Michael Rogers talks to students about opportunities at Elon.
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Monique Ingram, Chanel Smith and Amanda Bethea talk with Patrice
Mitchell about financial opportunities at Salem College.
Van Wilson tells some students about the physical therapy and nursing
programs at WSSU.
R.J. Reynolds High School is 'Demon Proud'
<. <To just any student walking
the corridors of R.J. Reynolds
High School, "Demon' Proud"
may not have any particular sig
nificance. However, to the 18
ninth-graders and 50 or more
^continuing African-American
students who are enrolled in
higher level math and science
classes, it has a definite mean
ing. R.J. Reynolds High School
sought to address its National
Science Foundation vision by
involving the Student Services
staff and math and science teach
ers in parent-student workshops,
tutoring, study skills sessions,
career exploration activities; a
mini college fair and proftis/^
sional mentoring sessions. It is
the expressed feeling of both the
' staff and students who work with
the program, that the African
adage, "It takes a village to raise
a child" continues to hold its
validity. With willing and tal
ented students, parent empower
ment, a supportive and caring
faculty who provide before- and
after-school tutoring tor their
' students, and with assigned
teacher and staff mentors who
show high expectations tor their
.Students, the Demon Proud par
ticipants are poised for success.
The program's structure pro
using one's strong math and sci
ence aptitude.
During another August men
toring session. Dr. Betty Alexan
der, director of HCOP at Win
ston-Salem State University,
talked to the group about com
munity involvement and volun
teerism as a way to assess one's
career interests. She also dis
cussed lucrative johsvand salaries
that people can ptirsue if they
have well-developed math and
science skills.
Both presenters reempha
sized how high school course
selection broadens one's options
in college admissions, scholar
ships and career choices.
Daphne Floyd, an English
teacher, facilitated a July study
skills workshop and provided
study tips that students can apply
to math and science. Many of the
handouts that were provided to
the participants came from the
students' parents. As important
as the sessions were the
preschool tutorials. The two-day
math-science tutorial involved
generating early schedules for
each participant's 1996-97 math
and science courses and having
faculty review the competence
levels that students would need
for mastery of the new courses.
minority students and families.
Unlike the Post Secondary
Opportunity Sessions, which are
coordinated by the Winston
Salem/Forsyth County School
System, Demon Proud partici
pants had more one-on-one
opportunities to discuss pros and
cons of various college and uni
versity choices. Dr. Wandra Hill,
coordinator for African-Ameri
can student affairs at the College
of Physical and Mathematical
Sciences of NCSU, had three
NCSU students talk about the
contributors to their success.
They reminded students of the
student-faculty African-Ameri
can support system that is in
place to ensure the success of
new students.
Another presenter, Patrice
Mitchell, from Salem College,
discussed what enables a student
to be accepted and then to expe
rience success at Salem.
Rlon College, which was
represented by Michael Rodgers,
a scholarly senior who is a stu
dent member of the Admissions
staff, emphasized survival strate
gies and scholarship opportuni
ties.
Van Wilson, of WSSU, dis
cussed career possibilities in
physical therapy, nursing and
2? . M H M
" ?*?4 H ? * *f 4 ?
X*1 h i V ^
- - *&>?
* * A
Crystal Edmonds recruits interested students to Pembroke.
vides for parent and community
involvement. One parent, Evort
Crooks Sr., a senior chemical
analyst at R.J. Reynolds Tobacco
Company, facilitated a 30
minute workshop during his
lunch break. His workshop
involved the steps one needs to
take to embark on a productive
career, specifically, a career
Faculty and parents have been
very supportive of the program.
Several sources continue to rec
ommend students for inclusion
in this program.
In September, state colleges
and universities were invited to
the campus to discuss their math
science curriculums and to show
how they meet the needs of
math and science areas.
Crystal Edmonds, from
Pembroke State, shared offerings
and opportunities that one can
pursue and the extra support that
staff members and faculty pro
vide for students.
The vast difference between
this Demon Proud Mini Career
Fair and larger ones is that the
- /
Patrice Mitchell discusses requirements and opportunities at Salem College.
I ? ;
Representatives from area colleges participated in the Demon Proud Mini Career hair. Clockwise from upper
left are Michael Rogers of Elon College, Van Wilson of Winston-Salem State University, Crystal Edmonds of
the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, Patrice Mitchell of Salem College, and l)r. Wandra Hill of
North Carolina State University.
focus was on math and science
majors, financial opportunities,
and opportunities for parents to
talk and learn about the schools.
All participants are now receiv
ing college information and may
very well be recruited to these
schools.
To provide an opportunity
for parent participation, work
shops are held on Sunday after
noons. For the month of October,
three professionals were invited
to talk about their qareers in
physical therapy: Onuwa Terry, a
physical therapist with High
Point Regional and a
consultant/lecturer; Robert
Woodruff, a chemist from Ciba
Textile Products and a lecturer;
and Denise Lewis, a third-year
medical student who attends
Bowman Gray School of Medi
cine. This panel talked about
their professions, opportunities
for African Americans, salaries,
etc. The presentation was fol
lowed by student-generated
questions.
The element which makes
the Demon Proud program out
standing is the enthusiasm it
evokes from faculty members,
parents, counselors and partici
pants. Students and parents arc
asking the question: What is this
Demon Proud thing? The answer
is, it is the way the National Sci
ence grant is interpreted at R.J.
Reynolds to encourage diversity
in upper-level math and science
courses and related post sec
ondary careers/ majors. It moti
vates students to use their innate
math and science aptitudes and
inspires parents to become
involved in their children's total
education. Public feeder schools.
Hanes, Wiley, and Cook, were
for the promise to African
American students to success
fully complete upper-level
courses in the academic fields ol
mathematics and science."
Pa re n t - Te ac h e r conferences
u
Saundra Amos talks to students and parents about the Demon Proud
Program.
instrumental in identifying
prospective participants, provid
ing standardized test scores,
grades, and demographic infor
mation so that the program could
make contact as early as July
The Demon Proud vision
appears as wide and varied as the
imaginations of the Re>nolds'
village of parents, educational
consultants, teachers and staff,
and the students.
A spokesperson for the pro
gram said, "Demon Proud stands
are highh encouraged: alter
school tutoring is pnmded after
3 p.m. in addition to the math
and science tutoring, which is
done via the departments
The Demon Proud tall activ
ities will c o n c 1 u d e w 11 h a
November parenting evaluation
session using resources pros ided
b\ the National PTA and pub
lished b\ Hbon\. and a Decem
ber peer mentoring session tor
students
Debate addresses Referendum
from page 1
discipline problems.
Parents will choose these
innovative schools tor safety
and for the lack of disruptions,
he said.
Ward agrees that discipline
is a problem.
"Discipline is the most
pressing concern." he said. ^
Ward said if elected/ne
will restore a sense of order
while creating a system to
restructure the student, which
will change their behavior.
Another hot topic was
teacher pay.
Ward said his three Rs will
keep teachers happy
Ward believes the system
should recruit, retain, and
reward teachers financially.
"1 am committed to getting
us to the national salary aver
age." Ward said.
Robinson challenged
Ward's remark. sa\ing "The
fourth Rs is reality!"
He said that administra
tions do not back teachers
because of the threat of getting
sued. Robinson said that char
ter schools will take care of
this problem, as well <is boost
teacher morale.
Throughout the debate,
each candidate tried to corner
his opponent b\ questioning
his sense of integrit>
While Robinson ques
tioned the issue of personnel
officials using taxpayer dollars
to support Ward. Ward accused
Robinson of name calling and
questioned his abilits to
inspire.
In his closing statement.
Robinson admonished the cur
rent s\stcm for catering to
politicians and bureaucrats.
"Cii\e power to the par
ents. so thes can choose."
Robinson said.
Robinson said he wants
safe, orderly, disciplined
schools that are consistent with
\ allies
"Ms opponent leeU he
knosss hoss to host educate
your child. 1 tee 1 the parents
knoss best.*' Robinson said
Ward pointed to the major
differences in the campaigns in
his closing statement
"1 am the on Is candidate
ssith a successful career ssork
ing ssith public schools. I sup
port the Bond Referendum I
ssant real reform, not abandon
ment ot public schoo's Vhese
standards ssill gam endorse*
ments," Ward said