JSU’s Atlanta alumni chapter to receive national legacy award

September 10, 2015
Alumni officers of Jackson State University’s Atlanta chapter are, from left, Richard Taylor, chaplain; Deborah Taylor, secretary; Angela Reeves, treasurer; Dominic Jefferson, president; Veronica Crawford, second vice president; Erick Hoskins, parliamentarian; and Yolanda Owens, president of the JSUNAA.
Alumni officers of Jackson State University’s Atlanta chapter are, from left, Richard Taylor, chaplain; Deborah Taylor, secretary; Angela Reeves, treasurer; Dominic Jefferson, president; Veronica Crawford, second vice president; Erick Hoskins, parliamentarian; and Yolanda Owens, president of the JSUNAA.
Alumni officers of Jackson State University’s Metro Atlanta Chapter are, from left, Richard Taylor, chaplain; Deborah Taylor, secretary; Angela Reeves, treasurer; Dominic Jefferson, president; Veronica Crawford, second vice president; Erick Hoskins, parliamentarian; and Yolanda Owens, president of the JSUNAA. Not pictured are Ken Archer, first vice president; Monica Knight Smith, assistant secretary; and Ranetta Goss, immediate past president.

The National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame Foundation Inc. is honoring the Metro Atlanta Chapter of the Jackson State University National Alumni Association during its fourth annual legacy award.

The honor, dubbed the Legacy of Leaders Large Alumni Chapter of the Year Award, will be presented at noon Friday, Sept. 25, in Atlanta. It recognizes the JSU chapter for its role in college recruitment fairs, scholarships and membership drives.

Yolanda R. Owens, president of the JSU National Alumni Association, said it was a delight to learn of the recognition.

“The local chapter is doing important work, and we’re being recognized for that. We have been going after this award for three years. The third time’s a charm. It’s based on the activities the chapter conducts over the course of the year as well how much the chapter contributes to the university and the association, along with an essay.”

Since the inception of the awards four years ago, Owens said JSU has been recognized in some capacity:

2015: Large Alumni Chapter of the Year (Metro Atlanta Chapter)

2014: Distinguished Alumnus of the Year (Dr. Earlexia Norwood)

2013: Alumni Association of the Year

2012: Alumni President of the Year (Terry Woodard)

Tammy Brooks, director of JSU Alumni and Constituency Relations, said, “This is a tremendous honor for the Metro Atlanta Chapter, which sets a very high bar. We thank the organization for all it does for Jackson State University.”

Also, JSU’s Metro Atlanta Chapter (MAC) is noted for many other contributions. As a member of the local SWAC and HBCU alliances, MAC serves as a leader among alumni associations of other universities by partnering with the alliances for an annual SWACFest weekend, a yearly HBCU mixer and 5K walk/run event.

In addition, the chapter partners with organizations such as Hands on Atlanta and the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge.

The nonprofit National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame Foundation assists alumni associations and other organizations as they aim to ensure the survival and stability of the nation’s HBCUs.