by Elizabeth Ashford
Staff Writer
Hand over hand, the children climbed and pulled themselves up the
wall and ropes, all the way to the top. Sweating and panting, they
stood at the pinnacle, arms raised in victory; they had overcome
obstacles to reach the top and would overcome many more during their
college careers.
College Adventure Weekend was held April 2-4 at Appalachian State
University’s Camp Broadstone in Valle Crucis.
The camp was for first-generation students, minorities and other
high school students in Talent Search, Upward Bound, and GEAR UP
programs across the state that help students prepare for college.
The purpose of the weekend is to plant the seed of higher education,
Associate Vice Chancellor for Diversity Dr. Harry L. Williams said.
“By us providing this weekend, the positive fallout from it
will be, we’re hoping, that these kids will go back home and
tell their friends,” Williams said. “In essence, we’re
trying to debunk a lot of stereotypes and myths associated about
being in the mountains,” Williams said.
Williams said they want the students to know they will be appreciated
here, so when they go home they will tell others about their experience,
and the university will be spoken of in a positive light.
“We want them to have Appalachian on their minds and this
weekend we feel will be the weekend to put the imprint, the Appalachian
State footprint, and they will remember this and that’s what’s
so important about it,” Williams said.
If these kids do come to Appalachian as freshmen in a few years,
it would be a legacy, freshman Diversity Scholar Erin L. Kirkpatrick
said.
“Going to Appalachian would be a huge deal to them and I think
that that would rub off on other Appalachian students,” Kirkpatrick
said. “I think they’ll bring an excitement, and probably
a deeper hunger for knowledge too,” Kirkpatrick said.
The kids faced many challenges over the weekend, including climbing
an alpine tower, a climbing wall and a high ropes course.
“I think this weekend was wonderful because I got to experience
things that I’ve never done before, like climbing, that’s
a fear [of heights],” Jordan-Matthews High School freshman
Tiara B. Fox said.
Fox said she would think about coming to Appalachian because of
the wonderful environment on campus.
Williams said they hope the kids see the similarities between overcoming
the challenges of a ropes course and overcoming the challenges associated
with coming to college.
“The most exciting thing is that we’re going to impact
their lives,” Williams said.
Williams said that education is power and they want to show the
students that education can take them anywhere.
Jordan-Matthews High School freshman Jalisa M. Scotton said the
weekend experience was good for her. She said the climbing activities
taught her not to quit.
“Don’t quit, try to meet your goals and if you don’t
meet your goals, just keep trying,” Scotton said.
Bobbie R. Dayalani is a senior information systems and marketing
major at Appalachian and served as a camp guide for the weekend.
Dayalani said she wanted to motivate the students and let them know
that college is a possibility for them.
Dayalani said she thinks the students will bring diversity and special
skills and talents to Appalachian if they decide to enroll. “Different
backgrounds have different qualities, different cultures, and they
probably enrich Appalachian through that,” Dayalani said.
Anson High School freshman Artis Willoughby said he enjoyed himself
and would consider coming to Appalachian.
“They make you feel at home, they welcome you and you have
some opportunities to get to know people and learn more,”
Willoughby said.
Fayetteville State University academic advisor Michele Brewington
helped with the weekend activities.
“I see different diversities of people coming in and really
acting as one, and I think that to be really special about the campus,”
Brewingon said.
“I see that you all are open to accepting different people
from different areas, and that means a lot," Brewington said.
Williams said they wanted the participants to focus on the process
of going to college.
“I think we may have changed some lives as it relates to them
thinking about college. And obviously, yes, we would love for them
to come to Appalachian. But if they end up in college somewhere
else very successful, contributing to society, I think we would
have accomplished our goal of encouraging and making it a better
place for all,” Williams said.
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