Alcorn State University’s Junior Class is on the move this year. After considering things and events to do as a class that would help educate the entire student body, the Junior Class Cabinet (JCC) decided to put together an Awareness Week to bring awareness to issues that are going on in the world today.
The week began with Diabetes Awareness day on Monday, October 31st. The Junior Class gathered together at the University’s Trunk-R-Treat event in the Mable Thomas parking lot on campus from 4:00 – 6:00 pm. Class leaders passed out sugar-free candy along with facts about diabetes to students. Jada Spann, a Pre-Medicine major, stated, “We make a living by what we give and not what we receive. As a 3 year student here at Alcorn I have always been apart of the Class of 2018 in every manner. Whether we are giving, donating or caring for others it is truly from the goodness of our hearts.”
Tuesday, November 1st, was Voting Awareness day. Juniors set up in the cafeteria lobby from 11:00 am – 12:30 pm. Faculty and students were asked to use their social media sites and tell why they vote, using the hashtag #IVoteBecause. The Junior Class spoke with students on the importance of exercising their rights to vote in the upcoming presidential election.
On Wednesday, November 2nd, the Junior Class partnered with ASU HEROS (Alcorn State University Health Educators Reaching Other Students) for Sexual Health Awareness day and Wrap It Up Wednesday on the campus plaza from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm. Class leaders passed out various information, condoms, pamphlets and more to help make students aware of how to practice and maintain sexual health.
Thursday, November 3rd, was Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness day. At 1:00 pm, students traveled to the Jefferson County Nursing Home in Fayette, MS in hopes of giving back to those before them by simply spending time with some of the residents suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease.
Friday, November 4th concluded the week with the All for Awareness Balloon Release day. Students gathered together on the campus green at 1:00 pm to release balloons in recognition of all of the different health awareness campaigns over the world. Each event was free and open to the student body. After this year, the Junior Class hopes that Awareness Week can become something that is done every year. “Awareness Week was such an excellent week. It gave everyone insight on some of the different awarenesses around the world. We will definitely be doing another one in the Spring,” said Terry McBeth, Junior Class President.