By: Kelley Traynham (’20), Staff Writer
Pictured (L-R): Aaron Epps ’18, Myra Parker ’19, Alton Peques ’19, and Micheline Amisi ’18 (Photo credit: Haley Frace ’20)
Homecoming 2018 would be a memorable yet exciting time for students, alumni, faculty and the entire Carolina community again with African-American candidates running for the title of Mr. and Miss UNC. Many would say “its DHOE season” commencing all the fun festivities or “Wreck the Tech” in support of our football team. Each year Carolina looks to crown a new Mr. and Miss UNC, who epitomize leadership, scholarship, and service- the pillars of the Carolina Way. Mr. and Miss UNC create and complete a service project that is based on their election platform to enact change in our community. Historically, Mr. and Miss UNC have typically been white Americans but a new standard has been set recently. As the crowd anticipated this year’s winners we would be overjoyed and excited when Myra Parker and Alton Peques were named Mr. and Miss UNC showcasing B(l)ack to B(l)ack excellence. Amazingly, ALL candidates in this race are outstanding individuals with platforms that matter and should be implemented. They exemplify how UNC only gets better if students see the need and intended to make a change.
I would like to introduce Myra and Alton and discuss their experience through this entire process of running for Mr. and Miss UNC. We congratulate Myra and Alton on this accomplishment and wish them the best in future endeavors. Parts of our interview have been omitted for brevity, but the full transcription will be available using this link.
Myra Parker is a senior transfer student hailing from the FIRST capital of North Carolina, New Bern N.C. Myra is double majoring in Communication Studies (Performance Studies concentration) and Linguistics. She also has a minor in Speech and Hearing Sciences. Myra transferred from Craven Community College (CCC) through the Carolina Students Transfer Excellence Program (C-STEP) August 2016. Through C-STEP Myra graduated from CCC with honors, earning her Associate degree in Art. Here at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Myra has served as an after-school educator and special events assistant at the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, and an Orientation Leader for 2 years. In those same two years, Myra has been a member of the Black Student Movement (BSM), and UNC Gospel Choir and Praise team (2016-2017). Last academic year, she served as the Vice President of the National Student Speech Language and Hearing association undergraduate chapter, and she was inducted in the National Residence Hall Honor due to my dedication, and expression of leadership, service, and a passion for recognition. Most recently, Myra had been awarded Dean’s List, joined Carolina Housing as a Resident Advisor in a Discovermore community, and became a UNC Health Care volunteer in the Children’s Specialty Clinic.
Alton Peques is a senior from Charlotte, NC studying Advertising and Entrepreneurship. While at UNC Alton served as the Treasurer, Vice President and Senior Advisor of The Black Student Movement, Chief Justice of the UNC Student Supreme Court, Treasurer and President of The National Pan-Hellenic Council and Treasurer and Communications Coordinator of The Mu Zeta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Alton was born in Sanford, NC and moved to Charlotte at the age of 1. He is a first-generation college student and a Carolina Covenant Scholar and Carolina Millennial Scholar. While at UNC Alton founded Peques + Company which is a creative agency providing services to student organizations, small businesses, and entrepreneurs.
- What prompted you to run for Mr. UNC/ Miss UNC?
MP: I was inspired by the previous queen Danielle Nicholson (Miss UNC 2016) and Micheline Amisi (Miss UNC 2017). I was able to watch Micheline’s campaign process and her service project grow and positively affect students on our campus and she is continuing to soar using her service project to better this world. I also felt that in my short time a Carolina I have embodied scholarship, leadership, and service so I mentioned running for Miss UNC to my friends, and their responses were “You know you can do this right?” “And you can win!” so I went to the interest meeting to hear more about what all was involved in the process and I committed to it. My friend’s unwavering support and my passion for my service project helped encourage me to keep working hard.
AP: Being pretty close to the most recent Mr. and Ms. UNC initially exposed me to the title. Working closely with Micheline Amisi during her campaign and helping to execute her platform showcased to me the value in being able to represent the UNC community as Mr. and Ms. UNC. From that experience, I was inspired to run and to represent Carolina while utilizing the platform to generate positive change.
- How important is it that minorities are represented on this campus especially running for two prominent positions like Mr. UNC/ Miss UNC?
MP: It is very important for students who are not minorities, for the minority students and people of color admitted to Carolina after us. I say representation is important for people of color ourselves because we are people with legitimate stories, dreams, goals, and aspirations. Being able to see yourself represented in people you share an identity within such unique and powerful positions of leadership, and spread throughout numerous places and spaces…is important for our own self-esteem, especially black people as we still very much ostracized in society. It is important for those who are not minorities to see, hear, and understand our stories as we have had to learn about theirs for centuries, and minorities are just as important as they are. Lastly, to have representation for incoming students of color is important because they can find a community, role model, or confidant that can help support and encourage them….”
AP: I believe underrepresented students at UNC help to drive campus change and play a huge role in making Carolina the university that it is. That being said I think it is important that students from these backgrounds are given the opportunity to represent their university community as Ms. and/or Mr. UNC. The title exemplifies students who have demonstrated exemplary scholarship and leadership in the campus community. Many students from underrepresented backgrounds are doing just that by helping to build community, empower students, and support the local community all while excelling academically. That story is not often told. The race for Ms. and Mr. UNC is one opportunity to showcase that greatness to the larger Carolina community.
- What advice can you give to others who are inspired to run for positions like this but don’t have the courage to do so?
MP: Go for it! The only way to fail is if you don’t try at all. Most the time, as I just did people only tell you about the worst that could happen if you don’t get the position or if you don’t win, but we never talk about the “best” that could happen. Ideally winning is the “best” possible outcome, however often times there are so many connects and relationships that can be made by getting out of your comfort zone and launching into your stretch zone regardless of the win. Some of my favorite memories from homecoming weekend was making connections at the Black Alumni Reunion (BAR) brunch and hearing their stories. One of the quotes that have become one of my favorites throughout this campaign and figuring life out during senior year, while preparing for life after graduation is “If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough.”- Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
AP: If you want something, go for it. You never know what you’re capable of until you try. Think about your greater purpose. Often times you can find the courage to pursue opportunities that seem lofty when a cause greater than yourself serves as your motivation. Also, talk to people that have done it before. This can be helpful in dispelling or confirming any worries that you may have.
- Looking back on your whole college experience did you ever think this achievement would become a part of your heelprint?
MP: No, not at all. My Carolina story as a Carolina Student Transfer Excellence Program (C-STEP) student and my life experiences up until Carolina do not correlate with the reality that I am living. I have woken up for the past 3 years like “Girl, you really did it, you worked hard and have taken advantage of every opportunity.” Carolina has its challenges but I am so grateful to be here, so to have to opportunity to represent the university on different levels and now as Miss UNC 2018 is wild. Every day it “settles” in, in a different way and I am forever grateful for this opportunity.
AP: When thinking about my heel print this achievement didn’t become a possible reality to me until my senior year. It wasn’t until spending a significant amount of time being involved at Carolina and learning more about the title that I began to think about it being a part of my experience. Moving on campus feels like yesterday. It’s been cool to see my experience at Carolina and Heelprint develop over time along with all the unexpected aspects of my journey.
