8 The Compass Wednesday, Decembers, 1992
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Looking resplendant in an African-styie crown, robes, beads, bracelets and a royal fan made of peacock feathers Jovnita Robinson ?it^ rpnallv on her thrown on Coronatioi'
night. Earlier in the evening Robinson was crowned Miss ECSU 1992-93 by outgoing queen. Tonya DeVaughn
A radiant Joynita is crowned Queen
By Yolanda Silver
"A
syournewqueenlaccqjt
this crown with great
pride and joy in my Uni
versity," declared a radiant Joynita
Robinson to the ECSU family, moments
after being aowned Miss Elizabeth City
State University, Oct. 24 in Williams HaU
gym.
"This crown only physically and offi
cially makes me a queen," Robinson con
tinued. "Because of my imique royal lin
eage in Africa, along with each of you
tonight, I was already a queen before I
received this crown."
Robinson's tribute to her African heri
tage was in keeping with the African
theme of this yeai^s coronation. Titled
"the Essence of Royalty," the program
celebrated African culture, customs and
styles. The Queen and her court wore
African clothes, along with many n>em-
bers of the audience.
Africanartwork and tapestries adorned
"You are radiant, ambitious and talented. You are our
Queen/'
the back^und of the queen's court, and
and African-style drums provided a
rhythmic accent to the festivities.
'Today the essence of royalty, which is
the beauty of Africa, has been brought by
many of us as we have not only wit
nessed, but participated in the story of
how we began to remember," said
Robinson.
During her acceptance speech,
Robin^n thanked her University family
for their "love, generousity and support."
Shegaveher parents. Dr. and Mrs. A.C.
Robinson, Jr. for special thanks: "I thank
you and I love you, for once again you
two are king and queen."
Eariier in the evening, Robinson en
tered the crowded gym bom aloft in a
throne, carried by young men in African
garb. Instead of the traditional crown,
Robinson received an African crown, to
match her Akwa Africa (African dre^),
along with coral beads, a royal fan made
of peacock feathers and the traditional
blue-colored cloak. She was crowned by
Miss Tonya DeVaughn, Miss ECSU for
1991-93, who took her final walk, smiling
and waving to the audience, while a pre
recorded speech played over the P A
system.
Robinson waslater presented withgifts
from each campus representatives, in-
cluding Mr. and Miss Junior Class, Miss
^s Ffell, Mr. and Miss ECSU Gospel
Choir,Mr.OmegaPsiPhi,andMissC^-
pass.
ft. Ebere Oriaku, an ECSU professor
and a native of Nigeria, perfonned a
traditional libation ceremony in
the new queen. The ceremony is
of prayer for blessing of the occasion
accordingto theprogramfortheeveniii
Members of the University family ]0i ^
the queen on stage and drank a toas
her honor.
The new queen was also hono
song and dance. Julius Goodnian
"She Walks a Beauty," as she ente^^
and, following the libation, the co
ensemble performed "Black is The
of My True Love's Hair." ^
ECSU Chancellor Dr.
praised Robinson, along with SG
dent Michael Myrick. . j
"It is my distinct honor to recoF,j
most dazzling queen," said
young lady who has demonstra
diligence and the poise and all th^^,
things that go to create the loveli
we are seeing tonight." , ^
"You are radiant, ambitious ,
ented,"saidMyrick."Youareourq«
Later, Chancellor Jenkins led ^ p