Alcorn State University News August 28, 2012 Coca-Cola representatives visit Alcorn, present $50,000 grant for first generation students On August 21, Coca-Cola representatives officially presented Alcorn State University with a $50,000 grant to support first generation students. The grant award was announced in June and its goal is to provide four Alcorn students who are the first in their families to go to college with $12,500 in scholarships over four years. "We are excited about this grant. Alcorn has a historic commitment of providing education to first generation and low income students," stated President M. Christopher Brown II receiving the check from Coca-Cola representatives at the celebratory luncheon. "On behalf of the University we thank Coca-Cola for this contribution. This partnership is 'the real thing'." Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Executive Director of the ASU Foundation Marcus Ward presided over the luncheon and recognized special guests that included Senator Albert Butler, Chairman of the Board of Directors ASU Foundation Incorporated, Robert Gage IV, President of the National Alumni Association James Stubbs '73, Vice President of the National Alumni Association Charles Davis '69, Civil Rights activist Myrlie Evers, who currently serves as Scholar-in-Residence at Alcorn, University vice presidents, deans, faculty, staff and student leaders. Marcus Mercy, 2012-13 SGA president, and Miss Alcorn State University Airnecia Mills welcomed Coca-Cola representatives Debbie Meiners, key account development manager, Scott McCallister, director of food service on premises for the Louisiana market unit, Marvin Delong, district sales manager, and Tara Brooks '95, market development manager. "The Alcorn student body is enthused about our partnership with Coca-Cola. Thank you for choosing Alcorn." The program continued with a presentation by Debbie Meiners. "Since the program's inception in 1993, over $23 million has been given in student scholarships. We are elated to extend our support to Alcorn students and children in Mississippi." A first for Alcorn, this grant is part of $7.4 million in grants awarded by the Coca-Cola Foundation for education in the first quarter, with more than $4.3 million in First Generation Scholarship grants. Including these grants, the Foundation awarded $26 million to benefitting organizations across the globe. The luncheon closed with remarks by Dr. Betty Roberts, senior vice president and chief financial officer, "We have vendors and we have partners - and we are delighted to have Coca-Cola as a partner. We look forward to continuing to work together and strengthening our relationship." SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-520-0593 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Register now http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/2012meeting-form.html for the October 21-23, 2012 HBCU Library Alliance 5th Membership Meeting and the Photographic Preservation Pre-Conference in New Orleans, LA. The Pre-Conference and Membership meeting are open to directors and other librarians.