NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – After a virtual event last year due to the pandemic, the Mister and Miss TSU coronation returned live Wednesday with the crowning of the new Tennessee State University king and queen. Mark Timothy Davis, Jr., and Mallory Rian Moore were invested during an elaborate ceremony in Kean Hall, as part of the 2021 Homecoming festivities.
Hundreds of people — including parents, relatives, friends, and fellow students — packed a jubilant Kean Hall to witness the coronation of the two students and their court.
TSU President Glenda Glover congratulated the new king and queen after giving them the oath of office. Frank Stevenson, associate vice president for Student Affairs and dean of students, followed the president. He charged the two students to take their roles seriously.
“It is my pleasure to charge the new king and queen and this royal court with the expectations of this office,” Stevenson said. “You must lead with integrity and help enhance student experiences in the Land of Golden Sunshine. You are charged as the first historic pandemic transition from quarantine to excellence as king and queen. You must always act with love and respect for each other.”
Davis, a senior mass communications major from Cincinnati, plans to help male students develop into men with good character traits that others can emulate. With a five-point plan focused on sexual assault awareness, mental health, campus engagement, creating a definition of what a man is, and embracing your difference, Davis’ goal is to change the stereotypical view people have of “our young males” because of the way many carry themselves.
“We must try to change the way the world looks at our students, especially the black males, and TSU is doing a very good job in that area,” says Davis.
After graduation, Davis plans to pursue a master’s degree in psychology. His career goals are to become a director of student activities at TSU, and ultimately manage artists, and be the CEO of his own record label.
Moore, who becomes the 92nd Miss TSU, is from Birmingham, Alabama. She is a senior health sciences major. She wants to use her position to implement a program built around mentorship and providing opportunities for fellow students.
“I want to do a mentorship initiative because I know for me coming in as a freshman, I didn’t have that and it made things a lot difficult for me,” says Moore. “I don’t want other students to face those difficulties. So, I want to create this program for the freshmen, and I am including the sophomores because the sophomore class didn’t get one because they were home due to the pandemic.”
In addition to being Miss TSU, Moore is active in many campus organizations and programs. For two years, she served on the university’s cheerleading team. She is a member of the TSU choir, and the National Honor Society of Leadership and Success. She was initiated into Chi Psi chapter of Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity Incorporated, Alpha Psi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, and Order of Omega National Honor Society for Greek Leaders. Moore’s career goal is to become an occupational therapist.
Members of the new Royal Court:
Mister Senior – Shaun Anderson
Miss Senior – Destiny Pennington
Mister Junior – Tre’veon Hayes
Miss Junior – Sa’Mariah Harding
Mister Sophomore – Alex Brooks
Miss Sophomore – Anasia Strickland
Mister Freshman – Gary Richardson
Miss Freshman – Brookly Gordon
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About Tennessee State University
Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a premier, historically black university and land-grant institution offering 39 bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s degree programs, and eight doctoral degrees. TSU is a comprehensive research intensive institution with a R-2 Carnegie designation, and has a graduate school on its downtown Avon Williams Campus, along with the Otis Floyd Nursery Research Center in McMinnville, Tennessee. With a commitment to excellence, Tennessee State University provides students with a quality education in a nurturing and innovative environment that prepares them as alumni to be global leaders in every facet of society. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.
