ShawU Student Experience Bear-y Good

That young man was fly, in a baby-blue outfit, the vest matching pants cropped high off the ankles, drawing attention to white loafers that made it all pop.

There was no plumber on standby to handle the drip.

Fashion police managed to keep things under control.

It was The Bearys. Think Grammys but student-choice awards for Shaw University Bears. The vibe was Black excellence, students leaning into springtime with their attire, outside, on the quad across from the Wille E. Gary Student Center.

“The student-leadership awards have been an ongoing event at Shaw,” said Shaw University Dean of Students Tobias Morgan, Ph.D. “However, this year, Mr. Baker has elevated the awards significantly with the addition of the student-choice categories, theme, location and event design and decor.”

He’s talking about Jalen Baker, the university’s coordinator of first-year experience and male retention. Baker was clean, too, not playing it safe — not with that yellow suit!

Brianna Spann coordinates the second-year experience at Shaw University. She also was instrumental in producing The Bearys.

Morgan said more emphasis has been put on first- and second-year students. When he started in his role two years ago, students signaled a lack of engagement among their peers. So Morgan got busy.

“To date, the team and I have been able to enhance student programming, rejuvenate fraternity and sorority life with the addition of a new sorority, Gamma Sigma Sigma National Service Sorority Incorporated. We haven’t chartered a new sorority in 76 years,” Morgan said.

Spring 2024 brought the reactivation of Nu Gamma Alpha Fraternity Inc., which had been inactive on campus for 45 years.

The Shaw University Office of Student Affairs developed the Male Achievement Center, and female students are mentored by the Raleigh Chapter of The Links Inc.

“The student experience has changed in a positive way since Dr. Morgan arrived at Shaw,” said Al-Asia Dickens, who earned the Dean’s Rising Star Award. “For me, Shaw was just somewhere I lived and just had classes until I became a student leader. Dr. Morgan inspired me and pushed me to be the leader that I am today. He was in my corner all the way through and saw something in me that I didn’t see.”

The Bearys showcased Shaw University’s size as just right for students to find their particular lanes. The awards are merit-based, no hyperbole. Students who walked away with hardware earned it. Like Shaw University Student Government Association Chief of Staff Isaiah Foreman, who got the Bear Excellence Award for his knack for always being Johnny On the Spot. Sure enough, when wind blew down one of the event’s backdrops, there he was getting his hands dirty so the show could go on.

By the way, McDougall in that baby-blue gear didn’t win the award for best-dressed male. That went to Jermaine Snow. Nakaya Carter won among females.

The complete list of Beary Award winners is here.