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01:00Hi, I'm Sarah Jakes Roberts, and I have the honor and privilege of sharing a blessing
01:12with you before we get into our Sunday homecoming celebration.
01:16You know, homecoming is so incredible and so fun because it's an opportunity for us
01:22to get back to a place where we experience growth and challenges and transformation and where
01:29we were ultimately introduced to a new version of ourselves.
01:33You know what's crazy, though, is that like when you're in the middle of the transformation,
01:38it doesn't necessarily feel like you're growing and evolving.
01:43As a matter of fact, sometimes the challenges are so tough that once you finally walk across
01:48that stage, you're glad to be leaving that place.
01:51But with time, we look back and we begin to recognize that, wow, I really became, I grew,
01:58I evolved.
01:59One of the things that I wish we were better at, though, is having these types of moments
02:04of reflection, not just for the span of when we were in school, but even as we merge into
02:10adulthood and family lives and moving throughout the world.
02:14So if you're honest, how often can you say you've taken the time to really sit back and
02:19reflect about how much you've grown, about how challenges have changed you and transformed
02:25you into a more resilient person?
02:28And yet we have this one time of the year where we go back and we get to thank God for
02:34all that we have grown, all that we have experienced, and all that we have been exposed to.
02:39This year has been tough, challenges, trials, triumphs, things worthy of celebration, but
02:48it's been real, probably harder than anything we've ever faced before.
02:53But there have been moments in where I can say that I feel like God met me in the middle
02:58of the chaos.
03:00If you ever read the Old Testament, you'll see that there are all of these different prophets
03:04prophets and people who God was in relationship with.
03:07And whenever God met them, whether it was Jacob or Abraham, Noah or David, they built
03:13an altar to mark the spot where God met them.
03:18And it sounds like maybe cliche just because it's in the Bible and it sounds like maybe it's
03:24something easy to do.
03:25But the reality is that building an altar back then took a lot of work.
03:29It meant that they had to pause from the rhythm of what they were doing, pause from the progression
03:34that they were making, and take a moment to acknowledge that God met them.
03:38God showed up.
03:39God performed a miracle for them that only he could have done.
03:44And I feel like as we celebrate homecoming that it's all about marking the spot as well,
03:49marking the spot where we've grown, where we've changed, where we've transformed.
03:52And I want to challenge you to bring the spirit of homecoming into 2020 into all of the years
03:59that are to follow after this.
04:01I want to challenge you to not just take a mental note of when God has met you, but to
04:06be intentional about really marking the spot, about taking time, removing yourself from the
04:12expectations of what people think you should be doing and how people think you should be
04:17flowing and allowing yourself a moment to build an altar that says, God, you should be
04:22showed me who I am in this moment.
04:24God, I didn't think I was going to make it.
04:26And yet here I am.
04:28God, you preserved my family.
04:29God, you helped me to recover.
04:31God, you helped me to make ends meet.
04:33I want to build an altar that costs me something.
04:36Maybe it's having a journal where we write down all of the things that have gone well for
04:41us this year.
04:42Maybe it's a social media post that could inspire someone else.
04:46But whatever it is, I want you to make sure that you are intentional about bringing the
04:50spirit of homecoming into your everyday life.
04:55Because after all, homecoming is about a particular location when it comes to school.
05:00But in our soul and our spirit, I think homecoming is when we come back into alignment with the
05:06truth that we are not alone.
05:08We haven't been forsaken and that we're still growing even in the middle of chaos.
05:13I want to invite you back home to you.
05:17And in order to do that, we have to look at the breadcrumbs of where we haven't been
05:21left behind.
05:23The breadcrumbs of where we've grown and how we've transformed.
05:26There are breadcrumbs.
05:28They're often hard to see in the middle of the storms and the trials, but they're there.
05:34I want you to know if I could speak on behalf of God because I've been in prayer for you.
05:40If you would allow me to just share a few moments of what I feel is his heart for you, that he
05:46sees you, that he knows it's been rough.
05:50He knows that you're up against some things that often feel bigger than you.
05:55And yet he has this invitation that says, greater is he that is in you than he that is in the
06:00world.
06:00That means that if you come into a place where you are in alignment with God, there is nothing
06:05outside of you that is bigger than the God that is working inside of you.
06:09I hear God saying, I'm proud of you.
06:12I hear God saying that I didn't leave you here so that you could drown.
06:15I didn't leave you here so that you could be sad.
06:17I didn't leave you here to struggle.
06:20I placed you in this earth because I believe that you can change it.
06:24Take that same energy, that same passion that allowed you to make it through school and ask
06:31yourself, how is that passion showing up in my life now?
06:34Because it's going to be that kind of passion, that type of power that is going to allow
06:39you to stand up to whatever this year, this decade, this next century child holds for you
06:45and the generations connected to you.
06:48I celebrate you today and every day because you found your way home.
06:54And my prayer is that you never lose sight of where you are planted, where you experience
07:00the most fruit, the most clarity, the most creativity, the most vision.
07:05We all get off course sometimes and we go through seasons where it feels like we're not having
07:09much harvest.
07:09But make sure you stay planted in the truth of who you are, the truth of who God has called
07:14you to be, and allow that truth to guide you until you bear much more fruit.
07:21I can't wait to celebrate with you all day long.
07:24We've got a special day planned for you and we are just getting started.
07:39Didn't I conquer this last year?
08:04Tell me what I missed, cause I fear that it's coming back up again.
08:14Must be something I hate, some song, some show, some hate.
08:23The devil wants to extend the game, free throws, and when it ends he wants to make.
08:34The sequel, cause if he gets another chance, he feels like he can't take my joy, my peace,
08:45my faith.
08:48See the devil, he learns from your mistakes, even if you don't.
08:56That's how he keeps you in cycles, cycles, he tries to keep us in cycles, cycles, but I'm
09:13not going in cycles, cycles.
09:15Psycho, yeah.
09:17Psycho, yeah.
09:19Yeah.
09:20Yeah.
09:20Yeah.
09:21Yeah.
09:22Mm.
09:23Mm.
09:23Mm.
09:24Mm.
09:25Mm.
09:26Mm.
09:27This will end like I want it to.
09:29I win.
09:30The enemy will have to lose again.
09:40See, I'm a different fighter now.
09:42I'm a different fighter now.
09:43I'm a different fighter now.
09:44And I have got to think, cause his joy is my strength.
09:52See, the devil will learn it's a mistake.
09:58And I am sure, whoa, whoa, whoa, that I'm not going in cycles.
10:06I'm not going in cycles.
10:09I'm not going in cycles.
10:10I'm gonna break these cycles.
10:13I'm not going in cycles.
10:16Help me break these cycles.
10:20Cycles.
10:22I'm not going in cycles.
10:27Cycles.
10:28See the bridge.
10:29Oh, so Lord, help me be free from all of my past sins.
10:43So your, your love is enough to make me new and help me in these cycles.
10:58Help me break these cycles.
11:00Lord, get us out of these cycles.
11:04This year, help us in some cycles.
11:07Oh, break out of some cycles.
11:10Oh, of depression.
11:12Psycho.
11:13Of loneliness.
11:14Psycho.
11:15Psycho.
11:16Oh, of sinning.
11:18Psycho.
11:19I'll tell you how we're going to do it.
11:20Cause there is power in the name of Jesus.
11:26There is power in the name of Jesus.
11:32See, there is power in the name of Jesus.
11:39Yeah.
11:40To break every cycle.
11:42To break every cycle.
11:43To break every cycle.
11:44To break all these cycles.
11:45Hey, say.
11:46There is power in the name of Jesus.
11:52There is power in the name of Jesus.
11:58See, there is power in the name of Jesus.
12:04To break every cycle, cycle, cycle, cycle
12:17To end every cycle, to break all these cycles
12:34That was eight times stellar award winning gospel artist Jonathan McReynolds and his artist Doe kicking things off in high spirit for day two of our She Got Now 2020 homecoming virtual experience presented by Pepsi and Essence. What's going on y'all? I'm Terrence J. And today we're going to celebrate black excellence in grand style. Now homecoming season at HBCUs is upon us and we're going to be saluting the past,
13:04present and future of education in black college at the highest level. Now you know homecoming might look different this year but the heart and soul of our celebration remains the same. Pepsi and Essence didn't want the season to go on without celebrating that legacy, history and joy that is HBCU homecoming. Today we're going to spotlight a few young, gifted and black women who are passed honorees of the She Got Now initiative created by Pepsi and Essence
13:34to highlight young women from various HBCUs who are creating impact within their communities. So throughout the show we're going to give you guys a taste of what homecoming is all about along with some tips about how you can take tailgating to the next level wherever you might be. Plus we're going to hear from some 2019 She Got Now recipients and hear how the HBCU experience changed their lives.
14:04She Got Now申請. The same means she got now because she has now honorees who represent Florida A&M. One is a multimedia personality and author and the other is an undergraduate student poised to take the world by storm. Here's Rashawn Ali and student Robin seniors.
14:20I'm so grateful for the time that I spent here every year at homecoming when I come back I get
14:36that same feeling we have a song called give me that old fam you spirit is good enough for me
14:42that's the feeling you get when you come to this campus it's it's it's absolutely priceless I am
14:49a better woman because I attended this institution permanent an early age I was inspired by my
14:54grandmother she did not have a high school education she was just so strong earned 14 cents an hour I was
15:01able to save up enough money and land to then pass on to all of us so every time I'm on campus I feel
15:07her spirit and I feel blessed and I know that I can do anything because she without a high school
15:12education did everything for us the homecoming experience is different every single year there's
15:23a different personality to every single homecoming which is why I love coming back to see what it's
15:28going to be like who's coming back who you see what type of party you're gonna go to you can tell
15:33the love everyone has when we stand up when we sing our alma mater and we begin with the college of love
15:39and charity I think that's really what embodies the school I believe that our journeys have less
15:46to do with us and more to do with other people witnessing how we navigate through this life when
15:52you realize it is bigger than who you are and that you're living your life for other people not
15:58necessarily to please them but to be an example I know if I can help one girl out then my life is not
16:05in vain the little girls that I see who come up to me they say Robin I want to run for president now
16:12or I want to join this position in this organization and that is really what warms my heart HBCUs are
16:18important at one point this was the only place that black students had the opportunity to to go the
16:25legacy I want to leave behind is to make my dash count you know we don't get the opportunity to choose
16:32the day we are born and we don't get to choose the day we leave this earth but what we do have
16:38complete autonomy over the dash in the middle what will your dash say about you what legacy are you
16:45leaving what mark on this world are you leaving what type of legacy are you leaving for your children
16:50what would they say about you and it's all said and done Rashawn is Rashawn did what and I want what I
16:56did to have made such an impact on people that will live for years and years to come even after I'm gone
17:02so my legacy is to make sure that dash counts
17:05that was a look back at two of our 2019 she got now honorees now in the spirit of educational
17:18achievement PepsiCo is offering opportunities for students to gain knowledge about sales and
17:24management in supply chain internships so if you want to learn more about that all you got to do is go to
17:30essence.com before October 26 and click the link on the live show screen for more information now we
17:37could not have homecoming without the divine non bringing the heat I remember man coming out on the
17:43yard was one of my proudest moments of my life being a member of Omega Psi Phi is something that's near
17:48dear to my heart so right now we're gonna check in with the fraternities and sororities repping our HBCUs
17:54Alpha Phi Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity incorporated it's your boy JT Garner I sent my breath down
18:12Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated A to Kappa chapter
18:23Hi my name is Ashley Gillum I'm affectionately known as Bree and I'm a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha
18:46Sorority Incorporated so what made me join Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated is honestly it's
18:58the only thing I've ever known it set a standard in my life from a very early age I joined my
19:04organization because growing up I knew the impact that Greek life had on my parents Zeta for me was
19:10some of my first exposure to class poise and professionalism my favorite thing about Greek life
19:16it's the bond that I have with my Sigma brothers Alpha brothers Delta sisters aka sisters the fact
19:22that like wherever I go I always have a friend somewhere Alpha Alpha fraternity incorporated just
19:29elevated me it challenged me it made me I didn't have to change who I am to become them I was already
19:35an Alpha without the letters without the pen that when you talk about um the divine nine and HBCU Greek
19:42life um a lot of people just look at it for oh you're you know wearing your letters or your jacket
19:48and you're ooping or you know around campus but it's so much more than that like when you look at it
19:53historically um we have always been the backbone of activism of um of of just philanthropy and paying it
20:01forward and really doing things that enact actual um change within our society so it's about sisterhood
20:09scholarship and service and definitely at Ada Kappa we invited that I was actually a Bonner Scholar
20:15when I was there which is a community service based scholarship I love the organization because
20:20it stresses achievement in every endeavor and my frat brothers push me every day to achieve my goals
20:30that's what it's about it's about paying it forward and it's about how you can be an agent of change
20:36and doing something meaningful to move the needle in all respective areas so you know how the greeks do
20:44it on the yard baby that's just a little example of how it goes down in the HBCU homecoming but
20:48right now we're going to keep that energy moving hot tilt with another performance from Jonathan McReynolds
21:02hey you i haven't seen those eyes for quite some time it's been a while and there's something
21:12different than mine too they've seen so many places different faces complications but there's something still beautiful about you
21:27and what happened to what happened to the friendship we were so genuinely lost
21:40and there was so much tension we spent one time fighting than being in love
21:54and we were just victims of everyone's expectations
22:00and we were just victims of everyone's expectations
22:04fighting for the love
22:07fighting for young love but we were losing because of our communication
22:17there's still
22:45And maybe that hurt the friendship
22:50We were so genuinely
22:53But now there's so much tension
23:01We spend more time fighting than being in love
23:07Oh, we were just a victim
23:13Of everyone's expectation
23:17Fighting for young love
23:24But we were losing because of our communication
23:29Oh, our communication
23:31We were just a victim
23:35Of everyone's expectation
23:40And all those expectations
23:44We was fighting for
23:46Our love, but we were losing
23:48Because of poor communication
23:51We were so genuine
23:57Now we're so distant
24:00Poor communication
24:03But we were so in love
24:08Now we keep fighting
24:11Poor communication
24:15We're so genuine
24:19Hey
24:19You
24:20We're so enchanted
24:31And of course
24:35What must we have
24:36To hear
24:37Now we're so quiling
24:38And for
24:38To hear
24:38Hello, this is Keisha Knight Pulliam, and yay, welcome to Virtual Homecoming.
25:02We are going to make some delicious fried chicken wings with my spices, the Keisha's Kitchen
25:09Collection.
25:10It's going to be yummy.
25:16Welcome to my kitchen.
25:18It's really crazy because I've always loved cooking, and the kitchen has just always been
25:24the heart of our home growing up.
25:27And I realized that people just weren't, you know, at home.
25:31Everyone eats out, everyone orders food in, or what have you.
25:35And I decided to do my own spices because I realized a lot of people don't cook because
25:39they're like, I don't know what to put on chicken, or I don't know how to season my vegetables
25:43to make them taste good.
25:45So I made it really easy.
25:47My spices, I have a meat, a poultry, and an all-purpose, and I actually have some new spices that will
25:51be launching for the holidays.
25:54But it's just good, all-natural ingredients, and you really can't mess it up.
26:00Just don't burn it, and if you put this on it, you'll be fine.
26:03This is some good old vegetable oil.
26:06We don't want them swimming.
26:08However, we do want enough for them to kind of float a little bit.
26:18So as our oil heats up, we're going to season our chicken.
26:23Make sure you dry your chicken wings thoroughly because if they're kind of like wet and eh,
26:29the seasoning doesn't stick to them right, it just doesn't work out too well.
26:33We have about two pounds.
26:34We're just going to kind of make a layer like this because you want all of the seasoning
26:39to coat the chicken evenly.
26:41So I do my best to kind of do them in the layers so that when I sprinkle, it gets all sides.
26:46My secret is a little yellow mustard and some hot sauce.
26:52Oh, and this hot sauce top was not on.
26:54That was almost tragic.
26:56A little bit of pinch of salt.
26:59Not too much because we're going to layer the flavors.
27:02So a little bit definitely goes a long way.
27:05There we go.
27:06We got some pepper on there.
27:08We'll just start with a half a teaspoon just to give you some sort of reference.
27:12So we'll go a half a teaspoon.
27:15And then we'll just do a little baby bit of poultry.
27:18Keeping fourth teaspoon.
27:22A little sprinkle like this.
27:25Perfection.
27:29Mix it so that everything is everywhere.
27:33I'm sorry for y'all home because the chicken hasn't even hit the grease
27:37and it smells amazing in here.
27:39You can be generous.
27:44Mustard.
27:51And the thing about it is this hot sauce gets diluted with the mustard.
27:55So if you have little ones like I have little ones, it's not going to be too hot for them.
27:59I'm going to take off my rings and we're just going to get this in here.
28:07Oh yeah.
28:08Next, all we have to do is dredge it in flour and we're going to put it in the grease.
28:16I have a trick.
28:17If you get a Ziploc bag, you can put your flour in the Ziploc bag and kind of shake your
28:21wings and get them coated evenly.
28:23And it's the best way.
28:35Okay.
28:36So we have our chicken.
28:37It's flour.
28:38Now let's put it in the grease before it gets too hot.
28:41So also make sure to dry your hands even if you've washed them because if not, it'll get
28:47all cakey.
28:48So shake a little excess flour.
28:49There we go.
28:52And we don't want to crowd the pan.
28:56Turn it down a little bit.
29:05So this chicken is looking amazing.
29:11Choosing a historically black college was one of the best decisions that I've ever made.
29:16Um, I actually filmed on the campus of Spelman College when I was on the Cosby Show.
29:21I was about seven years old.
29:23And that's honestly when I fell in love.
29:25I saw all of these women who were just so beautiful and they looked like me walking around
29:30campus.
29:31Um, and when it came time to apply, my dad tried his best to get me to apply to Harvard
29:37and UVA and Yale and all of these schools.
29:39And I was like, nope, uh-uh, I'm going to Stelman.
29:43And I applied early decision and the rest is history.
29:47You want them nice and golden.
29:51Oh yeah.
29:53You don't want to fuss with it.
29:55So you kind of just let it do its thing.
29:57Tailgate at an HBCU is like a family reunion, a football game, concert, a block party, beer
30:09bash, that's what they were called when I was at Spelman, um, all wrapped into one.
30:13Um, when you run into whoever on the yard with your red cup in hand, it is, um, it's an
30:23experience like no other.
30:24And it's one of those things that's just magic.
30:27And you really can't understand it unless you experience an HBCU.
30:32So it looks like a couple of our pieces of chicken are about ready.
30:38So we're going to take our paper towel.
30:40Listen, all black families in America, you know, you have to drain your fried chicken
30:44on some paper towels.
30:45So we're going to keep this.
30:48This is how we do.
30:58So from here, depending on what you do, you can make a little lemon pepper seasoning.
31:03You can put some hot sauce on them.
31:05You can do all of the above.
31:07But these are the yummy chicken wings.
31:16This is the best part when you're the cook.
31:18You get to eat.
31:22And we have our Brussels, and we have our wings.
31:25And it is yummy.
31:30This is really the true tale.
31:31We've got to hear the crunch.
31:32Talked about this mustard.
31:33Listen when you bite into this chicken.
31:43This is a little hot sauce.
31:44That's perfect.
31:46So you guys go enjoy your virtual homecoming.
31:49And I'm going to enjoy these wings.
31:51Mm, mm, mm.
31:55That's good.
31:56Hi, my name is Sandrika Citizen.
32:03I'm a senior business entrepreneurship major from Houston, Texas.
32:07And I serve as the 2019-2020 Miss Norfolk State University.
32:11The HBCU experience is black excellence in its prime.
32:18It's coming to a university where there's true history because it connects you all together,
32:24all HBCUs across the country, and you find pride in it.
32:27I see homecoming and the community intersecting the day of the game.
32:41We have a parade for the community early that morning at 8 a.m.
32:45And it's just like a time where we all get together
32:47and really just celebrate how the university contributes to the community.
32:51And we just have a good time, and everybody's happy to see each other,
32:54and happy to see what's been going on throughout the year.
32:56The favorite part about the football game for me is halftime.
33:08The Spartan Legion comes out on the field, and then we have Hot Ice,
33:11which is the best band and the best dancers in all of Virginia and across the country.
33:16Norfolk State has changed my life because I came here as a girl who kind of had an idea
33:33of what she wanted for her future.
33:34She just wanted greatness to, like, having a direction, having a family that isn't blood,
33:40that loves me so much and supports me so much, and I love them back,
33:43because that's what my university stands for.
33:45We have the shield and that's integrity and honesty and civility
33:49and making sure that you're out here doing what you need to do to be a global citizen
33:53and make a difference in the world and in your community.
33:55I personally feel like, at this moment, Black culture is the culture of today,
34:01and that's what we're here to do, exemplify what it means to be educated and Black.
34:05And me being in this position right now just continues to remind me that I made it here,
34:09and someone else can make it here, too.
34:11Yeah, yeah, big ups to Norfolk State University.
34:19I spent a lot of time there.
34:21Big ups to Sandrica Citizen, who graduated with a degree in business entrepreneurship.
34:26Congratulations.
34:28Now, the HBCU experience encourages our young people of color to excel within higher education.
34:34Remember, man, this is a big, big, big election year.
34:38We need to make sure that we're mobilized.
34:40We need to make sure that we're out there at the polls.
34:42It's less than two weeks away.
34:44And we need to make sure that all of our voices and our votes are heard.
34:48We can't have homecoming without sharing how important it is to stand up for our community
34:54and make sure we go out there to those polls.
34:56Take a look.
35:02Why is it important to vote?
35:04For years, before any of us were born, the shoulders that we stand on,
35:10uh, as African-American people who fought for their right to vote,
35:16fought for the right to be counted, who fought for the right to be seen.
35:20Um, and for us to just throw that vote away.
35:24I think right now, more than ever, uh, when people think that, uh, we don't count again,
35:31when people feel like, uh, we don't matter again, uh, to show how much we matter, our voices need to be heard.
35:39The one thing that you can do, you know, there's a lot of things you can't change.
35:44There's a lot of things you can't fix yourself, but the one thing that you can do is vote.
35:49Make sure that people know where your voice lands, but make sure that people understand where you,
35:53where you stand as a person, as a human, as, uh, as an American.
35:59It's important for the HBCU community to vote because you already love black people.
36:05You're given to an institution which has given us so much for so long.
36:11You're resourceful.
36:12Your families have worked very hard.
36:15You've made a dollar out of 15 cents, as we used to say, and you don't want to waste any of your power.
36:24Voting is a form of power.
36:26It's not the end all be all, but it's one of the ways we get to flex on our own behalf, for our own needs, for our own people.
36:34And it sits right up there with protesting and putting profit to good use and beyond.
36:39So claiming your right to vote and using it is claiming power that is well earned, that you are in a much better position to use than somebody who doesn't have your interest at heart.
36:52So it's important for HBCU community to vote because you've already demonstrated the commitment to the community.
36:58This is just the follow through.
37:09Unmute your opportunities.
37:25Unmute what you stand for.
37:27Unmute your dreams.
37:28Unmute your future.
37:29Unmute your voice.
37:30Register to vote.
37:31Visit rockthevote.org slash Pepsi.
37:39The HBCU experience is a gift.
37:45While you can go to any university and get a great education, it's the family and the relationships and the security that you feel when you're here that's so important.
37:54And I wish everybody could have that gift.
37:57To see people like us striving for greatness, just striving to make a difference in their life, trying to get a degree, trying to set their self apart, put their self ahead, that just matters to see them.
38:08One thing that Hampton has taught me that I always take with me is to let my life do the singing.
38:15It's a part of our song and it always rings true no matter where I am.
38:20If I'm having a hard time, I have to remember that my life and how I live and the example that I lead is what's most important.
38:28And so I always keep in the back of my mind, just keep singing.
38:36My favorite part about homecoming is that it actually feels like a family reunion.
38:41To be able to come back year after year, I've never missed a year because it's so important to be able to just see all of those friendly faces, the famous Hampton hugs, I live for them.
39:00So homecoming is just really a family reunion.
39:04All the alumni, parents, everybody's just here.
39:07And it just feels like a cookout, like a home cookout.
39:10Everybody's vibing, it's music, good food, and of course the football game.
39:15Hampton has taught me to be a business woman above all to hold myself accountable for everything that I do.
39:26And the environment here is just based on excellence and I just want to be excellent in everything I do because that's something that I embody.
39:33And I just carry that with me all the time.
39:35I believe that you have to be the change you want to see.
39:40And so I can't wait another minute because tomorrow could be too late.
39:44What drives me most is progression of the black community.
39:50I know that we've come a long way, but we still have so far to go.
39:53It's all about us sticking together and supporting one another and knowing that we're stronger together.
40:08That was another one of our She Got Now honorees doing incredible things.
40:12And if you want to get more information, use the hashtag hashtag She Got Now to find out about the She Got Now initiative and how it champions our young women.
40:22It's an amazing program. Make sure you check it out.
40:25Also, if you're a college junior or you know a college junior, there's some amazing opportunities, some internships.
40:31Go to Essence.com before the 26th of October or you can click the link on the page for more information on that.
40:39All right. Let's get back to it. You know homecoming is all about the community and giving back.
40:44So here's some well wishes from some faces you might know.
40:47We have a phrase that we use to call to Aggies wherever we may be.
40:54And it's referred and it's said affectionately and deep, right?
41:00Hi, my name is Maria Rogers and I'm so happy to be a part of this experience with you guys.
41:06I am a graduate of HBCU. I am alumni of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
41:13I would just like to shout out the illustrious Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, 1887.
41:26If you want to tell me what you know about the Jackson State University.
41:321400 J. Ireland Street. That's me. Ay, that's me.
41:37Shout out to Jackson State University Tigers.
41:43I came of age during the, you know, the time of a different world.
41:50And it had a profound impact on me and nearly everyone I know who was at a historical life college during that time.
41:57And we were all trying to figure out if we were going to be Whitney or Jaleesa or we were going to meet Dwayne or any of these people.
42:04And it really brought to our attention the ways in which you could have this really special racial experience
42:11that you couldn't get other places.
42:14You can't hide that Spartan pride.
42:16Behold the green and gold.
42:20Hey, everybody.
42:27I'm actress Mara Hall.
42:30You see me on ABC's Grace Madden, Scandal, and currently at Darcia Lancaster on Ambitions.
42:39I am proud of the HBCU graduate of Jackson State University.
42:49I have the most amazing time.
42:54When I came here, when I came to Columbia, South Carolina from Florida, I was not going to college.
42:59I was riding with a friend whose family decided to bring me along because I was sleeping on their couch that week.
43:06And I got a whole college experience because of Benedict College.
43:11And they took a chance on me.
43:13And so, forever in my life, I will promote HBCUs.
43:17Forever in my life will I tell people that if you come from a low-income area or an area that's very wealthy,
43:25you are not going to ever find an experience quite like an HBCU.
43:29It just feels like me.
43:30When you go to HBCU, you have an extended family.
43:33When you go across the world, any city, any state, and there's someone else from an HBCU, it's like you're just meeting family.
43:42I think trying to figure out what makes Norfolk State homecoming like the greatest one of the planets.
43:49I just do.
43:50Hands down, I just believe it's the greatest.
43:52People might tell me differently, but I absolutely believe Norfolk State is the greatest homecoming.
43:56But to try and figure out exactly what it is, I think is almost like saying,
44:01okay, I'm drinking a Pepsi or something.
44:04I'm saying, okay, what's the greatest ingredient inside Pepsi?
44:07No, it's no one greatest ingredient. It's like everything that comes together to make it the greatest experience.
44:12And to all of my people over at Howard, H-U, you know.
44:17All the HBCUs out there, I love y'all. I'm just waiting for one of y'all to invite me to homecoming.
44:26Those are just a few shout outs for some familiar faces.
44:30Man, it feels so good to be a part of a prestigious group of college graduates that had the honor and privilege to attend an HBCU.
44:38It's just nothing like it.
44:39My time at North Carolina A&T State University changed my life for the better.
44:44They gave me opportunities. They gave me lifelong friends and a foundation that I still use to this day.
44:51So thank you to A&T and thank you to all the HBCUs out there.
44:55All right, now it's time for our fourth and final 2019 She Got Now honoree.
45:01I want you guys to take a look at Kayla Thompson.
45:05I'm Kayla Thompson. I am a junior psychology major from Cleveland, Ohio, and I currently attend Howard University.
45:16And I proudly serve on the Howard University Royal Court as Miss College of Arts and Sciences.
45:21It's really been an amazing experience just being surrounded by so many people of color who are so excellent in so many different things.
45:30I mean, I literally go to school with the best and the brightest and it motivates me every day to be the best and the brightest.
45:37In every class that I have, there's always a big emphasis on black scientists who have really laid the framework and allowed us to be here today.
45:44So I think it's really important to know your history and know where you came from and how it really provides us with that.
45:49My most cherished memory at Howard? Definitely.
45:52When I was with the Howard Gospel Choir, we sang at the wharf, so that's like right on the water.
45:56And then at the end of the concert, fireworks went off and it was just a really beautiful moment.
46:01The HBCU experience is just being submerged in your culture and loving every second of it.
46:06And then also being surrounded by people who are just so excellent, but they also look like you, which makes it all the more amazing.
46:13My favorite part about homecoming is Yard Fest.
46:16So that is a big concert on the yard. There's vendors, there's food, all the alumni are there and it's just really great.
46:24My purpose is to leave light everywhere that I go and to always just inspire people to be their best selves, but also to be true to themselves.
46:33I think it's really important just to be genuine. And I think that that's when you find the greatest success.
46:38One thing that Howard has taught me that will always stay with me is that everyone can be great and that there's a seat at the table for everyone.
46:45One thing that I kind of lost sight of when I got here, just being surrounded by everyone who was just so amazing was that, you know, everybody is great and there's a place for everyone.
46:54You just have to find it.
46:55That was a look at our final 2019 She Got Now honoree, Howard University's own Kayla Thompson.
47:07Congratulations once again to all of the She Got Now honorees and to learn more about how to apply for PepsiCo sales management and supply chain internships.
47:16All you got to do is go to Essence.com before October 26th or click the link on the live show screen for more information.
47:23Man, this has been a great day. The virtual homecoming season is definitely underway.
47:28Remember to stay safe so we can get back to action at the HBCU homecomings in real life next year.
47:34We want to thank you for hanging out, Essence, PepsiCo and you.
47:38My name is Terence J. I look forward to seeing y'all on the yard. Peace.
47:43Good afternoon. On behalf of PepsiCo North America Beverages, South Division,
47:48we want to thank you for tuning in to this special two day event, She Got Now 2020 Virtual HBCU Homecoming.
47:56While our celebration looked a little different this year, we still partied with a purpose and recognized 16 incredible She Got Now honorees.
48:05We want to thank our participating and partnering HBCUs for standing with us and showing us Black excellence at its finest.
48:14Thank you to Hampton University, Norfolk State University, Benedict College, Florida A&M University, University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff, Jackson State University,
48:28Prairie View University, Prairie View A&M University, and of course my alma mater, North Carolina A&T State University.
48:36And a special thanks to our performers and guests, Monica, Jonathan McReynolds, Doe, Sarah Jakes Roberts, Keisha Knight Pulliam, Bartunde, Mario, DJ Envy, Math Wilds, Dougie Fresh and his amazing crew.
48:57And last, but certainly not least, my fellow A&T alum, Terence Jay, for being an incredible host, and he always shows his HBCU love.
49:08We at Pepsi earned a mission to celebrate and educate our community. For more information, visit Essence.com slash She Got Now to learn more about our incredible She Got Now honorees, our 2021 internship program,
49:25to catch up on content you might have missed, and more. And don't forget, please use your voice and vote. Thank you all and take care.
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