Members of B-CU Marching Band Impress Georgia Pastor
Office of Public Relations
Shirley Range
ranges@cookman.edu
386-481-2950
February 20, 2008
President Trudie Kibbe Reed wishes to share the following e-mail note she received from a United Methodist pastor in Cordele, Georgia:
Dear Dr. Reed,
I am a pastor in the United Methodist Church, serving in Cordele, Ga.
Recently I had the opportunity to chat with some of the marching band members of Bethune-Cookman University during lunch at the local Zaxby’s Restaurant in Cordele. I am writing to tell you how impressed I was with their neat, well groomed appearance and, more so, with their very polite manners. I talked with several of the young men as I waited for my lunch. I truly love meeting new people, and asked these guys questions about where they were from and about their band positions . . . . I was struck by their “extreme” politeness – a quality so often missing in our society (not just in youth!)
I didn’t even know there was a university in Daytona Beach! I didn’t get to speak with all of the Bethune-Cookman “team” in the restaurant that day, but I watched them as they ate and socialized with one another. There were probably 50 or so band members there. I was very impressed that good manners (and sharp appearance) seemed to be very important to these young people. They appeared to be friendly, respectful, and reserved, and yet looked to be having a very nice time. I commend you, the faculty, staff and student body Bethune-Cookman University for the impressive behavior exhibited by your students. The band members represent you well.
May God bless you and Bethune-Cookman University.
“We all should be proud when our students represent themselves and the GREAT Bethune-Cookman University well in their activities outside our campus. Congratulations to Mr. Wells, our outstanding band director, and our outstanding band students!” comments President Reed.
Founded in 1904 by Mary McLeod Bethune, Bethune-Cookman University (B-CU) today sustains her legacy of faith, scholarship and service through its relationship with the United Methodist Church and its commitment to academic excellence and civic engagement. B-CU offers baccalaureate degrees in 37 majors through six academic schools – Arts & Humanities; Business; Education; Nursing; Science, Engineering and Mathematics; and Social Sciences – and maintains intercollegiate athletic programs and instrumental and choral groups that have achieved national recognition. Under the direction of President Trudie Kibbe Reed, the school achieved University status in 2007with the launch of a master’s degree program in transformative leadership. Located in Daytona Beach, B-CU is one of three private historically black colleges in the state of Florida. The institution boasts a diverse and international faculty and student body of more than 3,400.
