Tuesday, June 19, 2012

71 Year Old Michigan Man Has 29 College Degrees and Counting; none honorary or from online classes

KALAMAZOO, Michigan -- Every June, students all over the country don their caps and gowns for graduation. Whether it's from high school, college or graduate school, most people could easily count their own graduations on one hand.

But not 71-year-old Michael Nicholson of Kalamazoo, Michigan

Nicholson has earned 29 degrees and is now pursuing his 30th.

"I just stayed in school and took menial jobs to pay for the education and just made a point of getting more degrees and eventually I retired so that I could go full-time to school," Nicholson told ABCNews.com.

"It's stimulation to go to the class, look at the material that's required and meet the teacher and students. It makes life interesting for me," he said. "Otherwise, things would be pretty dull."

Nicholson has one bachelor's degree, two associate's degrees, 22 master's degrees, three specialist degrees and one doctoral degree.

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Former TSU standout Christian Lowe signs contract to play volleyball in Germany

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Former Tennessee State University volleyball player Christian Lowe has signed a contract to play with Turnverein Dingolfing (Dingolfing TV) in Germany.

The Dingolfing TV was established in 1868 and has almost 2,000 members.

Lowe, a native of San Antonio, Texas played two years with Tennessee State. As a junior she helped TSU claim the 2007 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Championship and the program's first NCAA tournament berth.

Christian Lowe
(Photo Courtesy TSU Sports Information)
A 6-0, Opposite Side Hitter, Lowe was named to the OVC All-Newcomer team in 2007 and was third on the team in kills and blocks per set. As a senior, she led the team in total kills and blocks while ranking third in the league in points and fourth in kills per set. She also garnered two OVC Offensive Player of the Week awards during her senior campaign.

"I have always wanted to play professional volleyball," said Lowe. "That was the plan after college, but I became pregnant my senior year and I had to be there for my daughter. It wasn't until last October, when a friend asked me to play in an all-day tournament, that I realized that I could still hang."

Lowe says that after playing in that tournament and consulting with her sister, who has played volleyball in Germany for ten years, she really felt like she could pursue a career professionally. She continued working out, competing in all-day tournaments and practicing with the TSU volleyball team to keep her mind focused on her dream.

"My sister has been a huge help," Lowe added. "She set up all the tryouts, translated and negotiated with the teams."

Lowe and her daughter, Jentelle, will travel to Germany next month.

"I am excited, extremely nervous and scared all at the same time. I haven't played and practice in a competitive way in years, so that makes me scared and nervous. All I want to be is the best I can be (that's with everything I do). But I am so excited; this dream that seemed so far away is in the palm of my hands."

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Monday, June 18, 2012

Hawaiian Islanders Come to St. Augs. Campus

RALEIGH, North Carolina -- The 2012 recruiting class for Saint Augustine's College's football team includes two players from Hawaii. Christian Kama, a 6-5, 275-pound offensive tackle, and Joseph Pelesasa, a 6-foot, 245-pound linebacker, will arrive on campus later this week. The recruits hail from Waimanalo, Hawaii, a small community on the island of Oahu.

Saint Augustine's College football coaches recruited Kama and Pelesasa while in Hawaii to support the Lady Falcons basketball team during their tournament on the island.

Assistant coach Tremayne Henry said the players are tough kids and hard workers. Out of all the potential recruits the coaches met in Hawaii, Henry said these two were the ones who had the most initiative and enthusiasm.

"They were excited about the opportunity to come to the mainland," Henry said.

Kama and Pelesasa are just two players in a solid recruiting class for the Falcons.

"The rule is, you want to recruit better than what you have," Henry said. "I think we've done that."

The attraction of playing in the new stadium has been a good recruiting tool, Henry said.

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Blazers target second-round picks in Monday workout

TUALATIN, Oregon – The Trail Blazers resumed draft workouts Monday with a focus on their second-round picks. The Blazers, who have the 10th and 11th picks of the second round, brought in six players, all but one of whom played four years of college.

“It was a good group, a competitive group, a lot of good guys,” Blazers general manager Neil Olshey said. “They’re four-year guys, and we’ve scouted them a ton. But just getting them in the gym, there are some guys here that have the ability to do more than you would find based on their role with their teams.”

The most intriguing player might have been Kyle O’Quinn, who played at Norfolk State and won the Lou Hensen Award given to the nation’s top mid-major player. O’Quinn did not start playing basketball until his junior year of high school. He said he grew from 6-foot-2 to 6-10 while attending Campus Magnet High School in Cambria Heights, N.Y.






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GSU approves Doug Williams' contract

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- The University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors, at its monthly meeting this morning in Baton Rouge, approved the three-year contract for Grambling State University’s (GSU) Head Football Coach, Doug Williams.

“The University is delighted that Coach Williams successfully led the Tiger Football team to an astounding 2011 football season that culminated in winning the 2011 SWAC Championship. Having received all appropriate signatures and board approval on the contract, the university will continue to move forward in preparation for another victorious season this fall,” states GSU President, Frank Pogue. “On behalf of the Grambling State University family, we express our appreciation to the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors for their support.”

“After talking with Dr. Pogue and all other interested parties, we were able to come together on common ground. We all want what’s best for Grambling State University and to ensure that the university continues to move in a positive direction,” says Coach Doug Williams.

Alabama A&M athletics: Hicks ready for challenge

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- There are not enough hours in the day for Bryan Hicks to do everything he wants to do as he begins to put his signature on Alabama A&M's athletic department. Hicks, who just completed his second week on the job as athletics director, made it clear to his staff and The Times in an interview last week what is important to him.

"First and foremost, the student-athletes are going to be at the heart of the program," said Hicks, an A&M graduate. "Every decision we make is going to be about improving and assisting our student-athletes to be productive not only on campus, but in the community and giving them the skills to be successful when they complete their degree.

"If we put our student-athletes at the heart of our program, the community will get to know them. They will see the great work they do and understand the committment to their success in the classroom, the playing field and in the community. Why wouldn't you support them? I'm going to challenge our alumni, our administration and our community. It's going to be all hands in to grow the athletic program and the university."

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Williams Concludes Successful TSU Boys Basketball Camp

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Tennessee State University men's basketball coach Travis Williams held his inaugural boys basketball camp that concluded Thursday at the Gentry Center.

The four day camp focused on teaching fundamentals and introducing enthusiasm to the game of basketball to young men ages six to 15. Approximately 65 campers from the Nashville community participated in the event.

"I thought it was a great overall camp," noted first year head coach Travis Williams. "It was great to see smiling faces and young kids running down the court having fun. It felt good to see all of these young kids from the community participate in this camp."

The Tennessee State men's basketball program finished the 2011-12 season with a 20-13 record and earned a postseason berth the CollegeInsider.com Tournament. Coach Williams was hired as TSU's 16th head coach on April 13.

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