Kendall Bunch and Destiney Lawrence win coveted positions in the 2016-17 Student Government Association elections held on April 8 at Jackson State University.
The election process was filled with eager students vying to represent the student body and the anticipation and tension was high as the announcement was made on the Gibb-Green Pedestrian Walkway pavilion at 6:15 p.m.
Kendall Bunch, an accounting major from Olive Branch, Miss., who currently serves as special interest council senator and also served as sophomore class president, won the coveted SGA President position.
Bunch’s platform was: Join the Bunch: Building, Unifying, Nurturing, Changing, Helping and he stated that he plans to make sure everyone sees Jackson State in a positive light.
“It is truly a blessing to win this position and I just can’t wait to serve Jackson State students and the University as a whole,” said Bunch. “I plan to implement my ‘Silence the Negative’ platform and to make sure that everyone knows that we love our HBCU and we will continue to have Tiger pride in our University,
Bunch credits mentoring by former SGA Presidents Charles Cathey and Keonte Turner and former SGA Vice President TE’rica Hudson for guiding him in his decision to lead the student body.
“After my freshman year and continued mentoring, I knew I wanted to be SGA President. There were a lot of times that I did doubt myself but I had a great team and great friends and my upbringing, my faith and all the encouragement got me through this,” said Bunch. “I thank God that I got here.”
Bunch added, “We are going to work very hard to make sure that the student body can begin and continue to trust the SGA. We need your (students) help and we are going to work our butts off to make sure we have a successful year next year.”
The three contestants campaigning for the crown of Miss JSU were Diamond McCray, Olivia McNeal, and Destiney Lawrence. But only one could win!
Lawrence, a junior biology/pre-medicine major from Fairhope, Ala., walked away with the crown.
When asked how she feels about receiving the majority votes of her peers, Lawrence said, “It feels amazing to be elected the 77th Miss Jackson State University. I am honored to have the privilege to serve in this capacity.”
Lawrence credits her faith in God, family and friends for helping her during the stressful campaign process.
“This journey from nominations until this day was like a seesaw. There were times I felt inadequate, there were times I felt adequate, but through it all I had to remain confident, no matter what I felt. I had to trust God. Yes, there was a point during campaigning I felt I may not win, but that goes back to me just having faith and trusting God,” said Lawrence.
She added, “Thank you for every phone call, text message and encouraging word and most of all thank you to my Tiger family for choosing me to serve you as your 77th Miss Jackson State University.”
The first goal Lawrence, whose platform was “The Road to Your Destiney,” plans to implement is the donation of comforters and dorm necessities to the class of 2020 summer bridge program students.
“This will help take some of the financial burden off of the parents and to ensure that 2020 summer bridge program students are comfortable in their living space,” said Lawrence.
Sha’Kema Harley looks forward to the reign of Lawrence.
“I think that Destiny will do great and fill the shoes of the past women who were Miss JSU. Not only will she fill them, she will be better,” said Harley, a junior social work major from Detroit, Mich.
Dwayne Joseph, Jr., was pleased with all of the selected candidates chosen to lead.
“I feel like the students selected for the SGA next year are ready to lead and will put the University in a positive light and are concerned about the well-being of the students at Jackson State,” said Joseph, Jr., a junior mass communication major from Memphis, Tenn.
Photos by William H. Kelly III
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