Miss Bennett College 2022-2023 Coronation Program by Bennett College

Purpose Miss Bennett College is one of the official representatives of the student body at Bennett College, one of two Historically Black all women’s colleges in the nation. She reigns for one year serving the Bennett community and the Greensboro community at large. In addition to being active in the Pre Alumnae Council, Miss Bennett assists in orientation and recruitment efforts. She is also responsible for initiating and completing a campus improvement project for the fall and spring semesters, ultimately completing a minimum of 75 hours of community service during her tenure. Former Miss Bennett College Queens 2021-22 Katiya Laster 2020 21 Hannah Marie Ross 2019 20 Taylor Kristian Adkins 2018 19 Brooke Ashley Kane 2017-18 Niquia Harris 2016-17 Sallena Thompson 2015-16 Kee’Aera Hood 2014 15 Jasmine Marye Beckwith 2013 14 Brenda J. Keels 2012 13 Brielle Jasmere Kenney 2011-12 Keyona F. Smith 2010-11 Charnee Pearson Starling 2009-10 Tiffany A. Johnson 2008 09 Janine Quarles 2007 08 Chemaye Herring 2006 07 Johnette Reed 2005-06 Latisha Wright 2004-05 Carah L.B. Herring 2003-04 Christine Pendleton 2002 03 Crystal Henderson 2001 02 Monica Graymon 2000 01 Tanna Watson 1999-00 Mattea Hill 1998 99 Willacin Gholston 1997 98 Takiyah Starks 1996 97 Jasmine Canady 1995-96 Jennifer Farris 1994-95 Deirdre Pecchioni 1993-94 Kelly Kniffley 1992 93 Monica L. Hawkins 1991 92 Natisha Hoskins 1990 91 Yvette R. Williams 1989-90 Kenyatta W. Scott 1988-89 Sonja D. Hendrix 1987-88 Summer Houston 1986 87 Alicia McCollum 1985 86 Penny Hill Speas 1984 85 Rhonda C. Jackson 1983-84 Nedra C. Crosby 1982-83 Gloria C. Nunnally 1981-82 Terri Lynn Phillips 1980 81 Rosalyn J. Scott 1979 80 Kathy Crosby Wells 1978 79 Rose M. Hudson

The Programme The Royal Opening The Entrance of the Official Readers Dr. T. Leal Simmons (Assistant Professor) Ms. Jasmine Faison ‘10 (Poet Laureate) The Royal Processional of Past Miss Bennett College Queens The Entrance of the SGA Executive Board & Class Officers The Occasion Ms Zakyha Jones Walker ’24 (Student Government Association President) The Entrance of Miss Bennett College 2022 2023 Ms. Katiya Shearrie Laster ’22 The Entrance of Miss Bennett College Ja’Nylah Lottie Johnson ’23 The Dance Expression Spirit of David Dance Ministry The Presentation of the Crown President Suzanne Elise Walsh, JD Ms. Katiya Laster The Presentation of the Sceptre Mr. David Richardson (Bennett College First Gentlemen) The Presentation of the Sash Ms Nusayba Guiro ’23 The Presentation of the Bell Ms. Deja Rogers ’24 The Presentation of the Bible & The Prayer of Confirmation Reverend Dr Natalie V McLean ’80 (College Chaplain) The Royal Stroll Ms. Ja’Nylah Lottie Johnson ’23 (Miss Bennett College 2022 2023) The Acceptance Speech Ms Ja’Nylah Lottie Johnson ’23 Closing Remarks President Walsh

Ja’NylahLottieJohnsonisaSenior,InterdisciplinaryStudiesmajorwithaconcentrationineducation Shewas raisedonthecoastoftheSanFranciscoBayAreainAlameda,Californiabyhermother,LakishaHarris,her aunt,NunieJohnson,andhergrandmother,LottieEvans Ja’Nylah,a2018graduatefromNeaCLCinAlameda, startedthefirst everBlackStudentUnionatherhighschoolinhopesofemphasizingBlackcultureand providingasenseofcommunityforBlackstudents Laterthatyear,Ja’NylahwasselectedasAlamedaBoysand GirlsClubAlamedaYouthoftheYear,makingheratwo timeYouthoftheYear,winningthetitleforNorthern California. ThroughoutheryearsatBennettCollege,Ja’Nylahhasservedinvariousleadershippositions,includingher positionasFreshmanClassPresident,aMenteeofSaveaGirl,SaveaWorld,amemberoftheBennettCollege PreAlumnae Council,EasternRegionalDirector,oftheNationalPre AlumniCouncil,astudentLiaisonforthe MiddleCollegeatBennett,MissSophomore,MissRoyalBlueandWhite,amemberofDeltaAlphaPiHonors Society,PresidentoftheChiGammaChapterofZetaPhiBetaSorority,Inc andPresident/FounderofBuiltto LastMentorship,anorganizationshestartedoncampusin2019inhopesofprovidingabravespacefor growth,healing,anddiscomfortwhileunifyingtheBennettCollegecommunity&surroundingvillages WhenrunningforMissRoyalBlueandWhitein2021,Ja’Nylahranonthecampaignplatformof “Metamorphosis TheBeautyinRebirth,”whichledtoher2022campaign“BacktotheBasics,”asloganthat wasdesignedtoemphasizethebeautyinnewbeginningsandencourageherBennettsisterstoseethebeautyin theirnewacademicchapter Duringherreign,Ja’Nylahwishestoemphasizetheimportanceofmentalwellness amongstBlackfemalescholarsandprovideopportunitiesforindividualdevelopment Ja’Nylahhasapassion forMentalHealth,EducationandSocialJusticeassheplanstopursueacareerintertwiningherpassionsand allowinghertocontinueadvocatingformentalhealthmatters,whilereformingandbreakingthebarriersthat peopleofcolorfacefromtheeducationsystem Miss Bennett College 2022-2023 Ja’Nylah Lottie Johnson ’23 Ja’Nylah’sfavoritequoteis“Didyouwanttoseemebroken?Bowedheadandloweredeyes?Shouldersfallingdownliketeardrops,Weakenedbymysoulfulcries? DoesmyHaughtinessoffendyou?Don’tyoutakeitawfulhard‘CauseIlaughlikeI’vegotgoldmines Diggin’inmyownbackyard Youmayshootmewithyour wordsyoumaykillmewithyoureyes,Youmaykillmewithyourhatefulness,Butstill,likeair,I’llrise,"MayaAngelou,"AndStillIRise" Miss Royal Blue & White Nusayba Guiro ’23 NusaybaRochelleGuiroisaSeniorStellarScholarstudyingsocialwork Shewasraisedbyhermother,Rachel ParrishinEastOakland,CA NusaybagraduatedfromRealmCharterSchoolinBerkeley,CA,in2019 ThroughouthertimeatBennettCollege,Nusaybahasheldvariousleadershippositionsandmembershipin honorsocieties SheisthefoundingmemberofBennettCollege’sfirstandonlyenvironmentalsustainability organizationGreenTeam,leadBennettCollegestudentambassador,socialworkclubstudentrepresentative, andafull timepreschooleducator SheisamemberoftheNationalHonorSociety,PhiAlphaHonorSociety, AlphaKappaMuNationalHonorSociety,ZetaOmegaHonorSociety,andDeltaAlphaPiHonorSociety Nusayba’sMissRoyalBlueandWhitecampaigncenteredonauthenticityandbecomingyourownideal“IT girl” Duringherreign,Nusaybawishestoemphasizetheimportanceofcommunityserviceandbalancingone’s confidenceandmotivationintheirownskin,whetheritbeintheprofessionalorsocialenvironment Asan environmentalist,NusaybaiscontinuingtheworktowardexpandingtheGreenTeambeyondBennett’sCampus internationallyandintertwiningenvironmentalismwiththeeducationsystem Withapassionforsocialjusticeandenvironmentalsustainability,Nusaybaplanstofurtherhereducationinsocialworkandiscurrentlyonthepathtoobtainingher Master’sinSocialWork Nusaybaplanstobecomeanadvocateformentalhealthandcommunitiesofcolorthroughthescoialworkprofession Nusayba’sfavoritequotecomesfromOaklandnative,Mr FabbyDavisJr:"Reppin’theBay,butyouknowit’sTownBiz"

Miss Senior Kyresha Bowman ’23 KyreshaLynnaeBowmanisagraduatingSenior,VocalMusicmajorfromWashingtonDC,whereshewasraised byhermother,ChristineHughes,andistheyoungestsiblingtoEricaSilas,StephenHughes,DanaMitchell,and hertwinbrotherKyreeBowman BeforestartingherjourneyatBennettCollege,KyreshagraduatedfromEastern SeniorHighSchoolinWashingtonDC in2018 WhileatBennettCollege,KyreshaparticipatedintheBennettCollegeChoirandtheBennettCollegeChoirHonor Ensemble Duetohertalents,KyreshawasabletorepresentBennettCollegein105HBCUVoicesandserveasa mediarepresentativefor105HBCUVoiceson behalfofthecollege Duringherjunioryear,Kyreshafocusedon advocatingforherselfandherfellowsisterstoensurethattheywouldreceivethemostoutoftheir matriculationhereatBennettCollegeasMusicMajors NotonlydidKyreshaadvocateforhermajor,butshealso joinedtheMentalHealthAdvocacyprogramtobeabletosupporthersisters,regardlessofwhattheyweregoing through,andtoremindthemthattheyaren’talone.KyreshaalsobecamearecipientoftheAboutLove ScholarshipfromBeyoncé,Jay ZandTiffany&Co byspreadinghertalentsandexplaininghowtheartshave playedahugepartincreatingsafespacesforBlackpeopleintheUnitedStatesduringthedifficulttimesthey’ve facedthroughouttheyears Kyres ollegechoseher In2018,KyreshareceivedfullscholarshipstootherHBCU’sandPWI’sformusic,butnoother instit ckwomenlikeBennettCollegedid,andcontinuestodo BennettCollegeproducedanextraordinaryalumnae name isiontolookatherinstitution AfterbecomingthedirectorofEasternSeniorHighSchoolChoirandThe WashingtonYouthChoir,KyreshaknewthatshewantedtofollowinDr JoyceGarrett’sfootstepswhichledhertodearoldBennett Sincestartinghermatriculation hereatBennettCollege,Kyreshahaslearnedwhatitfeelsliketotakeupspaceandnotfeelbadaboutit Kyreshahasalsolearnedtogivegrace,notonlytoherselfbut herpeers,faculty,andstaff ShehasalsolearnedtobeloudandproudaboutbeingatalentedBlackwomanthathastherighttocreateherownlaneandenjoyevery momentofit,eventhebadones Upongraduation,Kyreshaplanstobeanindependentartist,creatingherfirstofficialEP Duringherfreetime,shewillgobacktoheralmamaterinWashingtonDC topourtheknowledgethatBennetthasinstilledinherintoyoungBlackcreativesinDistrictofColumbiaPublicSchools Kyresha’sfavoritequotecomesfromthegroundbreakingRollingRay:“Awwwwpurrrrr,it’snuffin’goingon” CallyceNicoleTucker RevesisaJuniorSocialWorkmajorwithaminorinEntrepreneurship Shewasraisedin Plainfield,NewJerseywithhersisterCaylahTucker Revesbyhermother,ChawandaTucker Withthehelpof her"village,"whichincludedbothsetsofhergrandparents,uncles,andaunts,CallycegraduatedfromBound BrookHighSchoolin2020inthetop15%ofherclass SinceCallyce’shighschoolexperiencewascutshortduetoCOVID 19,shemadeithermissiontoenjoyher matriculationatBennettCollegetothefullestandgetinvolvedasmuchaspossible DuringherFreshwoman year,shebecameParliamentarianfortheFreshwomanclass,whilehelpingconductmeetingsshealsohelped executevirtualeventsfortheFreshwomanclass Callyce’sSophomoreyearwasherfirsttimebeingon Bennett'scampus.Whileshewasverynervous,shewasalsoveryexcitedaboutwhatwasyettocome.She becameastudentambassador,MissSocialWork,anofficeassistantinthePresident'soffice,wasinductedinto PhiAlphaHonorSociety,andbecameamemberofAlphaKappaAlphaSororityIncorporatedwheresheserved asfinancialsecretaryfortheZetaXichapter Now,inherJunioryear,CallyceinternsattheResearchTriangleInstituteasaSmallBusinessMarketAnalyst, servesasthePublicistfortheStudentUnionActivitiesBoard,MissSocialWork,sergeantatarms,andhostessfor theZetaXichapterofAlphaKappaAlphaSororityIncorporated,allwhilemaintaininga40GPA Callyc hechangeyouwanttosee" Manyaskforachangebutdonotact AsMissJunior,Callycewantstoalleviate proble ndsisterbondingeventstoassistcurrentandfutureBelles Allinall,beingagoodBigSisterandmakingsure everyonehasapositiveexperiencewhileoncampusisoneofCallyce’smaingoalsthisacademicschoolyear,thatshewillachieve. HerfavoritequotecomesfromtheexceptionalmindofMayaAngelou: “Ifyouaregoingtolive,leavealegacy Makeamarkontheworldthatcan’tbeerased” Miss Junior Callyce Tucker Reves ’24

SinclairA Bennettisatransfer,ElementaryandSpecialEducationmajorfromHopewellVA Sinclairwasbornin RutherfordCounty,TNtoHeatherandSinclairBennettJr Sheisthemiddleoffivechildren,havingoneolder brother,oneoldersister,oneyoungersister,andoneyoungerbrother Sinclairgraduatedhighschoolwitha38 GPAin2020 Whileinhighschool,Sinclairwasextremelyactiveinhercommunity,includingvolunteeringwith voterregistration/electionawareness,GoodNewsClub,feedingthehomeless,workingasalifeguardandswim teacher Sinclairalsoparticipatedinyear roundswimming,NSBEJr (NationalSocietyforBlackEngineers),and theYoungEaglesFlightClub Sheiscurrentlycertifiedinnonviolence365professionaldevelopmentwithThe KingCenter ShealsoholdsemergingleaderscertificationthroughTruistLeadershipInstitute WhileatBennettCollege,Sinclairhasservedonthestudentconductboard,socialworkclub,andco hostedthe WeeklyRing SheisaStradaScholarand worksasaDAPintern AsMissSophomoreandasafellowbelle, Sinclairisdedicatedtocreatinganenvironmentofservice,unity,andacceptance Itisheraspirationto representBennettCollegeinthebestwaypossible Aftergraduation,Sinclairhopestoteachandrunherowngrouphome.Sinclairhopestoencourageherscholars tohavealoveforlearning,seekingtoproduceanenvironmentthatwillshowherfuturescholarsthebroader advantagestowhathavinganeducationcanhelpthemaccomplish Sincla tformofintelligence” Unknown Miss Sophomore Sinclair Bennett ’25 Miss Freshwoman Michelle Nelson ’26 MichelleNelsonisaFreshwomanPsychologyMajorfromOrlando,Florida MichellewasborninAbington,PA, andrelocatedtoOrlando,FLatageseven Sheistheoldestoffour,havingthreelittlesisters Michelle graduatedhighschoolwitha39GPAandinthetop25%ofherclassin2022 Whileinhighschool,Michelle wasanavidvolunteerinmanyorganizations,includingInteractClub,SoulInTheCity,andattheChurchofSt LukeandSt Peter ShealsovolunteeredatOsceolaArts,acommunitytheatrewhichfocusesoncommunity outreachandfineartsforchildren,andwasaCampCounselorandArtsAssistant.Amemberofmanyclubs, includingBlackStudentUnion,GleeClub,andASLClub,MichelletookonleadershiprolessuchasSocialMedia ManagerandPublicist Comingfromafamilyofeducators,MichellehascenteredherpassionaroundSchoolPsychologyandthesocial emotionaldevelopmentofstudentsaroundthecountry Sheplanstospendthenextthreeyearsfinishing undergrad,thenpursuingprofessionaldegreesinSchoolCounselingandCounselorEducation AsaNewBelle andMissFreshwoman,Michellehasanaspirationofbuildingacommunitycenteredonsocialengagement, advocacy,andcommunityservicethroughBennettandbeyond HergoalistorepresenttheFreshwomanClass andBennettinthehighestregard After oridaeducationsystemasaSchoolCounselorandMentalHealthAdvocateforstudentsaroundthestate She wishe especiallyforminoritygroups Michellebelievesthateducationandpsychologyareconnectedandwantstopush stude rstandingwhothatmaybe Michellefindsjoyinperforming,shopping,andteachingchildrentodance,sing,andact

About The College - Herstory Bennett College

In 1873, Bennett College began in the unplastered basement of the Warnersville Methodist Episcopal Church (now known as St. Matthews United Methodist Church). Seventy young men and women started elementary and secondary level studies In 1874 the Freedmen’s Aid Society took over the school which remained under its auspices for 50 years

Within five years of 1873, a group of emancipated slaves purchased the present site for the school Bennett is named after Lyman G. Bennett, a Troy, New York, businessman who gave $10,000 to black parishioners of the Methodist Church of Greensboro, who used it to buy land and a building large enough to house classrooms and a dormitory.

College level courses and permanent facilities were added In 1926, The Women’s Home Missionary Society joined with the Board of Education of the church to make Bennett College in Greensboro, N C , formerly co educational, a college for women. The challenges that were overcome to establish Bennett demand that today’s challenges be met and overcome to ensure her survival.

For nearly 150 years women have found Bennett to be the ideal place to foster the constant rhythm of ideas Each student’s individual need for self expression and desire for achievement is constantly nurtured. The College fosters a strong respect for every student. Today, in the midst of a very active renaissance, Bennett is preparing contemporary women to be well educated, productive professionals, informed, participating citizens, and enlightened parents.

The College offers eight majors and twelve minors in the following areas of study: Business, Economics and Entrepreneurship, Curriculum and Instruction, Journalism and Media Studies, Social Work, Global and Interdisciplinary Studies, Humanities, Science and Technology, and Social and Behavioral Sciences Numerous opportunities to study at other higher education institutions at home and abroad are available to continue the educational enrichment of Bennett’s students. From its founding in the basement of a Methodist Church, Bennett College remains affiliated with the United Methodist Church.

The goals of the College continue to focus on the intellectual, spiritual and cultural growth of young women who must be prepared for lifelong learning and leadership Since 1930 more than 6,000 women have graduated from Bennett College Known as Bennett Belles, they continue to be counted among women of achievement in all walks of life, they are open to intellectual expansion, accepting of diverse expressions, and committed to serving humanity.

900 E. Washington Street Greensboro, NC 27401 www.Bennett.edu