Photo courtesy Jane Littleton
Central State President John W. Garland (left) presents certificate to honorary commencement speaker Tom Joyner on June 19, 2005.
Central State University to hear Tom Joyner at Commencement June 19, 2005
By Jane Littleton, CSU Public Relations Director, Download Press release pdf
Monday, June 13, 2005
Central State University graduates will hear the wisdom and humor of Tom Joyner for the June 19 Commencement. The program begins at 10 a.m. in McPherson Stadium.
Joyner is the host of “The Tom Joyner Morning Show,” which is broadcast on 95 stations throughout the country, including WROU-92.1 FM in Dayton, Ohio. The show has more than 10 million listeners, the largest audience of any urban radio program.
Central State University President John W. Garland, Esq. will confer degrees on the graduates, about 184, and address the audience.
Joyner brings great humor and wit to his shows, but he also uses them as a platform for social change. As a graduate of a Historically Black College –Tuskegee University – Joyner is a strong and positive advocate for black colleges and universities. Through the Tom Joyner Foundation, he has raised more than $25 million to provide scholarships for students at black colleges and universities. He features individual universities on his show, encouraging listeners to contribute to these institutions and matches their contributions through his foundation. Several years ago, he highlighted Central State University for a month, helping to raise $100,000 for the University, which he matched, bringing the total to $200,000.
Joyner began his career as a broadcaster after his graduation from Tuskegee University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology. He did two shows a day – a morning show in Dallas, Texas, and an afternoon show in Chicago. He commuted between the two cities each day, earning the nicknames “The Fly Jock” and “The Hardest Working Man in Radio.”
Joyner has been recognized for his accomplishments as a broadcaster and asocial activist. He was elected to the Radio Hall of Fame and received Billboard’s “Best Urban Contemporary Air Personality” award. He also has received the “Good Samaritan Award” from the National Broadcasters Education Foundation.
Join Central State University for Commencement 2005, June 19, 10 a.m. in McPherson Stadium.
For more information, contact Jane Littleton, Public Relations Director, 937-376-6142.
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