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Thank you.

(military percussion music) - Welcome to the 2023 Lane College Homecoming.

I'm Darlette Carver Samuels.

I serve as Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Chief of Staff.

And I am delighted to have an alum with me.

We've been together for four years.

- This is it.

- This is it, Ryan Spann.

- They brought me back.

How y'all doing?

So happy to be here.

- It's good to be here.

This is a beautiful, beautiful Homecoming Day.

And we're just so excited to have Ryan as our Parade Marshall.

We have Jada Simone Brown, who was crowned Miss Tennessee Volunteer.

- Can we start saying The Miss Tennessee now?

- Okay, we can say The Miss Tennessee.

- I just feel like that's what we wanna say this year.

- The Miss Tennessee Volunteer.

And it's such a delight to have her to serve as our Parade Marshall.

This is the first time.

I mean, she's just a history maker.

- Oh yeah.

- This is the first time that we've had a student to serve as our Parade Marshall, but of course, noteworthy that she should be leading this parade.

Joining us today is Darren Likes.

Darren Likes serves on the board of...

They have the special title, the Working Committee.

Darren Likes.

- Hello there, good morning.

- Good morning.

Is your microphone on?

Good morning.

- All right, hold on.

- So, Darren Likes is a community volunteer.

He's been working with the Miss Tennessee Volunteer Organization for several years.

And you have been escorting our Parade Marshall this morning.

Tell me about just what she's feeling, how she's feeling.

She looked like she's just been up, just ready to go this morning.

- Well, she had a early call time.

We had hair and makeup this morning at 5:30 AM- - Ooh.

- At my studio, which means I was up at 4:30 'cause she was early.

But it was great.

She looks amazing and just so excited to be the Parade Marshall.

I mean, it's really surreal for her this morning.

It all still feels really new to her, being Miss Tennessee Volunteer.

She said it earlier this morning, It seems like July was just yesterday for her.

But I'm so proud and she's excited to be the Parade Marshall this morning.

- Well, we're just excited to have you, Darren.

I mean, you've been a long-time friend of the college.

Of course, you supported us during Founder's Day.

And then you're just making sure that Jada is good, that she's where she needs to be.

And I reflect, Ryan, on just looking through the videos that have been posted.

- Oh yeah.

- That during that moment, when it was just Jada and the first runner up, and when they called Jada's name, I think we all just felt the emotion in all of that.

- Oh yeah.

- Absolutely.

I've worked with the Miss Tennessee Pageant for almost 20 years, and I've been a board member for the past 10 and I've been longing for the day for us to crown a Black Miss Tennessee Volunteer in Jackson.

So I'm just, I'm thrilled.

It's still surreal for me too, it doesn't seem real, but she's been a great Miss Tennessee so far.

- Well, we definitely have to say thank you to, of course, the Lane College family, but also Travis Franklin, Jr. for serving us- - Whoa, that's a big one.

We gotta, yeah, Travis Franklin.

We gotta- - You wanna pause?

As Darren would say- - He couldn't be here today.

And he reached out to me last night, and said, "I hate that I can't be there, "but I just know that I'm gonna be able to watch it "on TV, and see her come by and wave."

I was a part of it.

So I just wanted to make sure, Travis Franklin.

- So pause?

- Pause.

- Travis Franklin, Jr. for serving as her pageant coach and now her business manager.

But she has this team that's very supportive.

Emily Ann, Jeannie Beth.

Come on, Tammy Sparks.

- Tammy Sparks, LaShonda Williams.

So they're here, they're right behind.

- Stacy McIntyre.

- Stacy King McIntyre.

- Oh my gosh, you better.

- Huge part, huge part.

- Yes, so, thank you so much, Darren.

I just wanted to lead with you because we are leading with Miss Tennessee Volunteer today.

- Thank you for having me.

- Could you tell us something about Miss Volunteer that we don't know?

- Well, it's been in Jackson for 70 years.

- A secret, a secret though.

- A secret?

- Yeah.

- A secret, well, not really a secret, but I will tell you that I will be doing Miss Tennessee Volunteer, Jada Brown's portrait- - Whoa.

- This year, that will forever hang in the Miss Tennessee room in the Civic Center.

So she'll be the first Black woman to be in that room, and she'll be there forever.

So, that'll be a really, really historic moment.

And hopefully everyone will come out whenever she hangs that portrait.

- Yeah.

- Another product of Lane College, that's all.

- Thank you for giving us the inside scoop.

- Thank you.

(Ryan laughing) The inside scoop, first here.

- There it is.

- Happy Homecoming, Lane College.

- Happy Homecoming.

Thank you so much, Darren.

- Thank you.

- Well, we're excited.

It's my understanding, Ryan, that they've left the campus.

And we started our day with the prayer breakfast.

And it was a delight to have those persons from... We had Olivia Abernathy, who's a Madison County commissioner who offered prayer.

And we had Bishop Bond, and Reverend Mormon, and April Webster, and then our board chair.

It was just a delight to open up with that.

- I went last night to the 20... Oh, I'm sorry, the 20 under 40, that's what it was, and there was opening remarks by Dr. Hampton.

It was amazing.

It felt like we got a light sermon, but- - [Darlette] (laughing) Well, you know, he is a preacher.

- But that's what we needed.

That's what we needed in that moment.

But I think now, this morning, knowing that we starting this thing off right, getting some prayer in, having some breakfast.

We're gonna press down and shake it together, like the Reverend Dedmon used to say.

- Shake down, shake up.

- Over there at New St. Luke Baptist Church.

I don't wanna start calling out churches here in Jackson.

- Yeah.

(both laughing) - I'm excited to see everybody come today.

I'm so excited.

- We are.

- We couldn't ask for better weather.

I mean, it's crisp, that's the word I wanna say.

Crisp.

- Crisp, it is.

It's a nice, crisp, sunny day.

And it's perfect weather for- - A parade?

- A parade.

And you know who else has been so helpful to us?

- Who?

- And that is the police chief.

- Okay.

- Tom Corley has been magnificent.

He's been so magnificent that he is trying to tell us something from there.

(Ryan laughing) - Hopefully, he doesn't he gimme a ticket for my parking.

I might go over this morning downtown.

I just wanna say that from the City of Jackson, I will make sure I take care of any type of municipality violations today.

- Yes, and then we have our alum, Deputy Chief Derek Tisdale.

They go hand in hand.

- Whoa, Deputy Chief, hold on, is he a product of Lane College as well?

- He's Deputy Chief.

Yes, a product of Lane College.

- Oh whoa, whoa, whoa, all right.

- You wanna pause?

- Well, I just feel like now I can get outta tickets.

When things go wrong here in Jackson, I would be all right.

I just need to drop some names.

I'm not gonna drop it too hard though.

(Ryan laughing) - Well, yeah, he's a good supporter of Lane College, and just having that community support is so important for all of us and definitely for Lane College.

And so, it's my understanding now, Ryan, I kind of received a report that, you know, we had COVID and we had to take a break, but I believe we're back to where we were before 2020 in terms of the number of entries.

- For the parade?

- Yes.

- Oh my goodness.

I think last year, I will say it was nice to just come back together.

We were happy to be here, that was the goal.

I think this year definitely, for me, getting here Thursday, I got here with my son Thursday night, and I could just feel the energy in Jackson.

It was more people, the hotels were booked, all the restaurants you got, what is it called?

Standing seating, we're waiting, for waiting, and now here we are today and everything worked out.

I'm just so excited to see more people.

And the kids are already lined up.

You all can't see it yet, but the kids are lined up.

- And can we get this one kid over here?

- Yes, we can.

Can we get the baby?

- I have to introduce everyone.

- Please.

- Come on over, Kristin and Chad, we have to introduce the family.

- Please, please, please.

Here, one sit down right here.

There we go.

And then you get the baby.

There we go.

- So, yeah, I'm taking personal privilege.

- As you should.

- Ryan, meet the family.

- Hello, hello, hello.

- So there we are.

- State your name, and occupation.

No.

(all chuckling) - My name is Kristen Sparks.

This is Zoe Sparks.

- Hi, Zoe.

- And my husband, Chad Sparks.

- Yay.

And so, that's my daughter.

That's our oldest daughter.

That's our son, but son-in-law.

- Son-in-law.

- The son.

And then that's the grand baby.

- Bonus son.

- Yes, Zoe.

- Zoe's so cute.

- So, this is Zoe's first Lane parade.

- Zoe, look, and you already on the dignitary booth.

This is amazing.

- I know (chuckling) - I don't know how we can top it next year, Zoe.

- So Kristen, you grew up on the campus of Lane College, literally grew up- - Yes.

- On the campus.

And so you always try to make a point to come back to Lane College's Homecoming.

Tell me about why is it that you feel like, Oh yes, we gotta go back?

- It's just so nostalgic to come back and enjoy the Homecoming festivities.

It reminds me of my childhood.

We would wake up at 6:00 AM.

- Come on.

- To just run around with our mother, and we just had a lot of fun.

And we want Zoe to experience the excitement and joy of Homecoming.

- Yeah.

- Right, Zoe?

(laughing) - Thank you.

- Could you give us one of your favorite Lane College memories from Homecoming?

- My favorite Lane College...

The parade has always been my favorite memory.

We always used to enjoy it, sitting here on the stage and watching all the bands perform.

- Did Dr. McClure give you a hot 20 one time when he shook your hand?

- [Kristin] I don't know.

We had a lot of good moments with Dr. McClure.

He used to, yeah, fun times.

- [Darlette] You said a hot 20?

- [Ryan] A hot, you know when you shake a hand, when you used to- - Oh, he'll slip a 20?

- And it would just come to you.

And you would just keep moving.

He'd say, "Go fast."

- Kristen had a scholarship.

- Oh yeah, I did, I did.

- So she had several 20s.

- Come on, that's exactly what we need.

- Yeah.

- You can't get it done without a scholarship.

- Well, thank you, Kristen.

- Thank you.

- Thank you, Zoe.

Thank you, Chad.

- Thank you, Zoe!

It's was so nice to meet you.

Can't wait to see you next year when you bigger.

- (laughing) And, Ryan, how are your little ones?

- Good, good.

Nile just turned two.

Well, he turned two last January.

Anniston is eight.

We are now, we purchased our first home.

I mean (growling).

- Oh, congratulations, a homeowner.

- Lemme say that, thank you.

- That's important, that's major.

- We had to wait about a year.

The market was tough.

- Yeah.

- But with a lot of help, a lot of family, prayers, we got it done and we are now Atlanta residents or homeowners in South Atlanta.

So we're super-excited to be able to be in our first home, and grow up in it.

- Yes.

Now, Ryan, okay so, remind me of your graduation year.

- I graduated in 2011.

- 2011, SGA.

- I was the Student Government Association President.

And I was just so happy to get an opportunity to matriculate, just be around all the people.

It was a lot of folks that pushed me at Lane College.

And I think that's what I try to strive to do every day, when I find a mentor or a mentee to work with, and just say, "Hey, if I could do it."

I told Ms. Boyd yesterday in the bookstore, I said, "You did a lot of stuff for me."

And I said, "If it wasn't for you, it wouldn't be me."

So I just am so blessed to be here today.

- [Darlette] So tell me about the sweatshirt now.

- Oh, wait a minute, yes, the sweatshirt.

I'll wait for the camera to come back so I can plug the Lane College bookstore.

I have to thank my mother.

She went over there on Wednesday.

They were running low and she said, "I didn't wanna have to fight, but I did and I got you something to wear."

So look, we knew what we were gonna do today with the red.

- Wow, look at you.

- You look amazing though, with this blazer.

- So, Ryan?

- Yes.

- I would like for April Deberry to come over.

We wanna thank our- - She's coming.

- Oh, we'll have Lisa to come over.

Lisa will come over and then we'll grab one of the parade judges.

But Lisa serves as our Director of Annual Fund.

And she always says, "I'm the one, I'm the money, I raise the money."

- This the money, this the money bag.

She said, "I don't have a lot, but just know that when I get the email out, you respond to me."

- You respond to me.

- "'Cause I wanna acknowledge that when you get that email, don't put it in the junk file.

Go on and do the pay.

You know you had it.

We send it on Fridays, we don't send it on Wednesdays."

I'm sorry, here's your mic.

- Well, Lisa, we're so excited to, you know, it's another Homecoming, and one, we have to pause.

So Ryan and I have this thing that we're doing throughout and that's pause.

- Yes.

- Mute, mute.

You ready, Lisa?

- I am.

- I wanna thank you for all of your hard work.

Lisa has been with us since 2016.

Now really, she's already had an association with Lane College.

But officially, she came on board in 2016.

And she's not just my colleague, but she's my sister.

So, I enjoy that she has my back and I have hers, and- - Amen.

- And it's just a wonderful...

I need you next.

It's just a wonderful time to, I wanna talk about the judges here.

- Oh yeah, we're gonna get 'em.

- But, Lisa, tell me, you have some sponsors.

You've been out there making sure that everything is well supported.

And so, talk to us about what it means for that community support.

- Good morning and Happy Homecoming.

- Good morning, good morning, good morning.

- So glad to be here this morning.

And I definitely wanna thank our sponsors and everybody that supports Lane College Homecoming.

This just does not happen overnight.

- Yeah.

- We start planning, as soon as this one is over, we'll be planning for the next one.

But everything takes funds and support and so we wanna thank our community supporters.

We wanna thank, first of all, the city of Jackson for all of their support and everything they do for us to make sure we're safe during Homecoming.

Everything that they provide.

Team Clean.

- Oh yeah.

- And Mr. Michael White and their team for always sponsoring and helping us with Homecoming.

Cadence Bank and everything that they do for us.

Capital City Residential Services.

Liz and the team, we definitely wanna thank them.

- Liz and John?

Liz and John?

- Liz and John, yes.

They're our good friends and we thank them for all they do to support Lane College.

They're our new friends and they're doing great things.

Definitely wanna thank the Potts Family, who is a Lane-ite, for their support.

The Picard family, and Voresa Booker and husband for their support for sponsoring Homecoming this year.

And everyone else that supported us or are continuing to support us.

- And Lisa also you mentioned the city of Jackson and rightfully so.

And then you have to break it down, is that commission, the Community Economic Development Commission, who each year, Ryan, has increased their support of the Lane College Homecoming.

Lori Nunnery.

- Yes.

- Just appreciate her and that commission for saying, yes, Lane College is an organization that we need to support.

- It's a powerful economic development department here in Jackson.

The business, I just drove around yesterday and I said, "Well, I didn't know that Georgia Pacific was here."

I said, "Well, here we are."

- Oh yeah, there's another good friend.

- Yes and we're excited that they're here from Georgia Pacific.

- I'm gonna call 'em out.

We need internship programs.

As soon as you open up a facility- - Well, you know, he's ready.

- I want you here.

- Yes, they are.

They've offered.

- Oh, they did?

Okay, perfect.

- From the Georgia Pacifics to the CVSs, we have great partners at Lane College.

- Yeah, we do.

- Doing great things.

- I credit me and the opportunities that I ever got was because of the folks, I'm thinking about Reverend Dedmon and the Career Services Department, oh, way, way back.

He got me on up there to Tennessee Valley Authority.

And they said, "Ryan, what's your best skill set that you can bring to the job?"

in my interview.

You know what I said?

I said, "I'm amazing at PowerPoint.

If that's what you need, I can do that."

They said, "Oh no, we need some interpersonal skills."

I said, "Oh, I'm good at picking up coffee too.

I don't know what else you need from me."

(laughing) They gave me a job though, so it worked out real well.

- They wanted those soft skills, huh?

That you were good... Look at, Ryan comes in, no script, Lisa.

- Oh, he's off the cuff, as the young people say.

- But what script are we doing?

- He off the dome.

- We're here to raise money.

What's Dr. Logan say?

We're here to raise money for the school and the children that will matriculate through it.

So yes, we don't need a script.

We just know what we need to do when we get here.

- That's right.

For those that are here and for those that are coming.

- So Lisa, what's your favorite part of Homecoming?

- Oh, big question.

- I mean, you're involved in so much, but surely it's something that you say, "Oh, I'm looking forward to this."

- Or, "I can't miss."

That's the big one.

- So really the game.

I'm a sports fanatic, so- - Oh my goodness.

I should've known.

- Even after everything that's going on, it's about a football game.

- Oh, come on now.

- And that's my favorite part.

- Okay.

- Is the game.

- Cool, you know, I don't know, I thought you would've said something else like the Hall of Distinction.

- That's how, you know... - I thought she was gonna go there, but that's up her alley now.

- It is.

- Don't mess with her on a Sunday.

- I can only be who I am.

- Well, you said football, and I was reading about the president's tent.

Is there anyone that can give me an update about what the president's gonna be doing in his tent?

I heard that there was- - Watching the game.

- Well, they said that you could get invited to this tent.

I said- - Hold on.

What happens in the tent.

- Okay, all right.

- Stays.

- You finish it.

Okay.

(Darlette and Lisa laughing) - I said, "Man, there's a tent now?"

- Look, we'll talk offline about the tent.

- There's a tent?

Oh man, I gotta show up to the tent today, everyone.

- It's a beautiful day, we're so grateful.

It's a pretty parade.

Just rode the route, people are everywhere.

- Really?

Wonderful.

- Very excited about our parade.

We have, I think, record-breaking entries in the parade.

That's what Miss M...

I'm so excited.

I saw two weeks ago, my city, Fairburn, Georgia, they put on a small event and Tennessee State's Aristocratic Man showed up.

- Okay.

- And so, we were able to enjoy them a couple weekends ago.

And I said, well, wait a minute, hold on now.

We gotta get here for the Silent Storm.

This the real band that's gonna come through and really tear it down.

- That's right.

- So we're excited to see them this morning.

- They're on their way.

They left campus and they're on their way.

- Well, tell 'em to go slow.

Don't rush themselves.

- And all of our beautiful queens in their pretty cars.

- Well, we have...

Yes, of course, we have Lane's marching band, but also Stillman College.

Our board chair is a graduate of Stillman and one of our great friends, Donald Comer from FedEx, is on the board at Stillman.

And they wanted to come and join in and fellowship with us and celebrate and have a good time, so we're excited about having them.

- We are and they're here strong.

- They're here strong?

- Yes.

- Could we give the location on Stillman?

Could we give the location on Stillman, for the folks at the house that might not know?

- I appreciate that.

Tuscaloosa.

- All right, here we go.

- Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

- Not too far of a trip.

I like it.

- Yes.

Lisa, will you pass the mic to one of the judges?

I'm interested because it's gonna be a long parade.

And I understand you said that you rode the route and people are ready, you saw floats, all of that.

- Bands, cars.

- And so I wanna know what are they judging?

What's the criteria?

- Okay.

- Okay.

- Oh, are we supposed to keep them incognito?

- Yeah.

- It's okay?

- I guess that's the point of- - Bring April Deberry over here since she's right there on the end.

- Okay, I'll leave it on.

- Ryan, so you got here early.

- I got here Thursday.

I flew on Southern Airways from Atlanta.

- There's Morgan.

Really?

- Yes, I did.

It was a bumpy ride, but man, we surely pulled up.

Hello, hello, hello, good morning.

- Hello, April.

- Hello, good morning.

Good morning, good morning.

- So, April, good morning.

So I understand, so Ryan and I are being a little nosy.

We're being a little nosy.

- Okay.

- So, you all have the front-row seat so we figured that you all are the judges.

- We are judges.

We have all three judges right here.

Myself, I'm the tabulator and we are so excited.

- What are you looking for?

- We are looking for- - Now, when I say in terms of looking for, so you're judging the bands?

You're judging the floats?

- We're judging the bands, we're judging the cars, we're judging the floats.

We're looking for the personality.

We're looking for the creativity.

We're looking for how everything is just put together.

- Okay.

- Well now, you know that it's a pretty big parade.

- It's a pretty big parade.

- 80 entries.

- I see- - You ready?

- We're ready, we're ready.

We've been looking forward to it.

I was just talking to one of my judges a few minutes ago.

I was telling her we have a great crowd downtown this year.

- Yes.

- Great, and I mean, there's so many people.

- And what about this weather?

- The weather is wonderful.

It's wonderful.

- Can we just zoom in on your sweatshirt right now?

- Alright!

- I just wanna acknowledge that- - You wanna zoom in on my sweatshirt.

- It's the tears.

- I'm leaning too.

- The tears look so nice, you know?

(Darlette laughing) It's the white and the red, put it together.

- And this shirt has a story for me.

- Really?

- It does.

- Please share.

- I don't know if you all know, but I went back to school.

- Put your microphone, April.

- I went back to school when it was the LEAP program.

- Oh, come on, LEAP program!

- I was the LEAP program.

- You better preach, April.

- And I went back at 32-years-old.

And I had a lot of ups and downs with me being a single parent.

But I was able to hang in there.

I was able to join a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful sorority through Beta Chi.

- All right.

- I was the oldest one on my line.

- Wow.

- And I was able to graduate Lane College in 2014 at the age of 40.

- Ooh.

- Amen.

- I mean, that's the story that we try to tell.

- April, there was a reason for you to come over here and sit with us.

We didn't need to talk about that judging criteria.

- The age of 40.

And I tell you, Lane College, it was something that I needed.

You know, when you're a single parent and you're trying to make more money, trying to take care of your children, and you just don't know how you was gonna do it and then you saw there was an opportunity for you to go back to college.

You knew it was gonna be hard, but I went back, I studied.

If I wasn't able to pass some classes and I had to retake it, I would talk to my advisor and try to get back in there.

And I graduated at the age of 40 from Lane College.

- And what was your degree in, April?

- Sociology.

- There we go.

- And right now, I work for Quinco Mental Health and I've been with Quinco Mental Health now for eight years.

And thanks to Lane College.

Thank you, Lane College.

I am so appreciative.

- I love your story.

I love the sweatshirt.

I want that sweatshirt, for sure.

I love the sweatshirt.

- And I'm just so happy to be here.

- We're happy to have you.

- Happy Homecoming 2023!

- Do you mind if we get the next judge, Miss LeShore, to come on over?

- Yeah, we have to represent, Ryan.

- Oh, you know we always gotta do that.

- Yes, Ryan has already- - Please, come on.

called you out in front of the public.

Well, Ryan, look at here.

- Oh look.

- I know, when you have the police come over, that means you need to watch out and get ready.

- Get ready.

- Hello, I see Beta Chi.

- Hello, hello, hello.

- Hello, hello, hello, good morning.

- Introduce yourself please.

- My name is Trina LeShore.

I am an alum of Lane College, 2007.

- But see, you left something off.

Go ahead and add what you got on that year though?

What did they give you that year that you earned?

- I am the valedictorian.

- Really?

- We sitting up here with somebody different.

- I am not surprised.

- I wasn't that person.

I wasn't that person.

- I am not surprised.

- Because I was at the Homecoming parties, she was studying, that's where she was at.

(Trina laughing) - Sweet, and you earned your degree in which discipline?

- Interdisciplinary Studies.

- Wow, and now an educator.

- I'm an educator, 18 years.

- For 18 years.

- Mm-hmm.

I'm currently employed at Jackson Central-Merry High School.

- Whoa.

- Right across the tracks?

- It's some Cougars around here.

I'm not gonna say I went there, but I did.

- Look at Clara.

It is so good to have you.

- Thank you.

- And so now you're here, 'cause yes, you're alum.

- She's judging today.

- You're judging today.

- Yep.

- Could you tell us what you're looking for?

- And this is not the first year.

- It's not my first year.

I typically do it every year.

I wouldn't wanna be any other place.

- Okay.

- I think this is my sixth year in a row- - Wow.

- That I have been a part of this and I'm so grateful that Lane asks me to do this every year.

But we are looking for creativity amongst our participants.

We're looking for originality.

We're looking for competitiveness.

We wanna see somebody that's some go-getters that really wants it and really puts on a show in front of the judges' stand.

- [Ryan] Thank you, thank you, thank you.

- Thank you so much.

- All right, you're welcome.

- [Darlette] Madam Valedictorian.

(laughing) - Thanks.

- Well, Ryan, it's time.

We are here.

- Here come the colors.

- [Darlette] At the 2023 Lane College Homecoming.

- [Ryan] Here come the colors.

And who's coming up first?

They look so good.

- They do.

LCD, Lane College Dragons.

And here are the cheerleaders.

- This is the cheerleaders.

- Yes.

- [Ryan] Okay.

- [Darlette] I think we're gonna hear a cheer.

They gonna get us ready.

- [Ryan] They got the code and the gear on.

Here we go.

- Yes.

- Rock!

- [All] We are the best, say what, no need to doubt!

If you wanna see something, we'll show you how to rock!

Rock, rock, R-O-C-K!

Rock, do what we say!

We are the best, say what, no need to doubt!

If you wanna see something, we'll show you how to rock!

Rock, rock, R-O-C-K!

Rock, do what we say!

Rock!

- [Darlette] All right!

The Lane College cheerleaders.

Rock, do what we say.

- There it is.

- Let's go!

- Let's go.

- I feel like the one in the back, I don't know if she's paying tuition.

We need to confirm her ID before she...

Okay, hey.

- She's getting acclimated.

- Okay, there it is.

- [Darlette] Thank you, Lane College cheerleaders.

So good to have a cheer to begin the parade.

And here is Miss Tennessee Volunteer.

- [Ryan] This is it.

This is what I was waiting on.

- Jada Simone Brown.

Such a delight to have this young lady as our Parade Marshall.

- Can we say something about her dress?

Look at the dress.

- Oh my goodness.

And compliments of Joanne's Boutique.

Paige Dennis is a sponsor of the Miss Tennessee Volunteer.

And she... What do you wanna say about it?

- [Ryan] I just wanna say that I'm so excited to be a part of Jada's reign.

That's it, that's all we needed, Jada's reign.

- Well, you know what?

You'll get an opportunity to have Jada sit right next to you and you'll interview Jada as soon as she comes on this stage.

And happy to have President Hampton and his lovely wife Susan Hampton.

Dr. Hampton is in his 10th year as President.

- [Ryan] Look, they resigned his contract.

I love it.

We need him as many years as we can have him.

- [Darlette] Yes.

And then we have Ruby Vaulx, First Lady of the College, married to Dr. Glenn Vaulx, who served as our interim president.

- [Ryan] He was one of the best interims, I'm gonna say that, from my experience.

- [Darlette] So I'm hoping that they will, yeah...

I was wondering if- - We'll get Dr. Hampton here.

- [Darlette] If they were having Miss Tennessee Volunteer to come and join us so that we could... Yeah, so you said about Dr. Vaulx, you said he served as interim president.

- He was there for me.

I mean, it was everything you needed.

He was just nothing but cordial.

He was always accepting of the students and just an amazing man.

Does his wife have a dragon on her jacket?

- Yes!

- When did that come out?

- [Darlette] See, you said that you wanted to just do a collection.

- I show up to these events and people always surprise me in what they pull out of the jackets.

- [Darlette] Well, it's such a delight.

So we've seen our Parade Marshall.

She will come and join us shortly.

And Dr. Logan Hampton and Susan Hampton come to join us.

- Well, it looks like I see the mayor down there too.

- [Darlette] The mayor is coming.

And so now the board chair is here.

- Okay.

- Bishop Marvin Frank Thomas, Senior, serving as the board chair of the Lane College Board of Trustees.

And just happy to...

He closed us out for the parade, I mean for the prayer breakfast.

And so, we're going to have- - Look at all these Corvette C8s just driving around as if they're Toyota Camry's today.

This is it.

- And Ryan, when you get a chance.

- Mm-hmm?

- [Darlette] Try to get, and Morgan probably can help you, get Jada on over here so that we can- - One second.

- [Darlette] And so we have our Madison County Commissioners.

- There we go.

- Sheila Godwin and Juanita Jones.

So happy to have them.

So happy to have them here with us.

So now this is a party bus.

- [Ryan] Oh yeah.

We need a party bus 'cause it's a party with a purpose, is what we gotta say.

- This the party bus.

- [Ryan] Hello, hello, hello.

Please take a seat.

- Hello, Jada!

I'm gonna hand you the microphone.

- Jada, good morning.

- Good morning!

- [Darlette] We're just, it's just... We don't know, well, Ryan is just gonna sit here and stare.

- [Ryan] I'm beaming, I'm beaming.

I watched it live so now this is it.

This is it for us.

- Well, Jada, now, okay, So this is Mr. and Miss Homecoming, Kaya.

Kaya and Braxton are serving as our Mr. and Miss Homecoming for this year, so we gotta get that in there.

Jada, you know, we've been celebrating you since you've been crowned.

- Since July.

- Since July.

And we probably will continue now, okay?

- Until next July.

- And you've been... You know, we talk about that moment when you were crowned, and I was telling Ryan that there's this pulse where you're holding the first runner up.

And they say, "And your new Miss Tennessee Volunteer is Miss Lane College," and you just...

I mean, I think everyone just felt the joy.

What were you feeling at that moment?

- I'm not an emotional person, so to have cried in front of all of Tennessee, I was kind of shocked.

Like I wasn't expecting the tears to come out.

But I don't know.

People ask me that all the time, how I was feeling.

And I still don't know, it's like a blur just to think about.

- Jada, could you tell us how heavy the crown is?

How heavy the crown is.

- It's not too heavy.

- But mentally though.

- I'm used to it, yeah.

- There it is, there it is.

Come on.

(all laughing) Well, anybody you wanna shout out this morning at the parade?

Maybe your mother, father, friends, family, anybody that helped you get here today?

- All of my family back home in Florida, I wanna shout them out.

And of course, Miss Samuels, President Hampton, and my pageant coach, Travis Franklin, Jr. And all of the MTV board, they have been such a huge support for me.

- We had to pause for Travis this morning, he couldn't make it.

- Oh, pause, mute, mute.

But you know he's watching.

- Yes.

- So he's, hi, Travis.

- What part of Florida, Jada, for the people?

- I'm from Plant City, Florida.

It's about 20 minutes away from Tampa.

- Okay, okay, there you go.

So it's a little warm down there still.

- Oh yeah, it's very warm.

We don't get a winter.

(all laughing) - So, Jada, tell us about your platform.

We saw Mr. And Ms. Homecoming.

Tell us about your platform.

I know that you're... Tell us a little bit about the Beauty Within Our Hands.

- Yes, so my platform going into Miss Tennessee Volunteer, and I'll also be incorporating it throughout the year, was called the Beauty Within Our Hands.

And it's teaching our youth the importance of American Sign Language and just teaching them beginner-friendly signs.

And I will also be serving as Governor Bill Lee's spokesperson for character education.

So I'll go around all over Tennessee to the different schools teaching the character trait, care.

- [Ryan] Come on.

I mean, what else do we want right now?

- I love you?

- It's I love you in sign language.

- [Darlette] Okay?

- Jada, we just love you so much.

- We just love you, Jada.

Well, we want you to enjoy the parade.

Okay, now the camera's on so we have to say I love you.

And so, Jada, enjoy the parade.

We look forward to all of your public appearances.

I know you've been pretty busy with sports and your academics.

A 3.6, boasting a 3.6 grade point average.

- Jada, the fact that you're miss...

I mean, you're over a whole state, you're keeping over a 3.5, I mean, you look gorgeous today.

What else can you do that we don't know?

- Volleyball.

- I mean, oh, you're on the volleyball team?

- Yep.

- Can I take a selfie with you for my daughter?

- Oh, yes!

She's eight.

I just want her to be able to get this experience.

- While you're taking your selfie, we have to say that we saw Trustee Booker.

Voresa Booker, who's the president of the Lane College National Alumni Association.

Jada, thank you so much.

- Will you get a jacket on?

I don't want you to get sick.

You can't not be here tomorrow, forever.

We need you to get a jacket on.

- I'm okay right now, I'm pretty warm.

- She's from Florida, y'all, don't believe her.

Don't believe her at all.

(Darlette laughing) Thank you so much, Jada.

- Thank you.

- Thank you so much, Jada.

All right, what a delight!

And so we had the Trustee Booker, Lane College National Alumni Association President with us.

And then we going to grab... Hey, Jada.

(marching band shouting) (band music) Who's the President of the Lane College National Alumni Association.

Here is Mr. Lane, Keith Jordan.

- [Ryan] There you go.

- [Darlette] Keith Jordan is from Memphis.

He's a senior Mass Comm major.

And then we have our other royalty, who are coming.

And this is Miss UNCF, Jada Kane.

- [Ryan] United Negro College Fund for the people at home.

- [Darlette] Yes, being escorted by William Nelson who's celebrating his class this year.

Jada's a UNCF scholarship recipient.

And Miss Dragonette- - Here comes the big band.

- [Darlette] Beautiful Royal Blue is here with us along with the Lane College Marching Band.

Let's get ready for the Lane College Marching Band.

- [Ryan] I'm gonna be quiet so y'all can just get all this.

Enjoy it, Lane.

Enjoy it, Jackson.

(band music) (crowd chattering) (whistle blaring) (band playing "I'm Your Baby Tonight") (music continues) (music continues) (music continues) (band music) - All right.

- There it is.

- [Darlette] That was the Lane College Silent Storm Band.

- [Ryan] I just want to acknowledge too, from a person that watches too much HBCU band stuff on YouTube, we did beat Tennessee State in football and also our band when it came to them in the stands.

So I just wanna say that about the Silent Storm today.

- [Darlette] I think that was very important.

- [Ryan] I just wanted to put it out there.

- [Darlette] Whenever we do something of that magnitude.

- Come on.

- [Darlette] Repeat it over and over again.

- Councilman Dodd, he made it.

- He made it.

- [Ryan] I didn't think he was gonna show up, but they put him on a slingshot.

- [Darlette] Johnny Dodd, forever a friend.

- [Ryan] Does he have a Black Panther mask on?

Oh, look at that.

Look at that, he has a Black Panther mask on.

Look at that.

- Wow.

- The kids are loving the candy, y'all.

(upbeat music) - [Darlette] Well, we have more royalty, part of the class representation.

Mr. and Ms. Senior, Mr. and Ms.

Freshman.

So happy to have them up early this morning.

- [Ryan] Oh, it was an early call.

It was an early call this morning.

- [Darlette] And now we have... My brother's interesting.

He finds a way out of no way.

(Ryan laughing) So here we have Dr. Brenda Robinson Shaw.

- Yes.

- Who was the Ms. Lane.

Jada, she was Ms. Lane in 1968.

And she's being escorted by Dr. Lucinda Gray and Mr. Frank Carver.

- [Ryan] Is that the... Who's that one in this Corvette right here?

- Oh, that's Kevin Hicks.

- Okay.

- [Darlette] Kevin Hicks, is, He's representing one of the classes.

- I think he's Mr.

Junior.

- Mr.

Junior.

- [Ryan] Oh, there's the Commissioner.

- [Darlette] Yes, and his dad is Madison County Commissioner Kevin Hicks and his mother is Kimberly Rice Hicks.

Happy to have them also in the parade.

- [Ryan] Oh, look at the float.

Look at the float, look at the float.

- [Darlette] See, that's why I wanted to know about the judging criteria.

- Look at the float.

- [Darlette] Because I just think that this is magnificent.

You're talking about the ladies of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

The president is Wanda Newsom.

And what a beautiful, beautiful float representing, look, the theme, Unleash the Dragon.

- [Ryan] Don't we have the national president here today as well?

- [Darlette] Yes, the national president is on stage.

- [Ryan] Jackson got pull.

Lane College got pull.

I just wanna say that as much as possible.

- [Darlette] Yes.

Sisters With Aspiring Goals.

The acronym is SWAG.

- SWAG.

- [Darlette] We thank them for being a participant in the parade, Sisters With Aspiring Goals.

Another member of the royalty- - Dignitary.

- [Darlette] Glad to have this young lady looking beautiful this morning.

And Cadence Bank.

We're so happy to have Cadence Bank, Doug Roth and Veronica Love, for hosting us this morning.

We're located right across from Cadence Bank.

But for years they have been here to welcome and say yes, we're all in for Lane College.

- [Ryan] They got some goodie bags for us today.

We thank 'em.

- [Darlette] So did you notice that this was, this is this part of the- - [Ryan] It looks like this one- - [Darlette] You know this group with all those letters.

- [Ryan] H-P-I-P. - [Darlette] I know we have the Zarah Court, number 51, Zarah Temple, number 151.

(group shouting) - They look good this morning.

- Yes.

- They had their coffee.

- [Darlette] And then they have a marching unit.

They're coming from Memphis, Tennessee.

Happy to have them with us today and supporting the Lane College Homecoming Parade.

- [Ryan] Oh yeah.

- [Darlette] So yes, Cadence Bank.

We wanna thank Cadence Bank for hosting us this morning.

And they were at the prayer breakfast.

And missing Jeannie Bond, but I know that she's somewhere out there watching us or as a parade onlooker.

And then Zarah Court, we just mentioned Zarah Court number 51, oh royalty.

- This is it.

- You said royalty was in the house.

- [Ryan] Well, we gotta we gotta make sure everybody gets the recognition today.

Looking lovely.

- Illustrious, commanderous.

- Lovely, lovely.

- Oasis of Jackson.

Desert of Tennessee.

Well, just happy, and JTA, speaking of Travis Franklin, Jr.- - There you go.

- There's the dad.

- There you go.

- Travis Franklin, Sr. And he is the manager of Jackson Transit Authority.

And every year, I'm trying to get his attention, but every year he makes sure that JTA is in operation and making sure that people are getting from Point A to Point B from the game.

- [Ryan] I just wanna say the bus is clean, it's been waxed.

Look at the tire shine on the bus today.

Oh, he's throwing out candy.

- Oh, he's throwing out candy.

- The babies need candy.

- Yes.

- [Ryan] He's focused on the bus and the transportation but the babies need candy.

- Gotcha, yes.

Well, thank you, Jackson Transit Authority.

Thank you, Travis Franklin, Sr. And another royalty, Diamond Knox.

Jada's gonna help us- - [Ryan] Yeah, Jada knows all the people.

- [Darlette] Jada, you know everyone.

You know that's Diamond Knox and she's representing...

Yes, good to have them this morning.

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority.

- Oh, look at the cape.

Look at the cape.

- Miss Debutante.

- Look at the cape.

That's beautiful on the back.

- [Darlette] Gorgeous.

(band music) - [Ryan] Okay, is this Stillman coming around the corner?

- [Darlette] This is Stillman College.

- [Ryan] I could feel it.

I could feel it.

- All the way from Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Let's listen.

- All right.

(band music) - You called it.

- Come on, y'all!

That's right!

Serve the men, girl!

(band music) - [Darlette] Stillman College from Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

(band music) (band whistle) - [Band] S-C, you know.

- [Darlette] All right, Stillman College.

So happy to have them in the Lane College Homecoming Parade.

A parade would not be a parade without our bands and all of the auxiliaries and the floats.

And it's such a good, beautiful, crisp time to celebrate the 2023 Lane College Homecoming Parade.

And I believe Stillman College is getting ready to perform to our judges and to those dignitaries on the reviewing stand.

We wanna thank our Board Chair, Marvin Thomas and Donald Colmer for facilitating the band and making sure that they're here and participating.

- [Band] One and two and one, two, three, play.

- Yes, ma'am.

- That's scary.

(band yelling) (band music) (band yelling) (band music) - [Darlette] All right.

Stillman College, all the way from Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

It's such a delight to have the band here.

What, Theresa, hello.

Well, first let me properly greet you.

Captain Clipper, it's just a delight to have you.

And what do you think about coming to a parade, where you have all these bands and you feel the excitement?

What are your thoughts this morning?

- It's always good to come home for Homecoming.

I absolutely love the parade.

This band was awesome.

- Well, it's good to have you, a member, Ryan, of the Lane College Board of Trustees.

Inducted into the Class of 2023 Lane College Hall of Distinction.

Congratulations and well deserving.

- Thank you so much.

It was such a humbling experience, I tell you.

I'm so honored.

- [Darlette] So tell me this, when we were reading your bio, you mean to tell me that you are one of 26 African American women to be- - Captain.

- Captain.

- In the United States Navy.

- That's what I was trying to say.

- [Theresa] So when I was promoted, there were only 26 of us out of over 350,000 sailors in the Navy.

- Wow.

- Wow.

- [Theresa] Yes.

- [Darlette] I'm just amazed at that.

But well deserving and I'm glad Ryan pulled you over here.

And we just wanted to say good morning and thank you so much.

- Happy Homecoming.

- [Theresa] Oh, thank you, thank you.

I'm so happy to be here.

- And so, Ryan, he's gathering the looks of T-shirts now.

So you got that T-shirt now.

- Oh yeah.

- Just, okay.

(everyone laughing) - Thank you.

- Thank you so much.

- Okay, thank you, thank you.

- We got someone coming in next.

- So we're happy to have the police chief that's been a friend of Lane and making sure everything, from beginning to the end, is just together for Lane College.

And so the police chief is gonna come and say hello to us this morning.

Thank you so much, Chief Corley.

Now did the train, what happened with the train?

- Well, we were blessed, the train came early.

The train came early and so we got through it.

The train passed before we got there.

- Okay.

- So it was great.

- Well, thank you so much.

The City of Jackson is a long time supporter, of course, of Lane.

Lane College is a member of the community and so the city has been very supportive.

But thank you personally for being here for Lane.

- Yes, ma'am.

- In all facets of our events.

- Right, right.

We love our partnership with Lane.

Lane is so much part of this community and this is something that's been just as much a tradition for us to be partners with you guys during these events, so we're happy to do it.

- [Darlette] Well, thank you so much and say hello to Jamie for me, okay.

- I sure will.

I sure will.

Thank you for having me.

- Thank you so much, chief.

- [Darlette] Well, who are these little beauties?

- [Ryan] They look amazing.

They're doing a great job.

- [Darlette] Well, I love them.

And wow, I'm just still amazed at Lane College Marching Band and then we had Stillman College.

We had the Zarah Temple.

And it says, let's go Parkway.

- [Ryan] There we go.

- [Darlette] And so I think we're going to be joined by the president.

And so you move the chair that way because you wanted to interview the president.

- [Ryan] Oh yeah, I always wanna do that, the president.

- [President Hampton] Hello.

- Good morning, good morning.

Happy Homecoming.

- Well, Happy Homecoming.

- Thank you.

- Welcome home.

- Good to have you back.

- I'm so happy to be here.

- I see you in social media, so it's good to know you still exist in reality.

- You know what?

Dr. Hampton, this year is so much bigger now than last year.

I wanna say, we have a record number of attendees that have decided to be in this parade and I can just feel the energy here in Jackson.

So I wanted to get your thoughts on this year's Homecoming size, scope, and comparable to years in the past.

- Well, listen, I mean, here's the fact.

The fact is ain't no Homecoming like a Lane College Homecoming 'cause a Lane College Homecoming don't stop.

- Come on.

(Dr. Hampton laughing) - Well see, now he's preaching.

You said you started off preaching, what was it, yesterday?

- Yesterday, yesterday.

But you know what?

- So however we come together, it's gonna be great.

No, but I mean it's a tribute to the team.

The team's been working.

They've been working- - Since last year.

- [Dr. Hampton] Exceptionally hard.

I mean, I don't know if they ever stop working on Homecoming.

I mean, once it's one ends and another begins.

I was just talking to one of our partners from Arizona State who's in town this week working with our Luminosity Scholars and she's staying in a hotel.

She's staying in a hotel where the visiting team is staying.

- Okay.

- And she said to me, she's like, "That was the only hotel in town that had a room."

(men laughing) She was like, "I'm in the wrong place."

- [Ryan] The hotel rates tend to go up when we do this, I'll say that from a person external from the city.

But definitely, you can see it.

- [Darlette] Well, I don't experience that.

I continue to sleep at 545 Lane Avenue on campus, so I don't get to experience the changes in the hotel room rates.

But we thank you for coming home.

- Thank you.

- And we thank you for paying for those rooms.

- Yes.

- [Dr. Hampton] But in your case, we thank you also for your donations and for your contribution directly to the college.

- [Ryan] Just as much as what you can do, we also wanna get the donations.

(parade participants yelling) I did wanna ask you really quick, before you get out here and you gotta continue kissing babies and shaking hands, anything that you would like to highlight this year for some of the alumni, some of the folks here in Jackson, any way that they can support the school directly?

Anything maybe you'd like to highlight for them to be able to do it?

- [Dr. Hampton] Well, anytime that we have a group of alums that are in town, we wanna celebrate the comeback and to give back.

To continue to make an investment in our scholars.

Our scholars come from some of the same backgrounds that our alums came from.

I mean, we have first gen and we have low to moderate-income families.

We have persons who are coming from, 60% of our students are from the State of Tennessee, 40% from outside of the State of Tennessee.

We're a private institution.

And so as a private institution, we operate on student fees, what the students pay, and what our alum donate.

- Okay.

- And so yes, we invite our alum to make an investment in our students.

To come back and to give back.

And just exciting last night with our 20 under 40, it was just an exciting moment that those young people that we decided to say we wanted to celebrate individuals under 40 who made a significant contribution in their field.

We just wanted to celebrate them because we wanna continue that legacy.

We want to lift them up so we might inspire our current students.

- [Ryan] Oh yeah.

- [Dr. Hampton] We wanna lift them up to encourage them to continue to be engaged with the college.

But they were so inspired that they decided, as a group, to endow a scholarship.

(parade participants yelling) And so a part of their celebration and a part of us celebrating them, they gave back to the college.

And for me, that's just the way it should happen.

It wasn't something that we leaned on them to do.

It's just, it was their inspiration and with our help and with our assistance.

- [Ryan] An inaugural class, we gotta say that.

- [Dr. Hampton] Yeah, it was an inaugural class.

- [Ryan] So we gonna do it again.

- Oh yeah.

- Oh, every year.

- [Dr. Hampton] So as we think about the 20 under 40, there are so many of our alums that are making their mark in their chosen careers and we need to celebrate those persons.

We started the Hall of Distinction some years ago to celebrate our more seasoned, legacy alums because I got to a point where we send out, we get this announcement, and we send an announcement out across the nation, across the world of a Lane alum- - Monthly.

- Who had passed.

- Oh, yeah.

- You know, who had died.

And I said to the team, we've gotta see these people and celebrate them before they transition.

- Give them their flowers.

- [Dr. Hampton] And so we started the Hall of Distinction to celebrate our seasoned alums that have had an entire career.

- Oh yeah.

- [Dr. Hampton] And for their entire career, we celebrate their contribution.

- [Darlette] Now, Mr. President, I gotta jump in, okay?

Because he is a preacher now.

He's the president but he also a preacher.

And North Parkway is doing a wonderful job over there.

But I gotta ask you this quick question.

- [Dr. Hampton] That is North Park.

I love their colors.

- [Darlette] Yeah, that's North Parkway Middle School.

- [Ryan] They got 'em, right?

- [Darlette] As we think about, we're celebrating our Parade Marshall, Miss Tennessee Volunteer.

What were you doing, were you there, were you watching?

How were you, were you like, they went to the top 15, they went to the top 10.

Tell me what were- - So you are picking now?

- No, I'm not, I wanna know.

- Yes, you are.

Yes you are.

- Well, it's a light moment.

- I was traveling.

- Okay.

- [Dr. Hampton] So I was traveling back to Jackson on the evening of the pageant.

And so about the time that I arrived back in town, I get a text message that Miss Lane has made, I think it was the top 15.

- Okay.

- And so I'm going in the house and I'm about to turn on the TV to turn the pageant on.

And I go, no, I wasn't watching before she made the top 15, so I can't turn it on.

So then- - [Darlette] Jada's listening to you, by the way.

- [Dr. Hampton] Then she made the top 10.

Then I got a text she was in the top 10.

- [Ryan] You gotta turn it on.

- [Dr. Hampton] I'm like, I gotta turn it on.

So I'm like, I got the remote in hand now, and I go, no.

I'm an old athlete.

You kinda get those- - You get nervous.

You get nervous.

- You get that weird stuff in your head, like, you gotta keep doing what you were doing.

And I was like, no, I wasn't watching this.

And then she makes the top five and it was like- - [Ryan] Everyone was sweating bullets then.

- [Dr. Hampton] Now I'm just starting to walk around the house.

And then I get the text that she won.

I run to the TV, turn it immediately on.

- [Ryan] So you've gotten to see an SIAC Women's Basketball championship.

- Here, here.

- In your tenure.

- Yeah.

- Now, we have a Miss Tennessee.

Then also- - I mean, that's 70 years.

That's a 70-year tradition right there.

- You got a strong 10 years.

I don't know what else you're gonna bring us, Dr. Hampton.

- Hey, listen, all I do is win, win, win, win, win, no matter what.

- [Ryan] We beat Tennessee State University under you.

Come on.

- All I do is win, win, win, win no matter what.

- You're so funny.

- Thank you, Dr. Hampton.

- Well thank you so much, Dr. Hampton.

It's been a delight talking to you.

- [Dr. Hampton] Are you gonna say something about the distinctive- - And now we're gonna go to Distinctive Dancerettes.

- There it is.

- [Darlette] We're happy to have these young people celebrating the Lane College Homecoming Parade.

- [Dr. Hampton] Well, thank you all.

And thank you all for the great job you all do each year.

- [Ryan] You on the final lap, you almost there.

You only got a couple more hours.

- Oh, no, no.

- I know that nap Sunday night gonna be everything.

- [Dr. Hampton] All the way to the end.

- [Ryan] You gonna fight all the way to the end?

- [Dr. Hampton] This don't stop till the benediction at church tomorrow.

- Okay, okay.

- [Dr. Hampton] We celebrate all the way to the benediction at church tomorrow.

- [Ryan] I thought you were gonna say Monday Night Football.

(Dr. Hampton laughing) Thank you, Dr. Hampton.

- Hey, thank you all.

- Thank you.

So this was the Distinctive Dancerettes.

And it's a delight to have them for 2023 Homecoming Parade.

And so North Parkway Middle School.

- [Ryan] There we go.

- [Darlette] North Parkway Middle School was there and so we got a chance to see them.

And then now another band, Fayette-Ware.

- [Ryan] Okay.

- High school.

- They look so good.

(upbeat music) I'm always impressed by the sounds.

- [Darlette] Fayette-Ware High School, I believe we have an alum.

- That is it.

- Okay.

Where is Fayette-Ware?

- [Ryan] I wanna say right outside of Memphis.

But we're gonna find out.

- As they get closer, you'll be able to... Fayette-Ware High School.

We've enjoyed Stillman, we've enjoyed our Lane College Band.

- [Spectator] Mace out of Memphis is right behind the Urban Gun Defense Fund.

- [Ryan] Somerville, Tennessee.

- [Darlette] Somerville.

I saw V-I-L-L-E and I could not- - Look at us.

- You're good.

- [Ryan] Oh, look, it was right at the bottom.

We just had to wait, like you said.

- [Darlette] All right, Fayette-Ware High School.

- [Ryan] They stepping big.

(band music) - [Spectator] Let's go, Fayette-Ware in the house, yes!

(band yelling) - Not yet.

(band music) ("Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson) (spectators cheering) - All right, that was Fayette-Ware High School from Somerville, Tennessee with us.

And we're thankful for them joining the Lane College Homecoming Parade.

And are we getting a second?

This is an A and B selection.

(Ryan laughing) An A and B selection.

- [Ryan] The offering is coming right behind it (laughing).

- [Darlette] So yes, we're thankful for having Fayette-Ware High School with us today.

- Yes.

- And today we also have our board chair from the Lane College Board of Trustees with us, Marvin Frank Thomas.

Now, you had a special treat today.

- I did, I did.

Thank you, thank you.

I was pleasantly surprised.

- [Darlette] Well, Stillman College is what we're talking about, Ryan.

- Okay.

- Yes.

- And so tell us about your association with Stillman.

- Wow, I mean, I'm a 1977 graduate of Stillman College.

Then when I finished seminary in 1980, I worked at Student Affairs at Stillman College and left Stillman College and came to Lane- - There we go.

- And started working as the Dean of Students.

So, I mean, it's a great moment, the two significant institutions in my life, sharing the same stage on such a significant day.

I mean, it was a very, very pleasant surprise.

Thank y'all so much.

- That's amazing.

That's amazing.

Anything that you could give us from your favorite Homecoming memory?

Your favorite Homecoming memory at Lane College maybe you could share.

- Well, as the Dean of Students, you're very careful and you pray for Homecoming.

- [Ryan] That's true.

- [Marvin] But I can't remember who we were playing, but Dr. Wesley McClure, I think, it may have been his first or it must've been his second year.

- Not the second year.

- 'Cause I was here with him two years.

But we had lost so many games and we were getting ready to play somebody, I can't remember who it was.

But there was an atmosphere on campus that this was going to be the game that Lane will eventually break that losing streak of so many, I mean, I don't even want to tell you how many games that the college had lost prior to that particular game.

- Oh, yeah.

- And as excited as I was about our possibilities of winning, I had a sense of what that might mean for me as Dean of Students.

(Ryan laughing) But anyway, it was, to be present and a part of Lane College when we won that first game after having lost so many games and then to have the joy that our students did not completely turn the town upside down nor the campus.

(everyone laughing) But they celebrated in such a respectful and appreciative way, because it was a great moment for athletics at Lane College.

So I was very, that was the one that I remember.

- [Ryan] Whew, I remember ringing the bell every time they would come home from those long trips.

- Yeah.

- And they would be all the way across the country.

And then you'd know at two o'clock in the morning, it didn't matter if it was 2:00 AM on Sunday, they would ring that bell and we knew what time it was.

- So, Ryan, you would, so Bishop, now we're, Mr.

Chair, were you affiliated or did you become a member of Alpha Phi Alpha during the time at Stillman?

- No, I worked when I was a student at Stillman, so I didn't, and I really didn't have any interest.

And then, a few years afterwards, some of the members of the graduate chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha, Delta Phi Lambda in Tuscaloosa approached me about their fall line.

And one of my best friends and I, we, along with some others, we went through the process and that was in 1984.

- Wow.

- So I joined the fraternity in 1984.

- [Darlette] Yeah, I did that for Ryan.

- Thank you.

- Okay.

Okay.

- I am a 2009 initiate here at Lane College in Beta Pi.

But definitely, we appreciate every opportunity we get to talk to you and we just thank you.

- [Marvin] Yeah, my son came through Beta Pi.

- Okay.

- Yes.

- Yeah, Marvin Thomas, Jr. - There you go.

- Yeah, yeah.

- Mr. Lane.

- [Marvin] And then, well, when I was the Dean of Students, even though I came as an Alpha, well, the Alphas had to remind the other members of the Greek community to lighten up on the dean.

- [Ryan] Come on.

- [Marvin] But thank y'all so much.

- Thank you so much, Mr.

Chair.

That was the Board Chair for the Lane College Board of Trustees and the Presiding Prelate of the First Episcopal District, Marvin Frank Thomas, Sr., joining us today.

And we were delighted with, I saw a hope, there was an entry that passed by and we did not recognize the Hope Lodge.

The 144 PHA Masons.

So glad to have them with us.

And we wanna thank TRTV.

- Okay.

- [Darlette] We wanna thank them for every year, Thomas Varhese and his crew, E2 plus TV6.

E2, E plus TV6, you got it?

- [Ryan] There you go, we got it.

- E plus- - TV6.

- [Darlette] TV6.

We wanna thank E2.

Thank you, every year.

- [Ryan] Okay, here's the Urban Defense Club.

There we go.

- [Darlette] Urban Defense Club, trained.

- [Ryan] Look at the little babies.

Oh, they look so cute.

- Trained lately?

They are cute.

- [Kids] We are.

We are.

- They are cute.

We are?

(parade participant kids yelling) - [Darlette] Wow, we have another band, Ryan.

- Another band?

- Yes.

- [Ryan] Well, let's look at who, who's 401 behind us?

What is this band gonna do?

- [Darlette] I think they kind of arrived, they could have been separate.

Here you go.

(band music) No?

(band music) It says Mystical Sounds.

- There we go.

This is one of our off-campus floats.

(band music) That's still the Urban Defense Club.

Okay, that's their float, there we go.

All right, that makes sense now.

- [Darlette] Unleash the Dragon.

Mystical Sounds of Fire.

We welcome them as we celebrate this year's theme, Unleash the Dragon.

- There we go.

(band yelling) (band music) (spectators cheering) (band yelling) - [Director] One, two, one, two, ready, go!

(band music) - [Darlette] Mystical Sounds of Fire, Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering.

- They sound so good.

- Wonderful.

Thank you for participating in the Lane College Homecoming Parade.

And we are delighted to have Donald Comer here.

We were just talking to the board chair, who is a graduate of Stillman, and he was pleasantly surprised to have Stillman here today.

And we credit you and the President's Office and all of those at Stillman.

Thank you for being a part of the parade this morning.

- Yeah, I am excited to be here today.

Even more excited to have Stillman College come and represent, share a little HBCU love in my hometown, with my hometown HBCU.

This is always an exciting time and really excited about what's going on here today.

- [Darlette] Well, thank you, Donald.

You are a long-time supporter.

You, FedEx, and you individually have been supportive of Lane College.

We started our day with the prayer breakfast, and we walked out of the building and it was like, this is a beautiful day for a parade.

- [Donald] It is an amazing day for a parade.

It started off a little chilly, but it's warming up and it's gonna get even warmer.

And it's gonna get hot when the game gets started.

- All right.

- Sweater weather is not it.

This isn't sweater weather past 12.

Everyone be concerned, the 80s are coming.

- [Darlette] So what would you say, Donald, is it the parade, is it the football game?

What makes a Homecoming?

- [Donald] Oh, wow, I don't think it's either.

I think it's all.

I think it's the accumulation of all the things.

It's the spirit that starts on the weekend before and leads all the way up.

It's the reconnecting.

And it's just that HBCUs are always a home for people, and it's always good to come back home.

It's the true essence of a Homecoming when you come back to your HBCU.

- [Darlette] Well, thank you so much.

- Thank you - Dr. Donald Comer.

- [Donald] Thank you very much.

- [Darlette] Ryan, we have to do that.

- [Ryan] Yeah, you gotta give people their titles.

Thank you so much.

- Thank you.

- [Darlette] So there's the Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering, so happy to have them with us.

Jonah Affordable Housing Organization are here celebrating with us, along with, look at here, Mindy.

Mindy.

- Miss Juneteenth of Jackson.

- [Darlette] Yes, so happy to have Miss Juneteenth Tennessee 2023.

Sweet Mindy is here.

You said that the royalty- - They came out today.

- Came out today.

Well, happy to have Jonah Affordable Housing Organization here celebrating the Lane College Homecoming.

And look forward to, I should have had Donald to stay for the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated.

- [Ryan] Oh, yeah, we didn't know they were coming around the corner though.

- [Darlette] And then the Top Ladies of Distinction will be coming soon.

And then so happy for the local support.

- [Ryan] Oh yeah.

- [Darlette] We thank Police Chief Corley.

And look at here, West High School plus East High School, Ms. Pearson.

So happy to, Hazel Pearson, so happy to see her this morning.

But Ryan, we were talking about the local support, the community support.

And superintendent, the Jackson Madison County Schools Superintendent, Marlon King.

- Oh yeah.

- [Darlette] And his staff.

And just so thankful for the partnership that we have with the school system.

And so he was determined.

He said, "We're gonna have an all school band."

- Right.

- And so he said, "Well, what about this?

We're gonna plan for that next year.

But why don't I come on and bring Northside High School Band here."

- [Ryan] They got a good band.

- [Darlette] So here we are.

We're gonna enjoy the sounds.

- The Marching Indians.

- The Marching Indians, right here in Jackson, Tennessee.

- [Band] Let's groove!

("Let's Groove" by Earth, Wind, and Fire) - [Darlette] All right!

Northside High School Marching Indians.

- [Ryan] I don't remember them doing it like this back when I was in high school.

They might've taken a cue from the Lane College Marching Band.

They got some juice.

I like it.

("Cupid Shuffle" by Cupid) If they Cupid Shuffle, I'm gonna leave.

If they kick that foot.

- [Darlette] What about if they do it up here?

(both laughing) Here we go.

- [Ryan] Yeah, they did, okay.

(band music) - [Darlette] Okay!

- [Ryan] These aren't the same Indians.

These ain't the same Indians.

- [Darlette] Kick, kick.

And walk it out.

(spectators cheering) (band music) - All right!

(spectators cheering) - [Ryan] That's your Madison County School System, y'all.

This what we producing.

- Let's give it up for them.

Northside High School right here in Jackson, Tennessee.

- [Ryan] Hey, do we got some scholarships left?

Can we give a couple on the way?

- [Darlette] Yeah, we're ready for them.

- [Ryan] I feel like they got what they need.

- [Darlette] They need to get right there.

We're so thankful for Northside High School, Lane College Marching Band under the direction of Christopher Jefferson.

And now we have another group of cuties, Lincoln Elementary School Cheerleaders, sweet.

And I think that's an alum who's working with them.

Sweet.

(spectators yelling) - [Director] G-A-M-E T-I-M-E!

♪ Game time, game time, game.

♪ ♪ Game time, game time, game ♪ ♪ G-A-M-E T-I-M-E, game time, game time, game ♪ ♪ Game time, game time, game ♪ ♪ Game time, game time, game ♪ ♪ G-A-M-E T-I-M-E, game time, game time, game ♪ ♪ Game time, game time, game ♪ ♪ G-A-M-E T-I-M-E, game time ♪ - [Director] One, two!

- [Cheerleaders] Mustangs!

Let's go, Mustangs!

(spectators cheering) - [Director] Now, go, go!

(cheerleaders cheering) - [Director] One, two!

- [Cheerleaders] Mustangs!

Let's go, Mustangs!

- [Director] Take it to the hoop and shoot it for two!

- [Cheerleaders] Shoot, shoot!

Shoot, shoot it for two!

Shoot, shoot!

Shoot, shoot it for two!

Shoot, shoot, hey, hey, hey!

Take it to the hoop and shoot it for two!

- [Director] One, two!

- [Cheerleaders] Mustangs!

Go Mustangs!

(spectators cheering) - [Darlette] Good job!

Good job!

- They did so good.

- [Darlette] Lincoln Elementary Cheerleaders in Jackson, Tennessee walking for the Lane College Homecoming Parade.

You know, that's about a three-mile walk.

- [Ryan] Oh, it's a strong walk.

You gotta have good shoes.

- Have you walked the route?

- No.

I'm not gonna say that I have walked it but I have definitely been in the back of one of these beautiful floats.

- [Darlette] Top Teens of America, Jackson, Tennessee.

Glad to have their royalty with us this morning.

- [Ryan] Oh, they came from the Boro.

That's what I like to call it.

- Is that what you- - Murfreesboro.

- [Darlette] See, you always come up with something new.

- [Ryan] Well, you know, you get up to these different places and you know what it's called.

But then what people say is different.

- [Darlette] And so, give it to me again.

- [Ryan] This is Murfreesboro.

- [Darlette] No, your way.

What's your way?

- [Ryan] The Boro, that's what I gotta say.

(both laughing) - [Darlette] Well, there's some beautiful young ladies this morning.

(spectators cheering) (band music) (spectators cheering) Beautiful young ladies.

Now, Ryan, what do you think about this year's theme, Unleash the Dragon?

- I feel like we did it this year.

We all showed up and we unleashed it.

- We unleashed it.

So we're having here the Vice President for Student Affairs, Darryl McGee.

I always like to, it's my goal in life is to always be a step ahead of VP McGee.

So I was a step ahead of you because you did not know you were coming over here.

- [Darryl] No, I did not.

(Ryan laughing) That's okay though.

- [Darlette] That's my goal, to be a step ahead.

- [Darryl] But you know, as the great student affairs leader, I'm always ready, always ready.

- [Darlette] You're sitting here observing the parade and you see all of the wonderful royalty coming from the students' participation, getting up early this morning.

- [Darryl] Yes, yes, I'm so proud of them, you know.

- Oh yeah.

- We have our own royal court, and then we have our campus queens.

We have representatives from Omega Psi Phi, Alpha Phi Alpha, I'm just saying all of them.

Let me say Kappa Alpha Psi.

- There you go.

- But yeah, I'm so proud of them.

They look great, don't they?

- They look wonderful.

- Dr. Hampton alluded to that our campus students were just handsome and beautiful and I can really attest to that.

So, I'm really enjoying myself today.

And me and my wife is out and this is a great parade.

One of the better ones I've seen in years.

- Well, I'm glad, I'm glad.

And especially with Ryan and I were taking note of the royalty, and just such the participation that you're getting from the students.

And you think, yes, they are really unleashing the dragon this morning.

- Unleashing the dragon.

They have been unleashing the dragon all week.

- All week.

- Yes, but they have, I think they're hungry for participation and engagement and this is an opportunity for them to do so.

They have done such a great job in planning this.

They've been a part of our planning.

But they are really unleashing this dragon today.

- [Darlette] So tell me some of the activities.

I know that there was a step show last night.

- Yes.

- I took my son.

- Yeah, there was a step show.

- He had a good time.

- [Darryl] And if I'm not mistaken, the brothers of Kappa Alpha Psi- - [Ryan] They took it home last night.

- [Darryl] Won.

And so- - They had roses.

They threw 'em.

- Yeah.

- [Darlette] Ryan's gonna give it to you.

- [Darryl] They had roses, okay.

But it was a great show.

That was just one of them.

Earlier this week, they had a fashion show.

And you should've seen 'em, it was so much fun.

The best part I like, they modeled Lane College gear.

- Wow.

- And then we had the royal court, we had the fashion show.

We've just been participating in the comedy show, which I did not attend.

I heard it's not good for us to attend the comedy show.

- [Ryan] Yeah, you've gotta hang back.

Everybody can't have a good time.

- [Darryl] Yeah, but students are really enjoying- - [Darlette] No, we can't have a good time.

- No, I know.

(everyone laughing) - [Darryl] Students are enjoying.

And yesterday the alums was in their normal participation and engagement with our students.

Giveaways and just hanging out at the block party down at the water tower.

- [Ryan] Can I say this?

Yesterday, I was walking around campus being an older alumni and I wanna say this, every Lane College student...

I took the long way, behind the football field, 'cause I said well, I'm gonna park up front so I can get my dignitaries and shake hands and things.

But I walked back to the campus bookstore.

Every student that I walked by said, "Hello.

How are you?"

- Oh.

- [Ryan] They said, "Hopefully, you're having a good homecoming."

And each one of those students, they made an effort to reach out and say, "Welcome home.

We're so glad you're here."

And I think that was such a great experience, seeing it from the kids.

- [Darlette] There's a Miss Crimson and Cream.

- Miss Crimson and Cream.

- There it is.

- There she is.

- There it is.

- Isn't she beautiful?

- The Beta Lambda Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi.

- Isn't she beautiful?

- She is beautiful.

Thank you so much, VP McGee.

We just wanted to bring you over and just so that you can celebrate your students.

- Yeah, we are celebrating and I'm looking forward to a win.

- There you go.

- A win.

- It's about the football.

It's about the football.

- Yes, it's about football.

So now we about to click on our football helmets and we are going to win today.

- [Darlette] Will you bring Claudelle Brown?

He's sitting next to Captain Booker.

Will you bring him over?

Thank you so much.

Lane College Alumni Jackson Chapter, BJ Godwin, is here this morning.

- There you go.

- [Darlette] Representing the Jackson Alumni Chapter.

So happy to have him with us.

And then we say AJ Merriweather, Concrete Services, representing.

- Yep.

They had about four vehicles in this parade.

Little ones, big ones.

I even saw a concrete masonry machine, I did.

- [Darlette] Well, AJ Merriweather, so happy to be... Now AJ was one of those Harlem Globetrotters.

- [Ryan] I saw it.

He had the, I remember they talked about it in one of the Facebook posts.

And he was out here putting the ball in the children's hands.

- Yeah.

- And from Jackson.

- Now look.

Now came back home and now serving the community.

And so we're just very proud of AJ and being a part of the Lane College Homecoming Parade.

- [Ryan] Well, I can't see a number on this one, but they got nice outfits on.

- It says Go Dragons.

We just wanted to, we were talking about the community support and how we had our county commissioners here.

Claudelle is part of that crew.

Earlier I said, we want the elected officials and that crew.

Well, he's been part of that crew from the very beginning.

- This is a glorious day.

Every time, this time of year, every year this time, I see the community celebrating what history could not record.

And that's the memories, the contributions.

And would you believe, you're looking at the seeds that flourished over the years.

- Oh yeah.

- I'm looking at what used to be people who used to stay in Lincoln Court.

- Oh, come on.

- Doctors and lawyers who went to Lane College coming back here to celebrate what they received and seeing the new seeds grow.

Oh, it's just a jubilating experience, man.

I get excited.

- Same, same.

- [Claudelle] I get excited.

- We're just happy to have you Claudelle Brown.

- And plus, I met my wife at Lane.

- I did too.

- Did you really?

- I did too.

- Come we, know where to fish.

- Look at the connection.

- We know where the fish is good.

- You don't have to go far, I'm gonna say that.

(everyone laughing) - Well, we wanted you to come over and say hello to us, Claudelle Brown.

- I invite everybody to come out to the game because we're gonna keep the bacon at home today.

- Okay.

- We're gonna keep the bacon at home today.

- Well, when you get an opportunity, ask Tony Black to come over and say hello to us.

- I certainly will.

- Thank you so much.

- [Darlette] So happy to have Claudelle Brown, Madison County Commissioner, with us this morning.

All of the elected officials.

We had this school board representative, the Board Chair, James Johnson, Pete.

- Okay.

- And we had the county commissioners, and we had the city council.

- [Ryan] I'm trying to see, did the mayor leave?

- The mayor?

- Where's the mayor?

- Is the mayor here?

- He's got mayor team.

- [Darlette] Is the mayor still here?

The mayor, is he still here?

- [Jada] He was walking in the parade.

- [Darlette] He was walking.

- [Ryan] He just got reelected.

You not wrestling no votes yet.

(both laughing) - Scott's been up early.

- Scott's been working hard.

He's been working hard.

- Since early this morning.

We'll ask, we have to pass it off to folks.

So when Tony Black goes that way, we'll ask him.

- He'll be up next.

- Yes.

(parade participants cheering) Tony, we just wanted you to come over, as a member of the Madison County Commission.

Tony Black, an alum of Lane College, a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.

We just wanted you to come over and say good morning to us and Happy Homecoming.

- Good morning everyone and this is a great thing.

This is just a tradition.

There's nothing like the HBCU experience.

- He's saying it.

- No other institutions go through the community like the HBCU Homecoming.

So I'm proud to be a Lane-ite.

Thank you for this opportunity to share a few words.

Lane College has contributed to this community tremendously.

And this community would not be where it would be if it were not for the many Lane College graduates, so thank you.

It's a wonderful parade.

- Now I say Madison County Commissioner, but also now Jackson Recreation and Parks.

And you know that tailgating, all those folks up there on that hill?

- Yes.

- Thank you for allowing us to have a good time.

- Thank you for getting the Fire Marshal off of us.

- Thank you for taking it over.

(both laughing) And I know what you're going through.

Y'all got it organized and controlled and we did it for years and just, and it's great.

We so glad that you all take that opportunity to let people, you know, do their thing and have fun.

- [Ryan] Well, the grass looks green every time we come.

It always, it rolls perfectly down that hill.

- [Tony] That's right.

- Well, thank you so much.

- Thank you so much.

- [Darlette] And if you see the mayor that way, will you bring him this way?

If you see him.

- If you see him.

- [Tony] If you see him, I will.

- [Darlette] I know that he was walking in the parade and he may still be getting his steps in.

- [Tony] Yeah, gotta get 'em in.

- [Darlette] Thank you so much, Tony Black.

And Ryan, this is the MBSM Majorettes of Jackson.

- [Ryan] Tennessee.

- [Darlette] Jackson, Tennessee.

MB, now that may, MBSM.

- [Ryan] MBSM.

I don't know what that means.

- Well, we thank them.

- But they're doing good.

- Here it is, MBSM Elite Majorettes Dance Team.

- There you go.

They did good.

- Thank you so much.

- [Ryan] This looks like, this my school coming up right here.

- Jackson Central Mary.

- The Cougars are back.

I just always wanna say that as much as I can.

The Cougars are back.

- So we had Northside.

- Yep.

- [Darlette] JCM.

Look at that.

- [Ryan] And I wanna say Southside's ROTC was here this morning.

I think, I'm just calling what I saw.

I'm just calling what I saw.

- [Darlette] And I'm not surprised because typically every year they have been, they have been leading the parade with their ROTC unit.

And so just so thankful for Southside, Northside, JCM.

Thank you, Marlon King and all of those who make up the Jackson-Madison County School System and for being a partner with Lane College.

(spectators cheering) - [Ryan] See how the community feels about 'em?

- Yeah.

- See how they feel?

(spectators cheering) - [Darlette] And you know they haven't, all they did was wave.

(both laughing) - That's what the people want.

- Haven't said a word.

- That's what people want.

- I love it.

Love it.

Go, Cougars!

(Cougars cheering) (spectators cheering) All right, thank you Central Cougars.

- [Ryan] There you go.

- [Darlette] We have another cheer.

(Cougars cheering) All right, Jackson Central Mary High School.

Thank you so much.

And they are being escorted by the queen, Miss JCM.

(Cougars cheering) - [Ryan] Oh wait, they made an LCD cheer.

Come on, come on.

- [Darlette] You done?

- [Ryan] This is what I came for.

This is what I came for.

(Cougars cheering) - [Darlette] All right!

Only Central Cougars.

- [Ryan] I know there could be some Lane College cheerleaders too in there 'cause we can pick a couple, you know, the ones that was really making an impact today.

(both laughing) - [Darlette] And thank you, Miss JCM.

So good to see- - [Ryan] Oh, they got her picture at Lane College though.

Look at that.

- Oh, sweet.

- Come on.

- All in.

They are all in.

(band music) We wanna thank Rayland Laster and Fisher Smith- - Oh yeah.

- Who co-chaired this Homecoming celebration, a seven-day celebration.

I wanna thank them for doing such a spectacular job in executing all of the events.

- [Ryan] Oh yeah.

(band music) Marquavius Savage Dance and Cheer Team.

- [Darlette] Okay.

- [Ryan] Oh wow, oh wow.

- [Darlette] That's on pavement.

Asphalt.

Oh, so he points out- - Oh wow.

- [Darlette] And then they...

Okay.

- Serious, he's serious.

(Darlette laughing) (spectators cheering) - [Darlette] Okay.

- [Ryan] Marquavius did his job today.

- [Darlette] Yes, he handled his business.

- [Ryan] Marquavius did his job today.

- [Darlette] He handled his business.

(spectators cheering) All right now.

(band music) Marquavius has us still in awe.

- [Ryan] Oh yeah.

And we got another band coming up here.

- Is that Humboldt?

- Is it?

- [Darlette] I think that's Humboldt.

- [Ryan] There's only a couple of Hs around it.

(both laughing) The interview though was right.

They're excited to be here.

(band chanting) (band music) - [Ryan] Humboldt is the serious band today.

- [Darlette] Right, they're mighty.

(band music) All right, Humboldt High School, small and mighty.

All right.

- [Ryan] I mean, when they say West Tennessee energy, I feel like that was it.

(band music) - [Darlette] Thank you, Humboldt High School for being with us this morning.

- Is that a real dragon?

- Parker Real Estate.

- [Ryan] Is that a real dragon on the back of the truck?

Where are we getting these props at?

That looks like it came off of HBO or something.

- [Darlette] You missing Humboldt, they still showing out.

- [Ryan] They knew what they needed to do when they came today.

They took one bus, that's all they needed.

They shutting it down (laughing).

- [Darlette] Listen, do not get it twisted, we are here.

Parker and Company Real Estate.

- [Ryan] There you go.

- [Darlette] Quick bail.

Unleash the dragon.

- They did it.

It's on top.

(band music) - [Darlette] We wanna thank the Homecoming Committee.

We had volunteers.

Marvin Freeman, thank you so much for the golf tournament.

- [Ryan] Oh yeah, I saw the photos.

- [Darlette] Saw the photos.

He does a magnificent job in just being a one-member committee, one-man committee.

We wanna thank him so much for putting on the golf tournament.

I heard they had a good time and had food and just had a good time at the golf course.

And there you have, you thought you were done with JCM.

They still rolling.

- No, they just keep coming.

The Jackson Central Mary High School Golden Cougarettes.

- [Darlette] Okay.

- It's just getting better.

- Bigger and better.

- [Ryan] Can we say this is East Jackson energy then?

- It is.

- There we go.

(band music) - [Darlette] So we had the cheerleaders.

And so now, Ryan, you have Cougarettes.

- [Ryan] Which I like the name, it speaks to it.

- [Darlette] I noticed Jennifer Freeman was leading or advising the cheerleaders.

- Okay.

- JCM Cheerleaders.

- [Ryan] And then there's the Dancing Cheer Team as well.

Well, okay, maybe we missed the cheer team.

That was before.

Okay, so now we're getting the Cougarettes, all right.

- [Darlette] Now we have the Golden Cougarettes.

- [Ryan] I like how they picked white.

- [Darlette] I love it.

- [Ryan] I like how they picked white today.

(band music) (spectators yelling) - [Darlette] Well, all right, Golden Cougarettes.

- [Ryan] I feel like some of 'em could also be some Lane majorettes once they matriculate.

- I love the recruitment.

- What are we here for if we're not doing this?

We want the best, the brightest, but come on up the street.

- Yes.

- We can make it happen.

(band music) - [Ryan] Riley Egypt, maybe.

Oh yeah.

Oh, that's Jackson Central.

I'm seeing- - He has a shirt that says Jackson Central, but I think it's the Mighty Sounds.

- [Ryan] I don't know if that's there yet.

I don't know if that's there yet.

But they sounded good though that went by.

'Cause I know that Riley Egypt is Pharaohs.

They had cats on theirs.

- [Darlette] Okay, St. Paul CME Church.

- [Ryan] Oh, St. Paul's showing up, love it, love it.

Aw, look at the babies at the top.

- [Darlette] Dr. Bass is the pastor and also a board member at Lane.

And then we have Professor Alexis Rainbow.

- [Ryan] 10 points for using the theme, Unleash the Dragon.

- That's 10 points.

- Unleash the Dragon.

- [Ryan] The judges, we need 10 points for that.

They're not giving any points, okay.

- [Darlette] Members of the choir, who lead our chapel service on Wednesday.

Oh, we're going to do, this is Professor Alexis Rainbow, who's the Assistant Professor of Music and Choir Director.

- The Lane College Board and Municipal Team- - [Ryan] Yes.

- They're gonna sing for you.

- [Darlette] Okay, thank you.

- [Ryan] They're gonna give us a selection.

- [Darlette] And I think this is the, is this the end?

- I think this is it.

♪ Through the fire, to the limit, to the wall ♪ ♪ For a chance to be with you ♪ ♪ I'd gladly risk it all ♪ ♪ Through the fire, through whatever come what may ♪ ♪ For a chance at loving you, I'd take it all the way ♪ ♪ Right down to the wire, even through the fire ♪ ♪ Through the fire, to the limit, to the wall ♪ ♪ For a chance to be with you, I'd gladly risk it all ♪ ♪ Through the fire, through whatever come what may ♪ ♪ For a chance at loving you, I'll take it all the way ♪ ♪ Right down to the wire, even through the fire ♪ (spectators cheering) - Thank you so much.

- [Ryan] I don't know how we could close it better than that.

- I know.

- We went acapella, outside.

- [Darlette] Well, you know, that's what we can do.

We're always ready.

We can do it with or without.

- That's it.

- But we gonna make it happen.

And this, you know, Ryan, this has been a beautiful day.

This is the end of the 2023 Lane College Homecoming Parade.

And thank you so much, Ryan, for being here.

You know I'll see you in 2024, God willing.

- God willing, if the levees don't break (laughing).

Well, now we've got a heavy day ahead of us.

- We have a heavy day.

- Stretch, go on and try to take a quick 15-minute nap or so and then we're back, it's football time now.

- It's football time.

Thank you so much and we'll see you next year.

- Thank you.

- [Announcer] This program you've been watching was made possible through the generous financial support of West Tennessee PBS viewers like you.

Please visit westtnpbs.org and make a donation today, so that we can continue to make local programs like this possible.

Thank you.

(twinkly music)