Clark Atlanta University - Panther Yearbook (Atlanta, GA)

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Many little girls dream of becoming a queen someday but as the years go by their energy turns into other accomplishments. Yet there are still some lit- tle girls whose dreams of becoming a queen turn into a reality. Tor one young lady, her dream became a reality that will be an accomplishment for the rest of her life. Her name is lllonka javette jenkins and she is Miss Clark College 1988- 1989. I would not trade being Miss Clark Col- lege for anything in the world. It is an experi- ence that I will cherish for a lifetime, noted lllonka with a smile on her face. She added that it is a honor to be selected by her class- mates to represent the school. lllonka is a 21 year-old native from La- Grange, Ga., majoring in middle grade edu- cation with a concentration in language arts and social studies. ”1 chose education be- cause I feel that it is important that we edu- cate Black children to their full potential. It is just as important for a student to learn how' to read and write as it is for him to be in tune with who he is and what direction he wants to go in, she stated with a firm voice. During her tenure as Miss Clark College, lllonka has a lot of plans. Topping her list is changing the image of her position. Miss Clark College is not just a Homecoming queen but a Black woman and a student with a lot of goals ahead of her, she ex- plained, while expressing that being a queen is not just a cosmetic position. She said a queen must be able to relate to people as well as not worry about looking her best everyday. I was a student before I was a queen now I am both, she explained. She describes her duties as Miss Clark as fun and exciting, lllonka and her court are busy getting ready for Homecoming and after Homecoming they will begin recruiting for the school. We are presently trying to start an adopt-a-child program that will con- sist of my court and I adopting a child in the John Hope Homes (housing project) for one month. During the adoption period we will take them out and expose them to the bet- ter things of life, she noted. John Hope Homes is a low-income hous- ing development located adjacent to Clark's campus. Being involved in school activities is noth- ing new to lllonka who has been an active member in several school activities. She is a member of the Student Government Associ- ation (SGA), Philharmonic Society, Inspira- tional Voices of Faith Gospel Choir, Kappa Delta Upsilon (I lonor Society), National As- sociation for the Advancement of Color People (NAAC and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. As a student ye should always keep your goals and priorities in ord however, everyone should get involved in some type activities because it helps balance your academics anc makes you a more versatile person, she stated. lllonka finds time in between her busy schedule toe the things she likes most. She enjoys reading, writr poetry, writing monologues, and working with peop- When I am happy it is because I am around people th make me happy, she noted. by Staci Beas1

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I I cV hen you think of an independent Black woman who is both outgo- ing and knowledgeable, who has served and represented her institution well and who is able to take on any obstacle put before her, you think of Elayna Rucker — First Attendant to Miss Clark College and Miss United Negro College Fund (UNCF) Ms. Rucker is a true Clarkite, during this year of history in the making at Clark with a new president and plans of consolidating with Atlanta University. Along with being a member of Miss Clark's court, she also holds the second highest queen title of the college Miss UNCF. When asked how she was chosen to hold the second most prominent title she ex- plained, Whichever class raises the most funds for UNCF, a queen is chosen from that class by the UNCF committee. I guess the committee felt that I was most dedicated to the cause. Ms. Rucker will represent Clark College at the 1989 National UNCF Convention in March at New Orleans. And, once again she will work diligently to raise money next se- mester when UNCF kicks off their annual ceremonies. Being on the court of Miss Clark is basi- cally what I expected and a whole lot more. It takes a lot of dedication, hard work and time management because we're trying to change the image of Miss Clark and her court, she explained. When asked how she and the court were going to change that image she stated, We participate in service projects and hold on and off campus activi- ties. This is something we are pursuing with both feet. It started in a small town — Griffin, Ga. A girl was born and she bloomed into a sweet popular and dedicated young lady. She is Verlinda McGlotha. In her high school days she participated in several organizations such as the National Honor Society, the Beta Club, the Math Club, the cheerleading squad and many more. Verlinda is a 21 year-old senior majoring in business administration with a concentration in finance. She says that her major requires a lot of hard work and managing time is essen- tial. 30