Friday was a night of stars at Mississippi Valley State University.
A couple of them, like Peabo Bryson and Nancy Wilson, are internationally known. Others are more regionally and locally known to the community.
The James Herbert White Preeminence Awards and Scholarship Gala on Friday is intended to raise money through the dinner and silent auction for scholarships.
The event also allows Valley to recognize accomplishments from individuals connected to the university.
This is the seventh year for the gala. Dr. Lester Newman, president of the university, welcomed his guests, who packed the Robert W. Harrison HPER Complex with promises of having the event in the Leflore County Civic Center next year if attendance continues to grow.
The evening had its surprises.
Jazz singer Nancy Wilson was the honored guest. When Newman announced that his wife, Gloria, was celebrating her birthday and asked the audience to join in wishing her a happy day, Wilson rose and advanced to the podium to sing birthday greetings to Gloria Newman.
Soul singer Peabo Bryson kept the crowd enthralled after a sumptuous dinner of steak topped with shrimp.
The Oscar and Grammy winner stepped down from the stage and crooned to several ladies in the audience.
He also pumped up the tempo a little, encouraging folks to come to the front of the stage and dance.
The focus of the program, however, was recognizing those people special to Valley. Newman awarded each a crystal cup.
The Pioneer Award is one of the highest given by the university. The award honors those who have a distinguished history of commitment and service to the university and those who have used the knowledge, skills and experience gained at the university to service the institution and the community and for the betterment of humankind.
Those people included:
- Melba Copeland, Pioneer Award. Copeland is a native of Ofahoma in Leake County. She holds a bachelor's in home economics from Rust College in Holly Springs and a master's from Tennessee State University in home economics. She completed other studies at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.
Copeland taught home economics at Valley for a number of years, served as university hostess for food services and hospitality. She retired in the 1990s but continued to work part time until last year.
- Annie Brown, Pioneer Award. Brown is a native of Greenwood, where she attended elementary and high school. She attended Alcorn A&M College, where in 1946 she earned a bachelor's degree in home economics.
Eventually, Brown came to Valley as business manager and where she worked in the Office of Student Records.She exemplified her pioneer spirit as a clerk in student records. She remains a strong supporter of the university.
nHoward J. Austin, James Herbert White Preeminence Award for education/academics.
A Belzoni native, Austin, received a bachelor's from Valley, a master's in mathematics from Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. and a specialist's in administration from Jackson State University.
He is a lifetime member of the National Educators Association and the Mississippi Valley State University National Alumni Association.
- Shirlene Anderson, James Herbert White Preeminence Award for government/politics/advocacy.
James is Jackson's first female police chief. She wanted to go into the military but went to Mississippi Valley State University, where at the last minute she picked education as a major because she knew she would have a job when she graduated.
In March, Anderson accompanied the Valley delegation to the NAFEO conference in New orleans to receive that prestigious organization's distinguished alumnae award as a graduate of MVSU.
- Thomas W. Colbert, James Herbert White Preeminence Award for philanthropy.
Colbert, of Jackson, is chairman of the board of directors of Community Bancshares of Mississippi. He also is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Institutions of Higher Learning.
As an IHL member, Colbert has shown strong support for Valley by spearheading a drive to raise funds for landscaping and beautifying the campus.
- Willie Sullivan, James Herbert White Preeminence Award for leadership/community service/civic endeavors.
Sullivan, of Greenville, is a 1981 graduate of Valley. He works collectively and successfully between the university and the community. As president of the Washington County MVSU Alumni chapter, Sullivan has put the face of the Valley all over Greenville by hosting MVSU athletic events, supporting the university's marketing and student recruitment campaigns and by supporting the university's media campaign for its athletics programs.
- John A. James, James Herbert White Preeminence Award for achievement in excellence.
Considered by many as one of Mississippi Valley State University's founding fathers, James helped lay the educational cornerstone when he became one of the first full-time faculty members for the first academic year at, then, Mississippi Vocational College.
He regularly attends Valley programs and convocations and is a financial supporter of the University. James' legacy at the university is etched in service to the students he taught and his contribution to the development of the faculty of the institution.
