Malcolm Copeland is new Mr. Prairie View A&M University

Malcolm J. Copeland, a junior accounting student is the new Mr. Prairie View A&M University. The pageant, held on April 21 at the university, saw six young men vying for the title, along with $3000 in scholarship and prizes and the opportunities for service and travel.

When the competition ended, Malcolm walked away with first place in talent, private interview, evening/formal wear and impromptu/onstage question. Winning the pageant is the culmination of months of preparation and training provided by Creative Imagery and Pageant Consulting. Next stop for Malcolm is the Mr. Collegiate African American Scholarship Pageant, set for Houston, Texas in October 2010.

Terry Barton, junior business management major was first runner up, with DeShawn Parks, senior education major, as second runner up. Other Pageant contestants were Jawan C.M. Jenkins, DeAndre Augustus and Remington Belford.

Malcolm’s platform, “Developing the Next Generation of Leaders: A focus on the Youth” is dynamic program he plans to implement during his term. Malcolm believes that he “can inspire and help the young people, particularly the young men, through a variety of positive activities which will provide better opportunities for their future.” The title will give him the venue to implement his platform and make a difference in the lives of the college students.

Malcolm is a 2007 graduate of Langham Creek High School , where participated in numerous activities, including the Debate Team, Choir and Honors program. His career goals are to earn the CPA and the Doctor of Jurisprudence Law Degree.

In preparation for his accounting career, Malcolm will complete a second intern with Shell Oil this summer and has will travel to Seoul Korea for a week as part of the College of Business’s International Exchange program.

He serves as a positive role model for the students at the university and has provided mentorship to high school students through various programs at the university and in the community. Malcolm is visionary and innovative and seized the opportunity to assist the College of Business in enhancing the Toastmasters International organization, managing the Business Advisory Board for the Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) Team. Malcolm also directs the team’s leadership program “Unleashing Your Potential” and the Goldman Sach’s Capital Markets Financial Literacy program.

Malcolm is the recipient of a $5,000 scholarship from the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company Multicultural Scholarship Program, one of 12 selected nationwide.

He holds membership and leadership positions in Toastmasters International (President), Beta Gamma Sigma International Business Honor Society, Student In Free Enterprise (BAB Director and Chaplain), National Association for Black Accountants, Student Government Association (Former Chief Justice), Frederick Douglass Leadership Institute, and a Career Services Ambassador/Apprentice. In addition to his organizational affiliation, Malcolm finds time to volunteer with various community cleanups and services to his church and the community.

The Mr. PVAMU Pageant, in its 25th year, is one of the first pageant of its kind for College Men.

For booking information contact: Rev. Charles H. Lewter, IV at chlewter@pvamu.edu or 936-261-3591.

PVAMU is the Honda Campus All Star Challenge Champion

After months of studying and three days of rigorous competition, the PVAMU Honda All Star Challenge Team is the National Champion at the 21 Anniversary games in Orlando, Florida. The field of 48 HBCU's, including Florida A&M, Howard, Hampton, Morehouse, Southern and Tuskegee, was narrowed to 16 and then to 8 and the final four.

PVAMU then went head to head with Mississippi Valley State University in the finals. When the final buzzer sounded the PVAMU team emerged victorious defeating MVSU 265-195 after answering the following question correctly:

"The title of a 1908 play was coined to refer to the concept that a number of ethnic groups, cultures, and religions in a society will fuse together to produce new cultural and social forms. For 10 points -- what is this term that also names a chain of fondue restaurants?" Final Answer: The Melting Pot.

The Honda Campus All-Star Challenge is one of Honda’s largest and longest running philanthropic initiatives here in the United States. The game is an academic competition among the best and brightest students from the nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Team members and coach are: Edward Hackett, Jonathon Gholston, Cedrick Wilson (Captain), Isaac Hoyt, Cedra Wilson and Gabrielle Washington, with Mr. Herbert Thomas (Coach).

For its victory, the team gets $50,000 for the university general educational/scholarship fund. Cedric Wilson was also named to the All-Star Team

PVAMU, a charter team, has been competing since 1990 when the team made it to the Final Four by defeating Howard University. This is the first time the team has one the National Championship. Commenting on the team’s success, Frederick V. Roberts, the team’s first coach stated, “I’ve waited for this moment for 20 years since coaching the earlier teams. My sincere congratulations to the team on this victory. These students are among some of the most dedicated and committed I’ve seen over the years. I commend Mr. Thomas for the great work that he has done with the team and program.”

Along with Prairie View A&M University and Mississippi Valley State University, teams from North Carolina Central University and Fayetteville State University also demonstrated their academic prowess by making it to the final four.

The spirits are high on the campus and folks are wondering if the team will get a trip to the White House, since academics seems to be a top priority for President Barack Obama. Additionally, will this team see the likes of appearances on the daily shows i.e. ABC Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, NBC Today Show, CNN with Soledad O'Brien or Roland Martin, Oprah, BET with Monique or even Fox (The fair and balanced' network?)

Next up for the team is another championship!

Mayor Jackson Reminds PVAMU Graduates who Came Down that Road

Mayor Frank D. Jackson Reminds Graduates to go down that Road

The 2008 Fall Commencement Exercises at Prairie View A&M University, held on December 13, is now history.

In one of his most eloquent and passionate messages, Prairie View's Mayor Frank D. Jackson told the graduating class "that they must remember that they came down University Drive for an education and as a result of what the university did for them, they had a responsibility to do the same for others." It was down that road he said that major decisions were made that affected the slaves, the freed slaves, the past and current students. It was down that road that the eight young Black men showed up to be educated. Jackson electrified the audience with his eloquent recount of the eight Principals and Seven Presidents who came down that road and impacted the life, culture, climate and the physical make up of the university. It was down that road he said that the Texas Legislators came to decide on what PVAMU would become.

It was down that road that more than 5,000 persons marched to Hempstead and Waller County Courthouse to protect their right to vote. He continued that it was down that road that 90 percent of the student voters walked to the Community Center and cast their vote in the most historic election in the Nation's History with the election of Senator Barack Obama, the first African American ever elected as President of the United States.

The commencement message was not your typical one and Jackson, noted for his passionate delivery of the Prairie View History, interspersed within the Texas History, kept the attention of the graduates from beginning to end. In his concluding remarks Jackson shared the Eagle and Chicken story and told them that they are eagles and they need to spread their wings and fly. "You have a responsibility to take this newly acquire intellect and soar to great heights in your chosen fields."

Jackson is a noted historian, author, retired Captain in the United States Navy, Fire Chief, Director of Auxiliary Services, former Council Member and County Commissioner, and Director of Government Relations at Prairie View A&M University.