Jackson City Council Honors Miss JSU Déja Knight

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Déja D. Knight, Miss Jackson State University 2013-2014, was honored by the Jackson City Council Tuesday with a resolution sponsored by Ward 3 Councilwoman Larita Cooper-Stokes.

A senior computer science presidential scholar, Knight was chosen Miss JSU 2013-2014 in a campus wide election on April 3, 2013. She will be formally crowned next week during JSU Homecoming.
The resolution noted her high academic standing as an honor student, a Dean’s List scholar every semester and a member of Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society. Cooper-Stokes said: “Her acumen in the scholarship area exceeds her beauty.”

Knight thanked the group. “I’m honored. JSU definitely holds my heart and I love what I do.”
The resolution stated her motto is “I didn’t choose Jackson State, Jackson State choose me.” It also referenced Knight’s platform as Miss Jackson State University, which is “Race to Excellence.” Her efforts include encouraging students to excel in the academic and professional arenas in order to later be able to give back to the community. She also plans to work with middle school students to help increase their marketability through improving academic readiness, professional development skills, leadership abilities, and involvement within the community.

Déja volunteers time to teach science, math, engineering and dance to children and youth during her summer breaks through various programs such as the Summer Engineering Experience for Kids through the National Society of Black Engineers.

She commented that she just completed the LSAT exam and plans to attend law school in order to become a patent attorney.

Déja’s mother, Clara Saafir said she is proud of her daughter and was delighted that she received such a recognition.

“I grew up in Jackson, Miss., graduated from Callaway High School, and went just down (Highway) 49 to the University of Southern Mississippi, with Déja in tow. She has come full circle. To now reign as Miss Jackson State University (where my father, Jimmie Travis, received an honorary degree just before he passed) and to be honored by my hometown City Council (on my father’s birthday and by my own fellow Golden Eagle colleague) confirms for me that Déja has stepped into the destiny God designed for her life. I am truly proud of her, and I can’t wait to see what unfolds next,” said Saafir.