Kids get formal dining experience
BY LAYLA GARMS
THE CHRONICLE .
Winston-Salem State University stu
dent leaders shared a meal and tips for
future success with fourth-graders at
Ashley IB Magnet Elementary last week.
The program - which included an eti
quette lesson before the three-course meal
was served - was part of the university's
ongoing effort to build bridges in the com
munity, according to RaVonda Dalton
Rann, executive assistant to WSSU's
chancellor.
Aramark, which is charged with pro
viding dining services at WSSU,provided
the meal WSSU Rams like Jarius Miles, a
sophomore psychology major and mem
ber of the Campus Activities Board, pro
vided examples of student success and
guided the table talk.
"I like younger kids and helping them
grow in life," Miles, 19, gave as his moti
vation for volunteering for the program.
The Henderson native shared a table
with six youngsters. Miles believes the
decorum tips he helped to impart will
serve the kids well.
"You always want to have some style
and class about yourself," he said. "I think
that's important."
Dontia "Tia" Barrett. WSSU's Miss
Sophomore, said she jumped at the chance
to take part.
"I love to give back," said Barrett, the
junior class president-elect. "I love com
munity service, and when they told me
about this opportunity to help out. 1 was
really excited because 1 love kids as well."
Having volunteered at the Boys &
Girls Club in her native Durham. Barrett
was right at home with the children, many
of whom stopped to hug her before leav
ing the dinner. Barrett said she is hopeful
she will get another opportunity to work
with the students at Ashley.
"I really love the environment, just
being with the kids and getting to teach
them things and practice being a role
model for them," she related. "It felt
good."
Board of Education Member Victor
"Vic" Johnson was among the invited
guests who attended the dinner, which
was held in the school's music room.
Johnson is also a WSSU Trustee. He
worked alongside Dalton-Rann to help
establish the partnership with Ashley
Principal Mark Hairston, who took the
helm at the predominantly black and
brown school at the start of the 2013-14
school year.
"I'm impressed." Johnson, a WSSU
alumnus, said about the gathering. "...We
needed to reach back."
I
Hairston said the presence of WSSU
students and officials at Ashley sends a
positive message to his students.
"I think activities like this show our
children that people cafe - the community
cares, the universities care - and this is
evidence of that right here," he stated. "To
me, it's all about relationships, connecting
our children to see what they can do."
Ashley also partners with Wake Forest
University, which provides support for the
school's Saturday Explorers Academy.
Hairston said the partnerships are part of a
concerted effort he is making to expand
his students' horizons and broaden the
school's support network.
"I think kids in this community and
the community as a whole are going to
know that universities like WSSU and
Wake Forest, they are a part of the futures
of these children, so they won't be
strangers in this building. They won't be
strangers in this community, they won't
be strangers to our children," he said,
adding that he hopes some of his students
will someday matriculate to the two uni
versities.
Janus Miles with Ashley students (clockwise, from left, Melanye Arellates, Betzy
Leon, McKenna Jones, Ronald Sanders, Erik Bernal and Itzel Cisneros.
Phoios by Layla (iarms
(Above) Dontia "Tia" Barrett with (from
left) Malayshia Owens, Nazosheona
Nichols, Ayana Butts and Aniyah Wright.
(Left) RaVonda Dalton-Rann with Board
of Education Member Vic Johnson (left)
and Principal Mark Hairston.
Oakes
from page AI
"It's actually been more than what 1
expected, just receiving praise and recog
nition in places that 1 never imagined,"
she related. "1 can go out of town and
people will recognize me from seeing my
picture."
Oakes enjoys informal mentoring
relationships with several high school
students outside the city, some of whom
are now considering attending WSSU as
, , a result of her
guidance. She
has also been
involved in sev
eral local initia
tives, address
ing youth in a
variety of pro
grams. She is
even slated to
return to
Mineral Springs
Elementary,
where she
attended as a
girl, to deliver
the commence
ment speech at
its upcoming
WSSl Pliolo b> (iarreti Harms
Vanity Oakes holds
her crown.
fifth grade grad
uation.
"That's been the best feeling that 1
ever felt in my life, how I can have an
impact on somebody's life without ever
meeting them," she said. . .1 just want to
be a positive voice, someone that they
can talk to."
Oakes says she is humbled by the
admiration and support she has been
afforded as Miss WSSU. She is hopeful
that her family of alumni, fellow students
and community supporters will come
together one more time and cast their
votes to help her win the Miss HBCU
crown.
"This will bring national recognition
to not just our institution but our city as
well," she noted. "I would just love to
represent our city and our institution to
the fullest extent. 1 just want to do as
much as I can to represent the best 1 can."
Royal Court Advisor Orlando
Mitchell said Oakes has done a "remark
able" job of representing the urtiversity."
Mitchell, who holds a place in his
alma mater's history as the first-ever Mr.
Livingstone College, believes Oakes has
what it takes to win the coveted Ebony
HBCU Queens cover.
"1 think Ebony would benefit by hav
ing Vanity as their face," he said. "
Voting for the Ebony HBCU Campus
Queens Contest is open now. Oakes' bio
and promotional video can be found at
www.ebonyxrom/campusqueens/153.
1
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