Savannah State University News

  The Southern Regional Press Institute will feature three keynote speakers Feb. 24 -25, 2022. Savannah State University (SSU) will host its 71 st  annual Southern Regional Press Institute (SRPI) February 24 – 25 to help high school and college students acquire skills in communications.  The two-day virtual event will feature more than 30 industry professionals presenting on topics including multimedia and digital communications, journalism, public relations and strategic communications. There is no charge to attend. This year’s theme is “The New Order: World of News and Communication Post COVID and George Floyd.” The event’s three keynote speakers are: 1.               Dr. Marc Smith , Co-Founder and Director of the Social Media Research Foundation - Thursday, February 24, 9 a.m. 2.               Dr. Chuck Wallington , Executive Vice Pr...

Savannah State University has been awarded a $900,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) to operate a Minority Colleges and Universities pilot project in Savannah. The goal of the project is to lay the foundation for future generations of entrepreneurial leaders and innovators to help strengthen U.S. global competitiveness, job creation, and the overall U.S. economy. “Savannah State University’s proposal demonstrated a comprehensive understanding of the mission and goals of MBDA and the requirements of the Federal Funding Opportunity Announcement,” said Miguel Estien, acting national director of the U.S. Department of Commerce MBDA. “In addition, their application presented evidence of the expertise and community resources necessary to meet these goals.” Savannah State University was one of five Minority College and University awardees. To qualify for the grant, Savannah State was required to submit a proposal outlining a pilot proje...

Savannah State University (SSU) is one of four Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to be featured in Bally Sports South and Bally Sports Southeast’s annual Black History Month series, “Empowering Athletes: A Celebration of HBCUs.” The series will showcase the culture and traditions of student-athletes, coaches and administrators. The vignette featuring SSU provides a behind-the-scenes look at the award-winning Powerhouse of the South marching band and its impact on athletes and athletic events. Assistant Professor of Music and Director of University Bands, Gabriel Arnold, Ph.D., is interviewed, along with three SSU students: Head Drum Major LaErica Smith, Drum Major Deante Hillman, and band member Sydney Glenn. "You are definitely not a number at an HBCU,” said Smith. “You are seen as a person first. A person with dreams and goals and aspirations. They are going to help you along the way, and they are going to point you in the right direction if they can't h...

Antoneisha Knighton is a second semester Junior majoring in Middle Grades Education. We are thrilled to announce that Antoneisha Knighton  was recognized as the 2022 Academic Recognition Day Scholar from Savannah State University by  the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (USG) .  Knighton, who  recalls always having a passion for education, used to "play school" as a young girl, with her grandparents or dolls standing in as her students.  Her genuine passion for education and Savannah State University has now paid off.    Each year, the USG Board of Regents honors 26 students who best represent the system’s highest scholastic ideals. Each University System of Georgia institution then selects a student with a 4.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) or higher, who also reflects the system’s best qualities. These students strive for excellence and have the ability to share knowledge in various areas of expertise.   The honorees received a re...

Senior Savannah State student Tiffany Wright (left) as elder Ida B. Wells, and Vanity Daniel (right) as young Ida B. Wells. "To keep the waters troubled!" Ida B. Wells looks toward the future and her future remembers the past. Photo Credit: Savannah State University Multimedia Specialist Sarah Peacock. Savannah State University’s official theatre group, Players by the Sea, in collaboration with The Collective Face Theatre Ensemble, is hosting “Ida B. n’ the Lynching Tree,” by Carolyn Nur Wistrand, a theatrical performance which tells the story of Pulitzer Prize winner Ida B. Wells. Opening night of the production is Wednesday, February 16 at 7 p.m. at the Kennedy Fine Arts Center on the campus of Savannah State University, 3219 College St. Admission is free on February 16 only. Additional shows will take place February 17 – 20 also at 7 p.m. nightly, with general admission tickets at $25, including a $5 discount for senior citizens and members of the military. Tickets for SS...

Savannah State University was featured on the February 5 program honoring the life and legacy of Richard R. Wright, Sr., Savannah State University's first president. In honor of Black History Month, the story of Savannah State University's first president was recently featured on CBS Saturday Morning . Shed Dawson, SSU alumni and director of Career Services and Leadership Development, spoke on the life and legacy of African-American trailblazer Richard R. Wright Sr. The segment explores how formerly enslaved Wright Sr. continued to elevate himself and his community in each phase of his life, from leading SSU as president for 30 years to owning two successful banks that survived the Great Depression in the 1930's. When asked what Wright Sr., would be most proud of today, Dawson replied "He would be very proud of his students after they graduated.... and how they left their legacy." Dawson went on to say, "At Savannah State University, one of the key things...

For Black History Month, Sam's Club recently held the "Proud by Design" national competition. Savannah State University (SSU) junior from Akron, Ohio, Nigel Smith was selected as the winner. His t-shirt designs, which were available for purchase online and in-store, are now                                    completely sold out.  Designed to highlight talented HBCU students, the national completion required contestants to design an original t-shirt in honor of Black History Month. I wanted to represent what blackness means to me. For me, it’s my grandparents and my community. So, I used my Nana's silhouette and old pictures of my hairstyles in the design. Black History Month is all about role models. Even if you don’t have any, you can always find inspiration in Black history. If you follow what inspires you, you create something meaningful for others, said Smith, who is majoring in Computer S...

During the month of February, each day, as we celebrate Black history, we will shine a light on Savannah State University's notable alumni who have made and are making history. Wesley McGriff, class of '90 Wesley McGriff, class of 1990, is the co-defensive coordinator/ secondary coach at the University of Louisville. A native of Tifton, Ga., Wesley McGriff, class of 1990, is the co-defensive coordinator/ secondary coach at the University of Louisville. McGriff played at South Carolina State for one year before transferring to Savannah State, where he started at outside linebacker for three seasons and was named the conference’s 1989 Male Academic Athlete of the Year. McGriff has been in the coaching ranks since 1990 when he was hired as a graduate assistant at Savannah State, where he coached for four years. Starting as a graduate assistant, McGriff tutored running backs before coaching the secondary in 1991-92 and then served as defensive coordinator in 1993-94. He was Savanna...