- [Cheeri] When you go to see a Howard University
band performance, just get ready for a show.
Once Howard University Band hits the field,
the hot dogs get cold.
And we were the best in the nation
due to one man, Mr. John Newson.
I attended Howard University and these
were some of the best times of my life.
I came in, just a lowly clarinet player,
and I was the first in my family to go away to school.
Mr. Newson is a clarinet player himself,
so he knew, like okay I'm gonna look out for you,
I know where you're coming from.
In my sophomore year, coming back to school
someone stole my instrument, and I knew
at that point that my career could stop.
I was in tears and Mr. Newson said,
"Hey, Cherri Jenkins, what's got you down?"
So he said, "you know, I have my personal instrument
that I played in college that, you know, you can borrow."
And I said, "Are you sure?"
I'm sorry.
So it meant a lot to me, and I don't even know
if Mr. Newson realizes how that affected me.
I would not have graduated, I would not have moved forward
with another class without his assistance.
I had heard that Mr. Newson has a special year
because he is retiring, but I have not seen him in years.
Reconnection over a meal, it's like food for the soul.
So what I hope today, is to tell him
that he definitely changed my life
and he's done that for thousands of students
and I just want to say I appreciate you
and we are going to miss him.
Mr. Newson is coming into Denny's.
He has no idea that I am going to be there.
Do I know you?
- That dog is, no I don't know you.
- Are you surprised? - What are you doing here?
- I'm here for you.
- You all here for me?
- I came here for you Mr. Newson.
Give me another hug.
- Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for the nourishment,
we thank you for Mr. Newson and his long career, Amen.
- Amen.
50 years of teaching.
- 50 years, that's a long, rich history.
- My joy don't necessarily come from what
all you just said, all my joy comes
when the students finish a performance
and they glow in their face. - Yes.
- I'm happy when I see that.
That's what I'm gonna miss most.
- I just want to tell you, thank you.
Sophomore year somebody stole my instrument,
and I didn't know what I was gonna do
because at that point it could've been over
for a music major, right? - Yeah
Cause that was no cheap clarinet.
- I was distraught and you said,
I have one for you that you can use.
Your personal instrument that you played in college.
- Wow
- And I know that might not seem significant to you,
well it was life changing for me.
I went on and taught band for 19 years.
That would've stopped had I not had
an instrument or a means.
- Well I'm glad you did.
I was elated when I could help.
And the ending is what I see right now.
I don't know if you're trying to go for that tear,
but you're getting really close to that tear
coming down from my eye real soon.
The big surprise at Denny's was overwhelming.
I have not seen Cherri in a long time.
She was one of my favorite students, years ago.
- Ya'll gotta stop surprising me.
- I was drum major your first year,
I saw you as a teacher, a brother, a mentor,
you were very instrumental.
- In the two years I've been able to be in this band,
Newson has just always been open and helpful to me.
- He's just been this figure that you can look up to,
that you can go to, that you can talk to.
- What Mr. Newson has instilled in you
will take you through the rest of your life.
- 50 years of educating students,
the part that I like the most is they come back
and they share their life and tell stories
when they was in college.
But reconnecting with Cherri,
it was a fantastic surprise.
You have a goal in life, shoot for it.
Just keep going and doing what you gotta do
and above all, enjoy what you're doing.
♪ Soulpancake ♪