History-making senator to speak at Kentucky State University fall commencement

History-making senator to speak at Kentucky State University fall commencement

Posted on December 12, 2018

Kentucky State University recently announced that history-making United States Senator Timothy Eugene Scott will serve as the 2018 fall commencement convocation speaker. Commencement will be held Dec. 14 at 9 a.m. in the Carl H. Smith Auditorium of David H. Bradford Hall.

Scott is the first African-American senator from the state of South Carolina, the first African-American senator to be elected from the southern United States since 1881 and the first African-American Republican to serve in the U.S. Senate since Edward Brooke departed more than three decades prior. Scott was also the first Republican African-American U.S. Representative from South Carolina since 1897. Since January 2017, Scott remains one of only three African-Americans in the U.S. Senate, along with Democrats Cory Booker of New Jersey and Kamala Harris of California.

Scott has been a tireless advocate for creating more opportunities for families living paycheck-to-paycheck and helping children who are mired in poverty to get access to a quality education.

Dathan Thigpen, season eight winner of BET’s Sunday Best: All Stars, will perform as a soloist during both commencement and baccalaureate. The Atlanta-based singer/actor is a native of Jackson, Mississippi, where he honed his skills in music as part of the legendary Mississippi Mass Choir.

Dr. F. Thomas Beavers will serve as Kentucky State University’s 2018 Baccalaureate Assembly speaker. Baccalaureate takes place Dec. 13 at 11 a.m. in the Little Theater of David H. Bradford Hall.

Beavers serves as the fourth pastor of New Rising Star Church in the Eastlake community of Birmingham, Alabama. Upon graduating from Kentucky State in 2004, he attended Beeson Divinity School of Samford University. Beavers succeeded his grandfather, Dr. Tommy Chappell, who served as New Rising Star’s third pastor for 35 years.

Beavers leads several efforts to impact his community including education, financial literacy, workforce development, housing, recreation and church. In 2017, Beavers penned his debut boo, The Fight of My Life: Born to Win.

The fall 2018 valedictorian is Jessica Marquez Cordova, a business major from Louisville.

Nearly 120 fall graduates will cross the stage during Kentucky State’s fall commencement. You can watch the event live at kysu.edu.