February event will challenge black alumni to 'accept the responsibility, love the challenge'

The Black Alumni Society will hold the annual event Feb. 25 and 26, with a theme of "Self-Determination: Accepting the Responsibility, Loving the Challenge."

Organizer Ernie Hughes, who holds an MBA from Mississippi State, said that the event is designed as a networking forum through which alumni and students can communicate about career and employment opportunities.

"By understanding the power of networking and learning the essential techniques, individuals can enhance their chances for a successful job-search campaign," he said. Participating black alumni will represent fields that include business, engineering, law services, medical services, financial services, and agriculture, among others.

The Black Alumni Society is focusing the event on networking because of potential benefits to members, Hughes said. "A person's ability to network can make a difference in overcoming the obstacles to successfully marketing himself or herself," he noted. "It can help a student successfully make the transition from college to the workplace. Networking also is a valuable tool throughout a person's career and an investment that guarantees returns."

As part of the career emphasis of the program, the university's Career Services Center will offer a two-part workshop in career building and resume writing.

Keynote speaker for the event is Sen. Bennie Turner from West Point, Miss., an attorney and 1971 graduate of Mississippi State. Elected in 1992 to the state senate, Turner will share ideas about self-determination and goal-setting.

In other sessions, Hughes said, the group will discuss issues that concern The Black Alumni Society, as well as general society information and future activities.