ALABAMA A&M and AUBURN UNIVERSITIES
ALABAMA A&M and AUBURN UNIVERSITIES |
|
|
For more information,
contact Donna Reynolds, Extension Assistant Editor
AUBURN, MARCH 5---Forty-seven Alabama youths involved in the Cooperative Extension System's Urban and Youth Development Program were awarded a trip to the 1999 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Feb. 26-28, compliments of the nationally syndicated radio program The Tom Joyner Morning Show.
The opportunity came after Yvonne Thomas, a Montgomery County Extension agent with urban programming responsibilities, wrote to Joyner in early January in response to the show's "Christmas Wish List." The Tom Joyner Foundation grants wishes throughout the year to deserving people or organizations who are making a difference in the lives of urban young people. Joyner announced the win and granted the Alabama group $4,465 on Feb. 10.
Thomas wished for funding to help with an educational trip to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and it was granted.
"We are extremely grateful for this opportunity," says Thomas. "The young people benefitted from this experience that otherwise would not have been possible because of limited family resources.
"While in Texas, the youth attended Black Heritage Day activities in Houston, and toured Texas Southern University. They also attended a concert by MONICA and Brian McKnight Saturday night. Officials from two other universities met with the Alabama group, encouraging them to continue their education no matter what college they chose to attend.
The youth visited exhibits and took part in educational workshops that highlighted contributions African Americans made in settling the West and to the sport of rodeo.
Gary Braxton of Macon County thoroughly enjoyed the trip.
"I really enjoyed the Livestock and Rodeo Show, especially the calf show. I learned a lot that will help me when I show my calf in Alabama." He will show his animal March 6.
Ashanti Collins of Montgomery County was thankful for the experience to see how people from other cultures live.
Renard Robinson of Montgomery County said he appreciated the opportunity to learn more about African Americans' role in developing the West.
Michael Johnson, also of Montgomery County, echoed Robinson's comments and added, "We had a great time. I especially enjoyed learning about African American cowboys."
A Tuskegee native, Tom Joyner, hosts the live urban morning program from 5 a.m. until 9 a.m. each weekday from Dallas. The show includes an on-air team that reports and comments on the latest news and sports, and features drop-in celebrity guests, on-site remotes and an urban playlist.
Joyner, a four-time Billboard Magazine award winner, began his radio career immediately after graduating from Tuskegee Institute. He worked with WRMA-AM as a news broadcaster in Montgomery. After his Montgomery radio debut, Joyner worked on-air at WLOK-AM, Memphis; KWK-AM, St. Louis; and KKDA-FM, Dallas. His success eventually took him to WJPC-FM, WGCI-FM, WVON-AM and WBMX-FM, Chicago.
He's perhaps best known as the 'Fly Jock" and the "Hardest Working in Man in Radio." In the mid 1980's, Joyner accepted simultaneous positions of morning drive man at KKDA- FM Dallas and afternoon drive talent at WGCI-FM, Chicago. His daily round-trip commute between the two cities earned him national publicity, high ratings and millions of frequent flyer miles.
In 1998, Joyner was honored by general managers, program directors and broadcast historians throughout the United States for his contributions to the broadcast industry. He was the first African American elected to the Radio Hall of Fame.
In addition to his Billboard Magazine awards, Joyner received IMPACT Magazine's Joe Loris Award for Excellence in Broadcasting. IMPACT's Best DJ of the Year Award was renamed The Tom Joyner Award because he received it so many times.
The Tom Joyner Foundation is a nonprofit organization formed for the purpose of assisting students complete their college education at historically Black colleges and universities.