Fly Jock Tom Joyner Nets Rust College $208,000

An urban radio show host's fundraising efforts for historically black colleges has led to more than $300,000 for Rust College.

Tom Joyner

As a result, needy students at the Holly Springs, Miss., school have received from $1,500 to $5,000, and two more were awarded laptop computers, said Rust Vice President Ishmell Edwards.

Tom Joyner, host of "The Tom Joyner Morning Show," heard across the country by nearly 5 million listeners each week, selected Rust as the Tom Joyner Foundation School of the Month for July.

Edwards said Joyner's fundraising campaign raised $208,000 over the month.

"An additional $100,000 was raised from Rust faculty, staff, students and alumni, which brings the total to $308,000," Edwards said.

The money goes toward scholarships for students "that are less fortunate," he said.

The foundation selected 50 Rust students for the scholarship. Not all of the money has been awarded, Edwards said.

Angella 'Angee' Watson, a student at Rust College, writes for The Rustorian.

Posted Nov. 12, 2004