NASCAR welcomes Dr. Evelyn Bethune to motor racing
Racing for Education
DAYTONA, Fla.,—Last Friday’s Subway Jalapeno 250 at Daytona International Speedway was the inaugural race for one of the most unique teams and causes ever to come to the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Racing For Education, LLC in conjunction with Diversity Motorsports Racing, LLC, rolled out its new #19 Racing For Education car driven by Mike Bliss for the first of several planned nationwide series events this season. Mike drove to a 20th place finish and everyone within the organization was excited by the performance and the opportunity to generate a new and diverse fan base.
Racing For Education is a joint venture founded by Terrance Cox, CEO of Diversity Motorsports Racing, LLC, marketing genius behind this venture, and Dr. Evelyn Bethune, president of the Mary McLeod Bethune Legacy Preservation Institute, Inc., the first African American woman to be principal owner of a NASCAR Nationwide Series team. As Terrance states, “Failure is not an option.”
Education touches everyone and while the team is initially focusing on the goals of assisting HBCU’s and the members of HACU, it fully intends rolling out the RFE program in time to cover all tertiary education before extending to both secondary and primary education sectors.
Dr. Bethune’s vision is to attract fans and supporters not only from NASCAR and the motorsports world, but from all students, parents, alumni, and supporters of education. Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune stated that, “Education is the prime need of the hour” and her grand daughter believes that “the exciting combination of NASCAR and Racing for Education is the perfect equation for success.”
Racing For Education also introduced one of their young driving prodigies, Matt Murphy IV, at the Friday press conference. Matt is 11 years old and began racing dragsters at age six under the tutelage of his grandfather. RFE is taking Matt under its wings in the RFE Rising Star Program to encourage him to complete his education through college and fuel his passion for racing.
The Racing For Education initiative will not remain solely within NASCAR or the U.S. national race scene. There are plans in place through global contacts to cover international race series and other areas of motorsport such as bikes, offshore powerboats, and air racing for example. Join us and “Get On Track.” Website: www.racing4education.com. Office Phone: 386-202-2077.
When I went to Bennett College for Women in 2007, I declared that I was “on fire” for the institution. I still am. And I also yield to the biblical verse that says, For everything there is a season, a time for everything under heaven. I had a season to build four buildings in four years, to increase enrollment, to influence curriculum shifts, and to assemble an awesome senior team, to engage with most of my students, and to influence young lives.
Most parents of college students look forward to December, when their students come home for the holidays. Some are so excited to see their offspring home that they actually come to their colleges to pick them up. Others prepare special treats and goodies as an antidote to the oft-complained-about cafeteria food.
Robert and Pam Champion won’t have that opportunity. Their son, Robert, died on Nov. 19. His death has been ruled a homicide, and he is allegedly the victim of hazing.
When President Barack Obama signed the Budget Control Act of 2011, he committed our nation to a budget-cutting process that may well be cumbersome.
The “Supercommittee,” or the Joint Select Committee on Budget Reduction, has a hard timeline of proposing some $1.5 trillion in cuts by Nov. 23. If Congress does not pass the Supercommittee proposals, then an automatic trigger will cut the budget across the board by about 9 percent.
There is a new network on the air, Bounce TV. We’re not able to get it in Los Angeles just yet, but there is no stopping the movers and shakers who put this business venture together.
Bounce TV is the first African American broadcast network, featuring a programming mix of theatrical motion pictures, sporting events, documentaries, specials, inspirational faith-based programs, off-network series, original programming and more.
Shortly after I began my tenure at Bennett College for Women, the class of 2011 arrived on campus, and on Saturday, May 7, Bennett’s first class to spend their entire four years with me as their president graduated.
Our graduation, those around the nation (many HBCUs have graduations over the Mother’s Day weekend, perhaps in tribute to all the sacrifices mothers and fathers make for their graduates), was poignant, moving, and reflective.
