Black Homecoming candidates
Published Oct. 24, 2008
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Branden Bailey
Working with Target Hope over the years has pushed Branden Bailey not only to educate others about his accomplishments but also about his failures.
"I think LBC needs a face to represent them around campus, and I think I would be ideal," said Bailey, a Chicago native.
As the president of the Zeta Alpha Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., senior adviser to Outer Limits and a member of Target Hope, Bailey said he thinks it's imperative to surround oneself with others who are destined for success.
Having accomplished more than he could have fathomed, Bailey hopes to uplift the black community on campus.
"One thing I'm passionate about is speaking to high school students in the black community," Bailey said of his experience working with Target Hope. "There aren't many males in college, and I want people to learn from my mistakes and be inspired by my achievements."
He said he wishes to empower others with the knowledge he's gained.
"I can be a role mode to those around me and those who come after me, so vote Branden Bailey," he said.
Morionte Hamell
After his nomination to the black homecoming court, Morionte Hamell said he felt it was imperative he participated in something that could influence future generations at MU.
"I like to go outside the box, experience different things ... opposed to what I'm used to," Hamell said of his experience at MU.
Hamell, a St. Louis native and restaurant management major involved in Black Business Students Association, said he was more than honored when nominated for being homecoming king.
"I want to be able to honestly say I made a difference in the black community's history here at Mizzou," he said.
Coming in as a "naive" freshman, Hamell feels he's grown a lot as a person and he sees this opportunity as a way to inspire others to do the same.
"I want to let people know it's okay to change and have an open mind, that way you can be diverse.
Danielle Huff
Danielle Huff said she is excited to be part of the homecoming court because it offers her a chance to symbolize the dedication of MU students both in their activities on campus and in their contributions to the community. She said the nomination also allows her to be part of the tradition of black homecoming, which is in its 40th year.
Huff is majoring in biological sciences. The Delta Omega chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. nominated her for homecoming queen. Huff graduated from high school in O'Fallon, Ill.
"I believe it's important that black students on MU's campus be represented in a positive light by students who work diligently in their studies as well as on their campus and in the Columbia community," Huff said in an e-mail. "The history behind the black homecoming is really important, and to be nominated is an honor and I'm excited to be in this position."
Kernef Jackson
After taking off two years from college in March 2003 to serve in the National Guard, Kernef Jackson came back with a new outlook on life.
"Americans aren't as appreciative as people in Iraq," he said. "I want to influence others to diversify, learn about other cultures and be accepting of other people's differences."
The Epsilon Psi Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. nominated Jackson.
"I hope someone is inspired or motivated to participate in events here at Mizzou and in life in general," he said. "You can only receive good out of something you do."
As the president of the Delta Omega chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. he participates in philanthropy with Greek organizations around campus.
"In the long run, I would like the entire campus to support everyone - all races and organizations on campus," Jackson said.
Porscha Kirkwood
Porscha Kirkwood said she has many fond memories of life at MU. She said she loved the excitement around the Tigers' basketball victory over the University of Kansas in 2004. In fact, she said she enjoyed all aspects of life in her freshman year, including MU games and late-night studying at Cramer Hall.
Kirkwood is a senior majoring in communications. The Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. nominated her for homecoming queen. She was born in St. Louis and has lived for several years in Chicago.
Kirkwood has been involved with the Legion of Black Collegians executive board for the past two years and noticed a plaque in the LBC office listing the names of students on previous black homecoming courts. She said that after her nomination she realized its historical significance.
"I was like, 'Oh my god, this happened and its such a big part of LBC,'" Kirkwood said. "They have done a lot of influential things and I'm just so honored and proud to be part of this historical thing."
Cierra Obioha
Reflecting on her time at MU, Cierra Obioha said her favorite memory is of showing school spirit for the football team, even away from the home turf. During her sophomore year, Obioha and her friends traveled to Manhattan, Kan., for a gridiron showdown against Kansas State. Dressed in black and gold, they marched through a glaring crowd of Wildcat fans, cheering on the Tigers with shouts of "M-I-Z-Z-O-U!"
Obioha, from Raytown, is pursuing a double major in broadcast journalism and Spanish. The Delta Omega chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. sponsored her bid for homecoming queen.
Obioha is a member of the Ale' chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists. For the past two years, she served on the NABJ executive board as Sergeant at Arms and co-chairwoman of mentorship. She said she enjoys working with NABJ because it aims to further the goals of African-American students.
"I feel honored to be a part of LBC's Black Homecoming Court of 2008," Obioha said. "To imagine that I could possibly be the face for such a historical group makes this experience even more worthwhile."
