On Thursday, November 27, 2025, the Alcorn State University Sounds of Dyn-o-mite Marching Band became the eighth band from Mississippi to march in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. They performed for an estimated 3.5 million spectators along the route and more than 50 million viewers worldwide. Two graduates of Newton High School Class of 2023 were a part of that historic performance.
Micaiah Pugh and Kylan Wilkerson represented Newton High School, Newton, Alcorn State University and the State of Mississippi during their stay in New York from November 24th through November 28th. Kylan, who plays tenor drum, is the son of Pearletha Crawford and Keith Wilkerson. He is a Junior Accounting major. Micaiah is also a Junior who plays trumpet and is a Music Education major. She is the daughter of Eddie and Marlene Pugh.
In addition to the parade, they were immersed into New York culture. They attended “Hell’s Kitchen” the Broadway Hit Musical from Alicia Keys at the Shubert Theatre where they had a Q & A session afterwards with the cast. They visited Radio City Music Hall where the Golden Girls of the Sounds of Dyn-o-mite were the opening act for the Christmas Spectacular through Radio City Music Hall’s Sounds of Christmas program, featuring the Rockettes.
The Sounds of Dyn-o-mite performed for inner-city students, local organizations and media at the Jersey City armory. On Thanksgiving evening they feasted at the Chart House restaurant in New Jersey, famous for its view of the New York skyline. They also viewed the lights of the city on a dinner cruise on The Spirit of New York earlier in the week.
Additionally, they got to see their own name in lights on one of the famous Times Square billboards.
The band was officially notified of their selection on August 24, 2024, and embarked upon the March to Macy’s fundraising campaign, collecting more than $520,000. Kylan and Micaiah are thankful to the many people from the community who donated, participated in fundraisers and cheered them on as they prepared to make this historic journey.
