HOLLY SPRINGS – Meridian TV news personality and Rust College alumnus John W. Johnson will be  featured during the college’s 145th Founders’ Week, which begins today.

    Johnson will serve as keynote speaker at Rust College’s 145th Founders’ Convocation, which will be held at 11 a.m in the Doxey Alumni Fine Arts Communication Center.

    A member of the Class of 1968, Johnson has been news director at WTOK-TV since 1985. He earned a degree in social science from Rust College and attended graduate school at the University of Iowa, earning a master of fine arts degree in theater.

    Prior to getting into broadcasting, Johnson taught for nine years at Rust College. He taught speech communications, the humanities and stagecraft. He also directed plays for the Rust College Theater Guild.

     Johnson has served on several national, state and local boards during his career. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees at Meridian Community College. He was president of the board in 2010-11. He is also a member of the Community Foundation of East Mississippi and West Alabama. In 2006, he was inducted into the Mississippi Associated Press Broadcasters Hall of Fame, a result of his work leading WTOK-TV’s top rated news department for 26 years, and for his work with Mississippi Public Broadcasting.

    The annual bell-ringing ceremony will begin the Founders’ Week activities, which will be held today at 9:30 a.m.  at Asbury United Methodist Church. The ceremony will pay homage to the founders of Rust College and will celebrate the institution’s 145 years of existence. Led by Rust College President and First Lady Drs. David L. and Gemma Beckley, faculty and staff members, students, and church members will ring the bell at Asbury U.M. Church 145 times to commemorate each year of Rust College’s service to the community.

     The crowning of Miss Rust College 2011-12 will take place during the Coronation and Ball on Thursday. Valencia Rogers, a senior from Byhalia, was elected Miss Rust College by the student body. Rogers, a biology major, is a member of the Student Government Association, Alpha Kappa Mu honor society and the Math & Science Club. The Coronation and Ball will be held at 8 p.m. in the McMillan Multi-Purpose Center.

     The Bearcats and Lady Bearcats will battle it out on the hardwood during the Homecoming Basketball Game on Nov. 12, against the Magicians and Lady Magicians of LeMoyne-Owen College. The homecoming game will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the McMillan Multi-Purpose Center.

     Rust College will honor all former music majors, choir and band members during the Convocation. Also receiving recognition during the weekend are the graduates of Rust College’s Golden and Silver Anniversary classes. The Classes of 1961 and 1986 will be honored during a special breakfast with President David L. Beckley on Nov. 13 at 8 a.m.

     For more information on Founders’ Week events, contact the Office of Alumni Development at (662) 252-8000, ext. 4911.