Up ’til Dawn celebrates final event

The community service project of Miss Southern University, “Up ’til Dawn,” held its Letter Writing Party and Finale Event on Friday, April 13 in Clifford T. Seymour Hall from 9 p.m. until 2 a.m.
The community service project given to Miss Southern has been constitutionally upheld since 2004 when former Miss Southern, Enitra Jones, contacted the St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital for ways to help.
From then on, the “Up ’til Dawn” program was created where students, individually or with teams, write letters to solicit contributions.
Southern University is the first Historically Black College or University to host the program.
In a Hollywood themed “Walk the Red Carpet While Staying Up to Dawn,” the Up ’til Dawn” executive committee said they wanted to make sure the letter campaign and finale would be one to remember by placing red carpet walkways, velvet ropes and lights throughout the gym.
Lindsay Allen, a senior psychology major from Alexandria and member of the executive board, said by combining the two events, turnout would increase.
“The finale is out big ‘thank you’ to students,” she said. “But with campaigning and everything going on, we’d get a bigger turnout of students. We’re expecting about 200 people to come out tonight.”
A special guest, patient Hayley of St. Francisville, attended the event as well. Hayley, a 15-year-old osteosarcoma patient, was diagnosed with the disease five years ago at the age of 10.
A type of bone cancer most common in children, osteosarcoma occurs most often in the bones on either side of the knee and in the upper arm.
“I’m here for support,” she said, describing 10 rounds of chemotherapy within a year and her most recent major surgery in January.
“That’s why she’s in those crutches-she’s still recovering,” her mother said.
The reigning Miss Southern, Shakeila Sweazie, said she holds this program close to her heart.
“It’s very important to give back. One thing the next Miss Southern needs to know that once your reign begins, you hit the ground running,” she said. “Begin early. Begin today. It isn’t as easy as you think, and time just slips by. But, it’s an honor to have served St. Jude’s Children Hospital.”