a-Wish, Downey is getting the chance to learn alongside marine biology students. It is a passion fueled by his desire to protect ocean life. 'I really just want to help the ocean because it's slowly dying, and I just really feel bad for it,' he said. Savannah State University's marine biology department stepped in to help Downey learn more about the life of an ocean scientist. They set up several labs for the 12-year-old to observe, each focusing on a different aspect of marine biology. 'We're so delighted to just be part of his journey,' Victoria Young said. The experience has touched not only Downey, but his family as well. His mother, Kristen Downey, left with a full heart. 'Being here at Savannah State [University] is really nice because it's exciting to see him living this dream,' Kristen said. 'Learning about becoming a marine biologist, learning about college in general, so that in a few years he can go to college and this maybe one of his choices. I'm just very excited as a mom to see him get to experience this.' With hands-on practice under his belt, Downey is moving full steam ahead with plans for his future. 'I really want to move down to a coastline and become a marine biologist,' said Mason. Make-A-Wish Georgia grants life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Clevan Thompson named head coach of the Savannah State men's basketball program
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) – Savannah State University (SSU) has officially named Clevan Thompson as the head coach of the men's basketball program. Thompson was appointed interim head coach on January 6th after former head coach Horace Broadnax retired midseason. Thompson now becomes the 12th head coach in the history of the program. 'We are pleased to officially announce Coach Thompson as the head coach of our men's basketball program,' Savannah State Director of Athletics Opio Mashariki said. 'He has been an integral part of the team's growth over the past couple of seasons and understands what it takes to build a winning culture. After leading the team to a championship last season, we are confident that he is the right person to lead our program forward.' Thompson coached the Tigers to a 13-6 mark since being named the interim coach, including an unblemished 7-0 mark at home. His team clinched the 2025 SIAC Men's Basketball TournamentChampionship and a berth in the NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Tournament. 'I'm truly grateful for the opportunity to represent my alma mater, Savannah State University—a place that has played such a meaningful role in shaping the person I am today,' remarked Coach Thompson. 'It's an honor to give back to a community that has given so much to me.' Thompson is a graduate of Savannah State with a bachelor's degree in computer informationsystems, Thompson has been a part of the SSU men's basketball program since the 2023-2024 season. Savannah State University President Jermaine Whirl had this to say about the appointment: 'Coach Thompson exemplifies the excellence and leadership we strive for at Savannah State. His dedication to our students, his vision for the program, and his commitment to the values of our university make him an outstanding choice. We are proud to have one of our own leading the way.' Prior to returning to SSU, Thompson spent nearly two decades as the head boys' basketball coach at nearby Bethesda Academy, where he led the Blazers to twelve Final Four Appearances and two state championships. His teams claimed the 2012 Georgia Independent School Association (GISA) State Championship and the 2015 South Carolina Independent School (SCISA) Class AAA Title. 'I believe basketball is more than just a game—it's a powerful tool to inspire, teach, and mold young people into hardworking, resilient, and service-minded leaders. My vision is to build a program that not only chases excellence on the court but also leaves a lasting impact off of it. Together, we will strive for a level of success that reflects the pride, passion, and potential of Savannah State like never before,' said Thompson. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
A tribute to Charles A. Wright, a trailblazer in Black STEM education
The Florida A&M University family lost yet another titan May 26 when Charles A. Wright, Ph.D., an engineering professor and department chair, died at the age of 82. For those unaware, Wright grew up on a farm in rural Glenwood, Georgia, during a critical time in American history when Jim Crow segregation laws were the norm across the South, a reality that created separate and unequal educational experiences for Black children who maintained an interest in higher education. The racial strictures of that era did not deter Wright from excelling academically in high school and later at Savannah State University, a storied HBCU where he graduated with a degree in civil engineering technology in 1967. As Wright would often remind his students and mentees, Black college students during his youth were often discouraged from pursuing studies in higher level mathematics and science, but his natural curiosity to understand nature and how things worked inspired him to earn a master's degree in civil and public works engineering from the then recently integrated University of Florida in 1972, and a doctoral degree in civil engineering transportation from Vanderbilt University in 1991. Wright keenly understood the need to pass his vast reservoir of knowledge about science and mathematics to succeeding generations, a passion that propelled many of his pupils to pursue advance degrees in science, technology, and mathematics long before the STEM acronym became a buzzword in academia in the 1980's. In furtherance of his passion, in 1979, Wright was named the senior lecturer at Egerton Agricultural College in Njoro, Kenya, and he spent the next several years teaching future civil engineers on its campus. Upon returning to the United States in 1982, Wright was hired by then Florida A&M University President Walter Smith to teach civil engineering, a position that saw him eventually rise to the rank of professor emeritus upon his retirement from teaching in civil engineering at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. While providing his students rigorous instruction, Wright found time to author or co-author over 50 peer-reviewed journal articles and books about civil engineering, technology, and safety assessments. In 2011, cognizant that per the National Science Foundation, Black people represented only 7% of the STEM workforce nationwide, Wright was hired to serve as the inaugural executive director for the James E. Clyburn University Transportation Center (JECUTC) at South Carolina State University, another storied public HBCU located in Orangeburg. Under his leadership, the transportation center became a key hub for studying and advancing transportation needs ranging from regional transit to transcontinental travel. While Wright's professional accomplishments will be remembered for ages to come, he leaves to mourn his passing his wife of 58 years, Barbara Wright, three children, five grandchildren, numerous godchildren, and thousands of former students across the globe who owe a debt of gratitude for his wise tutelage. In fact, his professional zeal was only matched by his civic engagements through his beloved Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., the Tallahassee Chapter of 100 Black Men of America, Inc., and historic Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, where he served as a Sunday School teacher and deacon until his untimely illness and passing from Earthly labor to Heavenly reward. And as one of his many godsons, I can personally attest that his loss is one that cannot be easily assuaged, but we all can rest assured that the City of Tallahassee - and the world - are all for the better because he lived and pursued the FAMU motto, "Excellence with Caring," in words and deeds. Chuck Hobbs is a past winner of the Florida Bar Media Award, a two-time Pulitzer Prize nominee, and historian residing in Tallahassee. Reach him via chuckhobbs@ (Viewing for Charles A. Wright will be noon to 5 p.m. June 6 at Strong & Jones Chapel followed by a wake service at 5 p.m. His funeral service is 11 a.m. June 7th at Bethel Missionary Baptist Church.) JOIN THE CONVERSATION Send letters to the editor (up to 200 words) or Your Turn columns (about 500 words) to letters@ Please include your address for verification purposes only, and if you send a Your Turn, also include a photo and 1-2 line bio of yourself. You can also submit anonymous Zing!s at Submissions are published on a space-available basis. All submissions may be edited for content, clarity and length, and may also be published by any part of the USA TODAY NETWORK. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Charles Wright was an early advocate of Black STEM education | Opinion
