Tag: U.S. Naval Academy

Morgan State University professor and dean, Oscar Barton, is the first African American recipient of the Edwin F. Church Medal from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. As part of the award, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers will establish an endowed scholarship in his name at Morgan State University.

Midshipman 1st Class Sydney Barber, of Lake Forest, Illinois, is a mechanical engineering major and aspires to a commission as a Marine Corps ground officer.

Dr. Brigety currently serves as dean of the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University. Prior to becoming dean in 2015, Dr. Brigety served as U.S. ambassador to the African Union for two years.

During the pregame telecast, students were seen using an upside-down OK hand gesture that has been ruled a hate symbol by the Anti-Defamation League. The OK hand symbol used upside down is said to form the letters WP and has been used by some far-right groups as a symbol for "White Power."

This year, 58 Truman scholars were selected from 688 candidates nominated by 297 colleges and universities. Of this year’s 58 Truman Scholars, it appears that 11, or 19 percent, are African Americans.

The scholarships, funded by the British government, provide funds for up to two years of study for American students at a British university, and include money for travel, living expenses, and books.

In 1949 Brown became the first African American graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

Nationwide, the Black student college graduation rate is about 20 percentage points lower than the rate for White students. But at the U.S. service academies the racial gap is much lower.