NAME: Marcy Brown
HOMETOWN: Dallas, TX/ Tacoma, WA
YEAR: Freshman
MAJOR: Sociology/Pre-Law

"The significance of Black History Month to me means that I’m free to further my education. It wasn’t too many years ago that minorities didn’t have the right to go to any type of school, and I’m very grateful to these determined men and women who not only fought for this right but many other freedoms. The opportunity to further myself academically is something I very much appreciate, a right that I don’t take lightly!"

NAME: Christopher Dickinson
HOMETOWN: Milwaukee, WI
YEAR: Freshman
MAJOR: Criminal Justice

"The significance of Black History Month to me means that I’m free to further my education. It wasn’t too many years ago that minorities didn’t have the right to go to any type of school, and I’m very grateful to these determined men and women who not only fought for this right but many other freedoms. The opportunity to further myself academically is something I very much appreciate, a right that I don’t take lightly!"

NAME: Stephen Gordon
HOMETOWN: Chicago, IL
YEAR: N/A
MAJOR: Business Administration

"Black History Month is not just a month in the year. Black History Month is a time to reflect on the many accomplishments made by African-Americans. Black History Month is a highlight of 365 days in a year where at least one African American made progress, made a difference, and accomplished something.

Black History Month is a series of events that led to the unity of my culture. It highlights the sacrifices our forefathers made. Black History Month provides major opportunities and forums that continue to educate not only African-Americans but all Americans throughout our Great Nation. It shows the obstacles our culture overcame in the past and shows the great benefits we can look forward to."

NAME: Deratra Hutton
HOMETOWN: Chicago, IL
YEAR: Junior
MAJOR: Elementary Education

"Black History Month is a time to remember and appreciate all the important Black people and events that are involved in African-American history. Unlike Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, there are many other Black people who played a big part in African-American history who aren't mentioned in all history books. Sometimes people unintentionally ignore the prosperity of Black people because their attention is more focused on the negative things that we do, which takes away the credit that we deserve for the positive things. Therefore, the month of February gives us—African-Americans—an opportunity to teach, not only our own race, but other races about the richness of our history, along with the great things occurring in the present. It's our time to shine! :-) "

NAME: Craig Jackson
HOMETOWN: Arlington, TX
YEAR: Senior
MAJOR: Exercise and Sports Studies

Craig was chosen as the 2011 CASE District VI Clarence J. Jupiter Fellow and represented Upper Iowa University at the recent iCASE 6.0 District Conference held in Kansas City, Missouri from January 9 – 11.

"Black History month means allot to me. I think it is a great time for African Americans, like me, to give thanks to those who came before me and opened the doors of success that lay ahead. 

This month is also motivation for me to keep on achieving my goals and to impact as many lives as possible. Without leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, Rosa Parks, and Jackie Robinson, who knows what African Americans as a whole would be able to accomplish.

So, I give thanks to all the great African-American leaders who came before me and hopefully one day I will also be known as a great African-American leader. Black History Month means more than what words can say."

NAME: Janice Jordan
HOMETOWN: Milwaukee, WI
YEAR: Sophomore
MAJOR: Human Services

"Black History month is significant to me because it shows me hope that there is nothing I can’t dream or achieve. The quote, “I have a dream,“ has been with me from the time if first heard it when I was a young girl. Freedom, pride, equality are just a few of the emotions I experience during Black History month. I feel this time in history helped pave the way for me and all Black Americans to live out our dreams and aspirations."

NAME: Laura Lampkin
HOMETOWN: Chicago, IL
YEAR: Sophomore
MAJOR: English (Teaching Endorsement)

"Black History means a lot to me. It is a time for African Americans to celebrate and remember our past. It is because of the people in my past that I have become the person I am today. For those individuals in my past, I have been able to accomplish my goals today.

To me, Black history is every day and should be celebrated every day. African Americans have contributed a lot to our way of life—peanut butter, the iron, and hair care products, just to name a few; and these are things we use every day.

There are a lot of firsts in African American History. From inventors to activists. From Martin Luther King Jr. to Barack Obama. November 8, 2008, is a date that I will remember forever. On that day, I too became a part of history. I voted for the very first time. I remember reading the stories about how Martin Luther King, Jr. fought for our right to vote. And on that day, I was that dream.

I am extremely thankful for those who came before me. I couldn't imagine what my life would be without Black history. 

I'm proud to say that I am that dream. I am that hope of the slave. I AM BLACK HISTORY!"

NAME:Aberdean Morton
HOMETOWN: Jackson, MS
YEAR: Sophomore
MAJOR: Business Management

"The reason Black History month has personal significance to me is because of the pain and suffering our ancestors encountered to make our lives as African Americans better today. I give great respect to all those before us who died to make what is possible, possible. I applaud all for their courage and struggle to make Black History month a time to remember. These are just a few of the reasons why Black History month is so significant to me."

NAME: DeYawnda Powell
HOMETOWN: Milwaukee, WI
YEAR: Sophomore
MAJOR: Criminal Justice

"Black History Month is important to me because a lot of times we look at the news and see so much negativity which involves African Americans. We live in different neighborhoods or communities so when something negative happens, most tend to believe that an African American is to blame. Black History Month shines a positive light in the month of February for me because I take my attention off all of the bad and focus on the good. African Americans have contributed many different things to our country, and it’s sad that some our youth are rapidly becoming detached from our history.

I appreciate all that my African American ancestors have done for me. They encourage me to keep striving for excellence and regardless of my skin color, I can achieve any goal by fighting through adversity. I can do whatever and become whoever I set my mind to."

NAME: Nicole Sharpe
HOMETOWN: Long Beach, CA
YEAR: Freshman
MAJOR: Business/ Accounting

"First of all, Black History Month has significance to me because I am of the Black culture/heritage. It has always been and forever will be important to me to know about my past. 

The saying goes, “You can never move forward with your future unless you are content or informed of your history/past.” All of my life I have learned about slaves and slave masters, racism, civil rights, etc. I find it very interesting just to actually know how far our culture has come from how it was before..."

NAME:Mollie Claire Young
HOMETOWN: Cedar Rapids, IA
YEAR: Freshman
MAJOR: Criminology and Forensic Science

"I have a lot of Black friends and family, and without all of the civil rights movements; I wouldn’t be able to have this without being discriminated against."