Tom Joyner, host of the nationally syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show, will speak at Livingstone College in Salisbury on Feb. 7, as part of the historically black college’s 140th anniversary celebration.
“The Hardest Working Man in Radio” will serve as the school’s keynote speaker during its Founder’s Day activities. Additionally, the Tom Joyner Foundation selected Livingstone as its School of the Month for February.
“Having Tom Joyner here adds an extra special touch to the occasion as we incorporate School of the Month and our milestone anniversary into the celebration, but particularly because he has chosen to spend part of his last year in radio with us,” said Livingstone President Dr. Jimmy R. Jenkins, Sr.
Joyner first visited the campus in 2007, when he gave the commencement speech at graduation. That year, Livingstone was also selected as February’s School of the Month. According to school officials, the partnership led to $700,000 in student scholarships within seven months.
The media icon — a 1970 graduate of Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, which later became Tuskegee University — is known for his philanthropic efforts in support of historically black colleges and universities.
He established the Tom Joyner Foundation in 1998 with a mission to support HBCUs through scholarships, endowments and capacity-building enhancements. The foundation has raised more than $65 million to help keep students enrolled in HBCUs and has assisted more than 29,000 students, including, most recently, students at Bennett College.
Joyner has an honorary degree from every HBCU in the continental U.S. and U.S. Virgin Islands.
Event details
Date: Thursday, Feb. 7
Time: 11 a.m.
Location: Varick Auditorium, Livingstone College, 701 W. Monroe St., Salisbury, NC
Cost: Free
Kallan Louis is a writer and consultant for qcitymetro.com. He does a lot, but never feels like he’s doing enough. His life can be described as a Venn Diagram: News media, Black culture and sports. He’s always on TV, but rarely seen.
