Jatoi Cooper, Kentucky State University- c/o 2020, Physical Education
Name : Jatoi Cooper
HBCU : Kentucky State University
Graduation Year : 2020
Major : Physical Education
Email : jatoi.cooper@yahoo.com
Where are you from? Who introduced you to HBCUs?*
I am from Detroit, Michigan. I was actually introduced to HBCU’s when I was able to go on a Black College tour in 8th grade.
We visited Meharry Medical College, Fisk University, Tennessee State, & what was then my future HBCU, Kentucky State University.
Why did you choose an HBCU over a pwi?*
I chose an HBCU over a PWI because I knew that I wouldn’t get the experience I desired at the latter. I knew if I came to a HBCU that I would gain an undeniable family and be able to blossom around people who look just like me.
I knew I would be safe and that I would always feel at home. I also chose an HBCU because of the band! I was grateful to get a chance to be a part of the Mighty Marching Thorobreds.
What is the story of your "experience" at Your HBCU given its heralded status as a stellar and prestigious institution?*
To say my experience at Kentucky State was great is an understatement.
From the time I stepped foot onto the campus, I knew that I had made the best decision of my life. Being a first generation college student, I was nervous being on my own, yet excited to start a new journey. Kentucky State provided me with the proper tools to succeed from day 1.
I always felt at home wherever I went on campus, whether that be the Academic Services Building, the cafe or just stopping in to see my favorite advisors in Exum gym. My HBCU prepared me to succeed and go beyond the stars. Being a minority, it is already expected that we will fail.
However, Kentucky State truly showed me that you can move ONWARD, UPWARD, & FORWARD.
"First time" experiences at your HBCU?*
One of my biggest first time experiences at my HBCU was being able to march in the band on a professional football field.
My freshman year of 2016, Kentucky State University attended the Circle City Classic. It was held in Indianapolis, Indiana in the legendary Colts stadium. It was amazing to be able to actually be in the dome and march on an NFL team’s field.
We won that year and the crowd went wild. It’s honestly something I’ll never forget.
Who are the professors that have impacted your life in and out of the classroom? How did they do that?*
There is one professor who truly impacted my life in and out of the classroom (or band room I should say). His name is Alvin Level and he is the Director of Bands.
From the time he recruited me into the band until I graduated, he was always there for me. He was really like the father that I never had. He showed me that there was more in me than I knew. As a freshman, I would feel that he was picking on me but now I am forever grateful that he saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself.
He helped me mature into the woman I am today and I will forever admire him for that! Whether that was staying on top of me when I missed too much class or my midterms grade didn’t look too good, he didn’t hesitate to get me back on track. I will forever be thankful for that.
What are the chants heard most often at the sporting events?
This one has always been a crowd favorite, “K! Here we go, here we go! S! Come on, come on! U! Keep it going, keep it going! K! S! U! We rock this house! Whoooo! We rock this house! Whooooo! We rock this house! Whoooo! K! S! U!”
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Kentucky State University
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Students: 2,159
Under Graduates: 2,025
Post Graduates: 134 - Athletics: Kentucky State University competes as a member of the Division II Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, and indoor and outdoor track and field; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field, softball and volleyball.
- Notable Alumni: Yingluck Shinawatra - 1991 - The 28th and first female Prime Minister of Thailand** Moneta Sleet Jr. - 1947 - Photographer for Ebony, won a Pulitzer Prize for his picture of Coretta Scott King at the funeral of Martin Luther King, Jr.** Davey 'Wiz' Whitney - 1953 - Former head basketball coach at Texas Southern University and Alcorn State University. One of the winningest coaches in HBCU basketball. Inducted into National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame** Whitney M. Young Jr. - 1941 - Former civil rights leader, educator and executive; former Executive Director who led the National Urban League through its most prosperous period; served many presidential commissions including as a Vietnam elections observer in 1967**
- Click here to view on Wikipedia