Melessa L. Avery, Class of 1983 - (resident of Brooklyn, NY) earned the Bachelor of Arts in Visual and Performing Arts with a concentration in Theater Arts, from Shaw University, the Master’s of Art from Brooklyn College. As an undergraduate, she ran track throughout her college career; she also served as captain of the girl’s track team for three years. Her events included the 440 and the 880-yard relays; 100-meter hurdles, discuss, shot put, and the javelin. Avery won 26 individual medals and contributed to numerous trophies awarded to the university.

Currently she is a teacher for Public School Number One. She also works as a literacy coordinator and a Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) Specialist.

James B. Cheek, Class of 1967 - (resident of Columbia, MD) earned the Bachelor of Arts and he is a first-generation college degree recipient. In his junior year, he was selected as the co-captain of the football team, and he led the team as captain in his senior year. He also made the All Central Intercollegiate Athletics Association (CIAA) team. After graduation Cheek was invited to tryout with the Houston Oilers; he received an invitation to play in the fall as a free agent, but he decided against playing professionally, due to injuries he received in his last year of college. Currently, he is a Territory Sales Manager at Performance Specialty Vehicles, LLC, in Bristow, VA.

Ivan Donovan, Class of 1968 - (resident of Englewood, NJ) earned the Bachelor of ?. He lettered in basketball during the season of ‘65-’66, leading the Southern Division of the CIAA in rebounding, and consistently led the Bears in double-doubles, with a rebounding average of 15.3. He is now the executive vice president of Global Trade & Technology Center, Inc. Donovan also serves as the vice president of the Shaw University North Jersey Alumni Association Chapter.

William Modeste, Class of 1961 - (resident of ?) earned the Bachelor of ?, played basketball and was a starter from ’57-’61 serving as the co-captain during his senior year. While Modeste played at Shaw, the Bears made the CIAA Tournament for the first time since 1952, losing to the tournament champs North Carolina A&T College, in double overtime. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army and played on the US Army Basketball Team. After receiving an honorable discharge, he coached young people while working for the New York City Board of Education. For over three decades he has been a certified basketball official, by the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials (IAABO). Modeste was selected as Official of the Year, in 2000. And he is an active member of the Shaw University National Alumni Association.

William Montague, Class of 1990 - (resident of Raleigh, NC) earned the Bachelor of Science in Community Recreation with a Minor in Physical Education. As an undergraduate he served as a volunteer student track coach at Shaw, and he coached the Shaw Intramural Basketball Team to the National Basketball Championship. Montague currently works as the Head Cross Country Indoor/Outdoor Track Coach at Shaw University. Just two short years ago, Montague’s coaching ability and his teams accomplished several milestones. They are: the CIAA 2002-2003 Women’s Cross Country Champions, Men’s Cross Country Runners-up, and Women’s Outdoor Track Runners-up. Montague was selected for two consecutive years as the CIAA Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year and as the CIAA Women’s Outdoor Coach of the Year. He holds membership in the North Carolina Athletics Association (NCAA) Division II Track Southeast Regional Representatives and the CIAA Track Coaches Association. Montague is also an active member in the Shaw University National Alumni Association.

Jackie Bernard Smith, Class of 1972 - (resident of Raleigh, NC) received a four-year basketball scholarship to play at Shaw, and he earned the Bachelor of Science in Physical Education. He was named the Most Improved Player in 1968, averaging 17 points per game. He even scored 33 points, 15/15 field goals and 3/3 free throws against Norfolk State University. And he led the conference in field goal percentage (.741), and was named All-Conference, All-National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) District 29, and Outstanding Player of the Year. After graduation he served his country for four years in the United States Navy; his service in the military continued for over 20 years, in the US Army National Guard. He was named as the first African-American high school athletics director in the Wake County Public School System (WCPSS). Currently, Smith is a Driver’s Education Instructor with the WCPSS.

Dr. George L. White, Class of 1957 - (resident of New York, NY) earned the Bachelor of Science in Biology, Shaw University; the Master of Science in Environmental Science, City College of New York; and he earned the Ph.D. in Environmental Science, New York University (NYU). White lettered in football and baseball at Shaw in the 1951-53, and 1956-57 seasons. He is a retired educator of the New York City Public School System (NYCPS), serving in the capacity of Science Coordinator, in the Bronx, NY, for District eight. Some of his job responsibilities included developing science curriculum policies and operations protocol.