Shaw University Kicks Off Homecoming Week 2021 With Coronation Ball

RALEIGH, NC — On Sunday, October 17, 2021, Shaw University kicked off Homecoming Week with their annual Coronation Ball, held in the C. C. Spaulding Gymnasium on their campus. The theme was “Winter Wonderland” for the occasion.

Saxophonist Marvin Cannon performed during the Coronation. He did an outstanding job, especially when he covered SWV’s 1992 hit song, “Weak.”

Tyesha Palmer-Royal, a senior Psychology major from Oxon Hill, Maryland, is now Miss Shaw University 2021-22. Previously, she was Miss Junior 2020-21 and Miss Sophomore 2019-20. Palmer-Royal is a part of the Honor’s College and a Spring ‘21 initiative of the Alpha Rho chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., serving as the Chapter President. Plus, she is a Spring ‘21 initiative of the Shaw University chapter of the National Society of Leadership and Success and she serves as a Commissioner of Technology for the Pan-Hellenic Council. She plans to become a therapist to help others with their mental health problems, especially sexual assault victims. “Her value is priceless. Her potential is limitless. She is a Queen” is her favorite quote.

Palmer-Royal explained when asked about winning the title of Miss Shaw University, “I feel great. I won Miss Shaw when I was online for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.” She added, “It was overcoming and overwhelming for me to win during the intake process.” She plans on implementing more student activities around campus after students were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Her advice to young ladies is to “Be yourself. Be you. Don’t be afraid to grow. I am not the same person I was freshman year and just know that you have options and just be you!” Her advice to potential future candidates for Miss Shaw, she encourages, “To be Miss Shaw, you have to be resilient. Everything is going to come at you from different angles. But at the end of the day, you will wear this crown and you will be seen.”

Nehemiah Joshua Simeon from Nassau, Bahamas was crowned Mr. Shaw University 2021-22. Simeon is a senior biology major, with a minor in chemistry, and is an active student on campus. He is the section leader for the Atomic 78 drumline, as a member of the Platinum Sound Marching Band and a member of the Minority Association of Pre-Health Students (MAPS). Ever since he’s stepped foot on campus, he has been a mainstay on the Dean’s List, where he maintains a 3.69 GPA, being a recipient of the Silver Pin and Honor awards. Last year, he served as Mister Junior. His postgraduate plans include attending medical school to become an Anesthesiologist. He also wants to give back to the less fortunate, as well as providing more opportunities for minorities.

On winning the title Mr. Shaw University, Simeon commented, “It’s been a long time coming. We have a great student body and I’m looking forward to a successful year.” He added, “With the pandemic going on, my platform is enhancing the HBCU culture on campus, especially for the students and faculty.” His advice to young men is, “Keep your head up. The race is not for the swift, but for the strong. Keep fighting for your position and remember what you fought for. And remember to be what you wanted to be before you became a king.”

Rashawn Cortez Rogers, a Mass Communication major, who is a senior at Shaw University, takes the title of Mr. Homecoming 2021. He hails from Raleigh, NC, and serves as a member of the Chico Cheerleading team, where he became All-CIAA and won the award for the best overall cheerleader. Thanks to his love of the arts and dance, he is also a member of the Dance Fraternity called Delta Phi Delta. He has aspirations of being in the music industry while being a professional dancer.

Zan’Drea Fleeton, an Elementary Education major from Montgomery, Alabama, is Miss Homecoming 2021. In addition to this, she is part of “The National Society of Leadership and Success” and a Peer Orientation Mentor. She has aspirations of becoming a teacher, where she has the desire of expanding children not only for academics but for the rest of their livelihood. Fleeton’s strong belief is “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.”

Psychology major Imani Takiyah-Renee Burroughs from Newark, New Jersey, represents her class as Miss Senior 2021-22. In addition to this, she is a member of the softball team as a first baseman. She is also a member of the Honor’s College at Shaw and the reigning Miss UNCF (United Negro College Fund). Burroughs has a minor in social work, where she hopes to use that to incorporate her psychology major to create an environment where people can feel comfortable expressing their mental health issues. “I am the soul, not the body. Love life while being treated equally” is her favorite quote.

Nassau, Bahamas native Dylan Inniss is Mr. Senior 2021-22. He is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., where he serves as a President of the Iota Chapter. In addition to being Mr. Senior and being a Sigma, Inniss is a member of the Platinum Sound Marching Band at Shaw and a Peer Orientation Mentor. He feels that life isn’t a competition and people should be proud of the small achievements just as much as the large ones. Inniss is still proud of how far he has come, despite admitting that there is still room for himself to grow as a man. People such as his parents, brother, Phi Beta Sigma and SOAT, are the people who he credits as being his support system, as he works towards his goals.

Durham, North Carolina native, Janell Odom, who is a biology major, with a business minor, was crowned Miss Sophomore 2021-22. In addition to being Miss Sophomore, she is a member of the Honors College, the Minority Association of Pre-Health Students (aka MAPS), and the trivia team of Shaw University. She has aspirations of being a microbiologist, working for the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Recently, Miss Odom was named an HBCU Living Legend Scholar on Shaw’s behalf. Her favorite quote comes from Katherine Dunham saying, “I wasn’t concerned about the hardships because I always felt I was doing what I had to do, what I wanted to do and what I was destined to do.”

Odom describes the experience of being named Miss Sophomore, “I feel great. I feel this year is going to be a change from last year since everything was virtual. Now that I’m Miss Sophomore, I hope we can get more support for student activities.” On her goals for the sophomore class, Odom explained, “I want the Sophomores to have a better transition from freshman year and I would like to have more opportunities for us when we become Juniors.” For young ladies, her advice is, “Just do your best. Don’t let anyone have an opinion on you. Stand your ground. Don’t let your ground be you. Be your ground!”

Mr. Sophomore 2021-22 Robert Sheppard III, a biology major from West Palm Beach, Florida was also Mr. Freshman last year (2020-21). Sheppard is a member of the Honors College and the President of the Minority Association of Pre-Health Students (MAPS). In MAPS, his objective is to inspire and introduce various careers related to health, as well as informing his fellow Bears about the importance of all areas of health. He plans to further his education by attending medical school to become an Ophthalmologist, to specialize in Ocular Disease, with the goal of owning his own practice. He plans to make an impact at Shaw University, by “putting it on the map,” to help them obtain the recognition it deserves.

On winning Mr. Sophomore, the West Palm Beach, FL native explained, “It’s a great honor. I thank the man above for giving me a great opportunity! I can’t wait to put Shaw University on the map! I want to expose Shaw University to the world to give it the credit it deserves. I’m blessed,” He has aspirations of bringing the college experience while they’re on campus, after a year being hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic. His advice to young kings is to “Be yourself at all times. Have the crown with you and be yourself. We will have our speedbumps along the road. We have to keep pushing through everything! We all got this!”

Anasia Bizzell, a psychology major, is Miss Freshman 2021-22. In addition to this, she is the Treasurer of the Minority Association of Pre-Health Students (MAPS). She desires to use her major of psychology to assist people in need. She speaks of her late aunt Sheri – “To my dearest Aunt Sheri, what a blessing and privilege it was to have you as a part of our family, and may you watch over us. You are loved and missed.”

Anasia’s mother was ecstatic about her daughter’s victory! She commented, “I feel very good. I’m so proud of her. She looks beautiful! I’m proud to be her mom!”

Nakevion Semaj Bryant, a freshman biology major from Enfield, North Carolina, was crowned Mr. Feshman 2021-22. He is also part of the Army ROTC program. Bryant wants to use his biology major to become a biomedical engineer as his post-graduate plan.

Miss 1865 is Junior Political Science major and English minor Jameliah G. Pinder, a native of New Providence, Bahamas. She is a Spring 2021 initiative of The Beta Rho Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, where she serves as a Treasurer. Plus, she is the current Vice President of the National Pan-Hellenic Council on Shaw’s campus and is in the honors program. She has a deep love for music, where she serves as the woodwinds section leader in the Platinum Sound Marching Band and Concert Band. She is also a Common Cause Democracy Fellow and known for her published op-ed, “I am not an Angry Back Woman – Period.” She serves as a Peer Orientation Mentor on campus. Pinder has worked as a Legal Intern at Lighthouse Christian Fellowship Center in Clayton, NC, as well as being a Legal Intern for Brooks Law, PLLC in the same area, in addition to many internships. She has aspirations of being one of the premier top black female lawyers worldwide.

“I feel great. I’m happy to serve. I feel excited about what the school year has and I can’t explain any more words,” Pinder said about winning Miss 1865. For Shaw University, her main goal is to “help students actually find the opportunity to complete Community Service hours and have that experience.” Her advice to young queens is “to remember who you are and to remember yourself. Remember that you are first and remember that you are bigger. Your dreams are bigger and you’re smarter than you think.”

Political Science major Desmon Johnson is Mister 1865. Johnson has a strong belief in determination and confidence, as well as believing strongly that when one sets a goal, the goal can exclusively be met through dedication, determination, and declaration. His favorite quote comes from the late legendary rapper Tupac Shakur – “All the power is within my words and voice and because of who I am destined to be, I can be the change that will make this world a better place.”

Shaw University Homecoming Week 2021 runs Oct. 17 – Oct. 24 with activities for students and alumni. The community is Shaw will take on Johnson C. Smith for the Homecoming football game at 12 pm at Southeast Raleigh High School. For more information, visit homecoming.shawu.edu/.