LaTerrol Valentine
October 30, 2012
University Success

Founders Day

Founder’s day was a wonderful week at Jackson state this week. I learned a lot this week at Jackson state from all of our previous presidents about the fantastic sonic boom, and more. I learned that back in the day the university was just called Jackson it wasn’t called Jackson state until a couple years later. I’m glad that Jackson state gives us a whole week to inform us about our institution. To see all the magnificent people come back who use to attend here back in the day make me so happy. It made me realizes how much they cared and still do care about Jackson state to come and talk to the former students here. I love my dear old college I wouldn’t want to attend another college if I had the chance to. Rather the students know it or not Jackson state has so much history behind it. It’s not what people make it seem, some people make it seem like it is a partying school and the students never get anything done here. That is not true at all the professors go all out of their way to help us so we can live a better future. Listening to the old jacksonians made me appreciate my education some of them was here doing the shooting at alexander dorm on May 14-15, 1970 when the two men were killed, and some was here when a Gibbs-Green plaza didn’t even exist. Most universities do not have a day where they just recognized founder’s day because they think it’s not important at all. They also informed us when Smith was president the university reduced its overall debt, fiscal management practices, increased campus security measures and launched a campus improvement project that involved the community. They contained a campus master plan the project growth of the university well into the 21st century. Hefner enhanced the program and established a community development corporation to improve blighted areas around the campus, so that we would be able to receive scholarships. Vision 2020 was a reading based math oriented system for pre k-16. Jackson state has come a long way from where it used to be until now. We have had ten amazing presidents who have come and did a wonderful job as they have help Jackson state to be a home for us away from our homes. I love Dr. Meyers she make coming to Jackson state so worth it. We can’t leave out our fantastic sonic boom that’s the best band around the south. The sonic boom gets better every year everyone know all about the wonderful sonic boom. Jackson state has grown from the protest and horrible things that were going through the hard times during the 1970s. Now it is a peaceful college it has a plaza, alexander is fine, and it has amazing students walking around campus getting their education. I don’t think any other university can compare to Jackson state. It may have had its up and downs, but it has come out to be an amazing campus with amazing students in it. It had three groups trained masters, teachers, and nurses that were educated by private church school. Mclemore was one of the presidents that were the founder of the department of political science. By Ayers being the first president and Barrett being the second they did a good job by carrying along Jackson state and making it progress as the years go by and the other presidents came in to take place. I am glad that I attend a school that doesn’t mind telling their students about the history that our school had to go through to get where it is now. I appreciate Jackson state my professors teachers my fellow peers and the old jacksonians I can say for now on I am going to be looking forward to founder’s week next year. I didn’t think it would be nothing like it came out to be, but I enjoyed every minute and second of it and cannot wait until it return.