Black History Month 2019 – Open Mic Night Finale in Atlantic City

Students from the Worthington campus ended their Black History Month celebration being entertained with an Open Mic competition on Wednesday 27, 2019. The activity was created to complement their academic curriculum and to augment the student’s Black History educational experience. Vita Stovall, Student Services Advisor understands extracurricular activities provide a setting to become involved and to interact with other students, thus leading to increased learning and enhanced development. Taking part in these out-of-the-classroom cultural activities helps students to mature socially by providing a setting for student interaction, relationship formation, and discussion.

Seven students sign-up to compete in the Open Mic activity and six actually performed. Marc Desir, played the Congo, Jerry Grasty, sang a capella at times singing in an African dialect, Precious McCoy, recited poetry, Amna Malik, performed Henna Art on the hand of student Clenmari Almeida-Aquino , Songan Bazemore, wrote an original Blues rendition he played on the saxophone, and Quran Dabney took to the stage and showed off his African dance moves. The students performed in front of a crowded audience that cheered them on in support. The judges had to collaborate to break a tie between the saxophone and dance performances. The winner was announced: a General Studies major who performed an original dance piece, Quran Dabney. He received ovations from the screaming crowd. Quran won a Dell Chrome Book. The Worthington students found the experience of an Open Mic competition very exciting and uplifting.

Student Services would like to thank the judges for volunteering their time: Kenyatta Collins, Asst. Professor, Psychology, Dr. Susan DeCicco, Program Coordinator Workforce Development, and SGA for sponsoring the activity.

Vita M. Stovall, Advisor and Social Science Instructor