The rhythm is about to get even hotter at Miles College as the institution proudly announces Class of 2025 powerhouse Daja Gratton as the newest instructor for the legendary Steaming Flags!

From 2021 through 2025, Gratton brought unmatched fire and precision to the field as a standout performer with both the Purple Marching Machine and the Steaming Flags. Throughout her dynamic collegiate career, she mastered the complex art of color guard performance while representing Miles College with fierce pride and undeniable excellence. Her journey stands as a testament to elite discipline, synchronized teamwork, and the gold standard of the university band program.

During her time as a student performer, Gratton was the heartbeat of one of the most thrilling traditions at Miles College. Her work with the Steaming Flags injected high energy, stunning visual artistry, and pure school spirit into halftime shows and competitions that mesmerized crowds and uplifted the entire campus community.

Now, she steps into a leadership role ready to ignite the next generation of performers! Gratton brings a deep passion for mentorship and coaching, transforming her direct field experience into powerful instruction. She is dedicated to building confidence, elite sportsmanship, and sharp technical skills in aspiring auxiliaries, proving her impact extends far beyond the stadium lights.

Miles College celebrates Daja Gratton for her phenomenal accomplishments and welcomes her back to lead the Steaming Flags into an unforgettable new era of excellence!

About the Miles College Steaming Flags

The Steaming Flags serve as the official color guard and visual auxiliary unit for the famous Miles College Purple Marching Machine in Fairfield, Alabama. They are widely celebrated as one of the most dynamic and visually captivating performance groups in collegiate marching band culture.

• Visual Heartbeat of the Band: The Steaming Flags transform the musical power of the Purple Marching Machine into synchronized physical art. They add vibrant color, motion, and theatrical flare to every halftime show, parade, and stadium performance.

• Dynamic Performance Style: In the celebrated tradition of historically Black colleges and universities, the Steaming Flags go far beyond standard flag spinning. Their routines blend intricate flag manipulation, rapid tosses, sharp marching techniques, and expressive dance choreography that matches the driving tempo of the band.

• Elite Training and Tradition: Performing with this unit requires intense stamina, rhythm, technical precision, and flawless coordination. Members undergo rigorous conditioning to execute complex visual routines while maintaining peak energy and showmanship from the first beat to the final whistle.

• Leadership and Pride: As premier ambassadors for Miles College, the flag line embodies school spirit and cultural pride. The unit fosters lifelong sisterhood and leadership development, making experienced alumni instructors like Daja Gratton essential for preserving their rich standards of excellence.

RALEIGH, N.C. — Shaw University Divinity School is expanding access to theological education with the support of a $1 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. The five year grant will help the Divinity School create a statewide network of digital academies designed to bring graduate level theological education directly to churches and ministry leaders throughout North Carolina.

The funding comes through Lilly Endowment’s Thriving Congregations Initiative and will support partnerships with more than 40 congregational associations to establish local digital learning communities. The program will provide church leaders with accessible opportunities for ministry training, leadership development, certificate programs, and congregational renewal.

Through an advanced online learning platform, participants will have access to live instruction, self paced courses, peer discussions, and practical resources while continuing to serve within their local congregations.

Over the next five years, the initiative is expected to engage between 800 and 1,000 church leaders while creating pathways for participants to continue their education through advanced graduate programs at Shaw University Divinity School.

“A localized digital academy approach to accessible theological training will help strengthen congregations as future learning communities,” said Dr. Mark G. Harden, dean of Shaw University Divinity School.

The initiative reflects Shaw’s continued commitment to preparing faith leaders with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to serve evolving communities while expanding educational opportunities beyond traditional classroom settings.

Church and ministry leaders interested in participating in the program can contact Rev. Dr. Saundra Williams at saundra.williams@shawu.edu.

About Shaw University

Founded in 1865, Shaw University is the first Historically Black College and University established in the South. The university’s mission is to advance knowledge, support student achievement, strengthen spiritual and ethical values, and prepare a diverse community of learners to become future global leaders. Shaw University is led by President Dr. Paulette R. Dillard.

About Shaw University Divinity School

For more than 90 years, Shaw University Divinity School has prepared spiritual and ethical leaders for service in churches, nonprofit organizations, education, healthcare, business, and public life. The Divinity School offers the Master of Divinity, the Master of Arts in Theology and Ministry, and beginning in Spring 2027, the Doctor of Education in Artificial Intelligence and Moral Agency.

BOWIE, Md. Hip hop pioneer and Bowie State University professor MC SHA ROCK will receive one of North Carolina’s highest musical honors this fall as she is inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame Class of 2026.

Known off the stage as Sharon Jackson, MC SHA ROCK made history as hip hop’s first female MC and helped shape the culture during its earliest days. Growing up in Wilmington, North Carolina, she had no idea she was becoming part of music history. She simply loved performing. Nearly five decades later, her groundbreaking contributions continue to be recognized around the world.

She will join an impressive class of inductees that includes go go music pioneer Sugar Bear (Gregory Elliott), legendary jazz composer Billy Strayhorn, and George Clinton, founder of Parliament Funkadelic and recipient of the Hall of Fame’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Today, Jackson is inspiring a new generation as an adjunct professor in Bowie State University’s Visual Communication & Digital Media Arts (VCDMA) program. She also serves as one of the architects behind the university’s Hip Hop Studies & Visual Culture minor, the first academic program of its kind at any Historically Black College or University.

As a founding member of the legendary Funky 4 + 1, MC SHA ROCK helped establish many of the performance techniques that define hip hop today, including microphone control, lyrical delivery, and stage presence. In 1981, the group became the first hip hop act to perform on national television when they appeared on Saturday Night Live, introducing the emerging culture to audiences across America.

“My induction into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame is more than a personal honor,” Jackson said. “It recognizes a history that helped shape a culture heard and felt around the world. As hip hop’s first female MC, I have dedicated my life to preserving our story and ensuring the pioneers who built this movement are never forgotten.”

Bowie State faculty say Jackson’s influence extends well beyond music.

“We are proud to celebrate Professor Jackson’s induction into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame,” said Tewodross Williams, professor and coordinator of the Visual Communication & Digital Media Arts program. “She has made extraordinary contributions to hip hop culture, education, and the creative industries while inspiring the next generation of artists and scholars.”

Since launching its Hip Hop Studies & Visual Culture minor in 2016, Bowie State has become a national leader in hip hop scholarship, treating the culture as a serious academic discipline that explores history, creativity, entrepreneurship, and social impact.

Outside the classroom, MC SHA ROCK continues to influence hip hop through media and public speaking. She co hosts the daily SiriusXM show “That’s the Joint” on LL COOL J’s Rock the Bells Radio alongside fellow hip hop legend Grandmaster Caz. She has also spoken at national conferences on entrepreneurship, emphasizing ownership, intellectual property, and building generational wealth within Black communities.

Despite the numerous awards and accolades, Jackson says the recognition is about honoring everyone who helped build hip hop from the ground up.

“Hip hop has become a global language, but its roots remain grounded in the communities and innovators who created something the world had never seen before,” she said. “This honor celebrates not only my journey, but the countless women and pioneers whose contributions shaped the foundation of this culture. Our responsibility is to preserve that history and pass it on to the next generation.”

For Bowie State students, learning from Professor Jackson means hearing the story of hip hop from someone who helped write it. Her legacy continues not only through music but through education, ensuring the culture’s history and impact will inspire generations to come.

BALTIMORE, Md. — Morgan State University is taking a major step toward preparing students for the rapidly evolving technology landscape by launching a new Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence beginning this fall.

Approved by the University’s Board of Regents and the Maryland Higher Education Commission, the new undergraduate program replaces Morgan’s previous Cloud Computing degree with a curriculum focused entirely on artificial intelligence and its growing impact across industries.

Housed within the School of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, the program is designed to equip students with the technical knowledge and practical experience needed for careers in AI, machine learning, cybersecurity, robotics, cloud computing, data science, and other emerging technology fields.

Students will study topics including AI models, intelligent agents, AI-driven cybersecurity, natural language processing, quantum machine learning, and cloud-based AI applications while building strong foundations in programming, mathematics, data science, and computational theory. The curriculum also emphasizes ethical AI development, covering areas such as fairness, bias, privacy, transparency, and security.

Unlike traditional classroom instruction, every AI and machine learning course includes hands-on projects that allow students to solve real-world challenges and develop professional portfolios for internships, graduate school, and future careers. Students will also have access to faculty mentors, graduate student support, undergraduate research opportunities, and an AI-powered advising platform created within Morgan’s Department of Computer Science.

“Artificial intelligence has fundamentally changed the direction of computing,” said Dr. Shuangbao Wang, professor and chair of Morgan’s Department of Computer Science. “We reinvented the entire program to ensure students graduate with the knowledge and experience required to lead in an AI-first world.”

The new degree builds on Morgan’s existing portfolio of 18 AI-related courses by bringing them together into a comprehensive undergraduate program focused entirely on artificial intelligence and its expanding applications.

University leaders say the program reflects Morgan’s commitment to aligning academic offerings with workforce demands as AI continues transforming healthcare, business, government, scientific research, and nearly every sector of the economy.

“The launch of this new degree program underscores Morgan’s commitment to aligning academic excellence with the technologies and industries shaping tomorrow’s workforce,” said Dr. Paul B. Tchounwou, dean of the School of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences.

In addition to the new AI degree, Morgan’s Earl G. Graves School of Business and Management will introduce a new interdisciplinary course, Holistically Assessing Risks (MGBU 363), this fall. The course is the first step toward developing a Risk Management certificate program that will prepare students to earn the nationally recognized Associate in Risk Management (ARM™) credential.

Open to students across multiple academic disciplines, the course will focus on identifying, analyzing, and managing risks related to cybersecurity, data privacy, financial uncertainty, operational challenges, and organizational reputation.

University officials say both academic offerings are part of Morgan State’s broader strategy to prepare graduates with the technological expertise, interdisciplinary knowledge, and leadership skills needed to succeed in an increasingly AI-driven economy.

Founded in 1867, Morgan State University is Maryland’s Preeminent Public Urban Research University and offers more than 150 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and certificate programs.

By HBCU Original Staff
Story adapted from reporting by Courtney Hollmon/MLB.com

PHILADELPHIA — The American League squad claimed a 6-1 victory over the National League in the 2026 HBCU Swingman Classic on Friday night at Citizens Bank Park, but the evening was about much more than the final score. The annual showcase once again highlighted the exceptional talent across Historically Black Colleges and Universities while giving student-athletes a national stage ahead of the MLB Draft.

Southern University center fielder Jacoby Radcliffe delivered one of the night’s biggest performances, earning Most Valuable Player honors after helping lead the American League offense.

Radcliffe credited American League manager and Southern University legend Rickie Weeks for helping him make a key adjustment at the plate before the game.

“He talks about the mental side of the game a lot,” Radcliffe said. “He told me I just needed a little more separation on the outside pitch, and once I made that adjustment, everything started clicking.”

The moment carried extra significance as both Weeks and Radcliffe share Southern University roots. Weeks praised the young outfielder’s development and said seeing a fellow Jaguar earn MVP made the night even more special.

“It’s awesome,” Weeks said. “I’ve known Jacoby for a couple of years, and it’s been great watching him grow into the player he’s becoming. Seeing him earn that award tonight was really special.”

For Radcliffe, the performance represented a major milestone after overcoming adversity during his sophomore season, when he temporarily lost his starting position. With professional scouts watching just days before the MLB Draft, the Swingman Classic offered an opportunity to showcase both his resilience and talent.

“What this game means to me is showing the talent that’s here,” Radcliffe said. “Don’t overlook us. We’re here to play. No matter what happens, we’re here for each other. One band, one sound.”

National League manager Jimmy Rollins said the event continues to capture the spirit of HBCU athletics by emphasizing both competition and community.

“The joy, the excitement, and especially the camaraderie—that’s what stood out,” Rollins said. “Watching these young men compete reminded me of being a kid and simply loving the game.”

While the American League finished with a convincing 6-1 win on seven hits, the HBCU Swingman Classic once again proved that its greatest impact extends beyond the scoreboard. Created by Ken Griffey Jr., the annual event continues to celebrate HBCU baseball while providing student-athletes with national exposure and opportunities at the next level.

Credit: This story was adapted from original reporting by Courtney Hollmon for MLB.com.