“The Best is Yet to Come” was the motto used for the General Assembly Wednesday morning in the William “Billy” J. Nicks Building.
The general assembly is a program to welcome the students back to the university and inform them of things necessary for survival during the upcoming school year.
Mr. Prairie View, Malcolm J. Copeland, welcomed the student body to the fall convocation.
The University Concert Chorale performed our national anthem the “Star-Spangled Banner” under choir director A. Jan Taylor.
The guest speaker was Kimberly Ellison, a graduate of the Prairie View A&M University communications program and former Miss Prairie View.
Ellison advised students to take advantage of the iRead program and other educational campaigns. She told the students that they can never read enough literature, textbooks, and newspapers.
She reiterated the importance of prioritizing studies over social life saying, “You’ll miss all your parties and meetings if you get below a 2.0 grade point average.”
She also explained how a split second decision could affect a person for the rest of their life. She concluded her speech with “Pay now and play later, because the best is yet to come.”
Provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, Dr. E. Joahanne Thomas-Smith grabbed the audience’s attention when she explained the importance of taking care of business, and checking emails in order to stay informed of campus happenings. She expressed that a good GPA, time management, and prioritizing enhance your education.
“If you have to wait in financial aid all day, then do it because you need it. Although you may not want to do it, just think, ‘This too shall pass,'” Thomas-Smith said.
Senior PAL Joshua Grimes, urged students to utilize the new planners and become organized in preparation for the future because “if you fail to plan, then you plan to fail.”
The Marching Storm performed “The Best is Yet to Come” by Donald Lawrence under the direction of Professor William McQueen. The song inspired the crowd as they sang along.
President George C. Wright closed the convocation saying, “It is up to you to determine your destiny. The best is yet to come.”