Tonight we celebrated the coronation of Miss Le’Andria Williams, our Miss Mississippi Valley State University 2009-10 and Mr. Leroy Lucas, our Mr. MVSU. It was a beautiful event and Mr. Oliver and I enjoyed our first coronation so much!

 Congratulations to each of the men and women selected by their peers to represent their classes, organizations, sororities and fraternities. It is indeed an honor to be selected and I know your parents and guardians are equally proud.

It was a pleasure to see the former seven queens on hand, including Iesha Jackson,  Parkisha Davis and Barbara Baymon. We had a house full of royalty!

 I want to thank the Homecoming Committee for their dedicated work. Many of the names published in the program are individuals who have been busy all semester! Thank you, Dr. Johnny Jones, vice president for Student Affairs, Enrollment Management and Diversity, Ms. Glenda R. Ransom, committee chair; Mrs. Linda Day-Davis and Ms. Barbara Baymon, vice chairs; and committee members Leo Allen, Derrick Bell, Darren Hale, LaTonya Jones, James Hudson, John H. Johnson, LaTonya Jones, Clara Lipsey, Bryce K. Lowe, George Lucas, Leroy Lucas, LaShanda McChristion, Kenneth Milton,

Venishia Morgan, Debbie Montgomery, Elbert Netters, Carrie Ollie-Hicks, Kathy Sanders, Robert Sanders, Donald Ray Sims, Angela Stancil, Michael Torregano, Yvette Totten, Jessie B. Tramiel, Dorothy Vaughn, Le’Andria Williams and Tamara Williams.

 The Coronation Ensemble, under the direction of Mr. Torregano, heralded each level of the Homecoming Court. For a job well done, we thank trumpeters Fred Brown, David Fletcher and Jordan Winters and drummer William Lockheart.

 There are still many activities left in Homecoming and I hope you will join The Valley family as we celebrate this wonderful University. We welcome our alumni “home” as they hold their fall convention in the Business Education Building beginning with registration at 8 a.m. The Green and White Luncheon is at 11:30 in the Dining Hall IV. The campus parade and car show is at 2 p.m. and our own Dr. Jones and Mrs. Christine Williams will serve as parade marshals.

 The Doug Porter Banquet begins at 7 p.m. and proceeds benefit our athletic scholarship fund. The annual homecoming concert is at 8 p.m. in Carpenter and I understand you can purchase tickets at the door.

 I am looking forward to my first Homecoming Parade and serving as marshal. I hope I see you when the parade begins at 9 a.m. in the downtown Itta Bena.

 Please join the alumni for the annual MVSU NAA Pre-Game Chat & Chew at the Devera Ball Alumni House and afterwards for the game at 2 p.m. when our athletes take to the field against the Texas College Steers.

 Mr. Oliver and I hope to see you at the President’s Reception after the game. The reception is in the Lackey Recreation Center. A complete schedule can be found on the MVSU Web site.