Photo from the relaunch of the Cincinnati/Dayton Morehouse College Alumni Chapter. Provided
By Bryan Nelson, President
Cincinnati/Dayton Chapter
Morehouse College
Alumni Association
And Curtis Midkiff,
Secretary and VP Marketing
The Morehouse College was founded in 1867 in the basement of the Springfield Baptist Church in Augusta, Georgia by the Rev. William Jefferson White, with the encouragement of former slave, the Rev. Richard C. Coulter and the Rev. Edmund Turney of the National Theological Institute. Morehouse College has a 150-year legacy of producing educated men and global leaders. Morehouse is the world’s only HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) for men which has produced four Rhodes Scholars, college presidents, and leaders in many other fields. Morehouse currently has more than 17,000 alumni representing more than 40 states and 14 countries. Some notable graduates include Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Spike Lee, Howard Thurman, Julian Bond, Lerone Bennett Jr. and Edwin Moses.
After years of dormancy, a small group of Morehouse College graduates in the area including Bryan Nelson, Carlton Collins, Julian Gaines, Jermaine Newman, Curtis Midkiff and Tor Carter worked with John Watson Jr., VP Region V of the MCNAA to request permission to restart what is now known as the Morehouse National Alumni Association Cincinnati/Dayton chapter. This group was supported by area alumni, including Paul Booth, Melvin Pickard, Dr. Daarel Burnett, Dr. Thomas Shockley and Dr. Terrence Poole, who is a past president for the chapter.
The kickoff was held via a virtual call on July 18. About twenty-five local alumni were in attendance and there was a tremendous amount of excitement.
In previous years, the Cincinnati-Dayton market was consistently a fertile recruiting source for the college, but the results fell off considerably. Given the COVID-19 pandemic and the climate of our national politics, the passionate and proud Morehouse Men in this market understood the heightened importance of a fully operational alumni chapter. The chapter will encompass the major markets of Cincinnati and Dayton, and all of the cities, suburbs and counties/townships in the area, which is estimated to be home to approximately 125 alumni.
The newly established local chapter held an Incoming Freshmen Meet and Greet on August 8, at Cream + Sugar Coffeehouse in Evanton. Local alumni met with three of the four incoming freshmen that represented Princeton, Winton Woods and St. Xavier. Alumni had an opportunity to talk with the parents in attendance. Jermaine Newman, VP Events/Community Service, played a key role in coordinating the event that was supported well by alumni. There was very good discussion, great questions from the students, sharing of experiences and lots of laughter. Toward the end of the session, Julian Gaines, VP Recruiting, led the group in the singing of the college hymn, “Dear Old Hymn.” Each student was presented with a gift basket of Morehouse items. Eric Payne, PhD (chaplain) closed the session with prayer.
The local chapter is looking to reach all alumni in the Cincinnati-Dayton area and it can be reached at MorehouseCincyDayton@gmail.com