Admissions counselors worked from early morning to mid-afternoon Saturday trying to get high school students to continue their education, offering on the spot acceptance and scholarships to many at the ninth annual College Round-Up in Tarboro.
“We had 45 applications, about 30 were accepted and about 20 received scholarships,” said Maurice Williams, admissions counselor at Claflin University in South Carolina.
Claflin rewarded nearly $100,000 in academic scholarships alone during the event to students who met the 2.9 grade point average requirement.
“We had over 70 applications today and we’ve accepted mostly all of them that met the requirements of the college,” said Tiffany McCants, admissions counselor at Morris College in South Carolina.
More than 30 tables spread throughout Mobley Atrium of Edgecombe Community College were surrounded by students eager to find out about their chances of attending one of the educational institutions represented.
Martha Johnson, nine-year volunteer of College Round-Up, said the event gives students opportunities they wouldn’t ordinarily have.
“It’s the most profitable event for students seeking higher education in North Carolina. So many students who wouldn’t have the opportunity to go to college are given that opportunity here,” she said.
For some students, College Round-Up helps them compare the schools and decide which one is best for them.
“I wanted to explore colleges and see what they’re offering. I really had my mind stuck on ECU (East Carolina University), but I wanted to see what other colleges had to offer,” said Kyneisha Henry of Raleigh.
“I met new people from all over and I’m considering two other colleges than ECU, and I found out about CFNC (College Foundation of North Carolina).”
People made trips within the state and as far as Washington D.C., partly due to Washington D.C. Councilman-At-Large Kwame R. Brown, who brought students and parents down on several buses.
Brown said that people from the Washington D.C. area have been participating in the College Round-Up for the last four years. The first year they attended, 43 or 44 students were accepted to college. Last year, nearly 100 students attended the College Round-Up and about 85 percent were accepted into college and four students received $8,000 scholarships.
While addressing the audience, Brown encouraged the admissions counselors to find a way to help all the students.
“The person you help may be the person that’s standing here 10 or 15 years later bringing people here,” he said.
Washington D.C. high school senior George Banks said he was awaiting notification from North Carolina Central University, Elizabeth City State University and other schools he already applied to, but was searching for a school with a program in music management.
“I wanted to see what schools I might be interested in. It helped me see a wide range of what schools have this major or that major,” Banks said.
He walked away with acceptance to Benedict College in South Carolina.
President of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research Dr. Arjun Makhijani, featured speaker, gave the participants some words of encouragement before they set out to find their possible future school.
Makhijani dedicated his speech to his mother, and spoke about the obstacles his family overcame to earn higher education.
“Sometimes the doors aren’t very open, but you have to push them open,” he said.
“Dianne (Valentin, CEO of College Round-up) and Fay (program director of College Round-Up) are opening the doors for you and all you have to do is walk through them.”
Makhijani gave the students five areas to focus on that he said will lead them to success.
“In this country, doors will be slammed in your face, but also in this country doors can be open to courage, competence, compassion, humor and integrity,” he said.
Smith and Bob Whitehead, Round-Up founder, were networking with schools, presenters, students and parents throughout the event. Smith said that she was pleased with the turnout.
Local News
COLLEGE ROUND-UP
Students get acceptance and grants
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Edgecombe Relay for Life seeking business partners
Fresh from raising $196,312 and ranking No. 4 nationally in per capita fundraising, Relay for Life Edgecombe County is seeking business and corporate sponsors to help in the fight against cancer.
Corporate and business sponsorship packets, which detail the levels and benefits of sponsorship, are ready to be delivered, according to Jane Gurley Harper, corporate sponsor chair. Businesses can also help by forming a team to participate in Relay and raise money in that manner. -
Princeville commissioner, interim town manager involved in physical conflict
PRINCEVILLE — The disconnect of water service at a commissioner's home led to a physical confrontation between the elected official and a town employee Wednesday at the town hall.
According to Commissioner Gwen Knight, interim Town Manager Maggie Boyd gave instructions to a public works employee and a police officer to cut off Knight's water because the account was delinquent in the amount of $662.77.
Knight said she went to the town hall to pay the bill as soon as she was told about her service being cut off. -
Princeville terminates town manager Appoints museum curator to fill same position
PRINCEVILLE — A contract dispute between the Princeville town manager and the town commissioners led to his termination at the close of business Monday.
Victor Marrow was notified by Princevile Attorney Charles Watts that he had been fired.
Marrow's contract expired Feb. 1, but the town extended it six days in hope of his signing a proposed new contract. Marrow was hired in February 2010 on a two-year contract. Nine months later, he resigned, only to rescind his resignation the following morning.
Stipulations of the proposed new contract were untenable to Marrow and included the stipulation that it was to end on June 12, included a $5,000 pay cut, work in excess of 40 hours per week and write at least three grants per month, he said. -
CRIME ROUNDUP
The Tarboro Police Department responded to a call Friday and was told a victim had been stabbed. While conducting an investigation, officers were told by the victim that Perry Lee Bunn, 58, 304 Granville St., had stabbed him several times. The name of the victim was not released by police.
Officers called EMS to respond to the scene to transport the victim to the hospital so he could treated for his injuries. -
Significant deficiencies in county audit
Auditors told Edgecombe County Commissioners on Monday night that they found significant deficiencies while compiling the 2010-2011 annual audit of county finances. Still, the audit received an unqualified opinion.
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Bryant declines to seek re-election
Teresa DeLoatch Bryant announced she will not seek re-election to the District 2 seat she now holds on the Edgecombe County Public Schools Board. The announcement came 91 days before the May 8 Primary Election and nearly a year after the first-term plus one year board member announced her resignation for personal and career reasons. She later rescinded her decision.
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W.A. Patillo receives $5,000 poetry grant
W.A. Pattillo School has been awarded $5,000 from the North Carolina Arts Council for Poetry in the Classroom with Mimi Herman.
The funds will be used to provide a week of poetry writing experiences for seven fourth grade classes through the expertise and creativity of Herman. Students will gain self-confidence, and will view themselves as writers rather than merely consumers of literature. They will learn to use language effectively and creatively to communicate thoughts, feeling, and impressions. -
Pizza Bowl
The biggest football game of the year brings the largest sale of the year for two area pizza restaurants.
Tarboro branches of Pizza Inn and Dominos Pizza are gearing up for Super Bowl XLVI Sunday by increasing their regular employee lineup by as many as seven.
Pizza Inn is running a special that they believe will keep them busy throughout the day. Last year they sold over 200 large pizzas on Super Bowl Sunday compared to 50 on an average Sunday. -
Edgecombe unemployment up in December
TARBORO — Unemployment rates increased in 93 of North Carolina’s 100 counties in December. Rates decreased in four counties and remained the same in three.
Edgecombe, which saw a slight improvement in November, fell back to its October 2011 level (15.7%). Of the 100 counties in North Carolina, Edgecombe and Dare are tied at third highest in unemployment. -
Three ECPS campuses ahead of First Lady's nutritional guidelines
When First Lady Michelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced new guidelines for the nutritional overhaul of school meals last week, they could have chosen three of Edgecombe County's public schools as their models.
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