Middle Tennessee State University kicked off it’s celebration of National Women’s Month with a ceremony honoring poet Maya Angelou on Tuesday, March 3, 2015 in the James E. Walker Library.
The ceremony included students reciting Angelou’s poetry, a musical tribute by jazz vocalist Connye Florance, a performance by the MTSU Generation of Praise Choir and a balloon release for audience members to participate.
A crowd of about 40 people were at the event. Professors and students who were on the second, third and fourth floors of the library came to the ledges to listen to the singers and speakers.
Poems read include “Phenomenal Woman,” “I Know Why Caged Birds Sing,” “From the Pulse of the Morning” and “Still I Rise,” the latter being the inspiration behind the balloon release.
The balloon release was to signify forgiveness, a theme found in many of Angelou’s poems. Bea Perdue of the College of Behavioral & Health Sciences invited audience members to write the name of someone who they couldn’t forgive on a provided sheet of paper, tie it to a white balloon and let it go.
Barbara Scales of the June Anderson Center opens the National Women’s Month kickoff ceremony with a speech about Maya Angelou on Tuesday, March 3, 2015. (MTSU Sidelines/Samantha Hearn)
Crowd members take photographs and video at the kick off event for National Women’s Month at MTSU on Tuesday, March 3, 2015. (MTSU Sidelines/Samantha Hearn)
Jazz vocalist Connye Florance sings at the kick off event for National Women’s Month at MTSU on Tuesday, March 3, 2015. (MTSU Sidelines/Samantha Hearn)
A crowd of more than 30 people gather in the James E. Walker Library on Tuesday, March 3, 2015 in honor of the kick off event for National Women’s Month. (MTSU Sidelines/Samantha Hearn)
A crowd of more than 30 people gather in the James E. Walker Library on Tuesday, March 3, 2015 in honor of the kick off event for National Women’s Month. (MTSU Sidelines/Samantha Hearn)
The MTSU Generation of Praise Choir sing acapella at the kick off event for National Women’s Month at MTSU on Tuesday, March 3, 2015. (MTSU Sidelines/Samantha Hearn)
The MTSU Generation of Praise Choir sing acapella at the kick off event for National Women’s Month at MTSU on Tuesday, March 3, 2015. (MTSU Sidelines/Samantha Hearn)
Students and faculty prepare to release balloons representing forgiveness on Tuesday, March 3, 2015. The balloon release was part of the kick off event for National Women’s Month. (MTSU Sidelines/Samantha Hearn)
Students and faculty prepare to release balloons representing forgiveness on Tuesday, March 3, 2015. The balloon release was part of the kick off event for National Women’s Month. (MTSU Sidelines/Samantha Hearn)
Students and faculty prepare to release balloons representing forgiveness on Tuesday, March 3, 2015. The balloon release was part of the kick off event for National Women’s Month. (MTSU Sidelines/Samantha Hearn)
A balloon representing forgiveness floats in front of the James E. Walker Library at MTSU on Tuesday, March 3, 2015. The balloon release was part of the kick off event honoring National Women’s Month and Maya Angelou. (MTSU Sidelines/Samantha Hearn)
Balloons representing forgiveness float in front of the James E. Walker Library at MTSU on Tuesday, March 3, 2015. The balloon release was part of the kick off event honoring National Women’s Month and Maya Angelou. (MTSU Sidelines/Samantha Hearn)
Barbara Scales of the June Anderson Center distributes balloons to students to signify forgiveness in honor of National Women’s Month on Tuesday, March 3, 2015 at MTSU. (MTSU Sidelines/Samantha Hearn)
MTSU Generation of Praise Choir member Rodrock Tennial releases balloons in honor of National Women’s Month on Tuesday, March 3, 2015. (MTSU Sidelines/Samantha Hearn)
