Sept. 13, 2011
On Saturday, September 3rd, 2011 the Saint Augustine's University Community Development Corporation (CDC) and Poplar Springs Christian Church conducted a street clean up on North Tarboro Street.
The street clean up is part of the CDC's new initiative to keep local neighborhoods clean. Volunteers collected discarded paper and litter along the street. Rev. Charles Brooks, Alumni of Saint Augustine's University and Pastor of Popular Springs was among the volunteers. This activity is a true example of volunteers "working together to build a better community".
Saint Augustine's University hosted the first annual Labor Day music festival and scholarship fundraiser on Friday, September 2, 2011 in the quad area of campus.
Many were in attendance, including students, staff, alumni, vendors and members of the local community. In addition, the festival attracted Pepsi as a sponsor.
There were performances by Pam Saulsby, Moment's Notice (Bobby Moody), Uniquely Different, Sweet Dreams Band, Jus Once, Carrington and Alexis Jones.
All proceeds will go towards the Access Granted scholarship fund. St. Aug plans on making the Labor Day music festival and scholarship fundraiser an annual event.
To view the photo gallery from the festival,click 
On Friday, September 2, 2011 the Men's Falcon basketball team assembled to construct and renovate various Habitat for Humanity houses. Among the group were 12 current men's basketball players and 3 coaches, including Coach Ken Spencer.
"I thought it would be a great way to give back, a way to do something positive while bonding as a team," stated Coach Spencer.
In addition, the players were eager to help the community. "I needed to give back, I knew that helping to build a house would help others; plus it gave me an opportunity to do something I have never done," stated Nick Chamblee, point guard for St. Aug. To view additional pictures, click 
Saint Augustine's University held a luncheon Tuesday, August 23, to kick-off the second year of the Saint Augustine's Wal-Mart Success (SAWS) program.
In addition, Saint Augustine's University recently received a $50,000 award from the Council on Independent Universitys and the Wal-Mart Foundation aimed at funding programs designed to increase the retention rates of first-generation university students.
The SAWS program was created by Nichole Lewis, director of the Saint Augustine's University Belk Professional Development Center, which established seven professional-level externships for first-generation freshmen and sophomores.
The goal of each position is to expose students to career paths that increase the awareness of industries where minorities are under represented in professional roles. Each participant took part in a year-long process that included attending professional development workshops, cultural events and seminars on balancing and avoiding the pitfalls of being a first-generation student/employee. At the conclusion of the 8-week summer assignments, the SAWS externs made formal presentations at their respective employers.
SAWS alumni will be serving in various leadership and ambassador roles on campus. For more information on the SAWS program contact the Belk Center at 516-4242.
