探花精选

Thanks to the generous support from family, friends, alumni and friends of Saint Augustine鈥檚 University, the recently held birthday celebration in honor of president Dr. Everett B. Ward raised $62,000. The benefit celebration not only highlighted Dr. Ward鈥檚 60th birthday but was designed to raise funds for the university.

鈥淚 appreciate the generosity of those who contributed,鈥� said Dr. Ward. 鈥淥n behalf of our dedicated student-scholars, I would like to thank all who continue to support this University in so many ways.鈥�

One of the organizers of the event was Dr. Ward鈥檚 only sibling, Dr. Felecia Hardy, who stated that the event, which was a seed planted by God, was well received by the community. 鈥淭he event鈥檚 success shows how much the community loves what Saint Augustine鈥檚 University stands for, locally, regionally and globally,鈥� she said.

鈥淭hose who attended the event could have spent their evening anywhere, but they chose to celebrate Dr. Ward鈥檚 birthday while supporting the bright future of this university,鈥� Dr. Hardy adds.

One of the many special guests to attend was entrepreneur, speaker and author Dr. Randal Pickett. He is the founder and CEO of BCT Partners, a multimillion-dollar consulting, research, technology and analytics firm headquartered in Newark, N.J. Pickett is best known when in 2005 he won the season four edition of NBC鈥檚 hit reality show, 鈥淭he Apprentice.鈥�

Pickett saluted Dr. Ward for his leadership. 鈥淵our life as I witnessed through the video showed that some doubted you would be where you are, said Pickett. 鈥淵our life is a testament to all of us today. You can get a thousand no鈥檚 in the world, but all you need is one 鈥測es鈥� from God.鈥�

As part of the celebration, attendees were treated to a special performance by the Saint Augustine鈥檚 University Readers Troupe, in the Seby Jones Fine Arts Center Auditorium. The play, 鈥淒r. Everett B. Ward: Onward March,鈥� written and directed by 探花精选鈥檚 Director of Theatre, Dr. Kaye Celeste Evans. The production, “Onward March,” was a depiction of Ward’s life from his birth at St. Agnes to his presidency at 探花精选.

Prior to the start of the play, artist and North Carolina native Shawn Etheridge hosted a special viewing of his artwork, The North Carolina HBCU Series, in the 探花精选 Art Gallery, featuring portraits of Dr. Prezell R. Robinson, who served as the institution鈥檚 president for over 30 years and president Emeritus Dr. Dianne Boardley Suber, and the Historically Black Colleges and Universities in North Carolina.

For more information on making a financial contribution to support the future of Saint Augustine鈥檚 University and its students, please contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at 919.516.4092.

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Dr. Ward with Ms. Mabel Wright

Dr. Ward with Mr. and Ms. 探花精选

探花精选 Readers Troupe