Alcorn State University; commemorate and celebrate upon the occasion of its 155th anniversary.

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To: Rules
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representatives Holloway (76th),
Harness, Butler-Washington, Gibbs (36th),
Thompson, Williams

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 43

A RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING AND CELEBRATING THE 155TH 1
ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY, AMERICA'S 2
FIRST HISTORICALLY BLACK LAND-GRANT UNIVERSITY, THE OLDEST 3
LAND-GRANT INSTITUTION IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, AND A PREMIER 4
RESEARCH AND TEACHING INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING. 5
WHEREAS, the Mississippi House of Representatives joins the 6
students, alumni, faculty, staff and administration of Alcorn 7
State University in commemorating the 155th anniversary of its 8
founding, marking more than a century and a half of academic 9
excellence, service and transformational impact upon the State of 10
Mississippi, the southeastern region and the nation; and 11
WHEREAS, Alcorn University, also formerly known as Alcorn 12
Agricultural and Mechanical College, a moniker it bore for 96 13
years, and now known, since 1974, as Alcorn State University, was 14
founded on May 13, 1871, in Lorman, Mississippi, by an act of the 15
Mississippi Legislature, as part of the state's post- 16
Reconstruction effort to expand educational opportunity to the 17
descendants of formerly enslaved individuals; and 18
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WHEREAS, the university derives its name from then-Governor, 19
James L. Alcorn, who co-drafted and signed into law the 20
legislation establishing the institution, thereby securing its 21
place in Mississippi's constitutional and educational history; and 22
WHEREAS, the university's first president, the Honorable 23
Hiram R. Revels, resigned his seat as the first African-American 24
United States Senator in American history to return to 25
Mississippi, to assist in shaping the founding legislation and to 26
lead the institution at its inception; and 27
WHEREAS, Alcorn State University officially opened its doors 28
to students on July 1, 1871, becoming the nation's first 29
Historically Black Land-Grant University, the oldest land-grant 30
institution in Mississippi, and the second-oldest state-supported 31
institution of higher learning in the state; and 32
WHEREAS, Alcorn State University, which bears the well 33
deserved nickname, the "Academic Resort," is consistently 34
recognized among the top Historically Black Colleges and 35
Universities (HBCUs) in the United States by national evaluators, 36
including NICHE and U.S. News & World Report, reflecting sustained 37
excellence in teaching, research and student outcomes; and 38
WHEREAS, the university has educated generations of leaders 39
who have distinguished themselves in agriculture, education, 40
nursing, business, ministry, public service, science, technology, 41
engineering, mathematics, music, entertainment and numerous other 42
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professions, thereby strengthening communities throughout 43
Mississippi and across the nation; and 44
WHEREAS, 10 current members of the Mississippi Legislature 45
attended Alcorn State University or earned at least one degree 46
from the institution, and one statewide elected official, the 47
Central District Transportation Commissioner, holds at least one 48
degree from Alcorn State University, further demonstrating the 49
university's enduring influence on public leadership in 50
Mississippi; and 51
WHEREAS, the current Commissioner of the Mississippi 52
Institutions of Higher Learning is also a graduate of Alcorn State 53
University, underscoring the institution's role in shaping 54
leadership within the state's higher education governance 55
structure; and 56
WHEREAS, Alcorn State University offers bachelor's, master's 57
and doctoral degree programs, including the only nursing program 58
housed at a Historically Black College and University in the State 59
of Mississippi; and 60
WHEREAS, the Medgar Wiley Evers Heritage Village, a 61
residential living community on the university's campus, honors 62
the legacy of civil rights leader Medgar Wiley Evers, a 1952 63
graduate of Alcorn State University, whose life and sacrifice 64
helped shape the course of American history; and 65
WHEREAS, distinguished alumnus Steve McNair, a graduate of 66
Alcorn State University, enjoyed a celebrated professional 67
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football career after being selected third overall in the 1995 68
National Football League Draft, the highest draft selection ever 69
attained by an offensive player from a Historically Black College 70
and University at that time; and 71
WHEREAS, the achievements and reputation of Alcorn State 72
University are the result of the unwavering commitment of its 73
leadership, faculty and staff, who dedicate their professional 74
lives to cultivating excellence in academics, research, athletics 75
and public service; and 76
WHEREAS, recent economic impact studies indicate that Alcorn 77
State University contributes more than $187,000,000.00 annually to 78
Mississippi's economy, supports over 3,000 jobs statewide, and 79
produces graduates whose mid-career earnings average approximately 80
$46,500.00; and 81
WHEREAS, Alcorn State University student-athletes compete in 82
15 men's and women's sports at the NCAA Division I level as 83
members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), 84
consistently exemplifying excellence, discipline and 85
sportsmanship; and 86
WHEREAS, Alcorn State University remains steadfast in its 87
mission to advance excellence and innovation in teaching, 88
learning, research and workforce development, and continues to 89
bring honor, distinction and economic vitality to the State of 90
Mississippi; and 91
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ST: Alcorn State University; commemorate and
celebrate upon the occasion of its 155th
anniversary.
WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to 92
honor the rich history and abounding success of the state's 93
prestigious academic postsecondary educational institutions, as 94
that reflected in the 155-year enduring legacy of Alcorn State 95
University, where, without any reservation that on the 96
"Reservation," it remains evident that "Knowledge and Character: 97
That's the Alcorn Difference": 98
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF 99
REPRESENTATIVES of the State of Mississippi, That we do hereby 100
commend and celebrate the 155th anniversary of the founding of 101
Alcorn State University in Lorman, Mississippi, and honor its 102
historic legacy as America's first Historically Black Land-Grant 103
University and a premier institution of higher learning. 104
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be 105
furnished to Dr. Tracy Cook, the 21st President of Alcorn State 106
University, on the institution's behalf, to the Board of Trustees 107
of State Institutions of Higher Learning and to the members of the 108
Capitol Press Corps. 109