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Monthly Voorhees College E-Newsletter |
June 2014
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Are you sharing the VC Digest with your classmates and other members of the Voorhees Family? Look for the Forward email link after the Did You Know section and spread the word on the latest news, accomplishments, and happenings at Voorhees! To share any recent accomplishments of alumni, please e-mail Teesa Brunson, communications director, at [email protected].
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 Students at Voorhees celebrate Juneteenth with President Sellers
President Cleveland L. Sellers, Jr. celebrated Juneteenth, the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States, on June 19 with Voorhees students.
Although the Emancipation Proclamation took place on Jan. 1, 1863, the state of Texas did not comply with the Emancipation Proclamation until federal troops took possession of the state to enforce it. On June 19, 1865, the ending of slavery was officially recognized in Texas and a big celebration took place.
To celebrate Juneteenth, Sellers did a presentation to students in class on the significance of Juneteenth. He wore to class one of the same uniforms he wore 50 years ago while he traveled throughout the South to break segregation, fight for the right to vote and served as a Howard university sophomore representative in the 1964 Mississippi Summer.
The uniform Sellers wore was jean overalls that assisted him and other civil rights workers with not being identified as outsiders and helped them blend in as if they were local farmers.
"It is important for us to make sure our students know and understand why we celebrate Juneteenth," Sellers said. "In 1964, Mississippi was a very unsafe place. One of the very first encounters we endured while on our mission was the murder of three of our fellow students, who were James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner."
"We must never forget those who sacrificed their lives in their fight for equality and justice."
Sellers also informed students of the 50th anniversary of the Mississippi Freedom Summer that will be celebrated June 25-29 in Jackson, Miss. The Mississippi Freedom Summer was a campaign in the United States launched in June 1964 to register as many African-American voters as possible in Mississippi. Sellers served on the planning committee for the 50th anniversary celebration of the Mississippi Freedom Summer. |
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Harrison Conyers Jr.
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June Alumni Highlight: Conyers impacts the minds and lives of students
The alumni highlight for June is Harrison Conyers Jr. Conyers is currently principal of Warlick Academy in Gastonia, N.C. In this role, he leads 150 students from grades sixth through twelfth. Harrison impacts the lives of many students by restructuring their environment, mentality and academic expectations.
Harrison facilitated the School Improvement Grant (SIG) for turnaround schools. In turn, Warlick Academy has seen tremendous growth in its culture, recognition in the community and academics. Additionally, the graduation rate has increased from 0% to 10%. For these achievements, he was nominated for Principal of the Year and asked to present for the National Alternative Education Conference in Atlanta, Ga.
Harrison is currently a member of the Eta Mu Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha, where he has served as vice president, president and director of educational activities. He was also awarded the Man of the Year award for the Eta Mu Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha. Harrison is also a member of the Gaston Breakfast Rotary Club, where he serves as sergeant at arms and cooks breakfast for As One Ministries. For these activities, he was awarded the Distinguished Rotarian for the 2013-2014 year.
As a student of Voorhees, Harrison studied mathematics. He was also involved in the Minority Male Program and a member of the track team. As a contributing member of the track team, he and the team won three consecutive EIAC championships. During his three-year tenure, Harrison worked in the Student Center. In the fall of 1997, Harrison joined the Eta Iota Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in applied mathematics in 1999.
In 2003, Harrison desired to extend his education by receiving his master's degree in educational leadership from Cambridge College in Boston, Mass. After receiving this degree, Harrison moved for one year to Coulwood Middle School teaching eighth grade math for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools. In 2005, Harrison decided to change the level of his teaching by instructing ninth grade students. He was offered the opportunity to work as an assistant principal at Hunter Huss High School in Gastonia, N.C., which is the same place he was currently working as a ninth grade teacher. During his tenure, he worked with the Business, Arts and Communication Academy and received a nomination for Assistant Principal of the Year.
A native of Paxville, S.C., Conyers lives by the motto: "Service above Self." His daily activities and work embody his motto.
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 | Ashely Thompson
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Thompson achieves certification
to teach
By Zareen Glenn
Ashely Thompson is a testament that hard work and dedication really pays off. Thompson was the only 2014 Voorhees graduate to receive a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education with a certification to teach in South Carolina. With Thompson's certification, she is qualified to teach in any school district in South Carolina.
"She is very preserved and hard working," said Terri Whetstone, assistant professor of education at Voorhees. "She goes over and beyond to get things taken care of."
During her senior year at Voorhees, Thompson was a teacher's assistant for a second grade class at Oakwood Windsor Elementary in Aiken, S.C.
"I plan on teaching immediately after graduation. I also want to become certified in the state of Georgia as well," said Ashley. "I want to work with the fifth graders."
The elementary education program at Voorhees was re-established at the institution with approval by the South Carolina State Board of Education during the 2010-2011 academic year.
Voorhees also has a child development program. Although education majors and child development majors may do some similar studies for undergrad, there are different requirements in order to graduate. Child development is not licensing a student to be a certified teacher.
"Voorhees has a very rigorous education program. Many students come in as education majors and realize that it's more work than what you think," said Whetstone. "You have to have the passion and the drive for this major."
Thompson said in order to successfully earn a degree in elementary education, a student must stay abreast all necessary requirements.
"When I first started, I didn't know all the requirements. I didn't read the catalog thoroughly. So that made me a semester behind," Thompson said. "But I stayed on top of my work and made sure everything I did was right and well done."
"My advice to the education majors of the future is to make sure you utilize all your resources. Talk with your advisers for extra help. Make sure that you pay attention to all the requirements needed, and always stay on top of your work," she said.
Thompson said she was inspired to teach by her mother, Thelma Thompson, who taught for 34 years before retiring.
"Being raised in an environment of seeing what intrinsic rewards come from being an educator and also seeing the impact it has on others inspired me to want to become an educator."
While at Voorhees, Thompson was a member of the Eta Phi Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society.
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eSMART students visit Oconee Nuclear site
High school students participating in the Voorhees College Environmental Science, Mathematics, and Related Technology Program (eSMART) visited the Oconee Nuclear site, which is a part of Duke Energy, on June 12 to get a closer look at how the energy used every day is produced. The Oconee Nuclear Station is located on Lake Keowee in Oconee County, S.C.
While at the site, students learned the basic operations of the nuclear site.
"Our students were able to obtain more in-depth knowledge about nuclear reactors and how they operate in order for a disaster not to occur," said Rodney Boyd, assistant professor of emergency management at Voorhees.
Boyd added that the students also learned about the multiple job opportunities that Duke Energy offers.
"The plant was very interesting and the experience was very informative to the students and the interns," Boyd concluded.
The Voorhees College eSMART program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, and it is designed to increase high school students' interest in the STEM fields and their desire to pursue a degree in environmental science, math, biology, emergency management and computer science.
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 The Rev. Dr. James T. Yarsiah of Voorhees College to attend Anglican events in Korea
The Rev. Dr. James T. Yarsiah, Chaplain/Vicar at Voorhees College and St. Philip's Episcopal Chapel, will represent Voorhees at two events in Seoul, Korea in July.
Fr. Yarsiah will attend the 8th Triennial Conference of Colleges and Universities of the Anglican Communion (CUAC) from July 5-11, 2014; and a Chaplains' Post-Triennial Conference from July 11-13 at the Sungkonghoe University, Seoul, Korea.
The theme of the conference is "Education As Hope: Working Toward Transformation in our Common World." Participants are expected to come from Anglican/Episcopal colleges, universities and seminaries in North and South America, Africa, Asia, Europe and Australia. The conference will focus on topics such as: "Personal Transformation - Developing Student Character and Responsibility;" "Social Transformation - Navigating our Places in a Global and Multi-faith World;" "Ecological Transformation," among others.
Click HERE to view the entire article on the South Carolina Episcopal Church's website.
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Did you know...quick bits of news and knowledge about Voorhees College  - Dr. Xiqiang Zheng, assistant professor of mathematics, was recently a presenter at international reserch conferences in Beijing and Hong Kong.
- Voorhees currently has the highest six-year graduation rate of all HBCUs in South Carolina.
- Voorhees College has a presence on various social media outlets to reach current students, alumni, supporters and potential students. Most recently, Voorhees joined Instagram, the most used photo-based social media app. Connect to VC on all the sites/apps below!
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