Morgan Choir Named AMERICA'S BEST COLLEGE CHOIR by ...

Morgan State University • National Alumni Association, Inc.ALUMNINewsMSU HONORS DELORES COUSER COOKE 2004 ALUMNUS OF THE YEARAnative ofBaltimore,Dr. Cookehas been employedin the city publicschool systemsince 1964,following graduation from MSU with aBachelor of Science degree in mathematics.After earning a Master’s in education fromThe Johns Hopkins University, Cookeworked as a guidance counselor for morethan 20 years. As a teacher and guidancecounselor, Cooke saw first-hand many ofthe challenges facing students in theclassroom, in the community, and in theirfamily lives.Cooke and her husband, Ralph, also anMSU graduate, are Life Members of theMorgan State University National AlumniAssociation and active members of theHoward L. Cornish Chapter. She has servedas Treasurer for the past four years. Cookehas received several awards andrecognitions for her contributions to thechapter. For many years, she has servedon the chapter’s annual Dr. Martin LutherKing, Jr. Scholarship Committee.Cooke is a member of the ReunionPlanning Committee for the Morgan StateClass of 1964. She also supports MSU byrecommending high school graduates asapplicants for admission, and assists thoseaccepted students in their search forfinancial aid. She and her husband havesupported the Morgan Christian/InterfaithCenter and the University’s CapitalCampaign. Cooke is one of the fewfemales to participate in Morgan’s annualGolf Tournament.Mrs. Delores Couser Cooke, Esquire,’64, is committed to empowering AfricanAmerican youth through education andmentoring. For forty years, she hasdedicated her life to enhancing the lives ofyoung people in Baltimore City andBaltimore County.Currently, Cooke is a Staff Associatewith the Baltimore City Public SchoolSystem. Yet, her passion to uplift studentsSPRING SPRING 2004 200437 27President’s Message . . . . . . . . . . 38Alumni on the Move . . . . . . . . . . 40Necrology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41Chapter & Class News . . . . . . . . . 42Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . . . . 45goes well beyond the classroom andguidance counselor’s office. She has madeit her civic duty to counsel youth onachieving their goals, getting an education,and identifying financial resources forhigher education.Because she wanted to do more as anadvocate for child welfare, Cooke wasinspired to attend law school. She receivedthe Juris Doctorate degree from theUniversity of Maryland School of Law in1987. She has worked as a SpecialAssistant City Solicitor for Baltimore City.In this capacity, she represented theSuperintendent of Schools at administrativehearings and in cases involving Children InNeed of Supervision.Cooke is a Golden Life Member ofDelta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc, and acharter member of the Baltimore CountyAlumnae Chapter. Cooke has beenrecognized for her service to the MarylandVolunteer Lawyers Service, an organizationthat provides pro bono assistance to clientswho cannot pay legal fees.U.S. INTERIOR DEPARTMENT OFFICER WINS 2004 SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDMSU National Alumni AssociationSelects Edgar Johnson (’70,’75)Edgar Amos Johnson graduated fromMorgan State College in 1970 witha B.S. degree in PhysicalEducation, and in 1975 he received a M.S.in Recreation Administration andSupervision. Mr. Johnson currently servesas the U.S. Virgin Islands Desk Officer andworks for the Deputy Assistant Secretaryfor the Office of Insular Affairs. He worksclosely with Dr. Donna Christian-Christensen, the U.S. Virgin IslandsDelegate to Congress and Governor CharlesTurnbull to resolve issues with federalagencies and promote economic, social ,andpolitical development in the U.S. VirginIslands.He has served on several task forces toaddress both economic revitalization and totransfer Water Island from federalownership to thelocal government.Johnson receivedan award ofappreciation fromformer GovernorRoy Schneider forhis work on theWater Islandtransfer. Former Secretary of the InteriorManuel Lujuan honored him with a Pointsof Light Award for his OutstandingVolunteer Contribution to the ColumbiaBasketball Association, where he served asboth a coach and commissioner for nineyears. He was a President of theDepartment of the Interior Chapter ofBlacks In Government for five years.Johnson is a Life Member with theMSU National Alumni Association. He isthe immediate past President of theWashington, D.C. Metropolitan AreaInsideChapter of the National AlumniAssociation. He was a founder and firstPresident of the Howard County AlumniChapter, and served as the 1ST Vice-President of the National AlumniAssociation. Johnson is a 1988recipient of the Distinguished AlumniAward from NAFEO (the NationalAssociation for Equal Opportunity inHigher Education).Along with his family, he initiated,through the Morgan State UniversityFoundation, the Rev. Charles A. JohnsonScholarship Fund in honor of hisgrandfather, a 1902 graduate and amathematics professor from 1902-1920.Johnson joined Iota Phi ThetaFraternity, Inc. in 1969 and was elected the13th Grand Polaris in 1978. He has servedon the fraternity’s Board of Directors fortwelve years.Continued on page 33ALUMNINewsMorgan State University • National Alumni Association, Inc.