SC State’s BECT ‘Jazzy Christmas Concert’ provides funds for Samaritan House

Wille Bradley (musician/professor), Cherise Wilson(student), Henry Miller (Executive Director), Dr. Barbara Adams (BECT Director), Iyana Zimmerman(student), Tatiana Hugue (Student), Gary Robinson (ORIC Director).

ORANGEBURG, S.C. – Over the holidays, South Carolina State University’s Institute for Business, Environment, Communication and Transportation (BECT) hosted its Jazzy Christmas Concert and Silent Auction at the SC State Fine Arts Building’s Barbara A. Vaughan Recital Hall to support the Samaritan House.

A check for $1,240 from concert proceeds was presented to Henry Miller, executive director of the Samaritan House. Miller indicated his appreciation for the donation because it helps them to fulfill their mission.

“More people need to understand the homeless issue in Orangeburg County because it could happen to anyone. The Samaritan House is the only shelter in the area between Charleston and Columbia that helps those in need to transition from their current situation to a stable job and place to live,” Miller said.
  

The Jazzy Christmas Concert was a culmination of BECT’s Project Management Program that included 15 students from various majors. Students completed six weeks of training from professional project managers that focused on building critical project management skills such as organizational, communication, teamwork, time management, cost analysis, staffing, risk analysis and problem-solving.

The objective of the program was to develop knowledge and skills to plan and manage a project using lectures and hands-on classroom activities, provide experiential learning by engaging students in the planning and execution of a real-world project, and provide career guidance and mentoring in the field of project management. 

To complete the program, students were assigned a project they had to plan and implement. They worked in various team roles as they navigated the project and selected the Samaritan House as the charity for the proceeds. 

Students participating included: Asia Crump, Tatiana Hugue, Kashif Alston, Olivia Wilson, Paul Omulokoli, Tumlumbe Juliana Chengula, Cuthbert Ruseruka, Kenneth Bethea, Jr., Sha’Dyma White, Iyana Zimmerman, Cherise Wilson, Ariana Ray, Gabriel Nkhata and Kayon Nesmith. 
  
Dr. Renu Singh, associate professor of Marketing, was the program director and was assisted by Gary Robinson. 

The concert included performances from grammy-nominated and music instructor, Willie Bradley and his band, along with Dr. Maria Ortiz, SC State student Gabriel Nkata, SC State student Avonte Covington, Dr. Mitch Butler, Dr. Rosetta Dingle, Roland Haynes Jr., SC State student production manager Zaria Sumpter, and the SC State Concert Choir.

"I am appreciative that I was afforded the opportunity to learn about project management and what it's like to be a part of a team,” said SC State senior management major Tatiana Hugue. “I was able to gain skills in leadership as well as give back to the Orangeburg community. This program has ignited my interest in project management and ways I can be an effective humanitarian in the future."

“Not only have I learned how to conduct a project, but also it has given me an opportunity to improve and pursue speaking publicly,” Cherise Wilson said. She is a sophomore speech pathology major who served as the master of ceremony for the concert.   
  
“The Jazzy Christmas project came with dedication to help others and I made sure that goal was fulfilled. I was able to help the homeless and put smiles on many faces which made me smile,” she said.

SC State junior accounting major Iyana Zimmerman was another participant who was elated to be a part of the initiative. 

“A big thank you to the BECT Institute for allowing us to host A Jazzy Christmas. This was a wonderful opportunity and a gateway to so many other projects,” Zimmerman said. “This project taught me so much about leadership and collaboration. It has also allowed me to gain experience with humanitarian work, which I will now continue to do.”

Research indicates that companies like Boeing will employ more than 2 million project-oriented roles each year through 2030; however, only 7% of project managers are Black. Preparing career-ready students and instilling the necessary skills required to successfully navigate the dynamic work environment are important goals of SC State and the BECT Institute.  

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About South Carolina State University

Founded in 1896 as a land grant institution with a mission of providing service to the citizens of the state, South Carolina State University has evolved from a small teachers’ college into a major University center of learning and research. Located in Orangeburg, S.C., South Carolina State offers more than 50 different fields of study on the undergraduate and graduate levels. South Carolina State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and is a member of the Council of Graduate Schools.