Latest news with #UniversityofMemphis
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
TN Attorney General sues Dept. of Education for discrimination
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti joined 'Students for fair admission' to file an anti discrimination lawsuit against the US Department of Education. The lawsuit claims the Hispanic Serving Institution program, or HSI program, is discriminatory and to the lawsuit, the reason the program discriminates is because it only provides federal funding to needy students who go to colleges and universities that already have a student body that is comprised of 25% or more of Hispanic students. AG Skrmetti cited the University of Memphis as an example, which is ineligible for the grant even though enrollment is 61% minorities. 'A federal grant system that openly discriminates against students based on ethnicity isn't just wrong and un-American—it's unconstitutional,' said Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti. 'In SFFA v. Harvard, the Supreme Court ruled that racially discriminatory admissions standards violate the law, and the HSI program's discriminatory grant standards are just as illegal. Treating people differently because of their skin color and ancestry drags our country backwards. The HSI program perversely deprives even needy Hispanic students of the benefits of this funding if they attend institutions that don't meet the government's arbitrary quota.' AG Skrmetti The lawsuit is seeking to end the HSI program's 'nonsensical, divisive, and discriminatory requirement and declare the limitation on access unconstitutional.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Irish Examiner
07-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Cian O'Connor shoots blistering 65 to claim Connacht Men's Open stroke play
Roscommon golfer Cian O'Connor held on at the death for a special win as he claimed the Connacht Men's Open Stroke Play Championship by one shot in Galway Golf Club. The 22-year-old was cheered on by his family, as they celebrated at the club where his relatives Christy O'Connor Snr and Christy O'Connor Jnr learned the game. O'Connor, who has just returned following his junior year at University of Memphis, shot a blistering 65 to close out his weekend on -3, one stroke ahead of David Reddan (Castleknock), to secure his first men's victory. 'It is special. This is where golf started. My family, my great uncle and great great uncle, all played here and I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for them. It's just a good place to win,' said O'Connor. 'They definitely were big inspirations for me. Growing up and getting into golf and looking up to them and wanting to be like them definitely pushed me on and gave me something to work towards. They're still doing that because I have a long way to go. 'We stayed with my auntie and uncle last night which was handy. I didn't have to drive as far and then my sister was down this morning and my dad came up then and my grandparents as well. 'Big, big crowd for support and I appreciate them.' Reddan and Dwayne Mallon (Dungannon) were tied for the lead on -3 at the beginning the third and final round, and it was the Castleknock golfer who pushed on initially. Reddan moved to -4 with a birdie on the first but he bogeyed the Par 5 12th and another bogey on 16 left him chasing. Meanwhile, O'Connor took his chance and after a wonderful front nine, which included three birdies, he added another birdie on the 12th. Five pars were to follow, including two brilliant up-and-downs on 16 and 17 and even though he almost came unstuck on 18, where he had to hit a provisional off the tee, O'Connor found his ball and left with a precious bogey. 'I don't know what or how I was feeling because the biggest thing was just finding the golf ball,' said O'Connor. 'I knew it should be findable because of the line it was on and I pulled driver for that reason. Just covered the biggest danger and just make sure that it was findable for a second shot and I did find it. 'After I finished out, I tapped in just to get the ball in the hole and be done and then I look back and see where David was. He was on the fairway, probably had a wedge in. You can't count anyone out. 'And I've played with David before and he's a good putter. So it wasn't done until every group was in really. Nervous signing and stuff and just didn't know what was going to happen. 'This is one of my best days on the golf course.' Read More Shane Lowry has spring in his step ahead of big Irish summer
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
U of M student wins prestigious scholarship in STEM
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — College can be challenging for anyone. However, one University of Memphis sophomore is showing others that with time management and a little will power, anything is possible when achieving your goals. Blake Robinson is just like any other 20-year-old college student. When he's not studying, he's weightlifting and spending time with his friends. He's also busy conducting research at the University of Memphis, focusing on wound treatment and assisting with research at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital to find treatments for epilepsy. 'I try and look at the end goal and try to enjoy myself along the way,' said Blake Robinson. So, maybe he's not the average 20-year-old. Blake is on a mission to change lives. He's already making his mark in the world of STEM and is one of more than 400 students nationwide to receive a 2025 Goldwater Scholarship. According to the Scholarship website, the program is one of the 'oldest' and 'most prestigious' national scholarships in the STEM field in the US. Retired Memphis man gives back with free food truck meals The foundation says they look for students who have the potential to make a 'significant future contribution to research.' Blake met all of the criteria, making him the first Goldwater Scholar at the University of Memphis in over a decade. 'I think it was that continual reaching for improvement that over time really built me,' he said. The Bartlett High School graduate says that when he enrolled at the U of M, he immediately started looking at various research labs, and that's when he came across Biomedical Engineering Professor Dr. Joel Bumgardner's work. 'This is where we take shrimp exoskeleton and we're trying to turn that into a wound treatment,' Blake said. 'You could use this for surgical treatments, for burns, for military applications out in the field… sort of taking what nature already has to offer and reinventing that for medicine, that was really inspirational for me.' Blake says his interest in medicine started with his mother, who works in the medical field. 'But it really wasn't until my mother was diagnosed with two brain aneurysms, unruptured aneurysms, that I kind of looked towards research,' he said. 📡 for Memphis and the Mid-South. 📧 and have the latest top stories sent right to your inbox. Ever since, he's been working to obtain an MD-PhD in Neurosciences by participating in various research programs and shadowing different physicians. Trying to balance school, his research, and a personal life has been challenging, but he says the support of his mentors keeps him pushing forward. 'It's more so an impact of how these individuals are really pushing the field forward, as well. They're more so leading me,' said Blake. Blake has a busy year ahead of him as he plans to graduate a year early. The University says this Summer, he's heading to Cambridge, Massachusetts, to attend Harvard's Biomedical Summer Research Program. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
University of Memphis to increase tuition by almost 5% for upcoming school year
In-state University of Memphis students will be paying more for tuition and mandatory fees for the upcoming school year. The increase, voted on by the University of Memphis Board of Trustees on June 4, is 4.92%. For a typical 15-hour course load per semester for undergraduate students, the increase will equate to $264. The university said in a press release the decision to raise tuition comes in response to rising operational costs. "This increase reflects our ongoing commitment to preserving academic excellence and student success while maintaining affordability," said Board of Trustees President Cato Johnson in a statement. "We are making targeted investments that will strengthen the student experience and prepare our graduates for success.' The university said the revenue from the additional tuition costs will help "support a range of University priorities." Some of the specific reasons are: The launch of a new Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the Lambuth Campus, set to begin in fall 2026; The launch of The Polytechnic @ UofM Initiative, focused on workforce needs in applied technology fields such as advanced manufacturing, applied cybersecurity, applied artificial intelligence, and organizational leadership; Needed staffing and operational support for the university's new University Crime Information Center; Expanded programming in the division of student affairs and renewed funding for the office of first-generation student success, which lost federal support this year; and Cost increases tied to software, utilities and property insurance. The Tennessee Higher Education Commission has to approve tuition increases above 6.5%, but since the university's increase is below that, the move does not have to be approved. According to the Education Data Initiative, the cost of tuition at public 4-year institutions increased 36.7% from 2010 to 2023. Brooke Muckerman covers education and children's issues for The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: University of Memphis increasing tuition for upcoming school year
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Teen graduates from high school months after hit-and-run
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — It's graduation night for many in the Memphis area, including Thomas Powell, who survived a hit-and-run last July. Now, he has a full-ride scholarship waiting for him at the University of Memphis. WREG had a chance to catch up with Powell and his family outside of Mitchell High School's graduation. ORIGINAL STORY: Hit-and-run wreck leaves honor student on life support They said they're extremely proud because less than a year ago, this all felt unrealistic. 'I knew I had to trust God because he was the only one who could bring him back to this,' Powell's mother, Shauntay Williams said. Williams' prayers were answered as her oldest son, Thomas Powell, will be graduating from Mitchell High School. Last July, Powell was struck by a car in a hit-and-run, leaving him on life support and unable to walk on his own. Nearly a year later, his recovery has been nothing short of a miracle, as he credits God and his positive attitude for his recovery. He said he's even given his walker to a man less fortunate than him, months after his accident. 'There was a guy, he had a walking cane and he was walking down the street. We were looking for a yard to cut and he was having a hard time with his cane,' Powell said. 'I just gave him my walker.' Monday night, Thomas celebrates an academic career most could only dream of. While at Mitchell High, he was an honor roll student and earned a full-ride scholarship to the University of Memphis next fall. He also earned a medal from the exclusive ACT 25+ club, a group that celebrates Shelby County students with an ACT score of 25 or higher. Honor student returns home after hit-and-run crash 'I'm the only one in my class that has this,' Powell said of the medal. To say his family is proud is an understatement. 'He's a light,' Williams said. 'Put it like that, he's a light and he shines really, really bright.' After college, Powell said he plans on becoming a therapist, so he can help people overcome mental hurdles like he did. 'I want to be a therapist,' Powell said. 'I want to go and be a therapist and make it so people can reach heights higher than I reached without having to go through the same things.' Powell said he's also considering attending Vanderbilt, although his mom would like for him to stay close to home at the University of Memphis. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
