The 20th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ecumenical and Scholarship Prayer Breakfast will be held Monday, Jan. 19, at The University of Southern Mississippi’s Thad Cochran Center. This free event begins at 7:30 a.m. and is open to the public.
Hosted by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity’s local undergraduate and graduate chapters, the prayer breakfast will include music, fellowship, and presentations by area faith leaders. Recognition of community servants will also be made, along with presentation of the Alpha Phi Alpha Leadership/Servant Award. The fraternity will also present textbook scholarships to select area high school seniors planning to attend college next fall, as part of its longtime “Go to High School, Go to College” educational initiative.
Vandarel Jones, a successful educator, faith leader, and entrepreneur, will be the keynote speaker for the prayer breakfast. Jones was a standout for the Southern Miss Men’s basketball team from 1997-2001, helping lead the Golden Eagles to the 2001 Conference USA (C-USA) Regular Season Championship while also earning C-USA Defensive Player of the Year that same season. He was inducted into the Southern Miss M-Club Hall of Fame in 2023.
For more information about this event, including how to support it through sponsorships and individual donations, contact Dr. Eddie Holloway at eddie.holloway@usm.edu or call 601.297.0145.
