notes I years , There is a photo of the BSO in the 1980 Indianhead yearbook. Well-dressed and comprised mostly of athletes, it was an important and active group on campus, and June was a leader with a reputation for getting things done. “The Black Student Organization was very involved, and they encouraged me to run for SGA president,” June said. “My strategy was to link up with other strong groups. I went to the TKEs and gave them my plan.” With a platform to build student activities and student involvement on campus and support from key groups, June won in a landslide. Then he worked to make good on his promises. “PSU was a suitcase college back then,” he said. “I wanted more activities on campus to keep them from going home on weekends.” Using the old gym as a roller skating rink was one idea. Building a new university center with recreational activities like bowling, pool and pingpong was another. The idea that really resonated on campus was a concert with a name band, like Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show. “Advance ticket sales were poor, and we were nervous,” June said. “By show time, it was filled up. That was a big thing because it took the university out of its comfort zone. “There were quite a few firsts, and the Black Student Organization were pioneers,” he said. “The scholarship keeps the name alive.” Martin is calling on his old friends to make it an endowed scholarship that will keep the name alive forever and help out students financially. Recently, June’s time as the university’s first Black SGA president was remembered as part of the SGA Wall of Honor in the James B. Chavis University Center, which opened eight years after he started advocating for it. Yes, the Martins met and fell in love at Pembroke State University. Carmen’s campaign to become the first black homecoming queen was simple, she said. “June was my campaign manager.” If you were or are a friend of June’s, you can expect a call. It’s doubtful you will be able to say no. Black Student Organization scholarship established by June and Carmen Martin t started with a conversation during Homecoming 2011. June ’80 and Carmen ’81 Martin were attending their first fall homecoming with football. Although they had attended several homecomings, work and busy lives put distance between them and their alma mater. June, a former track star and Student Government Association (SGA) president, retired from a career in criminal justice. Carmen, a former homecoming queen, retired from a career in higher education administration. As June said, “we’re retired, so our time is now.” In conversations with students at homecoming they heard that students were leaving UNCP for financial reasons. “We heard that story, and it was heartbreaking,” Carmen said. “At home that Sunday, we read on the front page of the News and Observer that 500 UNCP students did not return to college for financial reasons,” June said. “That’s what started it.” The Black Student Organization Endowed Scholarship was born. Spring 2012 Homecoming 2012 UNCP Today October 27 33