Alcorn State University hosted its 87th Honors Convocation on March 26.

A total of 459 President’s Scholars and 1,033 Dean’s Scholars were recognized across the spring and fall 2025 semesters.

Students who earned a 4.0 grade point average within a single semester received the President’s Scholar distinction, while those who earned a 3.5 to 3.99 GPA received the Dean’s Scholar distinction.

The convocation was hosted by the Myrlie Evers-Williams Honors Program, named for the civil rights activist and former NAACP board chair who attended Alcorn, where she met the late Medgar Evers.

Evers-Williams was appointed Alcorn scholar-in-residence in 2013. The interdisciplinary liberal arts program recruits intellectually curious and socially conscious scholars for a lifetime of justice advocacy and servant leadership.

Dr. Wandra Arrington, director of the Myrlie Evers-Williams Honors Program, presided over the convocation.

“This event motivates others to continue their academic pursuits,” Arrington said. “Keep working hard to achieve great things.” The days that you don’t feel like doing what you need to do, get up and do them anyway. Always keep your word so that you have it even if you don’t have anything else.”

Judge Deborah McDonald of the Mississippi Court of Appeals delivered the keynote address. McDonald represents District 2, Position 1.

“My advice to all students is to  persevere and don’t let anything stop you,” McDonald said. “No one is perfect and no one should expect to be perfect. The days that you don’t feel like doing what you need to do, get up and do them anyway. Always keep your word so that you have it even if you don’t have anything else.”

The Fayette, Mississippi, native was elected in 2018, and has served since 2019. Her current term continues through 2027.

McDonald earned a Bachelor of Arts in social science education graduating summa cum laude from Alcorn State University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law. During her time at Ole Miss Law, she served on the Moot Court Board.

She began her career as staff attorney, managing attorney and executive director over nine years with Southwest Mississippi Legal Services in McComb, Miss. In this role, she provided services to underserved communities across the region.

In 1991, McDonald entered private practice. where she served as lead counsel in landmark cases that expanded Black legislative representation in Mississippi.

McDonald served as municipal judge for the city of Fayette for 23 years, attorney for Jefferson County Hospital & Nursing Home for 24 years, city attorney for Port Gibson for nearly seven years and board attorney for Hazlehurst School District for three years.

Her bar admissions include all Mississippi state and federal courts, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court.

She received the Mississippi Association for Justice Women’s Caucus Lifetime Service Award in June 2025, recognizing 37 years of service in the legal field.

McDonald is a member of the Mississippi Bar Association and the Magnolia Bar Association and previously served on the board of the Mississippi Association for Justice. She is the mother of one son, Tahrik McClellan, and a member of East Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Lorman, Miss.

Dr. Sandra Barnes, associate provost for undergraduate education and student success,  also reflected on the occasion.

“Pursuing excellence is not just about grades; it’s a way of life,” Barnes said. “Students should continue to pursue excellence no matter what they do, no matter where they are.”

For a full list of President and Dean’s List Scholars, click here.