22-year-old Alvin Jones Jr. is a Senior Agribusiness major at Alcorn State University (ASU). Although he has a quiet nature, his service and impact speak volumes.
Born to parents Harlena Jones and Alvin Jones Sr., Jones grew up in the small town of Heidelberg, Mississippi. Due to the age gap between Jones and his older sister he basically grew up an only child which did not stop him from building bonds and creating a community of lifelong friends within his town. He credits his parent’s philosophies for shaping him into the level-headed person that he is today. Becoming head drum major at Heidelberg High School was a pivotal moment in his career which taught him leadership skills. From joining state government boards to meeting CEO executives during high school, he knew that he was destined for success.
He decided to attend Alcorn upon graduation in 2020. While in college, he marched the trombone with the Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite Marching Band until becoming drum major his Sophomore year and head drum major his Junior and Senior year. Performing at places such as Disney World, the NRG Arena in Houston, Texas, and Mardi Gras gained him massive media attention. His humility would not allow him to use his popularity in vain. Instead, he uses his platform to spread positivity and encourage all that any dream is achievable with hard work and perseverance. He continues his legacy by contributing numerous hours to helping high school students secure scholarships to attend college through band programs. In May 2023, he flew 1,600 miles from his hometown to work an internship at ADM in Velva, North Dakota for 3 months as a Grain Origination Specialist. “Agriculture is more than food, but about nurturing life and providing the world with nutrition, hence why I chose this field. Dealing with myself thousands of miles away from what I know was challenging at first, but in the process, I was able to practice work-life balance and gain a new perspective on the world that has shaped me into the man that I am today,” states Jones.
One of his favorite hobbies along with cooking is composing musical arrangements. In the future, he plans to continue his journey as a full-time Grain Origination Specialist with ADM in May 2024. Along with working the career that he loves, he wants to enjoy peace and quality time with his family. “God will never give you more than what you can handle. You must find the best way to deal with what you’ve been handed. Be grateful and leave the rest to Him. Live by this and everything else will fall into place,” Jones stated.