Owens urges students to show who they are during Founders’ Day Convocation

Kharynton Allen

MC201/Staff

Yolanda R. Owens, Jackson State University alumnus and former President of the JSU National Alumni Association, urged students to show the world who they are during an enthralling Founders’ Day address.

The 142^ndFounders’ Day Convocation took place on Oct. 17, 2019 in the Rose E. McCoy Auditorium. Hundreds of students, faculty, alumni, and community supporters packed the auditorium to honor the rich history, sustainability and success of the once seminary which has transformed into the Carnegie-designated high research university it is today.

Originally a private church school in Natchez, Miss., the university has grown to service over 7,500 students from countries all around the world. Reverend Henry P. Jacobs, M.D. founded Natchez Seminary on Oct. 23, 1877.

Owens was introduced by her 7^thgrade niece, Carmen Owens. The future Tiger was given a standing ovation by the audience.

Owens, the keynote speaker, gave the audience a relatable alliteration to the blockbuster movie “Black Panther”.  Owens references the moment in the movie when the would be king is in a fight for the throne with a challenger and his mother, played by actress Angela Bassett, shouts out for him to “show him who you are!”

Throughout her speech, Owens urged the Jacksonians to look at the positives of the university that has perserveered during various times of negativity and hardships in the history of the institution when many thought they would not survive.

“We have seen folks and forces come out of the cave trying to challenge us for the throne and throughout our history we have continued to show them who we are, but before we show them who we are we must first know who we are,” said Owens.

Owens often gave inspirational encouragement to the constituents of the University during their current struggles with enrollment and budget issues.

“We have all the tools we need, and we are fully equipped to take our rightful place in the kingdom of higher education, but in order to do that we must first connect with our ancestors, with our founders, with our elders,” she stated.

Sieara DeLone, a junior English major from Los Angeles, Calif., said that this part of the speech really resonated with her.

“One thing that I wrote down that really stuck out was that we should celebrate our successes, and tune out the distractions and negativity, and strive for excellence,” said DeLone.

Owens stated that once a person understands the richness of their history and understands that they come from greatness, they can do so much more.

“I think it’s important for us as faculty, staff, a university, leaders, alumni, and students to always know who we are and know our history,” said Owens. “We have to always operate in excellence and we have to then know that greatness lies within us. And when we take the time and do all of those things then we’ll be able to show them who we are.”

At the end of the ceremony, President Bynum gave presentations and remarks on the importance of Founders’ Day.

“A day like today is so important because it’s important that we understand our foundation and what our roots are,” President Bynum said.

The words of Owens and the importance of knowing history not only touched Jackson State’s 11th President, but also other students that were in attendance.

Jasmine Thomas, a graduate student from Atlanta, Ga. stated, “We have to constantly be reminded of who we are as we step into rooms and constantly affirm that our University is a great University. We come from a great place and we are not just any other school; there is something special about JSU.”

Mister JSU, Grant Broadway, a senior biology/pre-pharmacy major from Little Rock, Ark., expressed why he believes Founders’ Day is important.

“It is very important for students to know where and what they come from,” Broadway said. “They should take pride in what they’re doing. Knowing their history should give them more of a reason to go after their degree, make an impact, and inspire the next generation.”

The convocation ended with the Bell Ringing Ceremony which included the Centennial Bell Litany recited by Professor Hilliard Lackey, Ph.D., at the bell tower in front of Ayer Hall followed by a reception in the JSU Student Center Ballroom. The bell was rang by SGA President, Jordan Jefferson, and with intermittant chants from the crowd to, “Ring that bell!” THAT BELL!”

Kennedy Guillory contributed to this article.