Although African-Americans are often underprivileged, they should persevere to better themselves and help others, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs Edward Jones said during the Carter G Woodson lecture today in Orchard Suite.

In the lecture, hosted by Cooper-Woodson College as part of the Black History Month celebration, Jones stressed the fact that African-Americans are most likely to suffer from many health issues, as well as fall in the lower percentile in education.

“I want to help keep (students) motivated so they will continue to do well for themselves, but also to think about how they are going to help people less fortunate,” Jones said.

Jones emphasized staying optimistic, discussing his past as a college athlete who suffered a career-ending injury. After he dropped out of college, Jones began to work at a packinghouse in Iowa before returning to school.

“All the energy I used to put into sports I began to put into my studies,” Jones said.

Jones also quoted many African-American figures, such as Martin Luther King Jr., W.E.B. Du Bois and Thurgood Marshall.

The students in attendance were few but responsive to Jones. Students shared their individual strategies to successful money and time management.

“Students here at Sac State have a lot to offer in the world, when you think about the mission of leadership, scholarship and service,” Jones said.

Cooper-Woodson College was created 20 years ago based on the beliefs portrayed by the lives of Carter G. Woodson and Anna J. Cooper, two African-American icons. It involves people in the community helping to inform and motivate current students regarding successful education and personal goals.

Mykesha Kitt, program coordinator for Cooper-WoodsonCollege, said Woodson was a scholar who is most remembered as the creator of Black History Month.

She said Cooper-Woodson College hosts events where they invite motivational speakers, such as Maya Soetoro-Ng, President Barack Obama’s sister, to encourage African-American students to reach their goals.

Jones left the audience with a phrase that he asked them to repeat every day:

“Good, better, best, never let it rest. Until your good becomes your better and your better becomes your best.”

Ricky Alejandro can be reached at [email protected].