A Queen’s Coronation

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The Coronation of Miss Alcorn is always a special event for students, faculty, staff and family to attend. On Thursday, October 10th, at 7:00 pm, the Coronation of the 93rd Miss Alcorn, Jakhia Gray, took place in the Davey L. Whitney Complex.

The theme for this year’s Coronation was Heaven on Earth, where the students participating in the event wore black. Her Majesty’s Royal Court dazzled the audience with the ladies’ wearing sparkling gold dresses and their escorts dawning white suits. Those included in the 2019-2020 Royal Court were Miss Freshman, Bria Fells, escorted by Larry Lacey, Miss Sophomore, Ariel Simmons, escorted by Ken Johnson, Miss Junior, Kaziah Robinson, escorted by Tyric James and Miss Senior, Erin Cannon, escorted by Casey Larry.

The program began with the Prelude followed by the Posting of Colors by  Alcorn’s Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Color Guard. Next, the National Anthem was sung and the Welcome and Occasion was done by Devina Hogan, Director of Student Engagement at Alcorn. The Invocation was carried out by Natayla McMillon and Tazmeir Johnson introduced the Mistress of Ceremony, Destyni Bowie, a Junior Mass Communications major at ASU.

Next, Miss Alcorn blew the crowd away with her white and silver sparkling dress as she was escorted by the Student Government Association’s (SGA) 1st Vice President, James Herrington. Gray was then crowned and Dr. Felecia Nave,  President of Alcorn State University, presented her with roses and conducted the robing. Gray gave the audience her acceptance speech and had the traditional dance with her mother, Kitsa Kelly-Davis. To conclude the crowning event, the Royal Court performed a dance and special presentations were made to Miss Alcorn by the Delta Epsilon Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, in which Gray is apart of.

To officially end this special night, Tracy Cook, Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at Alcorn, gave the final remarks and the Alcorn Ode was sung. Jayla Hodo, a Junior Elementary Education major, stated, “I really loved the atmosphere in here tonight. It was very authentic, genuine and beautiful. The theme was perfectly executed and the event itself was magical. Jakhia is truly a queen and represents the University with elegance and grace.”