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 Hello, and Welcome to the Lincoln Institute alumni website.
This site has been brought to you by The National Lincoln Institute of Kentucky Alumni Association Inc., a tax exempt 501 (c) (3)organization. Registration is free!
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Registering only takes a few minutes, so register and please tell all your alumni friends about this website. Get in touch with that long lost friend...see what is going on with other alumni.
Let's bring the Tigers of Lincoln Institute back together again!
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REUNION 2010 IS COMING!
It is time to mark your calendars for Reunion 2010. It was announced at the Lincoln Institute Alumni Association quarterly meeting held in Lawrenceburg, KY on April 18, 2009; these are the dates of our next reunion, July 9-11, 2010. The Shelbyville Chapter will host this reunion and since we will be approaching Lincoln's 100th Anniversary in 2011, we will make this reunion a "GALA AFFAIR".
Start planning now to attend this significant event. We are looking forward to this being a great celebration. Stay tuned to this site for further details.
The next National Lincoln Institute of Kentucky Alumni Association meeting will be held on the Lincoln campus in August of this year.
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IS THIS LINCOLN INSTITUTE's OLDEST LIVING GRADUATE???
Woman Gets Honorary Doctorate at 105
By William Croyle • wcroyle@nky.com • May 27, 2009
WILLIAMSTOWN - It took Della Jones 17 summers and years of battling segregation to finally earn her degree in 1957 from Kentucky State University at the age of 53.
She did it by having the same attitude as Martin Luther King Jr., who spoke at her commencement.
"He talked about having a dream and working toward that dream," said Jones, a former teacher in Boone and Owen counties. "I always tried to do that, and I always told the children I taught to set what they wanted to do in life and work toward it."
On May 10, at 105 years old, Jones was honored by KSU with an honorary doctorate degree during the school's commencement ceremony.
Since she was unable to attend due to physical limitations, representatives from the school brought the degree to her here at the Grant Manor Rehabilitation & Nursing Center a few days later.
"She was chosen because of her contributions to education, continued perseverance toward earning her degree and contributions to all the young men and women she taught from all backgrounds," said KSU Interim Provost James Chapman.
Though her sight and hearing are deteriorating, Jones' mind is as sharp as ever.
Jones is a fan of University of Kentucky basketball and the Cincinnati Reds, watching them as long as she can before her head hits the pillow at about 8 p.m. each night. She remembers specific dates of events in her life, and always recognizes the many people who visit or call her each day, which sometimes include her 98-year-old cousin and 88-year-old niece.
Until heart complications last month, she lived at home alone. She insists that her stay here at the nursing center is temporary.
"Old age is hard, but you just cope and go on," Jones said. "I'm always an optimistic person. I pray every day that the Lord will make me better and get me home."
Jones was born here in Williamstown in 1903. As a black woman, she experienced segregation throughout her life while a student and teacher. She attended the all-black Williamstown Elementary School, then went to live with her aunt in Cincinnati so she could attend Woodward High School.
"There weren't any schools in Grant County for blacks," she said. "It was the only way I could continue going to school."
She said she transferred the next year to Lincoln Institute in Shelby County, where she lived on campus and would eventually graduate.
She passed a teaching exam after high school at the age of 19 and got her first job in Wayne County. She then moved to Boone County the next year and taught for four years at Idlewild Elementary School. She could only teach at all-black schools since blacks weren't allowed to teach white students.
"Segregation was a terrible thing," Jones said. "I can remember wanting to go to the public library, but I couldn't because my face was black. I remember having to walk to school as a teacher because we weren't allowed to ride the buses."
Afraid of "becoming an old maid," she left teaching to get married to her sweetheart of 10 years, Bradley Jones, and raise their daughter, Pauline, who they adopted when she was 2 years old.
Jones went back to teaching in Owen County in the early 1940s and stayed for 30 years - most of it in segregated schools, and the last few years in integrated schools. During that time she spent her summers going to KSU in pursuit of that degree she earned in 1957.
Toward the end of her teaching career - she retired in 1974 - she lost Bradley to cancer in 1969 and Pauline to pancreatitis in 1972. Pauline was just 42.
"That was very difficult," Jones said. "She was my life. That was so hard."
In 1982 Jones had a leg amputated due to poor circulation. She lost the other leg for the same reason in 1991, but her optimism never let her get down.
"It was difficult, but I accepted it nicely," Jones said. "It was so painful before I had it done. I just accepted it and did the best I could - and I've gotten along very well."
Kay Collins knows Jones through their church and tries to visit her each day.
"I'll tell you what, when I need to be cheered up, this is where I come," Jones said.
"I sure hope that's true," Jones said with a smile.
Jones will turn 106 on July 7. When asked her secret to longevity, Jones said she never drank, never smoked and "lived as close to the Lord as I could, but I wouldn't call that a secret," she said.
"I just thank the Lord for giving me a long life and hope that I've lived a life that will lead me to Him when it's over."
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CELEBRATING OUR HERITAGE; May 24, 2009
Artavia Aklin, Shelbyville the daughter of the late Lincoln Institute alumnus, James E. Marshall (Class of 1953) and Ole Marshall recently was selected as Teacher of the Year in Shelby County
Acklin Top Teacher in District - By Lisa King; Shelbyville Sentinel
Artavia Acklin of Clear Creek Elementary School has been named ExCEL Teacher of the Year.
She was saluted Wednesday for the honor, receiving a Golden Apple from WHAS-TV, $1,000 from Eon-USA, and a marble desk plaque with a wooden apple from Superintendent James Neihof.
In a letter of application for the honor, Acklin wrote, "Although neither of my parents attended college, both instilled the strongest educational values in me.
Daddy had a saying that made we want to do well: 'Work hard and allow yourself to be educated. You can do anything if you work hard.'
"That simple quote guided me through many challenging days."
Acklin graduated magna cum laude in elementary education from Kentucky State University and received her masters of arts in education from Georgetown College, where she also was an honors graduate.
She has a Rank One in education literacy from the University of Louisville and is pursuing the provisional instructional leadership principal program at Western Kentucky. She has been a teacher in Shelby County for 13 years and has won numerous certifications and awards.
Acklin and her husband, Tommy, a teacher at the Education Center @ Cropper, have one daughter, Nevaeh.
Biographical information
EDUCATION
• Kentucky State University: magna cum laude graduate with Bachelor of Arts in elementary education
• Georgetown College: honors graduate with Master of Arts in education
• University of Louisville: Rank One in education literacy
• Western Kentucky University: pursuing provisional certificate for instructional leadership principal
EXPERIENCE
• 13 years teaching in Shelby County
Leadership Awards
• Kentucky Writing Program: Master Trainer 2007 currently
• School Instructional Leadership Team: 2007 currently
• Selected for Kentucky Writing Program Advisory Committee: 2006
• Louisville Writing Project Teacher of the Year: 2004
CONGRATULATIONS ARTAVIA!!!!
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Reba “Rebbie” Edmonds - National Alumni Scholarship Recipient Excels
Claude Livers recently received an email from a Proud Mom, Nancy Edmonds informing him about the success of her daughter Rebbie at Murray State University. We all share in her success as she was one of our scholarship recipients in 2005, having been submitted by the Breckinridge-Meade Chapter. Nancy commented they were both very grateful to the scholarship committee for awarding her the scholarship. She also said Rebbie has worked very hard while she has been at Murray State.
Rebbie will be graduating from Murray State in a few weeks and will attend Graduate School in the Fall. She recently was awarded the Marvin D. Mills Scholar of the Year for 2009. It is given to a senior who has upheld the standards and principles of the Marvin Mills Scholars Program and one who has excelled on campus in leadership and in academics.
Rebbie has been an outstanding student at Murray. She has done a great job academically and has made the time to participate in many extra-curricular activities along the way during the past four years.
This is not an inclusive list but something to give you an idea of the young people we are trying to support with our scholarships. Here are some of her activities and accomplishments:
Student Government Association, Hart Residential College Council, Hart Honors Society- President, Sigma Alpha Lambda Service Fraternity - President, Student Services for Learning Disabilities - Tutor, Black Student Council, College of Business and Public Affairs - Student Ambassador, Dean’s List Award, Distinguished Academic Award, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Murray State’s University’s Concert Choir, Miss Murray State University Candidate, 1st Runner Up - Miss Black and Gold, Omicron Delta Kappa and of course the Marvin D. Mills Scholar of the Year 2009 recognition.
We should all join in and congratulate Rebbie and her parents Nancy and Phillip for a job well done. The late Whitney M. Young Sr. would often remark; “any job worth doing is worth doing well.” Rebbie has done an excellent job and our hopes and prayers go out to her as she prepares for graduation and graduate school this Fall.
Thanks to each of you for your continued support of the Lincoln Institute National Alumni Scholarship Program.
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CELEBRATING OUR HERITAGE
Chris Dowe, Eastern High School Basketball Star headlines in Lexington Herald Leader, March 29 2009 ; Grandson of Dorothy Smith Dowe, Class of 1949.
Reprint
SWEET SIXTEEN – 2009 Boys’ State Basketball Tournament
Dowe Rises in Rupp - Eastern Star scores 27 point to help oust Corbin
Eastern and Chris Dowe weren’t on anybody’s radar when the basketball season began, but the Eagles and their senior standout are flying high now, and everybody better take notice.
Led by Dowe’s 27 points and a dominant team effort on the boards, Eastern beat Corbin 75-61 in the first round of the National City’s Boys’ Sweet Sixteen before 13,533 fans in Rupp Arena Wednesday night.
The Eagles, who didn’t crack the pre-season top 25, improved to 31-2 and Dowe solidified his status as the breakout star of the year. “At the beginning of February his junior year, it’s amazing how Chris decided to just commit to do what he needed to do,” Coach Jason Couch said.
“The sky’s the limit for him, and you saw that tonight. He had an outstanding game.”
Footnote: Eastern didn’t win the state tournament but Chris is being pursued by several well known colleges for their basketball programs. A grandson of a proud Lincolnite, let’s wish him well as he completes his high school years.
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Alumnus Passing
Lucille Grant
Lucille Grant 88, Indianapolis, passed away April 21, 2009. She was a wonderful mother, and member of Kingsly Terrace Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by her husband, Sandy; sons, William and Harold. She is survived by her children, Demetrius, Jerard, Edna, Johnthan, James, Cassandra, Ingrid, Nanette, Kenneth, Curtis, and Beverly. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Sat. May 2 at Crown Hill Funeral Home, with visitation prior to services at Noon.
Erman L. Cole I, Class of 1952
Erman L. Cole passed in Dayton, OH on Friday, March 13th, 2009. Funeral arrangements will be handled by The House of Wheat, 2107 N. Gettysburg Ave, Dayton, OH 45406. Viewing and Funeral will be held on Saturday, March 21st at Bethesda Temple, 3701 Salem Ave, Dayton, OH 45406. Viewing will be from 11:00 -1:00 with the funeral to begin at 1:00 p.m. He is survived by one son Erman L. Cole II (Sheila) and one grandson. He is also survived by one sister, Francis Irene White (Cole) Class of 1948.
Mr. Cole's 1952 yearbook quote, "If a man empties his purse into his head, no man can take it away from him."
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Delois Jean Masden Johnson - Class of 1950
Delois Jean Masden Johnson Indianapolis, died Wednesday, February 11, 2009, at her residence. Mrs. Johnson retired from LD. Campus Services after 30 years of employment. Her husband, James Wesley Johnson of Trenton, Tennessee, and her son, Dwight Crenshaw, preceded her in death. She was a member of Nu Corinthian Baptist Church. Calling will be on Thursday, February 19, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Crown Hill Funeral Home & Cemetery, who is handling arrangements. Services will be at 12 Noon on Friday, February 20 at Nu Corinthian Baptist Church. Survivors: Sisters, Shirley Ann Smith, Ruth Eloise Peyton, Jennifer Sue Rogers, Margaret McMakin and Estella Allen; a special niece, Audrey Masden Davis; several nieces and nephews; a host of other relatives, church family and many friends.
Delois resided in Indianapolis and was a native of Sheperdsville, KY.
(Thanks to Mary White for sharing this info to us.)
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CONGRATULATIIONS - Bernard I. Minnis (2/20/09)
Bernard I. Minnis, a longtime educator and school official, is the recipient of the city's 2009 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Award, Mayor Jerry Abramson announced yesterday.
Abramson presented the award to Minnis at a press conference yesterday. The annual award is presented to a local resident who reflects King's ideals and who has promoted justice, peace, nonviolence and racial equality.
Minnis, 67, is assistant superintendent for diversity, equity and poverty programs for the Jefferson County Public Schools. He retired in June 2004, but returned to work two months later as a part-time assistant to the superintendent for 3 1/2 years before assuming his current position in January 2008.
"Over his decades in education, countless lives have been improved through Dr. Minnis' efforts to fight racism, poverty and inequality for students," Abramson said.
In brief remarks, Minnis said he marched in Frankfort with King in the 1960s while still a college student. He said he was humbled to receive the freedom award and to join the company of such prestigious previous recipients.
Nominees for the award are suggested by local citizens, and the winner is selected by the mayor and a group of advisers, said Phil Miller, an aide to Abramson.
Since 1988 the award has been presented to such civil-rights activists as Lyman Johnson, Georgia Davis Powers, Art Walters, the Rev. Kevin Cosby, Samuel Robinson, Raoul Cunningham and Ben Richmond.
Prior to being named to his current position, Minnis worked four years as a special assistant to the county school superintendent.
He has published a book on desegregation, "Contingency Planning for a Unitary School System," and has written for education publications on testing, teacher evaluation and other topics.
Minnis has taught in the Paducah (Ky.) Independent Schools and in inner-city schools in Louisville, coordinated a program for disadvantaged youth, and served as the Kentucky state director of vocational education for the disadvantaged and handicapped.
Minnis also was assistant superintendent for human and community relations for the former Jefferson County Schools, and a middle school principal.
The Louisville native received his bachelor's degree from Kentucky State University, a master's degree from Western Kentucky University and a doctorate from the University of Kentucky.
He has received numerous professional awards and has been active as a volunteer with the Greater Louisville Alliance of Black Educators; Boy Scouts of America's Lincoln Heritage Council; Youth Alive Inc. and the Louisville Urban League.
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HOW DID WE MISS THIS?
Reprint from The Meade County Messenger, Brandenburg, Kentucky
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
William Mack joins KSU Athletic Hall of Fame
William O. Mack, Brandenburg, was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at Kentucky State University. Mack’s induction for his accomplishments in track and field took place during the 11th annual K-Club all-sports banquet Oct. 10, 2008.
A product of the historic Lincoln Institute High School in Shelby County, Mack was a member of the track team. He ran the cross country and the two mile race.
When he entered Kentucky State College in 1950, Mack’s intention was to follow his athletic heroes, Joe Louis and Sugar Ray Robinson. He joined the boxing team, only to have it dropped from the athletic program. He remained active in the track and field program and was rewarded with newspapers touting him as one of Kentucky State University’s best two-milers of his time.
After leaving KSU, Mack attended Tuskegee University’s Veterinary School and purchased a farm in Brandenburg, which is now one of the most productive farms in the county.
Mack is a longtime member of the K-Club as well as an active support of Kentucky State University.
He and Mattie Mack, his wife of 50 years, have four children and four grandchildren. Bill, as he is affectionately called by his Lincoln family, is still a very active member of the National Lincoln Institute Alumni Association and leads the Breckinridge/Meade County Chapter of the alumni.
"CONGRATULATIONS" Bill from your Lincoln Institute Family !
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2009 – 2010 National Lincoln Institute Alumni Officers
Congratulations to our National Lincoln Institute Alumni leadership team for the next two years. The following individuals were elected by the Alumni Association at its 4th quarter meeting held in Cincinnati, Ohio on Saturday, November 15, 2008; Nora Craig presiding.
President -------------- Nora Craig --------------Louisville Chapter
Vice President --------- Etta Coleman -----------Shelbyville Chapter
Recording Secretary -- Thelzeda Moore ---------Indianapolis Chapter
Correspond. Secret. -- Zenda Jones -------------Shelbyville Chapter
Treasurer ------------- Herbert Dorsey ----------Louisville Chapter
Parliamentarian -------- William Mack -----------Breckinridge Chapter
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"GEMS" of Dr. Whitney M.Young Sr.
"People who are good for excuses are good for nothing."
" It is better to be prepared for something better than not have it. Than to have it and not be prepared for it."
"Study to show thou self approved unto God,a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth."
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LINCOLN INSTITUTE ARTIFACTS
Working with Mr. Larry McDonald, President of the Lincoln Foundation we are having some success finding some artifacts that came up missing during the transition from a high school to the Job Corp. If you know the whereabouts of any trophies or other items which may belong in our archives we would appreciate hearing from you.
Contact - Gary Brown (859) 621-9342 or email gbrowntss@aol.com.
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DO YOU HAVE A STORY LINE?
There are a lot of former students doing great things around our nation. Don't keep the stories to yourself, share them with all of us. If you're not making news, tell us about your grand kids. Don't be lazy, hit me with an email at gbrowntss@aol.com. This might be your only chance to make the front page.
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