It’s a time-honored tradition across campuses big and small to register for classes closer

to the deadline date than sooner. “Why rush,” is the feeling, “the classes will be there.”

The sentiment reveals a myth that has negatively impacted students for many years,

causing some to miss graduating on time and ultimately paying more money than

anticipated for their degree. The grim reality is classes can close and no longer be

available. This can create a real mess for degree plans. Too often students who register

late lose class options and must wait an entire semester or year to take the course(s)

they need.

Registering early and on time not only guarantees you better course selection, but more

time to pay your fees. The courses you select generate your bill. Knowing your cost early

allows you and your family to plan better and gives you a longer window to acquire the

funds you need. It’s difficult to make immediate financial decisions. Students who

register early don’t have to.

You came to Bethune-Cookman University to change the world. Register here TODAY

and give yourself the best chance to get started sooner than later.

- Anthony E. Jones

Vice-President of Enrollment Management and Student Experience

Earlier this spring, students and faculty from Bethune-Cookman University’s Department

of Religion paid a visit to White Sands Buddhist Center along with Dr. Pamela Ayo

Yetunde from Chicago. “From the moment we arrived, we were struck by how peaceful

and calming it was,” the students wrote after their visit. “The trip to the White Sands

Buddhist Center gave us all a better understanding of the Buddhist faith.”

Recently, Dr. Eric Rogers was invited to participate in the upcoming International

Conference on Psychology, Language and Teaching (ICPLT) in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. Presenting on his paper, “The Power of Forgiveness,” Dr. Rogers will examine and explore the nature and impact of grief, shame and trauma and the ability of humans to recover, restabilize and regroup to heal and hope again in life.

Just down the road from Bethune-Cookman University, Daytona Beach’s Mainland High

School has had an incredible year in athletics. Its football, girls basketball and boys

basketball teams all made the state championship game – and all three teams are

coached by former Wildcats: Travis Roland (football), Brandon Stewart (girls basketball)

and Joe Giddens (boys basketball). Stewart was also named State Girls Basketball Coach of the Year after his team won their first-ever State title.

Not all Wildcats go on to become great coaches – some become great players! Recently,

two alumni went head-to-head in the Indoor Football League when Marquis

Hendricks of the Quad City Steamwheelers faced off with Jimmie Robinson of the

Massachusetts Pirates. Meanwhile, Anthony Maldonado is pitching for the Jacksonville

Jumbo Shrimp – the Miami Marlins’ AAA Affiliate in the International League – and is

projected to be promoted to the parent club by the end of summer.

After graduating from Bethune-Cookman University in 2019 with a degree in Political

Science, Jamerika Ramsey continued to pursue her interest in law by enrolling in the

J.D. program at Wayne State University – where she served as 2022-23 editor-in-chief of

The Journal of Law and Society. As the scholarly voice of the Damon J. Keith Center for

Civil Rights, the journal aims to raise awareness and develop collaborative solutions for

issues relevant to the larger Detroit area.

At this year's Annual Meeting of the Florida Academy of Sciences (FAS), four Bethune-Cookman University undergraduates were awarded first place in their respective research categories: Cameron Johnson (Biology major), Israel Oyekan (Computer Engineering major), Cyrille Teforlack (Biology major) and Isis Bouie (Geosciences major). Their presentations spanned topics ranging from endangered species and oyster larvae to self-driving cars and microbiological contamination.

Wildcats took center stage at April’s National Association of Dramatic and Speech Arts

Competition (NADSA) in Huntsville, Alabama – and we’re delighted to congratulate Dr.

Julius John and the following students for their wins: Kimberlyn Lewis (First Place, Oral

Interpretation of Poetry), Erika Dunn (Second Place, Oral Interpretation of Prose),

Ashyana Fulse (Third Place, Persuasive Speaking), Nia McConico (Third Place, Dramatic Monologue) and the full casts who earned First Place for Reader’s Theatre and Second Place for the One-Act Play Festival. Your hard work truly paid off!

Congratulations to Taranique Thompson, one of two recipients of the 2023 ‘Celebrating

Diversity’ scholarship! A Bahamian native from the island of Nassau, Taranique holds

multiple leadership positions, including Chaplain of SGA, President of the National

Society of Minorities in Hospitality and Vice President of the Florida Caribbean Students

Association. Earning this well-deserved scholarship will support her future career as she

approaches graduation with a degree in Hospitality Management.

Recently, the Psychology Department had the pleasure of escorting three student

researchers – Taysia Palmer, Tatiyana James and Kiandra Sanders – to deliver oral

presentations at the 31st Annual Imhotep Interdisciplinary Student Research

Conference at Florida A&M University. The visit offered a variety of networking

experiences, and the students were especially delighted to meet Florida A&M professor Dr. Naim Adkar, a respected authority in Psychology and African American studies.