TONY STEELE
As a transfer student to Jackson State University thing about Jackson State and the Sonic Boom … it in 1984, Shelly Hart lovingly remembers how she just gave me goose bumps.” and her twin sister, Shirley, quickly became known After getting a taste of the spirited football games, around campus – “Twin A and Twin B.” Hart says she just had to become a part of it herself. “I was Twin A because I am the oldest,” Hart says “Growing up, I always knew I had to get an educawith a chuckle. tion, and that has a lot to do with my mom,” she says. As she got older, the nickname faded, but the “She kind of had it hard with six children, although strong family-like connection Hart felt to Jackson she had help from grandparents, uncles and aunts. State never did. But my mom instilled in us the value of an education Since making the leap from student to alumna in because she wanted us to have a better life. And 1987 when she graduated with a bachelor’s degree Jackson State was a great place to start my higher in urban affairs, Hart has busied herself with tire- education.” lessly promoting the university. Those early life lessons also included the imporHighlights of her post-graduation accomplish- tance of giving back. ments include serving as the president of the Jack- “When you learn about the things that were hapson State University Huntsville Alumni Chapter from pening in the 1940s and ’50s, you learn how our 2001–05, and designing a JSU football helmet logo black elderly had to fight to ensure Jackson State in 2002. Hart also is a regular contributor to various would be here for the next generation. If it hadn’t JSU causes, including the JSU department of music, been for them, many of us wouldn’t have made it the athletics department and the JSU Development where we are today,” Hart says. Foundation. Even in Alabama, Hart says she always Hart says it’s all just her way of acknowledgtries to make sure her “true blue” fan ing an institution that was an “important elespirit comes through. ment in my life.” “I work around people who are alumni “I think you should recognize it not only from places like Ole Miss, Mississippi by giving your time, but by giving resourcState and the University of Alabama,” es,” says the native of Magnolia, Miss. she says. “But everybody in the ofHart’s love affair with JSU began as a fice also knows about Jackson State child, she says. because I have my pictures up of the “I used to pay attention to all the uniSonic Boom and the football team.” versities like Grambling, Southern and Alcorn,” Hart says. “But it was just some-