High school students gathered in the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center for High School Day. Courtesy photo
The Alpha Theta Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. participated in High School Day. Media Relations/Courtesy photo
Greek Panel (L to R): James Farley, Sarah-Renee Garner, Donovan Travis, Jessica Clinton, Evan Simmons, Yolantae Dillon, Dinari Belachew, Aneisha Bell, Malcolm Melton. Media Relations/Courtesy photo
On Oct. 12, GSU hosted their routine High School Day for the fall 2019 semester.
This day showcases the best of what GSU has to offer from majors to academic clubs, Greek to Non-Greek organizations and other extracurricular activities.
Students spanning from California to Florida were in attendance, and as GSU looks to diversify their student body state-wise, this day showed the university is headed in the right direction.
Registration began at 7:30 a.m. in the Frederick C. Hobdy Assembly Center where high school students were met by student leaders and served breakfast.
High school students had the opportunity to roam around and participate in an academic browse where academic departments were available to answer their questions.
Kairi Burke, 20, a junior chemistry major from Houston, Texas, served as an ambassador for the chemistry department and for the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE). Burke detailed her academic experience and involvement throughout her collegiate years.
“I talked a lot about how rigorous the chemistry department is, but I also talked about how rewarding it is to know that I am being set up to succeed,” she said. “A common misconception of GSU is that we lack resources, but I know, in my department at least, we have access to resources and organizations that not only prepare us for graduate school, but provides us with funding during our undergraduate years as well. I know a lot of high school students are worried about paying for school, so I gave them some information about how they could receive scholarships too.”
After the academic browse, high school students visited the organizational tables. There were a plethora of academic clubs, social organizations, Divine Nine organizations and more to be looked at.
Veronica Sanders, 21, a mass communication major from Houston, Texas, participated in high school day as an ambassador for her organization, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Sanders was able to give some information about her organization and guidance about maneuvering throughout the collegiate years.
“We (Divine Nine) were aware that they were high school students seeking information, so we really just wanted to show them what we were about,” Sanders said. “The whole time, we (members of Alpha Kappa Alpha) stressed the importance of service and carrying yourself in a manner that would make you a great representative of our organization. We did not want to scare students off, if anything, we wanted to stress the importance of being authentic, and working hard for the right reasons.”
Potential students were also able to attend a panel discussion dedicated to Greek and non-Greek life, where members from the following organizations spoke about what it means to them to be a part of their respective organizations: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. and The Society of Distinguished Black Women.
To conclude the day, the high school students were treated to a song from the World Famed Tiger Marching Band, saw GSU President Rick Gallot stroll, and attended the first home game of the football season. All in all, High School Day’s purpose was fulfilled as students left exhausted, but exhilarated about potentially continuing the legacy of current GSU students.