Local & State Headlines

National radio show to broadcast from ASU

• Albany State University celebrates its 105th birthday and welcomes a national radio show to campus Thursday.

Susan McCord

ALBANY — Oh, oh, oh. The Tom Joyner Morning Show will be in Albany Thursday to spotlight Albany State University as April school of the month.

The syndicated morning radio show reaches more than 10 million listeners each day and on Thursday will broadcast a live remote from Albany State’s pedestrian mall to raise money for scholarships at the historically black university.

The Tom Joyner Foundation has, since 1998, raised more than $55 million “to help keep students enrolled in black colleges,” and each month designates an HBCU to receive its support, foundation officials said in a statement.

The show’s on-air personality “Myra J” will join school officials, alumni, students, musicians and the public on the mall for the live broadcast from 7 a.m.-10 a.m. Thursday.

Funds raised during the broadcast and throughout the month of April will be donated to Albany State for student scholarships, to be awarded through ASU’s financial aid department.

Joyner brought his “Sky Show,” a concert and broadcast, to the Albany Civic Center in November 2003, Cliff Porter, interim Vice President for Institutional Development, said.

With more than $100,000 raised during the broadcast, the show generated some $275,000 for student scholarships, Porter said.

While the economy may limit giving this year, “we’re hoping to at least beat that amount,” Porter said.

The financial aid department will distribute the funds in partial scholarships based on eligibility and need, to be used for tuition and fees, he said.

School officials announced last month a $100-per-semester increase in student fees to fund construction of a student center and pay down debt on the university’s football stadium.

“These types of scholarships are really very, very valuable to our student body,” Porter said.

During the broadcast, local donors who have met a certain threshold will be introduced on the air, he said.

Several scholarship winners also will be announced, he said.

University President Everette Freeman, alumni groups and others will participate in the broadcast, Porter said.

At 11 a.m., Myra J will be keynote speaker at the 105th Founder’s Day Celebration.

Albany State was founded as Georgia Normal and Agricultural College in 1903 by Joseph Winthrop Holley, who served as its president for 43 years.

Holley’s daughter, Josephine Holley Jefferson, will speak at Founder’s Day, Porter said.

The university lost its fifth and sixth presidents last month.

Fifth president Charles Hayes died March 15, just two days after the death of sixth president Billy Black March 13.

Freeman will present a tribute to both at the convocation in ASU’s HPER Gymnasium.

The Tom Joyner Foundation will bring several high school students to ASU April 17-18 as part of the Tom Joyner Foundation HBCU tour.

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