SSS Newsletter 6-14-05.pub - Johnson C. Smith University

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Student peers teach USA Funds Life Skills at Johnson C. Smith University
Implementing USA Funds ® financial-literacy program just seemed like the right thing to do,
according to Keisha Ramey, assistant director of financial aid and alumna of Johnson C.
Smith University. She remembers not so long ago what it was like to be a student and worry
about credit-card debt and student loans.
“I saw how important aspects of life management are – balancing work, studies and social
life,” she explained.
Student on the Move
by James Cuthbertson
Lauren Davis a 2004 JCSU graduate from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
has achieved a 3.4 grade point average during her first year at East Tennessee State
University. She is pursuing a Masters degree in Technology Concentration. Hats off to
Lauren!
Surround Yourself with Success at JCSU! Johnson C. Smith University Student Support Services Newsletter
Student Peers Teach USA Fund Life Skills
by James Cuthbertson
When she learned about USA Funds Life Skills ® during a tour of USA Funds’ defaultprevention
operations, Ramey – at that time the university’s default manager and orientation
leader – knew she had to bring the program to the campus. She was pleased to learn that the
program was available at no charge because JCSU is one of the nation’s Historically Black
Colleges and Universities. Since then, Module 5, “Now That You Are About to Graduate:
Taking Control of Your Life,” has been used with graduating seniors the past three years.
Modules 1 and 2, “Get a Grip on Your Finances: Smart Spending for Students” and “Seek
Out Financial Aid: Funding Resources and Financial Obligations” are used in orientation
sessions.
But just recently, nine students – resident advisers and peer mentors – attended a USA Funds
Life Skills Train-the-Trainer workshop. The group is teaching Modules 1-4; for the resident
advisers. It is part of the mandatory workshops they are required to do in their dorms. A
“campus expert,” for example, a default specialist or representative from student support services,
assists the peer counselors at the sessions. At the end of each session, they review information
about financial-aid issues. More than 100 students have attended sessions.
“Students will listen to other students before they listen to us. Students relate the information
in terms their peers can understand. Teaching USA Funds Life Skills not only helps those
attending the sessions but it also helps the student facilitators with hands-on experience and
knowledge,” Ramey explained.
One student is teaching USA Funds Life Skills to meet community-service requirements in
his fraternity. Crystal Gavin, a peer mentor this spring, is excited about becoming a resident
adviser and using the program on the floor in her dorm next fall.
“I’m really looking forward to doing the program every month in the freshmen dorms. The
time-management information will give them insight to help them through the first semester
and really, their first year. I presented the same information in a speech class and got a lot of
comments that it was very informative. I’m excited about presenting the program next fall!”
Gavin said.
Flyers and e-mails are used to promote the sessions. Ramey believes participants are spreading
the word to others on campus.
SSS Highlights:
continued...
Gadsden, LaToya Jackson, LaSherise
Simpson
Pi Delta Tau Education: LaQuanda
Higgins
Alpha Lambda Delta Freshmen: Brandy
Brown, Suvondra Brown, Shana Collins,
Sheena Dennison, Torris Flenor, GregoryGatewood,
Terri Harris, Jeffrey
Hunt, Christina Moody, Anneshia Perry,
and Iviance Smith.
Johnson C. Smith University’s Andre
Kelly, a member of Student Support
Services was selected to receive a scholarship
during the opening ceremony of
the 19 th National Minority College Golf
Championship at the PGA Historical
Center in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
The freshman from Washington, D.C.,
received a $2,500 grant from representatives
of State Farm Insurance Company.
The National Minority College Golf
Scholarship Fund grant recipient won
the Scholarship May 5 th .
What is Student
Support Services?
The mission of the Student Support
Services (SSS) Program provides opportunities
for academic development,
assists students with basic college requirements,
and serves to motivate students
toward the successful completion of their
post-secondary education.
The goal of the Office of Student
Support Services is to accomplish its mission
through providing services that increase
college retention and graduation
rates of its participants and facilitates the
process of transition from one level of
higher education to the next.
Activities include academic advising,
personal counseling, tutorial services,
peer mentoring and career exploration,
disability accommodations, exposure to
cultural events, graduate and professional
school exploration and grant aid to Pell
eligible recipients.
At Johnson C. Smith University,
Disability Services operates under the auspices
of Student Support Services, which
provides a multiplicity of services.
SSS Highlights:
On Friday, January 28, Student Support
Services prepared for a visit to The Levine
Museum of the New South and the
Blue Restaurant.
Preparation for the trip began with an
etiquette dining session in the Family
Dollar Room on Thursday, January 27.
Student Support Services participants
arrived and listened intently to the well
received tips on dining that were given
by Ms. Deborah Armstrong of the Blue
Restaurant.
Then on Friday, the trip downtown
started at The Levine Museum of the
New South, a place brimming with the
history of old Charlotte including the
African American neighborhoods of
Cherry and Brooklyn.
Complete replicas of Highland Mills
provided glimpses of the cotton industry
in the region.
The evening was capped by a wonderful
dinner at the Blue Restaurant.
The Disability Awareness Workshop/
Faculty Appreciation Day on February
11 focused on informing the faculty of
successful practices used by students
with disabilities and showing the faculty
how much the students in Student Support
Services appreciate them.
Daunte Bruce, Terri Harris, Ryan Neely
and Delora Turner discussed everything
from questions of transition from high
school to college to good note taking
and making teachers aware of techniques
that could enhance the learning
process.
During the session from 11 a.m. to
noon. At noon, a lavish spread of refreshments
and drinks were provided for
the faculty and staff.
On Tuesday, April 12, the Eighteenth
Annual Johnson C. Smith University
Honors Convocation was held in the
Jane M. Smith Memorial Church.
At the 10 am ceremony several Student
Support Services students were honored.
The big awards went to Steve Allen,
Kera Carter, Indya Davis, Casarae Gibson,
Ashley Greene, Travis Hentz, Tyrell
Hughes, Ashley Greene, Jamaal
Griffin, Ryan Neely, and Donna Paul.
SSS Banquet Senior Recognition continued…
Then a musical tribute featuring McNair Scholar and rising sophomore Taurus Turner and
Steven Hanks from Zeb Vance High School was performed. “Your lives are predestined, but
you determine your destiny,” he quoted.
The program followed with a tribute to seniors by Correa McCoppin in the form of a
slide show and a poem by Casarae Gibson.
One of the highlights of the night was a selection from “The Miseducation of
Lauryn Hill” by Amber Murray and Joshua Fleming. Both are members of the JCSU choir.
Receiving senior awards were Steve Allen, Alexis Bibbs, Daunte Bruce, Kayla
Clark, Ronisha Cody, Coyia Curry, Indya Davis, Tia Dixon, Frederick Engram, Carol Gerald,
Reginald Goins, Travis Hentz, John Holmes, Tyrell Hughes, Khalila Islam, LaVonya James,
Jarvis Jones, Veronica Johnson, and Nubia Jones.
Also Charla Jordan, Thasaian Jordan, Ruth Lazarre, Nicole Mallory, Charra Moore,
Kevin Moore, Christopher Parker, Donna Paul, Sandra Ramsey, Derrick Spearman, Jannice
Stratton, Paige Waymer, Jamie Wilder, and Colene Wright.
December graduates will include Jimmy Bean, Terrence Daniels, Curtis Dorsey,
Alisha Felder, Jimmia Hart, Amber Hymes, Shekia Johnson, Larry Ledbetter, Ryan Neely,
Michael Nelson, Jr., Adrine Pettaway, Brian Richards, Shakima Ruffin, Delora Turner, and
Darwin Wilmore.
These awards were given by Mr. Saunders, Ms. Devonia Jackson (Office Assistant),
and Mr. James Cuthbertson (Disability Specialist).
The SSS seniors gave Mrs. Jones, Mr. Saunders, Ms. Jackson, and Mr. Cuthbertson
gifts of appreciation.
Former SSS Director Cathy Jones had closing remarks. “You were born for and with
a purpose,” said Mrs. Jones. “Seek to find your passion in life. You are living proof that determination
and hard work will pay off. What a blessing it has been for me to watch you go
from diapers to degrees. We hope throughout your JCSU educational experience that we have
not only taught you how to make a living, but also how to live.” The
hosts and hostesses of the evening were Lionel Johnson, Marcus Lyles, Kyeshia Carter, Terri
Harris, Veronica Jones, Erica Lockhart, Brandi Laribo, and Antoine Singleton.
Trip to Biltmore Estate
by James Cuthbertson
Who says there aren’t castles in America?
The Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina is the largest, private residence
ever built in the United States. It contains 250 rooms, 34 family and guest bedrooms, 65 fireplaces,
three kitchens and an indoor swimming pool. Built by George Washington Vanderbilt,
it opened on Christmas Eve in 1895.
Who was George Vanderbilt? He was the grandson of ‘The Commodore’ Cornelius
Vanderbilt; Vanderbilt University is named for him and a member of a family with a vast
fortune in shipping and railroads.
Poughkeepsie, New York’s Jallah Rouse said, “It was a beautiful estate. The ornate
architecture introduced a lot of style to the house.”
Antoine Singleton, sophomore from Charleston, said “The rooms were set up very
nicely and the art was great.”
“It was like something I have never seen before,” said Kyeshia Carter. “The library
and the collection of over 10,000 volumes in it were remarkable.”
Jokingly, she said, “But the beds were small.” This was after her tour of the resting
areas for the Vanderbilt family.
Fortunately, we all had the opportunity to view the Christmas Show.
The elaborate layout, design and Christmas decorations impressed Correa McCoppin.
“Every room had a Christmas scene in them!”
The tour began at the entrance hall, followed by a tour of the winter garden featuring
the center fountain sculpture ‘Boy Stealing Geese’ by Karl Bitter. The students passed
through the billiards room followed by a visit to the banquet hall and the breakfast room.
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