KIMBERLY BELLAMY
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.
