Grambling State University’s annual High School Day, where high school students come to see what GSU has to offer, was Saturday. The number of the student who attended this year’s high school day was more than double from last year.
High school Day last year had less than 900 students in attendance and this year over 2,000 students showed up. Buses started arriving around 7 a.m. Saturday, with visitors excited to learn what GSU is all about.
There were high school students from all over the country. Students came from Georgia, Alabama, and California just to get the Grambling experience. Grambling provided the students with bags and T-shirts and after students toured the campus with an ambassador, the students were shown the residential halls. After the campus tour the students came together to see the booths for the academic departments that were set up with information about campus programs.
Around 10 a.m. students were asked to sit in the auditorium so they could be welcomed to the campus. DJ Twinz hyped the crowd by playing music and interacting with them. Faculty and students played a large part of making sure that the program showed the students what the university has to offer.
LaTari Fleming who is the new director of Admissions and Recruitment said he wanted to make sure the program was exciting and entertaining.
“I wanted to bring the carnival theme to life with costumes and decorations because we have never done that,” said Fleming.
Fleming said he has worked the High School Day event five times as an admissions representative, but this is the first time as the director.
For entertainment the World-Fame Marching Band, cheerleaders and Orchesis Dance company performed for the students. The students seemed to enjoy every aspect of the show as they interacted with the speakers and posted on their social media accounts.
Students enjoyed the experience so much that some were admitted to the university on the spot.
“Alumni chapters have been contacting the university saying how much the students enjoyed the experience,” said Fleming. “We’re already brainstorming for next year to make sure the next High School Day is even better.”