<\/a><\/p>\n

Jantomi Hall
\nStaff Writer\/MC201<\/p>\n

The Sonic Boom of the South is not only Jackson State University\u2019s award-winning marching band, it is also a legacy to many. The band recently received a generous donation of $60 thousand from former NBA player and Jackson native, Monta Ellis.<\/p>\n

Before becoming a basketball star, Ellis attended Lanier High School alongside Jackson State\u2019s Director of Bands, Rodrick Little.<\/p>\n

While Ellis has never forgotten his Mississippi roots, he also reflects on the impact that the Sonic Boom has on the City of Jackson.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnybody from Jackson can tell you what the Sonic Boom means to our city,\u201d said Ellis. \u201cGrowing up, kids either wanna be a J-5 drum major\u00a0 or J-sette.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ellis added, \u201cI believe in what Dr. Little is doing with the band and I want to do whatever I can to keep making it stronger and give more students a chance to be a part of that legacy and earn an education.\u201d<\/p>\n

Taimont Johnson, a junior journalism and media studies major from Atlanta, Ga., who currently plays the baritone for the band expressed how grateful he is for the donation.<\/p>\n

\u201cI definitely feel blessed and grateful for the generous donation from Monta Ellis. I feel like the Boom works really hard to produce great music and field shows for the fans every week and we sometimes feel as though it goes unnoticed,\u201d said Johnson.<\/p>\n

Johnson also describes how people have been supporting the band a lot more.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a lot of people who say they might support us but they really don\u2019t. The last couple of months the Boom has been getting more support and I love it,\u201d Johnson added.<\/p>\n

Anthony Harris, a senior music education major from Shreveport, La. and current Sonic Boom member, describes how much of an honor it was to receive the donation.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s always an honor to have our hard work and the mission of our band program noticed and appreciated,\u201d Harris said. \u201cWe are a simple family working together to achieve a common goal of entertaining our fans all while doing what we love.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harris added, \u201cThe $60 thousand was a huge blessing and is definitely appreciated by all members of the band.\u201d<\/p>\n

Anica Marcelino, a junior graphic design major from Temple Hills, Md. and Boom clarinet player, explained how deserving the band is to receive Ellis\u2019s huge donation.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can definitely say not only are we very much grateful and excited, but this is also a long, well-deserved blessing for the Boom,\u201d stated Marcelino.<\/p>\n

Marcelino also described how before Ellis\u2019s donation, many band members participated in the Boom just for the love of music and the program.<\/p>\n

\u201cMost people outside also do not know that a good number of our members are marching for free and out of loyalty\/love for the program,\u201d said Marcelino. \u201cEverybody wants to hear and see the Boom but only a few like Monta Ellis would actually take that extra generous step to make sure that it all goes well.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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