Contact: Maridith Geuder
A special musical performance will be held Sunday [April 27] at Mississippi State University to help raise funds for scholarships and recognize African-American community leaders throughout the Golden Triangle.
The 3 p.m. "Salute to Greatness" in the McCool Hall auditorium is sponsored by the university's Holmes Cultural Diversity Center and New Horizon Christian Academy of Jackson.
"The program will feature performances by the Boy's Choir of the academy and the Praise Ministers and Dancers of the New Horizon Baptist Church," said Samuel Miller, assistant student affairs vice president for cultural diversity.
General admission tickets are $5 and may be purchased at the door. Advance tickets also may be purchased at the Holmes Center or at Level III/Brickfire in Starkville. In Columbus, tickets are available at the law offices of Richard Burdine; in West Point, at Holiday Cleaners or the North Mississippi Center for Educational Achievement.
The Jackson academy provides a Bible-based program of study for young boys to encourage leadership roles in the church, family and community. The school is led by Headmaster Steven Cooper, the first black student body president at Mississippi State.
Funds raised by the event will support both the Richard Holmes Endowed Scholarship Fund at Mississippi State and the New Horizon academy.
Named for the first African-American student at Mississippi State, the Holmes scholarship fund will provide emergency financial assistance to black students at the university.
Citizens of Clay, Lowndes and Oktibbeha counties being recognized include:
John T. Gibson of West Point, an employee of Bryan Foods;
Grady Jimerson of Pheba, a retiree of Babcock and Wilcox Manufacturing;
Andre Taylor of Starkville, owner of Level III Civic-Sports and Cultural Complex and Rage Inc.;
Terry Minor of Starkville, a firefighter, Oktibbeha County Hospital paramedic and county deputy medical examiner;
the Rev. Bernard Crump of Starkville, a United Methodist Church minister and Oktibbeha Justice Court judge; and
George C. Lee of Columbus, owner of Bill's Drive Inn Restaurant.
For more information about the event, contact the Holmes Cultural Diversity Center at (601) 325-2033.