We are proud of our alums and their constant achievements. Recently, three of UMBC’s alumni, in particular, have made it in the news and we thought you should know!
Lafayette Gilchrist ’92, Africana Studies, recently released his new solo album, titled The View From Here, which was featured on NPR’s “Fresh Air.”
“For someone who came to piano rather late, at 17, Gilchrist has dug deep into its history… Despite his old-timey tremolos and thundering bass figures, he doesn’t really sound like the old masters; something different is going on in his timing and pile-driving left hand.”
Read more of NPR’s review of The View From Here.
Valerie Hawkins ’82, Africana Studies, received the K-12 Promotion of Education Award at the 2013 Women of Color Stem Conference. Hawkins, a teacher in the Baltimore County Public School System, has been involved in Project Lead the Way/Gateway to Technology, which offers students hands-on experiences in the STEM fields.
“One of the many goals of the Women of Color STEM Conference is to provide employers with a unique opportunity to recognize those women within their ranks who are already successful, thus sending a clear message that there is room for many others who choose to follow.” Read more.
Dr. Kaye Whitehead, ’09, language, literacy, and culture, was the keynote speaker at UMBC’s first Language, Literacy and Culture graduate student conference, called “Rethinking Intellectual Activism.” Her speech was titled, In Search of Your Magis: Taking a Moment to ReThink, ReEvaluate, and ReDiscover Intellectual Activism. Whitehead is currently an assistant professor in the Department of Communication at Loyola University, Maryland. Read more about the event here.
The Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) named its Individual Artist Award Recipients for 2014 and we’re proud to say that two UMBC alumnae were selected: Sandy Lacy ’76, psychology and Heather Moss ’07, English.
“The MSAC’s annual Individual Artist Award (IAA) recognizes the importance of artists and their works of excellence to the cultural vibrancy of Maryland. Each year, awards of $1,000, $3,000 or $6,000 go to Artists from across Maryland who are selected by a blind, out-of-state jury on the basis of artistic merit alone.” Congratulations, Sandy and Heather!
Want to know more about the MSAC and other award recipients? Find out here!
Do you have an achievement of your own to share?
Tell us about it in a class note!