FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 11. 2011
Contact: Cydney Archie
cja2@muw.edu

MUW celebrates Black History Month

COLUMBUS, Miss. -- Mississippi University for Women is celebrating Black History Month with a host of programs to recognize the past and present accomplishments of African-Americans.

The programs range from educational workshops to entertainment to community service.

Increasing Minority Access to Graduate Education (IMAGE) will host State of the Black College Student on Monday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. in the Claudia A. Limbert Assembly Room. Students will have the opportunity to meet with African-American professionals from the Golden Triangle area who will discuss how they prepared for their careers as college students.

“The goal of the program is to empower and encourage African-American college students and discuss issues affecting these students within a college setting,” stated Phillip Cockrell, director of student life.

Other events include:

• Know Your Status! Free HIV/STD screening on Tuesday, Feb. 15 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesday, Feb. 16 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Hogarth Student Center.
• Campus-wide community service at the local Genesis Dream Center on Saturday, Feb. 19 at 9 a.m.
• "Back To The Basics" Black History Step It Out/ Talent Show on Saturday, Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. in Rent Auditorium, Whitfield Hall. Admission is $5.
• Dessert Extravaganza with Frank Brady on Tuesday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m.
• Dining Etiquette program on Wednesday, Feb. 23 at 6:30 p.m. in the Limbert Assembly Room and Thursday, Feb. 24 at 11:30 a.m. in the Pope Banquet Room.

The celebration which started in January with 100th Night, a ceremony recognizing graduating seniors, will end with a Black History Musical Tribute on Monday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. in Rent Auditorium.

The Musical Tribute will feature a variety of lip-synced acts involving student volunteers who will depict notable African-American entertainers from each decade from the 1950s to present. Interest meetings will be held for individuals interested in volunteering and admission is $3.

Tekita Bankhead, president of the Omicron Epsilon chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., said, “I feel that it is extremely important that all students, not only African-American students, support the Black History Month programs. By learning more about the different cultures represented on the MUW campus, we gain a greater sense of unity and familiarity.”

All events are open to the public. For more information, contact MUW student life at (662) 241-6974.