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S. R. No. 48 *SS08/R1350* ~ OFFICIAL ~ N1/2
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To: Rules
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Senator(s) Butler, Hopson
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 48
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 LAND 3
GRANT COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, AND THE 4
SECOND-OLDEST STATE-SUPPORTED INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING IN 5
MISSISSIPPI. 6
WHEREAS, we join the students, alumni, faculty, and 7
administration of Alcorn State University on the occasion of its 8
155th Anniversary Celebration, memorializing decades of academic 9
excellence, a milestone and landmark event in Mississippi higher 10
education; and 11
WHEREAS, Alcorn University, now referred to as Alcorn State 12
University, was founded on May 13, 1871, in Lorman, Mississippi, 13
by an act adopted by the Mississippi Legislature, resulting from 14
Mississippi's efforts to educate the descendants of formerly 15
enslaved individuals; and 16
WHEREAS, Alcorn University derives its name from the sitting 17
Governor of Mississippi at the time of its founding, James L. 18
Alcorn, who co-drafted and signed into law the legislation to 19
establish the university; and 20
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WHEREAS, the first President of Alcorn University, Hiram R. 21
Revels, resigned his seat as our nation's first African American 22
United States Senator to return to Mississippi to co-draft the 23
legislation to establish and then to lead the university; and 24
WHEREAS, Alcorn State University opened its gates to large 25
numbers of students on July 1, 1871, as our nation's first 26
Historically Black Land Grant University, Mississippi's oldest 27
land grant college or university, and the second-oldest 28
state-supported institution of higher learning in Mississippi; and 29
WHEREAS, Alcorn State University consistently ranks among the 30
top 25 Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the United 31
States by NICHE, U.S. News & World Report, and others; and 32
WHEREAS, Alcorn State University has educated generations of 33
students who have gone on to serve as leaders in agriculture, 34
education, nursing, business, ministry, STEM, music and 35
entertainment, public service, and countless other professions, 36
strengthening communities across Mississippi, the region, and the 37
nation; and 38
WHEREAS, ten current Mississippi representatives and senators 39
attended or have at least one degree from Alcorn; one current 40
Mississippi statewide elected official, Central District 41
Transportation Commissioner Willie L. Simmons has at least one 42
degree from Alcorn, and the current Commissioner of the 43
Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning has at least one 44
degree from Alcorn; and 45
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WHEREAS, the university offers bachelor's, master's, and 46
doctoral degrees and the only nursing program available at a 47
Historically Black College and University in Mississippi; and 48
WHEREAS, a residential living option on the campus of Alcorn 49
State University, the Medgar Wiley Evers Heritage Village, pays 50
tribute to Medgar Evers, the civil rights leader and 1952 graduate 51
of the university; and 52
WHEREAS, Alcorn State University alumnus Steve McNair led a 53
decorated career in the National Football League and was drafted 54
third overall during the 1995 National Football League draft, the 55
highest draft selection for an offensive player and graduate of a 56
Historically Black College and University in National Football 57
League history; and 58
WHEREAS, the successes of Alcorn State University are tied to 59
the dedicated leadership and faculty who devote their careers to 60
preparing future generations for excellence in academics and 61
athletics; and 62
WHEREAS, in its latest study, Alcorn State University has an 63
economic impact of over $187 Million on the State of Mississippi 64
and contributes to supporting over 3,000 jobs across the state, 65
where mid-career salaries for graduates can average $46,500.00; 66
and 67
WHEREAS, Alcorn student-athletes representing 15 men's and 68
women's sports compete for championships in the NCAA Division I 69
Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). Alcorn competes in the 70
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ST: Commemorate 155th Anniversary of Alcorn
State University.
following sports: football, men's and women's basketball, men's 71
and women's tennis, men's and women's indoor track and field, 72
men's and women's outdoor track and field, men's and women's 73
cross-country, women's volleyball, women's soccer, baseball, and 74
softball; and 75
WHEREAS, Alcorn State University is committed to excellence 76
and innovation in teaching and learning, research, and workforce 77
development, and it is with great pride that we recognize the 78
legacy and contributions of a great university, which has brought 79
honor to the State of Mississippi: 80
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF 81
MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commemorate and celebrate the 155th 82
Anniversary of the founding of Alcorn State University, America's 83
first historically Black Land Grant University, the oldest Land 84
Grant College or university in the State of Mississippi, and the 85
second-oldest state-supported institution of higher learning in 86
Mississippi. 87
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to 88
Dr. Tracy Cook, Alcorn State's 21st President, and forwarded to 89
the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, 90
and made available to the Capitol Press Corps. 91