“Leaders must know the difference between knowledge and wisdom, have an appreciation of history and heritage, and understand when scholarship ends and where spiritually begins,” Franklin said during his speech. “Knowledge helps you understand the complexities of life while wisdom helps you appreciate the simplicities and gives you inspiration. During an athletics career, you are going to have mountaintop and valley experiences. The valley experiences teach you the strength of your spiritual life and test your faith."
 

Franklin then watched as several student-athletes from all 17 sports and cheerleading received awards for Highest Academic Average, Newcomer of the Year, Most Improved and Most Valuable Player. Before Franklin addressed everybody, he remembered his Lincoln roots.

Franklin spent time on the historic and bucolic campus in the 1970s while working on his dissertation on student life at HBCU's during the 1920s. Franklin talked about Lincoln alum Joseph Price, who founded Livingstone College. Franklin served as president of three institutions, starting at Livingstone College. Franklin worked closely with Lincoln president Dr. Ivory V. Nelson, when they served on the NCAA President's Council. Lincoln Director of Athletics Dianthia Ford-Kee and Franklin also worked together through the NCAA Committee Services.

“When I reflect on my educational development, I realize how much this institution was a part of that,” Franklin said. “This visit for me is special and makes me feel right at home. I commend the institution for the decision to transition to Division II. I believe the tradition of competition and athletics excellence that you will bring to the CIAA is unparallel, and I can't wait to see you all (participate in) the CIAA basketball tournament.”

Of course, the women's basketball team applauded the loudest.

However, the loudest ovations were reserved for the many award winners including freshman Charisse Colston (Oakwood Village, OH/Bedford), who walked away with the biggest award of the evening. The softball standout was named the Female Student-Athlete of the Year. After listening to Colston's accomplishments, Dr. Nelson told the audience, “I have to come watch a softball game.”

Men's basketball player Bryant Leach was named the Male Student-Athlete of the Year.

Basketball players Sharay DuBose (Salisbury, Md./Parkside HS) and Darren Clark were named the Female and Male Rookies of the Year, respectively.

The newest honor, which is tied into the NCAA's mission of sportsmanship, respect, integrity and creating a positive game day experience was awarded to baseball player Joe Kruemmer and bowler Emily Valdez. They received the Dr. Frank “Tick” Coleman Sportsmanship Award. The award was named in honor of Coleman, a Lincoln graduate and advocate who passed away last Christmas.

“This is an honor to receive an award named after such a great guy and a Lincoln legend,” Kruemmer said. “I am humbled by this award. To understand what the criterion was for the award and to receive it after listening to (Dr. Franklin's) inspirational speech is a blessing. I am going to internalize what he said about leadership and apply it in my daily life. I am glad we had the opportunity to hear his message.”

Ford-Kee, who worked with Franklin presented Dr. William Bynum, Jr., Vice President for Student And Enrollment Management, with a special award for his service and dedication to Lincoln. Also receiving a special award was Senior Secretary Linda Peterson, who has been the glue of the Athletics Department for a number of years. Student-athletes Stephanie Anderson and Trey Thomas were named the Strength and Conditioning Athlete of the Year. Student workers and members of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) also received awards and certificates.

During his speech, Franklin vividly reminded the student-athletes that others sacrificed for them in order for them to have the opportunity to represent Lincoln on and off the field.

“Remember, someone was praying was for you to succeed in the classroom and on the field without you knowing it,” Franklin said. “Never forget that you are always standing on the shoulders of someone else. Before there were was Venus Williams there was Althea Gibson. Before there was Yolanda Adams there was Shirley Caeser and before her there was Mahila Jackson.”

Franklin closed by reciting a poem called “I Wish for Leaders” that focused on the themes of character, ethics, perseverance, achievement and helping others.

“The one thing that stood out the most for me is that everything we do is based off of somebody else,” SAAC outgoing president and senior Jordean Matthews (Pleasantville, NJ/Pleasantville) said. “Although I will not be here when we begin competing for NCAA Division II championships, it's nice to know that I was part of the class of student-athletes that laid the foundation during our transition (from Division III to Division II). It's great to know that our shoulders are the ones that future Lincoln University student-athletes will be standing on when they begin making their mark as an active Division II member.”

Founded in 1854, Lincoln University is the first historically black institution of higher education and its graduates include such luminaries as Thurgood Marshall, the first African American justice of the United States Supreme Court, and acclaimed poet and author Langston Hughes.  Lincoln University is nationally regarded for producing African Americans with undergraduate degrees in the physical sciences.

--LU--

I Wish For Leaders

I sincerely wish you had the experience of thinking up a new idea, planning it to completion and then having it being magnificently successful.

I also hope you go through the same process and have something bomb out.

I wish you could know how it feels to compete with all your heart and lose horribly.

I wish you could achieve some great good for human kind, do a special favor for someone and nobody knows about it, but you.

I hope you become frustrated and challenged enough to push back the barriers of your own personal limitations.

I hope you make a stupid, maybe an unethical mistake, and get caught red handed and are big enough to say those magic words, “I was wrong.”

I hope you give so much of yourself that some days you wonder if it worth it at all.

I wish you magnificent obsessions that give you reasons for living, purpose, and power from within to do what must be done.

I wish for you the worst kind of criticism for everything you do because that makes you fight to achieve beyond what you normally would.

I wish for you the experience of leadership.

-- LU--