On Friday, February 24th, 2017, Mass Communications Senior, KeAmber Council and Dr. Eric Dogini, Professor and Advisor of Alcorn’s Mass Communications Honors Society, Lambda Pi Eta, were honored at the 28th Annual Natchez Literary and Cinema Celebration at the Convention Center in Natchez, Mississippi.
“It was a good opportunity that Alcorn State University chose me for what I’ve accomplished in the Department thus far,” said Dogini about being honored at this year’s event.
This celebration annually presents a theme-based lecture series enhanced by films, field trips, workshops, exhibits, book signings, concerts and discussions. This year’s theme was “Natchez at 300: A River Runs by It.”
The day began with the opening ceremony of this year’s Literary and Cinema Celebration given by the President of Copiah-Lincoln Community College, Ronnie Nettles at 8:15 am. Following the opening ceremony, Nettles introduced the Mayor of Natchez, Darryl Grennel, who spoke about the rich history of the city of Natchez and some of the monuments, landmarks and buildings that have made Natchez the city that it is today.
As the morning progressed, the author of several publications including Redneck Liberal, Theodore G. Bilbo and the New Deal and Treasured Past, Golden Future: The Centennial History of the University of Southern Mississippi, Dr. Chester (Bo) Morgan took the podium and presented “Mississippi and Statehood” which chronicled the history of Mississippi and the events that led up to it becoming a part of the Union. The presentation lasted 45 minutes and concluded with a question and answer session.
Following the presentation, the William Winters scholars were recognized. Honored were students and faculty members from Copiah-Lincoln Community College, Alcorn State University and a few other universities. KeAmber Council, who currently holds a perfect 4.0 grade point average in Alcorn’s Mass Communications Department stood in a room full of authors, scholars and politicians as her name was called by Nettles as a distinguished scholar.
“I hope that other students in the Department can see that anyone can be awarded. All it takes is a little hard work,” stated Council.
This event continued throughout the weekend as it began on Thursday, February 23rd and ended on Saturday, February 25th with a benefit Cocktail Reception.