InSpiring: Recent trips motivate students to succeed

Acquilla McCoy’s dream is to open a school to address the special needs of black youth. She also wants to develop a unique academic curriculum to help students advance academically. Recently, McCoy, a junior, had an opportunity to share her ideas and dreams with her contemporaries as well as experienced educators while attending the 3rd Annual Thurgood Marshall Leadership Institute. There, she found that networking, participating in workshops, and other conferences activities helped her refine her ideas for the future. “I was so motivated by the 250 other black youth in attendance,” McCoy said. “Positive things were happening. The people there were focused on placing teachers in a more professional light. My presence there made my heart happy,” added McCoy, who is an elementary education major with a concentration in Spanish. The 3rd Annual Thurgood Marshall Leadership Institute was held in New York City over three days last month. The trip was made possible through the Winston-Salem State University Leadership Institute.  One of the organizers was Dr. D.Kathleen Stitts, associate dean in The School of Business and Economics. She said that each school at WSSU recommended two to three students to make the trip. To prepare, students attended a luncheon where they learned etiquette and other practical skills. McCoy recently found inspiration for the future while attending a trip organized by the university. Twelve other WSSU students, all selected on merit, attended the Ohio State University ‘s Graduation and Professional Schools Visitation Days, which was held over the course of three days in November. Nasif Gordon, who is working toward a dual degree in biology and chemistry, said the Ohio trip opened his eyes to the “real world.” Gordon said he returned to Winston-Salem State University more determined to achieve his academic and professional goals. He attended various networking events during the trip and also spoke with professionals in his chosen field. The Ohio State University Graduate and Professional Schools Visitation Days was sponsored by WSSU’s honors program. Students chosen to attend the visitation days had to have a cumulative grade point average of 3.4 or better on a 4.0 scale, including any transfer credits. Winston-Salem State has been a participant in this program since 1985. Mrs. Avis Gray, an instructor in the Department of English and Foreign Language, serves as the faculty representative for the trip every year and she is also a “product” of the program. “I received my master’s for free because I attended this when I had the opportunity to do so,” Gray said. “The program is for graduate-school minded students with aspirations of receiving a post-bachelorette degree.” The 3 rd Annual Thurgood Marshall Leadership Institute and The Ohio State University Graduate and Professional Schools Visitation Days are part of WSSU’s ongoing efforts to prepare students for life after graduation. “I feel as if my attendance in Ohio served as a wake-up call,”Gordon said. “The trip gave me the opportunity to gauge not only my academic abilities, but to test my interpersonal skills with other students as well as potential professors.”