Toledo, Ohio – The University of Toledo Athletic Department is celebrating Black History Month throughout the month of February by honoring four ground-breaking African Americans who played a crucial role in the history of Rocket sports.
 
            In addition, the Mid-American Conference is recognizing Dr. Amanda Bryant-Friedrich, UT's Interim Dean of the College of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, as part of its conference-wide celebration of Black History Month.
 
            The four former Rockets being honored are James Pierce, a football player at UT from 1922-23 who later became the chairman of the political science department at Alabama State University; Frank Clemons, who played men's basketball at UT from 1940-42 and later won the Bronze Star for meritorious service in World War II; Shantel Ransom, a women's track & field star from 1988-91 who went on to earn her master's degree at UT; and Latoja Harris, who in 1993 was the first Rocket African-American women's basketball player to be named the conference player of the year by the Mid-American Conference. Each of the four will be featured in a video at a men's or women's basketball game this month, with narration and commentary provided by a current UT student-athlete.
 
            The UT Athletic Department kicked off its celebration of Black History Month with a recognition of African-American achievement at a recent men's basketball game. Several Black Student Organizations promoted their organizations on the concourse prior to the contest vs. Akron on Feb. 5. Honored at the game were four MLK Scholarship recipients; five Black Excellence Award winners; and UT student Denzel Mitchell, who was recently recognized as the assistant district director for the State of Ohio of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. In addition, Rocket fans enjoyed singing performances by UT students Demi Oduwaiye, who sang the National Anthem, and Mykah Mindingall and Mackenzie Flanagan, who performed "Lift Every Voice and Sing" at halftime. Also performing at halftime was the National Pan-Hellenic Council, Incorporated (NPHC) composed of nine historically Black sororities and fraternities, and the Fire Squad.