Our final day arrives! Our hotel in Memphis, the Hyatt Place, left us rested and well fed. We drove back to Mississippi to visit Rust College in Holly Springs. Rust College, another historically black college and university, was founded in 1866 by the Methodist Episcopal Church. Rust is a small school with around 1000 students. There were definitely some unique aspects that we encountered on our tour, including the school's radio and tv station.
The next stop on our journey was the University of Memphis. With an enrollment of over 22,000, U of M is known for its' research focus and health career programs. U of M has many bells and whistles including a movie theater and several restaurants scattered throughout campus. The school was preparing for their 100 year anniversary and homecoming weekend on the day of our visit. As part of their anniversary, 100 tiger sculptures were commissioned to honor the date and set up at various spots on campus.
Finally, we took the 9 hour trip home and returned safely at 1 a.m. It was a whirlwind week but our students certainly experienced a lot. Many have identified a college from the trip they would like to attend and also learned what questions to ask when examining a college.
Enjoy your intercession and make sure to ask the students about their trip when we come back!
It's the end of the week already Wildcats! Time flies when you're at colleges all day.
We awoke to a cloudy day in Birmingham, Alabama. Our first stop was another HBCU, Miles College in Fairfield, Alabama. Miles is a small campus with only 2000 students. Miles College was founded in 1898 by the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church. It offers 25 bachelor degrees and is one of 16 schools in the Nation with a Center of Academic Excellence under the office of the Director of National Inteligence.
At the end of our tour, we returned to the admissions department for a little trivia and a big surprise. Jada and Lexus, number 1 and 2 in the class, were awarded full ride presidential scholarships to Miles based on their ranking. Let's rack up those college dollars!
Next, we had some down time so we visited the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. When Birmingham was originally founded, it was known as the Magic City since employment opportunities abounded. As we toured, we experienced the transformation of Birmingham as the "tragic city", called so because of it's intensely rooted segregation that made it a center of change during the civil rights movement, to the historic place it is today. The stories enlightened students to all the pinnacle moments that occurred in Birmingham including the 16th street church bombing and many peaceful protests against continued violent acts in the city.
Our second college of the day was University of Alabama, Birmingham. UAB is one of the biggest schools we visited thus far. It is considered a mid size college with an enrollment of over 18,000 students and 60 majors to choose from with an intense focus on research, even at the undergraduate level. The weather was a cool 85 degrees and our tour guide joking told us their winter is like Chicago's fall. At the end of our tour, we found Blaze, the dragon, and he wished us a good trip.
We made our way to Memphis for our last evening at a hotel. Tomorrow's trip includes Rust College in Misssissippi and University of Memphis.
For more information on Miles College, go to www.miles.edu.
For more information on University of Alabama, Birmingham check out www.uab.edu
We woke up in Jackson, Mississippi next to the expressway to find Kenneth had made a new friend.
After a very accommodating breakfast (we got fresh biscuits), we headed to the HBCU, Tougaloo, to meet our very charismatic host, Mr. Paul Scott. He explained the rich and serious history of Tougaloo which is located on an old plaintation with ethreal weeping willows and the mansion where the original slave master once looked over slaves.
Overall, students were charmed by the feel of the school. After seeing the SGA get inducted at Tougaloo's weekly program, the campus was alive with students. Four beloved 2012 graduates, Lakeisha Bones, Jarquise McComb, Jakala Clark and Takira Ross, gave us the inside scoop on the campus and its' perks. One of the hottest spots on campus was the lunchroom where a dj blasted music and Tougaloo students demonstrated Mississippi style dance steps.
Millsaps was a sharp contrast from Tougaloo with it's small liberal arts focus. The campus was filled with several chill spots (think rocking chairs and benches as well as a courtyard called the bowl where the students graduate outside) and a soror row in addition to several mythical landmarks (for example, the M bench where you kiss a person on a full moon to make them your future spouse).
Ashley was feeling especially friendly after our visit to Tougaloo and introduced herself to everyone on campus as well as wormed our tour group into an exclusive view of the upperclassmen large and fancy single suites. Many of us maxed out at the school's cafeteria enjoying the Oreo pudding and Otis Spunkmeyer cookies. Finally, we drove to Birmingham, Alabama to the illustrious Summit Mall. Many students were so wrapped up in the shopping they forgot to eat...good thing there was free popcorn in the hotel.
Next stops: Miles College and University of Alabama, Birmingham (we are going to seek out UAB's mascot, Blaze, the dragon).
For more information on Tougaloo, go to www.tougaloo.edu
For more information on Millsaps, check out www.millsaps.edu
Tuesday flew by in Arkansas. We woke up in Little Rock and peeked out our hotel window to investigate the capital building. Our former president, Bill Clinton, worked there when he was governor of Arkansas.
After we grabbed a little hotel breakfast, we immediately headed to our first stop, Philander Smith where we got a brief admissions conversation and then on our tour.
Our tour guides showed us the new construction taking place that interrupted some crucial history at Philander Smith, their fraternity/sorority benches and murals. Philander Smith is home to 8 of the divine 9. The benches and mural pieces that survived were moved by dedicated students into the school's courtyard.
We also got surprised by a stroll from some wandering Alphas.
Our journey ended with 14 of our students being admitted onsite to Philander Smith! Maybe they will choose to be a Philander Smith Panther next year and join a few of our Phillips Alumni.
Next, we rode to University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff. Pine Bluff is a sleepy town 45 minutes away from Little Rock. It's biggest selling point was the personalization that students received. UAPB accepts students regardless of ACT and GPA as part of their historic HBCU mission. Our students were treated to the UAPB history museum and a lesson on southern charm. Gentlemen at the campus hold the doors for ladies and many students dress professionally for classes daily. We saw a lot of
blazers, khakis, and ties which was out of the norm compared to the other two schools we've seen.
On our way to Jackson, Mississippi....
Wednesday's schedule includes Tougaloo where many of our last year's graduates are waiting to see us and Milsaps.
For more information on Philander Smith, visit http://www.philander.edu/
For more information on UAPB, check out http://www.uapb.edu/
I hope you had a great homecoming weekend. After a crushing football victory and the dance, you must have been energized yesterday.
Monday morning, 22 of our seniors and four fearless chaperones started off the morning at 5:30, waiting in the cold for the bus.
After a few hours of sleeping, we stopped off for breakfast and acted a little silly.
Finally, after 5 hours, we made it to Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. We got the royal treatment for free at Trueblood dining hall.
Some ice cream and pizza later, we toured the dorms at Nealy Hall and then headed to the rec center.
Leon and Bianca raced around the indoor track at the rec center while other students checked out the divers at the indoor pool. Rashaud flexed by one of many weight rooms.
Finally, we got a tour of the sprawling campus. As we walked through the woods area of the campus, you could see the natural beauty that draws many students to the campus.
Later, we drove through Arkansas to end up at our final destination around 12 a.m.
Next stop, University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff and Philander Smith. Have a great day Wildcats! For more details about SIUC, check out their website at http://siu.edu/.
