At separate events held the week of April 2, the Tuskegee University student body selected its new reigning Miss and Mister Tuskegee University and their attendants for the 2018-19 school year.
On April 5, the university crowned Courtney Alexis Landrum, a junior from Greenville, Alabama, majoring in occupational therapy, as its 89th Miss Tuskegee University. She succeeds Jessica Lillian Dedeaux of Wiggins, Mississippi, who graduates this spring with a degree in aerospace engineering.
She is the daughter of Angela and Earnest Hill, and Michael Landrum. Landrum has served through many different campus clubs and organizations, including Miss Freshman 2015-2016, new student orientation leader, and co-president of Inspirational Girls, as well as a member of the President’s Men and Women’s Leadership Program and Tuskegee University Ambassadors.
“I truly believe that you can have a dream, goal or idea, but the grind and hustle are sold separately — meaning it takes hard work to truly see things come to fruition,” Landrum said.
Upon graduation, she plans to pursue a doctorate in occupational therapy at the University of Alabama Birmingham and eventually open her own private practices in rural communities.
On April 3, the university named Tyrin Kirkland, a junior from Birmingham, Alabama, majoring in finance and accounting as its 21st Mister Tuskegee. He succeeds Jalen Law of Robertsdale, Alabama, who graduates this spring with a degree in nutritional science.
Kirkland is the son of Cedric Kirkland and Yolanda Nance. While a student at Tuskegee, he has served as Mister Rockefeller Hall and as a member of several campus organizations, including the Tuskegee University Ambassadors, the Honors Program, President’s Men and Women’s Leadership Program and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.
“We should aspire to inspire before we expire,” Kirkland said, noting he strongly believes in the importance of volunteering, hard work, and diligence; empowering African-Americans; and working together for collective achievement.
Upon graduation, Kirkland plans to pursue a career in public accountancy, eventually owning his own finance and accounting firm.
Both Miss and Mister Tuskegee University have attendants that combine to form the Royal Court. Miss Tuskegee University’s first attendant is Shyla Hutchinson, a junior from Alexander City, Alabama, who is majoring in mechanical engineering. Her second attendant is Briann Ryce, a junior from Huntsville, Alabama, majoring in sales and marketing and finance.
Mister Tuskegee’s first attendant is Barry Wayne Howard II, a junior from Madison, Mississippi, majoring in English. His second attendant is Gerald Martin Young II, a junior from Little Rock, Arkansas, majoring in psychology.
The Miss and Mister Tuskegee University titles date back to 1925 and 1999, respectively. In their roles, students selected to hold these titles serve alongside other Student Government Association officers and student leaders as representatives of the student body. Each frequently participates in recruitment events, formal convocations and other programs as on- and off-campus university ambassadors, and serves under the auspices of the university’s Office of Student Life and Development.
Videos of the Miss Tuskegee University pageant and Mister Tuskegee University pageant are available online.
