Salem College welcomes
historic number of freshmen
Women's
institution
welcomes largest
group of incom
ing students in
245-year history
BYTEVIN STINSON
THE CHRONICLE
At a place in time when
women's colleges are see
ing a decline in enrollment,
Salem College, the oldest
operating educational insti
tution for girls and women
in the United States, wel
comed the largest class of
freshmen in the school's
history last weekend.
To help usher in a new
era in the institution's rich
245-year history, alumnae
and current students volun
teered to help the freshmen
class of 200 students move
in on Saturday, Aug. 20.
While usually reserved for
sleeping in, dozens of vol
unteers spent their
Saturday morning hauling
boxes of clothes, refrigera
tors and pieces of furniture
into dorm rooms.
Other volunteers, such
as 2014 graduate Julianne
Still, were on hand to net
work with students and
give them valuable infor
mation' on college life at
Salem. Still, who is a board
member for Salem College
Alumnae Association, said
it is important that alumnae
engage with incoming stu
dents early because they
have a responsibility to
show them the way.
"We are trying to start
the relationship early
because that's where the
full college experience will
come from," Still said.
Still mentioned that
when she enrolled in 2010,
she was part of the biggest
class in school history. She
said the class of 2020 is a .
testament to all the hard
work and dedication by
Salem faculty and staff.
"It's cool that Dean
Katherine Knapp Watts has
leveraged the community
in recruitment as we con
tinue to grow," she said.
"We are thriving, and it's
great to be a part of that ."
Incoming freshman
Taylor Smith, who plans to
major in exercise science
said, she is excited to see
what life will be like at
Salem. A native of Virginia,
Smith said she felt wel
comed when she was met
by a host of upperclassman
and alumni when she
arrived in Winston-Salem.
"I don't really know a
lot of people in N.C. but,
the campus really has the
homey kind of feel," she
said.
When asked what she
hopes to get out of her
experience at Salem, Smith
said, "I want to build my
leadership skills and confi
dence as a person. I also
hope to get a lot of intern
ships that will prepare me .
for my future."
Following move-in day,
incoming students partici
pated in a number of ses
sions, workshops, and
other activities designed to
build relationships, and
prepare students for the
long, and at times stressful
journey that is college.
The first day for stu
dents at Salem College was
Wednesday, Aug. 24.
Volunteers help incoming freshman Taylor Smith
move her belongings into her dorm room during
move-in day at Salem College on Saturday, Aug. 20.
A native of Virginia, Smith plans to major in exer
cise science.
From 'lambs' to 'Rams'
BYTEVIN STINSON
THE CHRONICLE
Last weekend more
than 900 young people
from various parts of the
state transitioned from
"lambs" to "Rams" on the
campus of Winston-Salem
State University (WSSU)
during the "Through the
Archway Ceremony." An
annual tradition, the cele
bration officially marks the
beginning of the coUege
journey for incoming fresh
men.
The rite of passage also
ends Ramdition, a week
long orientation designed
help students transition into
college life and adulthood.
To begin the program, first
year students participated
in Ram Walk, a ceremony
where students march
through the stone archways
on campus, erected in 1936
to honor of Oleona Pegram
Atkins, the wife of WSSU
founder Simon Green
Atkins.
While walking behind
university officials, faculty
and staff, elected officials,
and Legacy Leaders (mem
bers of SGA), the class of
2020 was filled with joy
V
and excitement.
"It feels good to finally
be a Ram," smiled Naomi
Isaac from Charlotte.
She said although she
was nervous at first, as
soon as she stepped foot on
campus she felt right at
home. Isaac noted the
advice she received from
university administrators
and upperclassman during
Ramdition has fully pre
pared her for the first day
of classes, which began on
Monday, Aug. 22.
"The support has just
been amazing," she said.
"I've met some really great
people and got some really
good advice on what the
first year will be like. It
feels good to know that the
people here really care."
Donald Vanderhall
from Greensboro said,
"I've been looking forward
to this day for a long time,
and now that it's finally
here, it feels unreal."
During the procession
al, more than 2,000 rela
tives, friends, loved ones,
and even a number of
alumni lined the walkways
of the yard to welcome the
newest edition to the fami
ly. While holding a sign
Cook
from page Al
schedule changes will give
students more than a
month's time for extra
learning. Principal Paula
Wilkins said the goal is to
decrease the learning off
time the students experi
ence during both breaks,
and summer.
"The fact that we are
getting more than a
month's time of additional
instruction is just great,"
Wilkins said.
When school board
officials first announced
that Cook would be adopt
ing the federal Restart
model earlier this summer,
they received a lot of back
lash from parents who
were concerned about the
changes. Many parents
argued that they were not
being told what was going
to happen to the school. At
one point, parents even
mentioned they heard
rumors that the school was
going to close.
While admitting they
still have to build more
trust with parents, Wilkins
noted administrators have
been working hard to con
nect with parents, and
other stakeholders by host
ing informational sessions
designed to let the parents
know how the school
would operate and to
receive feedback.
"We understand that it
takes a village to raise a
child," said Wilkins.
"That's why we have spent
the entire summer connect
ing with students. We've
made phone calls and even
visited homes.
"We want our students
here at Cook to know we
c?re about them when they
are at school and at home."
Cook parent James
Thomas said although he
had his doubts about the
Restart model, after seeing
how much effort was put in
over the break, he is confi
dent that Cook will
improve.
To wrap-up the sum
mer, Cook held a back-to
school cookout during
open house for students
and their parents. After
meeting their new teachers,
each student was given a
backpack filled with
school supplies. On the
first day of school, most
stu
dents
walked
into
classes
with a
smile
on their
faces,
greetei
1 Wilkins
by teachers they have
already seen multiple times
over the summer.
Although the effort is
still in the early stages,
Superintendent Beverly
Emory is a strong believer
that things will turn
around. She noted after
seeing students, teachers,
parents and others interact
during open house and on
the first day of school, she
knows officials made the
right decision to adopt the
Restart model.
"Last week at open
house, you couldn't move
because all of the parents,
family, and community
members who were there
to support the students,"
continued Emory. "After
seeing the support they
received, I knew we made
the right decision. I am
excited to see what the
future holds for Cook."
honoring the class of 1994,
Althea Scott said she felt it
was her duty to help wel
come the largest group of
freshman since 2008.
"1 think I may have
been the loudest person
here," laughed Scott. "I
remember my own ceremo
ny and I just wanted the
incoming freshmen to
know that they have the
full support of the alumni."
The march ended at the
K. R. Williams Auditorium
where Chancellor Elwood
Robinson and SGA
President Mona Zahir and
others addressed the sea of
students that filled every
seat in the bottom portion '
of the auditorium.
"You are coming to a
very special place. A place
unlike anything you have
ever seen or experienced,"
said Robinson. "We wel
come you to Winston
Salem State University."
Robinson said WSSU
sits on an amazing platform
that is guided by principles
laid down by the founder in
1892. He also briefly dis
cussed the new strategic
plan adopted earlier this
year that is designed to pre
pare students for a world
that doesn't even exist yet.
"Those principles give
us the motivation, strength,
and drive to do the work we
do here every day," he con
tinued. "When you leave
here you will be designers
of a new world order.
"We stand ready to pro
vide each student with an
education like none other,"
Robinson said.
Next, Zahir talked
about the WSSU experi
ence and the importance of *
taking advantage of all the
opportunities that the
HBCU has to offer. She
said what she loves most
about WSSU is that you
don't need a title to be a
leader.
"I'm so proud to be a
part of a university that
allows us to grow and culti
vate ourselves in a way that
fits us best," she noted.
"All the resources you need
to be successful are right
here at this school."
Before leaving the
stage, Zahir challenged the
freshman class to follow
their passion.
"Don't be afraid of
something you can't see.
You guys are the class of
2020 for a reason; take this
experience and go beyond
the classroom. Find knowl
edge and intellect in every
thing that you find."
When asked about the
expectations for the incom
ing class of freshmen.
Provost and .Assistant
Chancellor Brenda Allen
said, "When I look at 2020,
I want a class that goes on
to change the world.
"I want them to go on
and do things that are out
side of the box and com
pete globally," she said. "If
Photo by Tevia Stmaon
On Saturday, Aug, 20, the incoming class of freshmen at Winston-Salem State University participated in
the annual "Through the Archway Ceremony," which marks the beginning of the college journey. The
Ram Walk was part of the ceremony.
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