TARBORO —
The energy Saturday morning in the Thomas S. Fleming building on Edgecombe Community College’s Tarboro campus was infectious. Enthusiastic college recruiters and motivational speakers gave high-school students the tools and the motivation that they needed to pursue their education at the 12th Annual College Round-Up.
“You allow no one to determine your rightful place in life,” the guest speaker, Kaiem Frink, told the auditorium full of students.
Frink did not have high SAT scores and did not have the encouragement or tools needed to pursue a higher education, but a recruiter’s belief in him helped pave his road for academic success.
“In high school, I was told I would not go to college. I was not college material,” he said.
Just a few years ago, the Philadelphia native attended the Round-Up, and as a result got accepted to Elizabeth City State University. After college graduation, Frink was offered a teaching position at his alma mater. He has since earned his master’s degree in applied math and is currently conducting research in underwater robotics.
Frink encouraged the students in the auditorium to pursue their dreams despite any obstacles that they encounter along the way.
“You are the next generation,” he said.
De’quan Palmer, a senior at Goldsboro High School, was inspired by Frink’s speech.
“He’s a motivator, came from the same situation – the hardships of people discouraging you and saying you’re not going to college,” Palmer said. He found out more about his colleges of choice – North Carolina A&T State University and North Carolina Central University, at the Round-Up and gained the motivation to “increase my grades and study a lot” in order to fulfill his career goal of construction management.
Belinda Cannon, a mentor to Palmer and fellow church member, described Frink’s speech as “really motivational.”
“The students that have had some adversity, he gives them a little bit of hope,” Cannon said.
“I think they left very highly motivated,” said Lovie Rooks, of the students that attended the Round-Up. Rooks held a youth symposium in conjunction with the Round-Up.
“I’m just so happy to be a part of. I love giving back,” Rooks stated.
Giving back is the legacy left by Robert “Bob” H. Whitehead, founder of the Round-Up.
“He would never look for anything in return. He would just say, ‘I want you to give something back to the community,” said Fay Smith, Whitehead’s cousin and Round-Up coordinator. She told the students in the auditorium Saturday morning that the Round-Up was founded on the principle that “every student, regardless of race, culture, economic situation, should have the opportunity to attend a post-secondary institution, if they have the desire, the motivation and self-determination.”
Smith estimated 800 students attended Saturday’s Round-Up.
“I think it went fantastic,” she said. “These students are walking away being accepted to several colleges and universities.”
One of those students was Ebone Bryant. She smiled as she rang the bell at the Bennett College table, signaling that she had been accepted at the historically black women’s college, located in Greensboro.
Bryant, a senior at Germantown High School in Philadelphia, said she got accepted to Shaw University located in Raleigh and Vorhees University located in Denmark, S.C., at the Round-Up, as well. She plans to study adolescent psychology in college. To Bryant, the Round-Up was a reminder that her adult life will begin soon and she needs to be prepared.
“It was nice. I saw a lot of new faces and I met new people,” said Bryant. “I’m excited and I’m proud of myself.”
To Bryant, the Round-Up was a reminder that her adult life will begin soon and she needs to be prepared.
“It’s showing me that I can’t just sit down and watch anymore. I have to try harder than I ever have before,” she said.
Timogi Jackson, recruiter for Bennett College, gave an empowering message to the young ladies in the auditorium before they visited her booth, encouraging them to “appreciate every aspect of their womanhood,” in line with Bennett’s “holistic college experience” that encompasses more than academics.
Colleges and universities from North and South Carolina, Virginia and Louisiana, to name a few, had recruiters at the Round-Up.
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Fay Smith, organizer of the 12th Annual College Round-Up, talks about the purpose of the Round-Up and the Round-Up's founder, Robert "Bob" H. Whitehead, in front of an audience of high-school students in the Keihin Auditorium at Edgecombe Community College Saturday morning. Miranda Baines
Event motivates students
College Round-Up draws 800 students
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Nathan Sherrod (left) and his twin brother Melvin, of Tarboro, enjoy a carnival ride Saturday afternoon at the Happening on the Common. Abrams Rentals provided the rides.
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HAPPENING ON THE COMMON
Tarboro’s Town Common was clearly the center of activity in town Saturday, with cars lining the streets surrounding the common, music that could be heard from blocks away, and a sea of people navigating their way through the vendors’ tables under a canopy of trees. The occasion was the 43rd Annual Happening on the Common.
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HAPPENING ON THE COMMON
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Two suspects arrested on 36 charges; third issued citation
After executing a search warrant Thursday on a residence at 500 W. Johnston St. in Tarboro, police officers arrested two suspects for possessing a small amount of marijuana and issued a third suspect a citation for possessing a glass pipe to smoke the drugs.
After the marijuana was found, officers notified two of the three suspects that they also had additional warrants on them from the department's "Spring Fling" drug campaign where they had sold marijuana to undercover officers. - Introductory Latin class beginning Tuesday
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Two suspects arrested on 36 charges; third issued citation
- Sports
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Tony Everett, of Wake Forest, backs his Chevrolet truck named DoeRunner up as he prepares to pull in the four wheel drive event Friday night.
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Pinetops 300
PINETOPS – With the threat of rain during the weekend, it put a little damper on the Pinetops 300 Tractor and Truck Pull attendance. Friday night there was a large crowd in attendance, but not the amount it has been the last several years. There was 500 less people in attendance Friday then there was a year ago, but it didn't stop the pullers from slinging mud everywhere. The fans in one section even had a chance to see what it looked like when a belt breaks on a fine tuned machine. During the Mini Modified run, Thomas Coleman, of Stoneville, had a belt break on his KB 526 Pure Hell ride and the belt slung into the crowd. No one was injured.
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Pinetops 300
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My 13 years have been lucky
It was 13 years Sunday that a drought was broken in Big Spring, Texas, After that, we ate Mexican for dinner with a gathering of family and friends.
The next day, a Saturday, Stephanie and I joined one another in marriage under a beautiful little gazebo by Comanche Trail Lake, fed by the historic spring from which the community draws its name.
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My 13 years have been lucky
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Corbett/Chasse Wedding
Brittney Joyce Corbett and Kenneth Robert Chasse, Jr. were united in marriage on April 6th, 2013, at 5:30pm at the Imperial Centre in Rocky Mount. The Rev. Carrol Bradbury officiated the ceremony.
The Rehearsal Dinner was hosted by Shirley and Donald Foreman, Grandparents of the Groom and also Elisha and Kenneth Chasse, Parents of the Groom, at Pizza Inn in Rocky Mount.
The Bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Durwood Corbett of Macclesfield, NC. The Groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Robert Leonel Chasse, Sr. of Pinetops, NC.
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MATTIE RUTH BULLOCK
BELVOIR — Mrs. Mattie Ruth Bullock, 81, passed away on Saturday, May 18, 2013. The funeral service will be conducted Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. in the Wilkerson Funeral Chapel. Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Park, Wilson.
Mrs. Bullock, a native of Wilson County and a lifelong resident of Pitt County, was a graduate of Belvoir-Falkland High School. She was engaged in farming with her husband until 1989 and was a charter member of Belvoir Free Will Baptist Church. - CLAYTON JERELL EPPS
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MATTIE RUTH BULLOCK
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Budget Friendly Deliciousness
It's nice to be able to put a good meal on the table without having to spend a fortune. Today's recipes are easy, delicious and inexpensive. But, they won't taste inexpensive. I hope that you will give them a try.
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- Events
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Edgecombe Events May 20
Edgecombe Events should be submitted by noon the day before publication. Items eligible include notices of local meetings and activities of non-profit organizations, clubs, schools and civic groups in the community. Information should be brief and typewritten, neatly printed or via e-mail. Questions? 823-3106 or e-mail: events@dailysoutherner.com. Leave a daytime contact phone number.
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Edgecombe Events May 20
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Stocks Elementary School celebrates Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Week
In celebration of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Week, Stocks Elementary School hosted several guest speakers and exciting activities during the first week of May.
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