DAYTONA BEACH — For Bethune-Cookman University, April 13 was no routine Monday morning.
Instead of students scattering to classes across campus, nearly 2,000 people, including those students, faculty, administrators, staff and alumni streamed to Daisy Stocking Park, a block from campus, for a rally with music, cheerleaders and dancing — all before 9 a.m.
Within another hour, most of the crowd fanned out to some 50 sites — nursing homes, schools and nonprofits — for a day of community service.
The high-energy event was part of Albert Mosley’s plan. Mosley will officially take the mantle as the historically Black university’s 8th president at an inauguration ceremony on April 14. There was also a worship event at Hope Fellowship Church and concert on April 12, as well.
“Service is one of our core values at Bethune-Cookman University,” Mosley said. “Service also happens to be something that’s near and dear to my heart, and I wanted our students, our faculty, our staff, our alums to get back into our community, to give back to Daytona Beach because it’s given us so much.”
The family atmosphere present at the park wasn’t lost on the president.
“Absolutely powerful. About 2,000 folks gathered in Daisy Stocking Park, all there with one mission in mind and that is to serve our community, to give back, but seeing our students come together, celebrating, excited about service,” Mosley said. “It was truly a sight to behold, and that’s really what we want our students to know and to experience.”
The school motto, which dates to school founder Mary McLeod Bethune, is “Enter to Learn. Depart to Serve,” and Mosley has embraced that tradition.
“Part of our belief at Bethune-Cookman University is to whom much is given, much is required,” he said, “and so we are in the business of trying to serve and to bless others as we have been blessed as an institution.”
‘A special day’ in Daytona for Bethune-Cookman sophomore
Azuri Edwards, a sophomore, admitted she was “tired” heading to the event, but felt “great” on her way to the community service events.
“Today definitely feels like a special day,” she said, describing her classmates as “hyped up” before adding: “Everybody’s out here matching, having fun with friends.
“I feel great. I would love to help our community and see what we can do. We’re out here to make a change as a group,” Edwards said.
She has had a chance to meet Mosley while working her part-time job at the Greek store near campus. “Love Dr. Mosley,” she said. “He’s come in a few times, and you know I love to see him. Great guy.”
Reggie Theus says Mosley has given B-CU a direction
Athletic Director Reggie Theus, a two-time NBA all-star who also coaches the men’s basketball Wildcats, turned around to show the back of a T-shirt most in attendance were wearing, bearing the phrase #MosleyMomentum to explain the impact of the new president on B-CU.
“The synergy, the family atmosphere, the mentality of having direction is what he’s really brought to the table. He’s done just a phenomenal job in our direction. This is just another one of the things that he’s done since he’s been here, with the gathering of all the students, getting Sevyn to come up here and perform.”
“I was here for five years with interim leadership. Having permanent leadership is someone who really understands what college is all about, and how college works from a business standpoint. He’s really on top of his game.”
Sevyn Streeter performs for fellow students at B-CU
Streeter, who became the first student to enroll in a new B-CU Global program, sang several songs, including her platinum 2013 hit “It Won’t Stop.”
Mia Menjay, a freshman who was at the nursing home with the president’s entourage, said some students dragged themselves to the Monday morning event, which started at 8:30 a.m., but by the end, enthusiasm was high.
“Our performer, Sevyn Streeter, she really did a good job bringing everyone’s spirits up,” Menjay said. “Good energy today.”
B-CU president hopes to have more days of service in Daytona
Mosley said he hopes to make the day of service a “semi-annual event,” with one in the fall and one in the spring.
“This community has been so gracious to us,” he said, “and we want to return some of that generosity by serving our community on special days like today, and also have our students make connections with the organizations, and maybe internships will come of that, or maybe students will decide to come on their own to volunteer on a much more regular basis.”
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: B-CU reaches out to serve Daytona Beach for day of service
Reporting by Mark Harper, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
