December 2015 Gala FROM PAGE 1 Dr. David Hall, President of


the University of the Virgin Islands; Thomas A. Cole, Partner and Former Chair of the Executive Committee of Sidley Austin LLP; and Samuel R. Allen, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Deere & Company also received awards.


The Awards Gala took place on


the final day of the TMCF Leadership Institute, which was attended by more than 300 HBCU students. During the


www.hamptonroadsmessenger.com


Leadership Institute, Apple awarded 32 HBCU students $25,000 college scholarships for their senior year and internship


opportunities means the difference at Apple’s


headquarters in Cupertino, California. "To me, being an Apple Scholar


between a


person walking in someone elses footsteps and the person making the footsteps," remarked


Zanetta Tyler.


Tyler, majoring in computer science, is an Apple Scholar and a junior at North Carolina A&T State University.


dollar


students HBCUs.


Extended Warranties When you're shopping, compare


FROM PAGE 1


specific manufacturers and products. If you buy a reliable product from a company with a good reputation, a service necessary.


contract might not be


Does the Service Contract Really Provide Extra Coverage?


Before considering a service


contract, make sure you know what your warranty coverage is. Compare the warranty coverage to the service contract to see if there’s any benefit to additional coverage.


Read the costs and terms of the service contract. If you’re shopping online, look for a hyperlink to the terms, and save a copy so you can refer to them later.


Depending on the terms, a service


contract could last less than a year or more than five. Accidental damage may not be covered. And there may be clauses that allow the company to deny coverage if, for example, you don’t follow their instructions for routine maintenance.


A service contract might cover


specific parts of the product or specific repairs. If the terms don’t list a part or a function as specifically covered, assume that it’s not.


Keep in mind that you may have other expenses, like a deductible or a fee each time the item is serviced. You may be required to mail the product to a repair center — so consider shipping costs. Some service contracts set reimbursement amounts. For example, auto service contracts may not completely cover towing or rental car expenses. In addition, you may have to pay a transfer fee if you sell the product.


How Are Claims Handled?


Find out if the retailer or someone else takes care of the repairs. What’s the process for a claim? For example, would you return the item to the store where you bought it?


If a local retailer or dealer offers the service contract, you may be able


to get local service only. Consider the possibility that problems may develop while you are traveling or after you move away.


Who Is Responsible Contract?


The FTC often gets letters from consumers who ask what they can do if they have a service contract with a company that goes out of business and cannot repay claims. Unfortunately, there is little you can do if that happens. Before you sign a contract, think about the company's financial situation and consider whether business is reputable:


the


Look for an address and a phone number for questions or problems. Do an online


search Call your state with the


name of the company and words like “review” or “complaint” to see if there are negative reviews of the company.


consumer


protection office and ask if they have any complaints against the company.


Is There a Better Option?


Some consumer advocates suggest that people are better off skipping putting


extended the money


warranties, they


and would’ve


spent in a savings account. If you need repairs, you’ll have your savings to fall back on. And if you don’t need repairs, you’ll have a little extra money in the bank.


A Warning About “Cold Calls” Many extended warranties


are offered at the point of sale, but sometimes marketers call or send mail long after you’ve made a purchase. More than likely, from unrelated


these pitches are businesses. If you


respond to them, you’re likely to hear high-pressure sales tactics, as well as demands for personal financial information and a down payment, before you get any details about the service contract. And if you buy a service contract from a telemarketer, you may find that the company behind it won’t be in business long enough to fulfill its commitments.


Tell us about your


Church programs Churches@hamptonroadsmessenger.com


Read the Hampton Roads Messenger online 24/7: www.hamptonroadsmessenger.com


for the


Apple has made a $40 million multi-year and


faculty


commitment of


for four-year


The Hampton Roads Messenger 3


Aggies to Represent MEAC at Celebration Bowl Despite Athletic Department Missteps


BY: JASMINE BLACKWELL AND ANGELA JONES


The North Carolina A&T Aggies (9-2, 7-1) football team will participate in postseason play for the first time in 12 years.


As co-champions Mid-Eastern of the Athletic Conference


(MEAC), the Aggies will represent the MEAC in the Inaugural Celebration Bowl, which showcases the traditions and values Colleges


of Historically and Universities.


Black The


Celebration Bowl will kick off the college football bowl season on ABC, airing Saturday, Dec. 19 in Atlanta, Georgia.


The Aggies will face the winner of


the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) championship game between Grambling


State University and


Alcorn State University on Dec. 5 in Houston.


The road to the national stage has not been an easy one. The Aggies have rebuilt their program from a devastating 1-10 season and losing 27 games in a row to losing just one game in MEAC play.


North Carolina Central handed


the Aggies this devastating 21-16 loss at home, marking their first loss this season to a MEAC team.


North Carolina A&T Athletics


requested that fans wear all black to this game in an effort to “Black Out the Eagles” on senior day and the last game of regular season play. The hashtag


#BlackOutTheEagles Noise” could


be found on Twitter to show support for the Aggies.


As the words “Make Some lit up the scoreboard


and


the blaring sound of screaming fans drowned out Aggie Stadium, Jordan Miles forced an Aggie fumble with just 4:11 remaining in the game, stopping the drive that could have possibly given the Aggies the edge over North Carolina Central.


falling


Due to North Carolina A&T short in the


Aggie-Eagle


Classic, they now share a three-way MEAC Conference football title.


NC A&T Athletic Director Earl Hilton Fortunately for the Aggies,


this loss will not stop them from representing the MEAC in the most important game of the year for an HBCU, the Inaugural Celebration Bowl.


“We are excited to participate in this Bowl. It is a wonderful opportunity for our students and coaches, and tremendous exposure for A&T and the MEAC. We hope to win every game we play in, but obviously the stakes feel a little higher here,” Earl Hilton, Athletic Director of A&T said. “A win in the Celebration Bowl would be a fantastic finish to a great season, and provide energy and excitement as we move into preparations for the 2016 football season.”


At the time of print, an emailed


question to Hilton, asking who made the decision to request that Aggie fans wear black rather than the usual blue and gold during the game against the Eagles, had not been answered.


Hilton also did not answer


the question regarding who was responsible for the errant message on the scoreboard implying that A&T fans should "Make Some Noise," while the Aggies were on offense just before a fumble occurred. Unfortunately, the Aggies loss to the Eagles may have occured due to circumstances beyond the players control.


You are cordially invited to attend...


City Council meetings... Norfolk - regular meetings are held on the first and fourth Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. and the second and third Tuesday at 2:30 p.m.


Chesapeake - regular meetings are held on the second, third and fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m.


Newport News - regular business meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 7:00 p.m.


Suffolk - regular meetings are held on the first and third Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Hampton - typically take place on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month at 7:30 p.m.


Virginia Beach - meets on the first four Tuesdays of each month. In July the meetings are scheduled on the first two Tuesdays only. Formal session begins at 6 p.m. Portsmouth - meeting dates are the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m.


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