A soloist sings with the choir of Haynes Chapel Baptist Church at Wednesday night's Black History Month program at UAHT's Hempstead Hall.

A program for Black History Month was held in University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana's Hempstead Hall Ozan Room Wednesday night.

Sponsored by UAHT's Student Government Association and Multicultural Club, the event featured performances by the Haynes Chapel Baptist Church, a motivating speech by Sean Penix, Waldo and Fort Smith native, former walk-on football Razorback and current Senior Director of Legends Global Sales, and a National Panhellenic Step Show Performance.

Penix's speech, in keeping with the evening's theme of "Paying It Forward" was comprised of a describing a road map he had benefited from following in his career and family life, the most important signposts are to not skip steps in personal development or in projects, keep consistently following your plan, plan to leave a legacy, build your network and pray your way forward.

Dinner was served, consisting of an option of roasted chicken or chicken spaghetti, collard greens, macaroni and cheese and cornbread. Desserts of pound cake were also available.

Magigor Love, President and Texarkana Alumnae of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, spoke of the role of black fraternities and sororities in American history as crucial service organizations and networking opportunities for black students from the 1920s forward.

At the end of the evening, students from the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity performed an inspired Step Show.