Joyner Tells Students to Dream

Oman Arena was filled with more than 4,500 proud parents, siblings, grand-parents, and other well-wishers on Sunday, April 30 as 116 graduates walked across the stage and received their valuable Lane College diplomas. Anticipation for the 124th commencement convocation was heightened when radio and television celebrity, and philanthropist Tom Joyner, the keynote speaker, was spotted in his academic regalia in the processional. Because of the celebrity of the Mr. Joyner, the ceremony, which is usually held on the College campus, was moved to Oman.

Introduced by President Wesley Cornelious McClure as the only man in America who has single-handedly raised more than thirty million dollars for Historically Black Colleges and Universities through the Tom Joyner Foundation, President McClure added that “All of us at Lane are absolutely thrilled that Mr. Joyner has come to Lane to speak to our graduates. This is particularly thrilling when you consider the fact that he is a most desired speaker who has been extended invitations to much larger and more prestigious universities. But he chose Lane, where he realizes that the Power of Potential exists! What more can I say about the man and his mindset.”

In his speech, Joyner told graduates to “help others, and to not let money be your primary concern. Make sure that you place a comma behind your names and then some more commas behind the digits on your paychecks. Dream and dream big, because dreams can come true…just look at me.” He pointed to himself and said with a smile, “if a C-minus student at an HBCU can do pretty well, just think how well you summa, magna, and cum laudes will do. And if you don’t watch out, these C-minus students out here are going to exceed you!”

At the beginning of the commencement program, Lane seniors, two at a time, walked into Oman Arena and paused at the doorway, where they were greeted with blinding flashes, deafening shouts and balloons, some which made their way to the rafters. For them it was an ending and beginning - the last time they would walk into a Lane College commencement ceremony as students and a beginning of their lives as Lane College alumni.

"You are the best, smartest, and most disciplined class,'' President McClure told the graduates during the ceremony. Mr. Jason Vinson of Orlando, Florida was recognized as the highest-ranking senior with a 3.919 cumulative grade point average. Vinson plans to attend graduate school. He received recognition and a financial gift from Lane College in excess of $1,000.

Fitness Guru Holds Summit at Lane

Lane College teamed up with the world-renowned fitness and wellness expert, Donna Richardson on Lane’s campus on Saturday, March 18 to raise awareness of obesity and other diet-related health issues affecting the Jackson and Madison County’s African-American population.

The college’s 2nd annual UNCF Learn and Serve Health Summit and Walk began at 7:30 a.m. with registration, and the summit at 8:00 a.m. Following the summit, Ms. Richardson, accompanied by President and Mrs. McClure, led over 550 people on a one-mile walk within the community. At this free event, refreshments were served, and all participants received a complimentary “Walk for Health” tee shirt. Mrs. Joyner also signed copies of her #1 selling video, Sweating in the Spirit.
Donna Richardson is the star of more than two dozen fitness and aerobics videos, including the "Buns of Steel" series. She is the host of The Word Network's "Sweating in the Spirit" and "The Donna Richardson Show" on TV One, and is the former ESPN fitness pro and NBC Weekend Today fitness expert. She is spokesperson for the American Heart Association and founder of StayFit Kids, a fitness program for inner city youth. Richardson is the wife of syndicated radio host Tom Joyner.
During her speech, Richardson emphasized that exercise doesn't have to be difficult or intimidating. “Starting off at a sensible pace with reasonable goals is important. Just 30 minutes of physical activity each day like walking, taking the stairs and stretching is a positive start. The important thing is to begin now. In addition to the health benefits, you'll look and feel your best." Following the summit, information was distributed and attendees were encouraged to adopt healthy lifestyles of disease prevention, regular health checkups and good nutrition.
"Participation in this event is a great way for Lane College to reach this target audience with messages about the importance of healthy eating and exercise," President McClure said. "We will continue to stress the importance of healthy eating and exercise until the message is clearly heard and followed by all.”

Lane Student Stuns Audience with Traditional Rendition of National Anthem

Lane College Freshman Krystal Lynnette Reaves stunned over 2,000 persons on her dynamic rendition of the national anthem that she sang at the prestigious 62nd anniversary dinner of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) on March 9, 2006 in the Metropolitan Ballroom of the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers in New York City. Ms. Reaves, a freshman from Memphis, was selected from a field of over 300 vocalists who attend historically black colleges and universities across the nation. Her selection marked the first time that a student from Lane College has been chosen for this high honor. After singing the Star Spangled Banner, Lane College President Wesley Cornelious McClure, who was in attendance, rushed the dais and gave his “little girl” an enormous hug as only a surrogate father could do. To the audience, Dr. McClure, while still beaming, said, “This is how we transform our students at Lane. Ms. Reaves represents the Power of Potential that we at Lane College extract from our students each day. I am so proud of Ms. Reaves, and I am so happy for her family.”

Reaves is a freshman at Lane, and is the 18-year old daughter of Sylvester and Christine Reaves of Memphis. Mr. Reaves accompanied his daughter to New York. The Craigmont High School graduate is an honor student majoring in sociology, and a member of the Lane College Concert Choir.

The anniversary dinner is an annual national fundraiser for UNCF. It brings together over 1,400 friends and supporters, including board members, college presidents, corporate partners, students and alumni. This year, the presenting sponsor was Wachovia Bank. Colin L. and Alma J. Powell were presented The Frederick D. Patterson Award, the UNCF's highest honor. There were also special tributes to the late Lou Rawls, and the UNCF Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund Donors. Also, Phyllis L. Ball was presented the Distinguished Alumni Award.

The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) is the nation’s largest, oldest, most successful and most comprehensive minority higher education assistance organization. It provides operating funds and technology enhancement services for 39-member historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), scholarships and internships for students at about 900 institutions and faculty and administrative professional training. For over 60 years, the UNCF has raised more than $2 billion to help a total of more than 350,000 students attend college, and has distributed more funds to help minorities attend school than any entity outside of the government. By word and deed, it is committed to its motto that “a mind is a terrible thing to waste”.

Lane Professor Named Among 100 Most Influential Student-Athletes

Dr. Alpha Alexander, a 1976 graduate of the College of Wooster, and currently an associate professor of health and physical education at Lane College, was recently selected by the National Collegiate Athletic Association as one of its “100 Most Influential Student-Athletes,” a highly prestigious list which is part of the year-long NCAA Centennial Celebration (1906-2006). The "100 Most Influential Student-Athletes" were chosen by a special panel that included college presidents, athletics directors, faculty representatives, student-athletes and conference representatives. Among the American sports icons noted on this exclusive list are Arthur Ashe, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Billy Jean King, Tiger Woods, Vince Lombardi, Pat Summit, Jackie Robinson, Jackie Joyner Kersee, John Wooden, Tiger Woods, Jerry West, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

The four-sport star led the Wooster women's basketball team to four Ohio State tournament appearances as a four-year varsity starter. In volleyball, she led her school to the AIAW National Tournament, which Wooster hosted in 1973, and was a three-year varsity starter. She also was a varsity starter in tennis in 1973, and a junior varsity starter and letter-winner for the lacrosse team in 1974.

Voted the Outstanding Student at Wooster in 1976, Dr. Alexander won the Martindale Compton Scholarship that same year. She served as a three-year member of the Women's Athletics Association and as president in 1975 when she also served as faculty athletics committee student representative. A four-year member of the Black Students Association, she served as a resident assistant on the Wooster campus from 1974-76.

Dr. Alexander has won several awards, including the 1999 Nell Jackson Award; 1997 Billie Jean King Contribution Award; 1996 Olympic Shield Award (the second female recipient in history); and the 1993 National Organization of Women - New York City Susan B. Anthony Award. She was named one of the 30 most valuable professionals in the business of sports in the United States by Black Enterprise Magazine in 1995. In 1993, she became the first African-American female student-athlete inducted to the Wooster Association Hall of Fame, and received a proclamation from the Council of the City of New York in 1989.

Alexander's current professional and civic contributions include her service as co-founder and vice-president of the Black Women in Sport Foundation since 1992, a board member of the New York City Sport and Commission Foundation, and president of the Arthur Ashe Athletic Association.

A United States Olympic Committee member since 1988, Dr. Alexander is a member of the Olympic and Pan American Sports Advisory Panel and has served the USOC as chair for the community-based multi-sport/military group, and as the board of directors' national governing body representative for the YWCA. She also organized Olympic youth camps in Atlanta in 1996 and in Barcelona in 1992.

These 100 greatest student-athletes were featured on ESPN on March 13 at 8:00 p.m. and on March 14 and 15 at 6:00 and 7:00, respectively. Their contributions will be re-aired on the following dates and times on ESPNU, the 24-hour college sports network: March 22 --6 a.m. Part 2; March 22 --11 p.m. Part 1; April 20 --12m Part 1, 1 a.m. Part 2; May 6 --8:30 a.m. Part 1, 9:30 a.m. Part 2.

Record Number of Prospective Students and Parents to Attend Lane College New Student Orientation

Lane College will host its New Student Orientation Session beginning on Friday, July 8 through Sunday, July 10, 2006. Over 600 students are expected to attend with 550 parents in tow. This three-day session will help prospective students to understand the college’s expectations and provide them with some early exposure to college life. Concurrent workshops and social activities will be held for parents. Attendees will live in campus housing and meals will be provided in the college’s Dining Hall.

In a highly compressed period of time, attendees will participate in informational sessions, financial aid workshops, class scheduling, and numerous other experiences that have been designed to facilitate their enrollment and matriculation at the College.

Registration will take place from 5:00-9:00 p.m. Friday, July 8, in the J. F. Lane Health & Recreation Complex, and again on Saturday, July 9, beginning at 8:00 a.m. at the same location. Parking is available in parking lots located near the dormitories, adjacent to the Recreation Complex, and at the Chambers-McClure Academic Center (CMAC).

The first formal session will take place in the Auditorium of CMAC at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday. From there, students and parents will receive further scheduling information for the remainder of their stay. For students, Saturday will end with movies, followed by “The Red and Blue Blowout” (a party). For parents and guests, Saturday will end with an informal session, followed by a Coffee Hour in The Archives with music, dancing, and karaoke. Special provisions have been made for socializing, Sunday worship, and the traditional Barbeque Picnic.

Female students will reside in Hamlett Hall and male students in Graves Hall. Guests (e.g., parents and guardians) who elect to stay on campus will be assigned to Smith (men) and Cleaves (women) Halls. Couples will be assigned to special rooms on all four residence halls.

All meals – breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Saturday; and breakfast and lunch on Sunday – will be served to students, parents and guests.

Points of attraction on the Campus include: The Bray Administration Building, The Archives (which houses the Bookstore), Copy Center, CyberCafé, Computer Study Center, Campus Center/Recreation Hall, Football Field, Student Union Building, CMAC (which houses the Library/Learning Resources Center and Computer Laboratories), the J. K. Daniels Conference Center, The Mary Johnson Lane House, The Computer Training Center, and The Pond at the Plain in which the college’s wandering ducks and mallards will entertain everyone for hours. Participants will be encouraged to visit all campus facilities.

Lane College | 545 Lane Avenue | Jackson, TN 38301
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