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Students On The Move

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January 20, 2010

Previous attendees of the Historically Black College Tour

LaQuita Cowart is a 20 year old Junior at Shaw University majoring in social work. She hail from New London, Ct and attended high school at Ella T. Grasso Tech. Since graduating from Grasso in 2007. She attended the college tour as a high school Junior and was the recipient of HBCA's Morrill Scholarship in 2007. She have maintained at least a 3.0 GPA and is active in the student government association and student activities. She is a freshman mentor and was crowned Miss Freshman and Miss Sophomore back to back. LaQuita is currently serving as a fraternity queen to the Beta Rho Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated and in the running for Miss Black North Carolina 2010. LaQuita is also considering continuing her studies at grad school for social work at UNC Chapel Hill or Norfolk State University.

Aisha Taylor is one of the few students to attend the college tour three times. She found the tour to a rewarding experience that broadened her horizons enough to notice the social differences between HBCUs and traditional White universities. Having grown up in the state of Connecticut, Aisha loved the idea of attending college amongst people of her same ethnicity. Aisha saw the pride and commitment that HBCU students had for their schools. She states that the HBCU students believed that the education from an HBCU is much richer; that it will broaden our perspectives, and it allows us to perceive the world in many ways. Like our annual t-shirt’s say, “the blacker the college, the sweeter the knowledge.” Aisha started her undergraduate studies at Saint Augustine’s College in Raleigh, North Carolina in the Fall 2009. Now she too can agree with the other HBCU students in their pride and love. She says, “I would never attend a traditional university. The only reason I was able to find my college was through the hard work and dedication of the Historically Black College Alumni of New London. Their mission has been accomplished year after year because many students that go on this tour attend HBCU’s and graduate, and my prayer is that the tour continues to make a difference in student’s lives”.

Grasso Tech Senior Cierra Patrick received notice of acceptance from Hampton University. She is currently majoring in Business Administration and want to one day run her own business

Josh Brown in currently attending Howard University majoring in Mechanical Engineering. Josh was instrumental in coordinating the tour and activities at Howard during our 2009 tour.

Vanessa Rozier poses with president Vouise Fonville below during the 2009 tour and her senior year at Howard University. Vanessa attended the college tour as a high school junior and went on to attend Howard University to major in Journalism. She currently holds the position of Program Assistant in the International Affair Center at Howard University. Her duties include recruiting, web site development and public relations. While at Howard she was also Editor and Chief of the Howard University Student Newspaper. As she matriculated through her undergraduate studies Vanessa always took time out to meet and greet our students.

Vanessa recently was selected as one of 20 Thomas R. Pickering Graduate Fellows, which supports extraordinary individuals who want to pursue a career in the U.S. Foreign Services. Read more.

Daniella Sabastian & Howard Cary both from Groton attended the college tour and continued on at Howard University.

Pictured above from left to right, Chanje Evans, Irnise Fennel, and Brittany Williams during our 2008 tour stop at Howard University. Brittany graduated in 2008 and continued on to pursue her Masters Degree in Social Work at Georgia State University. Chanje and Irnise graduated in 2009 with Nursing degrees. Chanje is now a registered nurse at Virginia Medical Center and Irnise is an Emergency Room Nurse at John Hopkins Hospital. Brittany completed her Masters Degree and is working at the Veterans Administration in Atlanta, GA.

Jordan Chappell attended the tour in 2004 as a sophmore attending New London Science & Technology Magnet High School. She continued her education by attending the University of New Haven.

Three seniors met with the admission councilors at Virginia Union Univerisity during the 2009 tour. Arianna Daniels from Norwich Free Academy is now attending Three Rivers Community College majoring in Mass Communications Radio Television. Megan Lanier-Gomez from Norwich Free Academy is now attending Briarwood College majoring in Criminal Justice. Aiesha Taylor from Grasso Tech is attending Saint Augustine's College.

Tony Patterson attended the tour in 2004 as a high school junior from Fitch Senior HS. He also attended the tour a couple of years as a youth in elementary school with his mother, who was a chaperone. He is currently a junior at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT majoring in Criminal Justice and a member of the football team. Tony learned early as a youth the importance of higher education.

Burgundy Penn and her sister Morgan Penn meet up during our 2006 visit to Howard University. Burgundy attended the tour during her 10th year at Fitch Senior High School. Her sister Morgan attended the tour in 2004 and was a Junior at Howard University during the visit.

Shayla Williams from New London attended the college tour as a Junior from Grasso Tech HS. She graduated from Grasso Tech in 2009 and continued on to Three Rivers Community College majoring in Nursing. Shayla has recently joined the United States Army.

Jasmine Smith is a thirty-something New London, CT native and Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) graduate that attended one of HBCA's very first HBCU tours. Jasmine accredits the HBCA with her attendance at and subsequent gradation from JCSU. According to Smith, "The tour opened my eyes to the possibility that there was so much more out in this world beyond New London." Jasmine graduated from JCSU with a BA in Communication Arts and then went on to earn her MS in Organizational Change and Leadership from Pfeiffer University in NC. Jasmine currently works in Community Relations for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, where she is responsible for managing the company's statewide community sponsorship program. Jasmine has been recognized as a "Mover and Shaker" by the Triangle Business Leader Magazine. She is married and has an 11 month old daughter.

Mr Fonville pose with Tempestt Evans during our 2004 visit to Winston Salem State University. She graduated from Robert E. Fitch Senior high school in 2005 and enrolled at Winston Salem State University in Winston-Salem, NC in the Fall of 2005. Tempestt started off as a nursing major but changed her major during her sophomore year to biology with a minor in chemistry. Her expected graduation date is December 2010, and she will be applying to dental school and phD school as a back up plan. This summer she was chosen to participate in a summer research program at Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine.

Matt Jones from Canterbury, CT attended the college tour in 2007 as a Sophmore at Norwich Free Academy. He is now attending Delaware State University majoring in Aeronautical Science. Matt talks to students (pictured below) during the 2013 tour and Matt's Senior year. Matt obtained his Bachelor of Science degree and will enter the Air Force as an officer.

Marshall A. Jones poses with his friend during the school's first annual ball. Marshall attends Mount Ida College in Newton, MA, majoring in Criminal Justice and a two year Football and Baseball starter. He is also a member of the Black Student Achievement Coalition as the head of public relations. He is also founder and Vice President of First Class Ent. Promotions Club on campus. He has acquired a Resident Assistant positon last semester in his dorm and also works in the Student Activites office on campus.

Rena Malone attended the tour in 2000 as a junior of Union High School. Last Year she graduated from University of Phoenix with her MBA. Rena is currently working for a computer software company as a Technical Support Analyst.

Chaperone Gussie Patterson pose with Alyssa McCall and Darien Thomas during the 2013 tour visit to Howard University. Alissa is a graduate of Bacon Academy, Colchester, CT and now a sophmore Journalism major at Howard University. Darien is a New London HS graduate and now a freshman

De'Shawn Knight from Ford, NJ attended the college tour in 2008 when he was a Junior at Woodbridge H.S. He is currently attending Rowan University. He is playing football and plans to be an Athletic Trainer.

Jaequan Malone is a graduate of Bullard Haven High School in Bridgeport, CT in 2006. He continued on to major in Criminal Justice at Benedict College, an HBCU in Columbia, S.C.

Dortheia Tenisha Harper graduated from New London HS in 2006. She attended the college tour in 2004 and 2006 where she learned of Shaw University in Raleigh, NC. Dortheia attended Shaw Universitymajoring in Psychology and graduated in 2010. She had an active undergraduate experience through her work with the Student Government Association, Homecoming Bear Street Team, Cheerleading Coach, and Reflection of Class "All Female Promotion Team"! She is currently working in the New London Public School System.

Dajon Caple and Cierra Patrick pose during the 2008 college tour. Dajon is a Norwich, CT resident and graduated from Norwich Free Academy in June 2009. He is continuing his education at Virginia State University majoring in Sociology. Dajon is also a member of the marching band.

Jerry Moore graduated from New London High School and continung his education at Mitchell College in New London, CT. Jerry learned about Mitchell College during the local college fair and went on to visit the campus. Jerry attended the college fair but said he felt more at home when he was on Mitchell College's campus. He is majoring in Marketing.

LeKeisha Taylor graduated from Ella T. Grasso Technical HS in 2011. She attended the college tour in as a HS Freshman in 2007 and agin in 2011. During the tour she became interested in Winston Salem State University. She applied, was accepted, and is now attending Winston Salem State University in Winston Salem, NC majoring in Nursing and minoring in Gerontology. LeKeisha participates in the WSSU Pep Squad the Ragin Rams, community service with the Forsyth County Magnet Middle School tutorin football players and cheerleaders. She also chaperone minor events. She plans to attend graduate school after obtaining her nursin degree and one day own her own practice where she can help those who lack the financial support when they need medical assistance.

Kia A. Baird, resident of Ledyard Connecticut is a graduate of Winston-Salem State University where she was the President of the Northern Connection, served on the pre-Alumni Council and graduated with honors. While at WSSU, she was the lead vocalist for the university jazz ensemble, and sang with the now Grammy nominated Winston- Salem State University Choir. Kia says the Historically Black College Alumni opened her eyes to a new world of opportunities for African American students that she had not been aware of before, having gone on the tour in 1998 she was able to see the many things that HBCUs had to offer and was inspired to apply, be accepted to and graduate from her first choice institution: Winston Salem State University. She returned to CT where she serves as secretary of the CT chapter of the WSSU alumni association. Kia is a member of HBCA, Inc as well as the youth and young adult initiative for the NCNW (National Council for Negro Woman). Kia is employed as the director of the teen program for the Boys and Girls Club of Southeastern CT and as an employment coordinator for a local human services agency. Kia is dedicated to the community in which she works and lives, embodying Winston-Salem State’s motto: Enter to Learn, Depart to Serve.

Kayla Brown is a graduate of New London Science & Technology Magnet High School. After graduating she continued on to Saint Joseph College in West Hartford, Ct. majoring in Social Work.

Shaylaya Ford graduated from New London HS in 2012 and attended the college tour as a HS Freshman. She continued her education at Virginia State University. She was a Freshman during our 2013 visit.