Cheyney University to Host Its First Ed Bradley Scholarship Gala

Sept. 23, 2010 - PRLog -- The red carpet event is being sponsored by the Cheyney University Foundation.  “We thank our Honorary Chairman, Dr. Bill Cosby for his generosity of influence and spirit that will help us generate needed scholarship dollars for the Call Me MISTER Program—our urban K-12 teacher education program focusing on producing more male teachers of color and more female teachers in the STEM areas,” says University President, Dr. Michelle Howard-Vital.

This special tribute to University alumnus, the late Ed Bradley, will benefit the University’s Call Me MISTER (Mentors Instructing Students Towards Effective Role Models) program.  Ed Bradley graduated from Cheyney University in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science in Education.  Throughout his career and lifetime, Bradley proudly proclaimed the benefit of receiving an education from Cheyney University as he rose to the status of American icon.  Dr. William H. Cosby, Jr., who is the Honorary Chairperson of the Call Me MISTER program at Cheyney University, refers to the University as “Ed Bradley’s school.”  In recognition of his late friend and distinguished alumnus, who is best known for his role with CBS’s “60 Minutes” and for his style of investigative journalism, Dr. Cosby will be performing in concert.

The Call Me MISTER program is designed to increase the number of African-American males teaching in urban settings, and has recently added a program designed to increase the number of African American females teaching in the sciences.  Originally, the Call Me MISTER program was created at Clemson University and provides opportunity and access for a diverse student population. This nationally recognized program supports Cheyney University’s mission to graduate generations of confident and competent visionary leaders who are reflective of their environment and responsible citizens for society.  In 2006, State Representative James Roebuck (D), Chairman of the House Education Committee, championed and secured $1 million in seed funding in order to bring the Call Me MISTER program to Pennsylvania.  .  Cheyney University is one of four HBCUs to join the program.  

Unlike Clemson University, Cheyney University does not receive dedicated annual state funding for the continuation of this program.  University officials are optimistic that the benefit gala will bring awareness to the importance of this program; as well as serve as vehicle to annually honor the life and legacy of Ed Bradley.

For more information on sponsorship opportunities or to purchase tickets, please contact 1-877-698-9988.

# # #

Cheyney University is the nation’s oldest historically Black institution of higher education. It is also the only Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE.) Now celebrating its 27th year, PASSHE comprises Pennsylvania’s 14 public universities, with a combined enrollment of more than 112,500, making it the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth. At its inception, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania successfully provided free classical education for qualified young people, and today the university offers baccalaureate degrees in more than 30 disciplines and six master’s degree programs. For more information, please visit the website at http://www.cheyney.edu.