Farewell Letter from Miss UNCF 2011

November 14, 2011
Dear Tougaloo Community and Student Body,

As I prepare to relinquish my title as Miss UNCF, I reflect on my first visit to Tougaloo College in the spring of 2008. I was nervous and apprehensive about enrolling but after a personal tour from Tegan Smith, Miss UNCF, 2008, and Greg Johnson, Student Government Association President, 2009, I was sure that Tougaloo would be a great place to be if these leaders were a reflection of the student population. Since my enrollment in 2008 as a Presidential Scholar, I have gained an academic preparation, a global awareness, and a personal resilience that is second to none. My participation in the College’s Honors Program, research programs, and a host of social and civic organizations have afforded me the opportunity to take advantage of the many opportunities that Tougaloo College has to offer.

There has been a great deal of conversation in recent years about the relevance of the HBCU in American higher education.  After a semester away from my beloved Eagle Queen participating in an exchange program at Brown University, I know now more than ever that the HBCU is relevant!  After the renewing of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, President Barack Obama referenced the HBCUs as the “places where generations of African Americans have gained a sense of their heritage, their history, and their place in the American story.” The initiative seeks to “strengthen the capacity of HBCUs to provide excellence in education.” By 2020, the goal is to ensure that America has “the highest proportion of college graduates in the world.” This is not an impossible task! With the continued support of organizations like the United Negro College Fund and supportive individuals like you, we can help President Obama reach the 2020 projection and keep the HBCU a relevant and thriving component of American higher education.

How can you do that? I’m glad you asked! It only takes three simple efforts from the Tougaloo community and student body. The first is to preserve our precious P.E.A.R.L. (Prestigious “Eagle Queen” Availing Resilient Leaders) by taking advantage of every opportunity that is presented to us. In my four years at Tougaloo, “This pearl has become my soul… If I give it up, I shall lose my soul” (John Steinback, The Pearl).  The second is to earn a degree with direction.  Don’t limit your possibilities and allow your time at Tougaloo to be the end of your journey—soar to higher heights like the Eagles you have been trained to be.  The final effort is not to merely go through Tougaloo, allow Tougaloo to go through you!  Taking advantage of every day on campus, every minute in class, and every opportunity presented to you is incumbent upon you! This is the only way to gain the full experience that an HBCU offers.

I pray that these words register with you and remain in your thoughts.  As we crown the 2012 Mister and Miss UNCF, I would like to thank you for supporting the UNCF and Tougaloo College’s Pre-Alumni Council in their efforts to raise funds for the future education of young African-Americans.  I would be remiss not to extend my thanks to my family and friends for their support of my many endeavors and my reign as Miss UNCF, 2011.


Peace and Blessings,

Khirsten L. Echols