From Beaufort County Community College

 

Beaufort County Community College is celebrating Black History Month with a series of events that includes an appearance by one of the nation’s most dynamic and uplifting motivational speakers.

Dennis Rahiim Watson, president and chief executive officer of The Center for Black Student Achievement, will be the keynote speaker at a Black History Month celebration sponsored by Men of Success.

The event, which will also feature musical performances by local choirs, will be 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23, in the auditorium of Building 8 on the BCCC campus.

Admission to the event is free of charge to the public.

Watson was kicked out of high school 37 times and has overcome tremendous odds to become what critics and audiences describe as a cross between Steve Harvey’s delivery and President Barack Obama’s message.

He was educated at Harlem Preparatory School, Fordham University, Pace University and New York University.

Watson has lectured and conducted workshops at over 1,000 colleges and universities nationwide, including Harvard, Yale, Cornell, Howard, Morehouse, UCLA, Columbia, Hampton, Fisk, Vanderbilt, Brown, Lincoln, University of Alaska, University of California at Berkeley, Northwestern, University of Miami, University of Virginia, University of North Carolina Charlotte, Michigan State University, West Virginia State University, University of the Virgin Islands and Stanford University.

Watson has received over 750 awards for his work with black youth nationwide, among them five White House citations for his exemplary work with black youth.  Over 100 U.S. mayors have declared “Dennis Rahiim Watson Day” in their cities.

Also scheduled for Black History Month at BCCC is a two-day competition when campus organizations will compete to answer questions about important events in Black History.

The event, dubbed Black History Month Quiz Bowl Competition, will draw eight four-member teams who will compete Tuesday, Feb, 24, and Thursday, Feb. 26 in the auditorium of Building 8.

Men of Success is the minority male mentoring club at BCCC. The goal of the club is to increase the success of minority males in the community college by addressing peer pressure and low self-esteem and helping and motivating students to graduate from BCCC and/or transfer to a university.

For more information about the Black History Month celebration, contact Michele Mayo, club advisor, at 252-940-6233 or by email at Michele.mayo@beaufortccc.edu.