My favorite Bible verse in 1979 when I entered Cheyney State Teacher’s College is the same one I have been living by for the last 35-plus years - Luke 12:48, “To whom much is given, much is required.”
When I graduated from Neptune High School in New Jersey in 1979, I was accepted to Rider College, Stockton State and Monmouth College, all in New Jersey.
I paid each college a visit and none of the history of those colleges made me say, “Wow.”
I was the first, and only, son out of five boys of an Army Sgt. Fred Jones Jr., to attend college.
I wanted to attend a college where I could be the first. Where I could learn about the firsts and give back wherever, whenever and to whom ever.
I came to visit Cheyney on my own and since it was out of state, my parents knew the responsibilities I had to undertake when I made my decision.
I chose "The First HBCU" to get a business degree from and start my career. I always had the support from my mother, Marie E. Jones, who will be turning 90 this year, and my sister, Saundra Cuthbert.
My mother instilled in us that whatever we did, give 100 percent, and that, I did.
When I entered Cheyney, I got involved:
Freshman class vice president; DJ and program director at WCSR Radio Station; DEX Business Club vice president; founder of the Cheyney Rollers skating club; Sophisticated Gents; senior class treasurer; MIAKA; intramural sports; and graduate assistant for one year.
I marched on Washington to save HBCUs and marched on Harrisburg to save Cheyney.
After graduating, I continued to participate in the social needs of others by pledging Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and starting an organization in Harrisburg to mentor young men called the Gentlemen of EM.
After spending three years in retail management, I decided to make a career change to help and keep informed about the medical needs of the world by entering the field of pharmaceuticals sales where I have spent the last 28 years.
Keeping Cheyney in the forefront, I was the president of the alumni chapter in Atlanta for five years and, for the last three years, have been serving as the chapter vice president.
The Metro Atlanta Cheyney University Alumni Chapter participates in a lot of southern college fairs trying to recruit students to head north and enroll at Cheyney.
We even recruited my son, Troy Jones, who graduated in 2013, exactly 30 years after I did.
Cheyney University helped guide my mission in life to give and help others.
As founder of NAPPR, the National Association of Professional Pharmaceuticals Representatives, I educate others about careers in the pharmaceutical industry.
As a result, I have assisted over 250 people get their career started in pharmaceutical sales. For the last 20 years, NAPPR has hosted a bowl-a-thon to raise money to cure Sickle Cell, which the Metro Atlanta Cheyney Alumni Chapter has supported.
Also, as a basketball coach for the last 20 years I have helped student athletes maintain good GPAs and gain college scholarships.
Thanks to the state of Pennsylvania for keeping Cheyney - the first and only HBCU in the Pennsylvania State System – alive.
Thanks Cheyney for my awesome education and for my son, Troy’s education.
I am proud to say that he has started his career with the Police Athletic League, as a youth pastor in New York City, and is happily married with his first child on the way.
Thank God for Cheyney.
