2018 Black Alumni Weekend Celebration

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Though class isn’t in session, Mississippi State University’s campus is covered with students both from the past and present.

It’s the second Black Alumni Weekend.

1978 graduates Valeska and Fred Buie traveled across country to participate in the 2018 Mississippi State Black Alumni Weekend.

“We’re looking forward to connecting with old friends and college buddies and I haven’t seen them in a long time, as a matter of fact some haven’t seen since we left,”said MSU Graduate Fred Buie.

The weekend kicked off Thursday night with a meet and greet and Black Alumni Executive Board member Dr. Lenora Hogan says it hasn’t slowed down since.

“It is a big ta-do, with the greek stroll and competition followed by an event at the Holmes Diversity Center so just a few things going on tours and presenting a few things to different people,”said Hogan.

That was just on Friday. This weekends event generated more than 7 hundred former state students. Which Hogan says will definitely leave an impression on The city of Starkville.

“Economically it’s tremendous because of course they are booking rooms and there are a lot of different things going on with the basket ball games. There’s a viewing of Black Panther tomorrow that the alumni will go to views together. So different things that will bring back to the community. We’ll be at the Mills Conference center and so it’s always great to view that beautiful place to utilize it in the city,”said Hogan.

Hogan joined the planning committee on the tail end but she was able to see what it took to get an event like this on up and off the ground.

“I didn’t have the hard part but it did take a lot of planning committees, Who took care of different aspects of the event ending on Sunday with a gospel brunch so we have different guest and artist who are coming in and again pulling in diverse pieces,”said Hogan.

MSU junior Sydni Moore says once she heard about the event she had to take part.

“We’re having so many prolific speakers coming here today that are African American people. It’s such a great way to inspire many people. Sometimes we feel as African American students we can’t reach for our dreams as much as we want but to be able to see the leaders that have paved the way is such an inspiring and different motive that they reached as well too,” said Moore.

The festivities are going on right now with a performance from nationally known artist Big KRIT tonight.