In a nod to forefathers who ushered in the rich legacy of Jackson State University, state Sen. Derrick Simmons challenged hundreds during Thursday’s 138th Founders’ Day celebration to continue setting benchmarks for greater success for students and JSU.
In his keynote address on the plaza of the main campus, Simmons said success revolves around fostering opportunities to allow students to make a difference in the world.
“I challenge the administration and faculty members to step outside their comfort zones and, on occasion, push a little more to help students connect to people on the outside who can help them in the professional world. … Let’s use all of our resources to ensure that Jackson State University graduates are so perfect and dominant until employers are calling placement offices to hire more JSU students. When they shine we all shine,” said Simmons, emphasizing that each person has a particular role to fulfill to achieve greatness.
JSU President Carolyn W. Meyers described the event as a special moment of reflection on those who “dared to dream big to start this great university.”
She said the university has much to celebrate, thanks to the grand vision of faculty and staff. She credits them with helping the institution write new chapters of success and ensuring that it continues to thrive. “I offer my sincerest gratitude to them on behalf of the folks on whose shoulders I now stand.”
Meyers said this day is important to current students as well.
“It reminds them of people of courage and great vision and what like-minded people can accomplish when they focus on the good. It’s always appropriate to honor our history when we pause to give thanks for those who went before us.”
Simmons, a Greenville native, was introduced by his identical twin, Errick. He said turning points and benchmarks are realized only when JSU succeeds in greater numbers.
“Winning teams have many players when each does his or her job well. … When our graduates earn more they give more to the university.”[pullquote align=”right”]”It’s always appropriate to honor our history when we pause to give thanks for those who went before us.”
(President Carolyn W. Meyers)[/pullquote].
”Particularly, Simmons urged faculty members to nurture late-bloomers because “sometimes people with exceptional skills don’t achieve at the same pace as others and are, therefore, overlooked.”
As examples, he cited actor Sidney Poitier, who was first told by a casting director that he should consider becoming a dishwasher rather than waste people’s time. In the beginning, even Michael Jordan was told he was not good enough for his high school team, but his college coach realized his potential, Simmons said.
Others, too, were previously dismissed, the state senator added.
“Actor Morgan Freeman didn’t reach stardom until he was 52. … Oprah got fired as an evening news reporter in Baltimore because she couldn’t sever her emotions from her stories. Her producer told her she was unfit for TV. Walt Disney was fired from the Kansas City Star in 1919 because his editor said he lacked imagination and had no good ideas,” said Simmons, who shared that history recorded it differently for each of these individuals.
He implored the crowd to resist naysayers by identifying hidden talent. Thus, he said the university must develop, train and help graduate students, whom he referred to as diamonds in the rough.
Describing administrators and faculty as master jewelers, he urged them to polish talent to create a “one-of-a-kind gem that’s engraved (with the letters) JSU.”
The program also included remarks from Jackson Mayor Tony Yarber, who presented Meyers with a rare, coveted Eagle Award, to which Meyers saluted the crowd for being “the wind beneath her wings.”
Yarber said the honor recognizes key individuals for their product, productivity and efficiency. Then, he presented Meyers a proclamation declaring Oct. 22 Homecoming and Founders’ Day activities as “Jackson State University Day.”
