Mississippi Valley State University

March 19, 2010

Welcome to the Valley

WHITE HOUSE INITIATIVE ON HBCUs DIRECTOR JOHN WILSON IS KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT MVSU HONORS CONVOCATION MARCH 25

MVSU will recognize students for their academic excellence at its annual Honors Convocation on Thursday, March 25 at 11 a.m. in the H.G. Carpenter auditorium. The newly appointed executive director of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Dr. John Wilson Jr., will serve as the keynote speaker. MORE


 MVSU MOURNS PASSING OF FORMER PRESIDENT ERNEST BOYKINS

MVSU has learned of the passing of its second president, Dr. Ernest A. Boykins of Hattiesburg.  Boykins, who served as the University's second president from 1971 to 1981, died on Sunday, March 14, 2010 following an extended illness.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 19 with public viewing at 9 a.m. following by 10 a.m. mass in St. Mary's Catholic Church in Vicksburg. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be sent to MVSU Ernest & Beverly Boykins Scholarship Fund.

"MVSU lost a true gentleman and a great leader,” said MVSU’s current president, Dr. Donna H. Oliver. “I first met Dr. Boykins during last year’s Founder’s Week activities and it was an honor to present him with the 2009 J.H. White Preeminence Award for Education/Academics during the annual scholarship gala. MORE


MVSU'S MARY ROSS CHOSEN MISSISSIPPI'S SOCIAL WORKER OF THE YEAR

Mary L. Ross, MSW, the coordinator of MVSU's Graduate Social Work Field Program, was honored as Mississippi's Social Worker of the Year during the March 11 annual conference of the Mississippi Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.


MVSU GREEN & WHITE DAY CELEBRATED AT STATE CAPITOL

Mississippi Valley State University was recognized in the Mississippi House of Representatives during March 11's opening session. President Donna H. Oliver, Student Government Association President James Hudson and National Alumni Association President Roosevelt Yarbrough accepted a House Resolution commemorating the 60th anniversary of the founding of MVSU.

Also, members of the renowned MVSU Concert Choir, under the direction of Orlando Moss, performed in the Mississippi Senate Chamber and at noon in the Capitol Rotunda. Displays and memorabilia also were featured for public viewing.  MORE...


MVSU MOCK TRIAL TEAM ADVANCES TO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Mississippi Valley State University Mock Trial Team has earned a berth to the American Mock Trial Association's National Championships following competition Feb. 26-28.

The team competed in the AMTA annual regional championships at Samford University's Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Ala. The tournament pitted teams from 29 schools from across the southeastern United States against each other for the right to advance to the nationals. MORE


MVSU DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK CELEBRATES

30TH ANNUAL SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION CONFERENCE APRIL 15-16

Dr. Gwendolyn Spencer Prater will be the keynote speaker at the 30th annual Social Work Education Conference scheduled for April 15-16 at MVSU. Dr. Prater is the founding dean of the College of Public Service at Jackson State University. "The Many Faces of Social Work in Rural Areas" is the theme of the conference hosted by the MVSU Department of Social Work. Registration is $65 for professionals; $20 for students. MORE


MVSU MINI MEDICAL SCHOOL LECTURE SERIES

The next Mississippi Valley State University Mini Medical School Lecture Series will be held on Saturday, March 27. The topic will be abuse of illegal drugs and prescription drugs. The event begins with registration at 9:30 a.m. in Room 1112 of the Science & Technology Center on the Itta Bena campus. For more information, call 662.254.3021.


15TH ANNUAL MVSU PIANO FESTIVAL SET FOR APRIL

The Department of Fine Arts at Mississippi Valley State University will present its 15th annual MVSU Piano Festival on Saturday, April 17, on the Itta Bena campus. The festival's goal is to increase awareness to the Mississippi Delta and surrounding areas of the value and importance of piano study throughout childhood and beyond.

The festival will include events for both elementary and advanced piano students. At 9 a.m., a non-competitive festival event will be held for piano students ranging from kindergarten through junior high school. Older beginners may participate. Students will perform selections from the classical piano repertoire and will be rated and given written evaluations. MORE