James competed in the 11th Annual Mr. HBCU Kings Pageant held at Lincoln University in Jefferson, Missouri on February 8 which featured Black male students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities to include Dillard University, Harris Stowe State University, Prairie View A&M University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Winston Salem State University vying for the title.
James is senior Industrial & Systems Engineering major from Riegelwood, North Carolina and always aspired to be Mr. NCA&T. He began to realize his dream with his selection as Mr. Freshman, and Mr. Junior. With other goals in mind he missed Mr. Sophomore but captured the Mister A&T and now the Mr. HBCU title. He also serves in various capacities with the Student Government Association and plans to serve as same role model for younger men as a former Mr. A&T, Jordan Brunson, was for him in his freshman year.
James is committed to bringing excellence and innovation to the position of Mr. A&T
through meaningful programs and community service opportunities.
His future plans include pursuing the masters in Higher Education Administration and
begin a career in Student Life and Development on the campus of a Historically
Black College or University.
As Mr. HBCU, James is expected to implement a platform that will enhance Black men across the nation and to represent the pageant in various activities and events. Along with the title, James receives a $1,500 scholarship and other gifts and prizes from the pageant and its sponsors.
The Mr. HBCU Pageant began in 2004 due to the absence of the Mr. Collegiate African American Scholarship Pageant which ran from 1992 to 1997 in Texas. The Mr. Collegiate pageant is the first pageant of its kind created for Black men at HBCU's. However, the founders of the pageant have expanded the pageant to Black men on all college campuses and is not limited to title holders of those colleges.
The 2015 Mr. Collegiate Pageant is set for April 2-5 in Houston and Prairie View. It is being sponsored in conjunction with a National Conference on Black Males set for April 3-4 at Prairie View A&M University.
For information on Mr. Collegiate 2015, write to: mrcollegiate@yahoo.com.
