April 18, 2011 was a great day in the lives of 22 dynamic and progressive young men when they were formally inducted into the Collegiate 100 at Prairie View A&M University, which reactivated on March 10. The Chapter is sponsored by the 100 Black Men of America, Metropolitan Houston Chapter, Inc., and was created Frederick V. Roberts, then Director of Student Activities at the university.
Over the course of three months leadership meetings, seminars and programs dominated the activities of the men in addition to the planning for the main event - the induction ceremony held in the Memorial Student Center on April 18. The City of Prairie View’s Mayor Frank Jackson was the master of ceremony and City of Houston Comptroller Ronald Green was the guest speaker.
The inductees include: Courtney Allen (Parliamentarian), Timothy Anderson, Jerry Battle, David Brown, Dymonique J. Burton. (Vice President), Terrance N. Caldwell (Sergeant at Arms), Vincent I. Ellis (Chaplain), Frederick C. Fox (Marketing Director), Patrick Gray (Treasurer), Ross Hampton, Jeffrey L. Harris (Historian), Jerrald Hubbard, Donlamasstino Hune, Justin Linton, Michael Love, Dorian Price (Vice President for Programs), Travis C. Reed (President), Christopher J. Shelton (Secretary), Dominique R. Washington (Communications Director), Kelvin Washington (Membership Director), and Justin Whitaker.
Jackson commended the young men for their leadership and return to the campus. “We’re expecting great things from this group of men. You represent the future leaders so you must always be on your A-Game,” Jackson said. Green spoke on the importance of brotherhood, education, and being articulate. He also explained the responsibilities and expectations of new members.
Several family members and friends were there to witness the elegant event as the young men were escorted by some dynamic and beautiful women. Members of the 100 Black Men from Houston attending, including Comptroller Green, were Darnell Joseph, Chairman and President-Emeritus and Ronald Douglass
The primary goal and objective of the Collegiate 100 is to support the programs of the 100 Black Men, specifically its mentoring young men between the ages of 8 and 18. Additionally, the chapter members in turn will receive mentoring from the professional members of the 100 Black Men as they seek to improve themselves.
When asked about the Chapter members conducting mentoring off-campus Roberts commented, "The young men have an obligation to support the “Mentoring the 100 Way” program but are not restricted from implementing a local program. We believe that the skills, professionalism and actions of the members would provide symbiotic mentoring through role modeling for the men on the campus. It is our hope that will change the behavior of the men and women on campus. That's what we believe will be their impact."
"We are not here to be examples, but to lead by example," said Dominique Washington, a junior architecture and construction science major and the Communications Director.
Vice President Dymonique Burton said, "It is important for each of us to recognize our potential and purpose and put them to use now, rather than to sit around wondering when the right time is."
What took the group so long to come back to the campus you may ask? Well according to Roberts, several attempts were made to reactivate the chapter, however he felt that the young men were not serious about the group and were looking at it differently for personal resume dressing. The idea to start the group again was vested in the Mr. Prairie View A&M University because he felt that the impact would be greater with this student leader at the helm. However, circumstances prevented its return until now.
Most of the men in the group were personal mentees of Mr. Roberts and some were recommended by other staff members. Roberts called together the men and appointed Travis C. Reed, a junior architect student from Beaumont, President and Dymonique A. Burton, also a junior architect student from Houston, as the Vice President. The men were given the charge to invite other young men with like qualities and character to form the nucleus and seek recognition from the university. In the meantime, Roberts being the only 100 Black Men member selected Dr. Clement Glenn, professor of Education Leadership to be the Primary Campus Advisor.
Commenting on his selection as Advisor for the group, Dr. Glenn stated how elated and honored he was and “I do not take this position lightly because I know what we have to do and am counting on you young men to rise to the occasion.”
The Collegiate 100 was created at Prairie View A&M University in Texas in 1993 by Frederick V. Roberts, then director of Student Activities. The original group included male and female students who provided leadership and mentoring for the students at the university. Roberts, being a charter member of the newly recognized Metropolitan Houston Chapter, Inc. (June 1994) of the 100 Black Men of America, Inc. presented the idea to seek affiliation with the national organization. The chapter, led by Attorney Benjamin Pigott, accepted the proposal and presented the request to the Board of Directors of the 100 at its December 1994 Leadership Board Meeting. The proposal was unanimously adopted as part of the organization's Program Success and thus began the national launch of the Collegiate 100. The Middle Tennessee Chapter of the 100 Black men is credit to help launch the organization with the formation of the Collegiate 100 at Tennessee State University.
The 100 Black Men of America organization was borne out of the 100 Black Men of New Jersey which was created in 1963. The national organization was formed in 1986 and formally introduced to the nation in 1987 in Atlanta, Georgia. The 100 Black Men of Metropolitan Houston, Inc. was chartered in March 1994. Some of the first members of the Collegiate 100 at PVAMU were Robert Brown, Horace Bussey, Kevin Bussey, Lelar Corbett, Loretta Davis, Jason Jefferson, Christina Johnson, Marcus Lane, Derrick Ross, Devyon Smith, Michael Smith and Donna Tomlinson.
On hand the for the ceremony were Houston City Controller, Attorney Ronald Green the featured speaker, Prairie View Mayor Frank D. Jackson, the Master of Ceremony, Mr. Darnell Joseph, President and Chairman Emeritus of the 100 Black Men of Metropolitan Houston, Inc. Other well-wishers were the family of the members along with the beautiful, talented and progressive young ladies, all students at the university.
The return of the organization also created a stir among the students who were in awe as the men conducted themselves at the program and on the campus. The women in particular were very curious in a women’s counterpart organization. Burton and Roberts were approached about this idea but Roberts stated that “the activities of the Collegiate 100 will be on a higher order for now. We will look into forming a ladies group when the time is right."
It is expected that once the Collegiate 100 establishes itself and is on firm ground with the campus and the 100 Black Men of Metropolitan Houston, Inc., then the ladies group will be the next goal, perhaps as early as fall 2011. Roberts stated that he’ll be in touch with interested ladies during the summer.
Who knows what in store for Prairie View A&M University the Collegiate Movement. Incidentally, Roberts is also the creator and vision behind the scene of the Ms. Collegiate Mom™ Scholarship Pageant. The program, designed for college women who have a child and wish to participate fully in the campus experiences, is headed by Jasmine Wiggins, another Roberts’ Mentee.
For details on the Collegiate 100, contact Frederick V. Roberts at unitancommunications@yahoo.com
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