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131st YEAR ISSUE 18

As a freshman, Williamson said he immediately got involved at MSU, beginning with pledging Sigma Chi fraternity and becoming a member of the Student Association’s Freshman Council, getting his foot in the door in organizations he would later go on to lead. After serving as a member of Freshman Council, W i l -

BY LAKEN VICKERS STAFF WRITER

John Wesley Williamson is Mississippi State University’s newly nominated, selected, and elected Mr. MSU of 2016. The process itself goes to show that Williamson’s resume is not only impressive, but he’s a well-rounded leader as well.

liamson said he applied for the Student Association’s Cabinet and was selected as the co-director of community and governmental relations. Wanting to play a role in something more programming-based as opposed to policy-based, Williamson said he changed direction and served as the assistant director of Bulldog Bash in 2015. “It was a great experience working for an entire year and finally seeing all of your hard work come together for over 30,000 people to enjoy,” Williamson said. Williamson said his motivation behind his involvement is the desire to make other’s lives better. He strives to be service oriented as opposed to serving to build a resume. Williamson credits this to learning at a young age a true leader must be a follower and to never be the smartest person in the room, as well as crediting his mentors who have walked alongside him and taught him to become a well-rounded leader.

RUSS HOUSTON | COURTESY PHOTO JENN MCFADDEN | THE REFLECTOR

Haley Hobart said she was shocked when she was named Miss MSU. “When they announced my name, everything felt so surreal,” Hobart said, a semopr biochemistry major from Hollandale, Mississippi. “My parents surprised me by coming to the announcement ceremony, and that in itself was enough to make me cry. All of my friends were there surrounding me and hugging me. I was shaking with excitement.” Hobart said she had so many great people with her throughout the entire process and she is more than grateful for that. “My favorite part of this experience is definitely all the support I’ve been given by my friends and family,” Hobart said. “I have been overwhelmed by so many kind words of encouragement. Being able to represent my university - a place that is so special to me - as Miss MSU is an opportunity that I am so thankful for, and it will always be considered one of my favorite honors.” Two of Hobart’s closest friends, Molly McAdams, senior animal and dairy sciences major, and

Alison Cowart, senior interior design major, are more than happy for her, and they know she will do great things with her new position. McAdams said Hobart is a hard worker and leader. “I would describe Haley as intentional, kind-hearted, a n d dr iven,” McAdams s a i d . “A n y o n e w h o k n o w s H a l e y knows w h a t a hard worker

Haley Hobart

John Wesley Williamson

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884

BY SHACAMREE GOWDY STAFF WRITER

she is, not only in her studies but as a leader and member of the community. Miss MSU was an honor she truly deserved, and we enjoyed getting to see her hard work pay off in this way.

RUSS HOUSTON | COURTESY PHOTO JENN MCFADDEN | THE REFLECTOR

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HOMECOMING QUEEN: Shawanda Brooks by Vanessa Gillon Staff Writer

Mississippi State University announced the recipients of the 2016 Homecoming court and among those is Shawanda Brooks as Homecoming Queen. She is the first African American Homecoming Queen at MSU in 15 years. A few organizations and titles Shawanda holds include being an active member and secretary of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., president of IDEAL Women, member of the Montgomery Leadership Program and the Student Honor Code Council. Brooks’ campaign slogan entitled “Break Barriers with Brooks,” urged everyone to abandon the walls of normalcy. Brooks said a long-term goal of hers is to be able to exhibit the true culture of diversity at MSU and she is grateful to have been chosen by the student body to do so. “Simply saying that I am honored to represent the student body as Homecoming Queen would be an understatement,” Brooks said. “It was no one but God.” However, an honor such as this is not so new to Brooks.

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Brooks said in her senior year in high school, she was crowned the very first African American Homecoming Queen of Germantown High School. “That unforgettable and exciting experience sparked my interest in running for Homecoming Court upon coming to Mississippi State University,” Brooks said. After being named Homecoming Queen, Brooks has been on the move, not only getting herself ready and prepared for Homecoming, but implementing plans and ideas as a representative of the MSU student body. Brooks said her faith is very important to her and without it she would not have been able to be where she is. “This experience is a very personal and spiritual one to me,” Brooks said. “God has placed awesome people in my path to help guide me to a realm of success. It means the world to me to not only be the first African American Homecoming Queen in 15 years, but only the fifth in MSU’s history, and the third Homecoming Queen from the Lambda Eta Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc.” Word certainly spread quickly among MSU’s campus and the town of Starkville.

Ray Greason, MSU alumni, said she is very proud of Brooks, and hearing she has become Homecoming Queen o n l y makes her even m o r e proud to be a Bulldog. “ I t ’s definitely a big deal, to see the evidence of hard work and diversity spread throughout my alma mater is extraordinary,” Greason said. Brooks’ hard work ethic and strong mindset are among a long list of traits her sorority sister Dominique Land said about her. “Shawanda and I were brought together by our sorority, A.K.A., and she and I instantly clicked,” Land said, “she is such a

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caring person and vocal on wanting to make our school better and more diverse.” Land said she knows B r o o k s will use her achievement and platform to inspire young girls and y o u n g women alike, to s h o o t for their dreams and bec o m e whatever they aspire to be. “I can say with surety that I am inspired by Shawanda, so I do not doubt that there are young minority girls who will look at her and believe they, too, can break barriers,” Land said. Brooks said she prays her experience encourages African American girls to become brave student leaders at their predominantly white institution. “My ultimate desire is that they

FORECAST: This homecoming weekend will greet MSU with sunny skies. The weather will be warm for Saturday’s game against Samford. Hail State!

2016 Homecoming Court:

keep God first as they genuinely serve the institution and its people,” Brooks said. “I also hope that my story is a constant reminder to courageously take that leap into anything their hearts yearn.” With so much debate and discourse over the state of diversity among predominantly white institutions, Brooks said finding a voice of your own is so important. “As a minority at a predominantly white institutions, it is easy to be overlooked, but my advice is to continue to be yourself, maintain a servant heart and always express unconditional love to others; those three things are difficult to overlook,” Brooks said. Brooks said her next goal rapidly approaching is graduating with her bachelor’s in biological science in May. “While I ponder furthering my education in student affairs, I plan on going back to my alma mater, Germantown High School to teach biology or even coach women’s basketball,” Brooks said. You can catch Brooks being crowned as MSU’s 2016 Homecoming Queen on Saturday, October 29 at Davis Wade Stadium during halftime as the Bulldogs face off against Samford University.

Freshmen Maids: Emily Tingle Reagan Moak Sophomore Maids: Elise Moore Kali Hicks Junior Maids: Audrey Jarvis Alivia Roberts Senior Maids: Fei Fei Zheng Natalie Jones

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