STARKVILLE —Weir native and 1980 Miss America, Cheryl Prewitt Salem was among several alumni honored by Mississippi State University.
Co-founder of Salem Family Ministries, Salem graduated from MSU in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree in music education and later received an honorary Doctor of Divinity from Heritage University and Seminary.
A native of Choctaw County, Salem represented her alma mater as Miss MSU at the Miss Mississippi pageant during her junior year, where she was named first runner up. In 1980, she walked the stage once again to become Miss America, and has since used her distinction as a springboard to launch the gospel into churches, women’s conferences and television appearances.
She has recorded numerous worship music projects from prophetic books of the Bible, lullabies, instrumentals, prophetic intercession and worship CDs. Together with her husband Harry, Salem has written over 40 books. She also is the founder and president of her own production company, C.P. Annie Productions, as well as Women of The Nation
MSU also recognized Albert C. Clark of Starkville, as its National Alumnus of the Year during the Friday [May 19] MSU Alumni Association 2023 awards banquet.
Others included 2023 MSU alumni-of-the-year group includes (by college):
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Jeff Tarsi of Collierville, Tennessee; College of Architecture, Art and Design, Anne Marie Duvall Decker of Jackson;College of Arts and Sciences
Gus Colvin Jr. of Alexandria, Alabama; College of Business Cynthia Anne Tucker of Houston, Texas; James Worth Bagley College of Engineering, Anthony L. Wilson of Gulfport; College of Engineering, College of Forest Resources, Lee Temple Jr. of Madison; College of Veterinary Medicine, Victoria Hall of Saint Paul, Minnesota. Albert C. Clark of Starkville was named the 2023 MSU Alumnus of the Year.
