Students, faculty, friends and families filled the Ralph David Abernathy Hall Auditorium as the student body formally installed David Whitlow Jr. as the 66th Student Body President on Wednesday, Sept. 4 for the 2019-20 academic year.

Instead of the traditional inaugural address, Whitlow referred to his speech as a “thank you letter” in which he acknowledged and thanked the individuals and establishments that played a prominent role in his life and his successes.

He thanked the city of Montgomery for allowing him the opportunity to not become another statistic.

“Thank you for the lessons you taught me, and to Montgomery, I say thank you,” he said.

Whitlow thanked the sport of football and his coaches for teaching him life lessons and discipline.

“To the game I love so much… football … It is because of you that I will never take no for an answer, not being rebellious, but always finding a way to get it done,” Whitlow explained the impact that football had over his life.

To the university, affectionately known as Ole Mother Dear, Whitlow said “thank you” for giving him the opportunity to do something that many people thought to be impossible.
“Thank you for allowing me to do what many people in America think is the hardest thing to do… and that is to earn a degree.”

During his freshman year of college, his grade point average fell below a 2.0, but he was given the opportunity to do better, which resulted in him ultimately becoming student body president.

Whitlow was also greeted with kind words from the student body presidents of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) Richard Moicette, Micah Grey of Tuskegee University (TU), and Jacobi Gray of Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University (AAMU). Each of the officers congratulated the President on his success and wished him luck on his new venture.

Several other students were very congratulatory of Whitlow’s position and expressed their thoughts with great sincerity.

“Congratulations to David Whitlow, I know this will be a great school year, “ said senior Reunna Fisher.

“I can’t wait to see my line brother do great things,” said senior communications major Caleb Petty.

Second Attendant to Miss Alabama State University Saroyah Johnson, applauded Whitlow.

Student Government Association Executive Branch Advisor Rakeisha Hines complemented Whitlow on his dedication, passion and commitment. She referenced Whitlow’s late night phone calls about student concerns and assured the audience, that Whitlow has the students best interest in mind, at all times.

Whitlow’s parents David Whitlow Sr. and Daileen Carter were also in attendance, and as Whitlow wrapped up his speech, they were one of the first to stand to show their support.

“You were the best thing to ever happen to me, to us, me and your mother,” Whitlow Sr. said.

“I am so proud of you and I can not wait to see you do great things,” Carter expressed.

Other officers who were sworn in are Student Body Vice President Tyler Rice, Chief-of-Staff Devoski Boyd, Executive Secretary David Hammond, Executive Treasurer Aliyah Muhammad and Attorney Genral Autumn Pate.

At the conclusion of his speech, Whitlow received a standing ovation from students, faculty and family.

Due to the unexpected illness of Chief Justice Joshua Wilkinson, each executive board member was greeted with words of encouragement by Kleo Torres and sworn in by Associate Justice, Freddie Hawkins.

There were other performances by Sigma Alpha Iota Sorority, who sang the black national anthem as well as the College of Visual and Performing Arts Department of Theater and Dance who moved the crowd with their touching performance to “Climb Every Mountain.”