Parys Ward-Wheeler, 20, a Junior Mass Communications major from East Point, Georgia, has been crowned Ms. Mass Communications 2026-2027 at Alcorn State University (ASU).
Ward-Wheeler graduated in 2024 from Long Beach Senior High in Long Beach, Mississippi. While there she participated in several extracurricular activities such as track (100 meters, 200 meters, 4×100 meters, 4×200 meters, Cross Country, dance (Majorette, Ballet) Cheerleading, Peer Mediation, and the Newspaper staff (Videographer/Photographer). Ward-Wheeler grants a lot of her success to her parents, Erica Ward-Geter and Marques Wheeler. “My parents are my inspiration and the driving force behind all of my successes. I attempt every day to pattern myself after them hoping one day that I can match or surpass their numerous triumphs in life.”
When it came time to choose a university and major, Ward-Wheeler stated, “I chose Alcorn because it’s one of the most prolific HBCUs (Historically Black College and Universities) in the country and choosing a major was a no brainer with the success rate of the Mass Communications’ students attaining gainful employment within the field after graduation. While at Alcorn Ward-Wheeler has emersed herself within the culture of the Department by having her own radio show entitled ‘The Golden Hour’ on WPRL 91.7 FM (Alcorn’s radio station), having her own columns in The Campus Chronicle (Alcorn’s online newspaper), having her own podcast entitled ‘Different Perspectives’, becoming a member of Girl’s Coalition and becoming Miss Mass Communications 2026-2027.
Ward-Wheeler’s goal as her reign as Ms. Mass Communications is to initiate forums where professionals within the Mass Communications field come to the Department and speak to the students on how to build a successful Communications career. She also wants to secure a room within the Department and make it a student lounge where students can congregate. Her future goals are to graduate from Alcorn with honors in the Spring of 2028 and enter the Advertising field and later venture off to Hollywood and become a script writer for television and movies.
