Newspapers / Bennett College Student Newspaper / Jan. 27, 1978, edition 1 / Page 7
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FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 1978 THE BENNETT BANNER Page Seven Gave up Research for Advanced Study Biology Major Didn’t Intend to Teach by Sharon L. Sanders Being a high school teacher was by no means what Lucy H. Howell McCorkle, ’61, had in mind while she was at Bennett College or even in graduate school at Atlanta University. Teaching was “low” on her list of priorities for a career. Mrs. McCorkle was prepared for teach ing in chemistry, biology, and other sciences, but also for re search, medical school, pharmacy school, dentistry school, and other allied medical professions. Her goal was to become a re search scientist, and she did a- chieve her goal. She was a re search biologist in neurological diseases and blindness at the Na tional Institutes of Health (N.I.H.). after graduation from Bennett. After completing her graduate study at Atlanta University she was offered a teaching position in biology and chemistry with the Washington, D. C. public school system and decided to give it a try. In June of 1978 Mrs. McCorkle will have completed 16 years of teaching at Francis L. Cardozo Senior High School in Washington. Mrs. McCorkle gives the follow ing advice to Bennett Belles on career selection: “Select a career in a field where there are great employment demands. Teachers will always be needed but the number needed is on the decrease due to a decline in the birth rate. To select a career is to make a big decision but do not narrow your preparation to the point where your employment possibil ities will be limited. Dance Therapist Was Banner Sports Editor (Continued from Page 6) the tracks; pledging Delta Sigma Theta; being a senior; student teaching; vesper services; her first day on campus; being the junior and senior class president; being in the centennial class of Btennett; the post office; and finally, the bowling alley. While attending Bennett, Eliza beth was sports editor for the Banner and worked for the year book staff. She was also president of the PEMM club—physical ed ucation majors and minors — in 1972. Elizabeth commented on the changes that have taken place since her graduation from Bennett, “I believe in tradition, upon which Bennett was founded; and al though I like to see the new logo on the Belle Ringer, I think we should have kept the bell. And you can tell my soror, Myra Davis, that I said so.” Elizabeth feels that it is pos sible to reconcile marriage with a career although she herself is not presently married. Elizabeth said, “The idea of marriage is chang ing now, and people want differ ent things. Roles are changing and people want working partners.” Elizabeth added, “I think educated people can get married and still be very independent as far as pro fessionalism goes and can be de pendent on each other when they need to.” Elizabeth said, “My four years at Bennett were beautiful. I en joyed going to a small Methodist college. It was more like a family type of atmosphere. If I have any children. I’d want them to attend Bennett too.” The advice Elizabeth gives to the present Bennett students in preparing for their careers is, “Al ways keep in mind that you want to go to graduate school. It will more than likely put you in the direction that you have in mind. Undergraduate school is the first step. It is not until you finish that, that you realize there is a gigantic world to conquer.” “If a student is interested in teaching biology or chemistry she should enroll in everything possi ble, over and above chemistry, biology, physics and mathematics. The employment market in teach ing science today is favorable for a ijerson capable and prepared to teach more than one or two sciences. Many modern high school curricula are based on the interdisciplinary approach.” When asked what gave her mo tivation to succeed she said, “My parents and the confidence and encouragement of my instructors.” Some teachers Mrs. McCorkle wiU never forget are Mr. Young, Mr. Allen and Dr. Sayles. Mr. Young encouraged her to continue with graduate school. She said, “The chemistx'y labs especially seemed endless.” The philosophy that has guided her life is “Make tomorrow a bet ter day. Today becomes yesterday and is gone forever.” Mrs. McCorkle’s most vivid memory while at Bennett was when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. visited. She said thousands of peo ple were all over the campus. She also remembered the Sunday chapel services. When asked if she felt her race or sex had been a handicap, an advantage, or of no significance in her career, she said, “It was of no significance since the D. C. public schools were approximately 98% Black.” Mrs. McCorkle feels a person can reconcile marriage with a career. She said, “My marirage and family provide me with the relaxation needed on some days after teaching.” When asked if she would choose Bennett if she had to do it all over again she replied “YES! ! !” Math Grads Have Successful Careers Lucy McCorkle at work in her school laboratory. by Mattie E. Moss Bennett mathematics grad uates have pursued successful careers in such fields as actu arial science, secondary school and college teaching, compu ter programming and re search. Many Bennett math ematics alumnae have obtain ed advanced degrees in math ematics or related fields. Among those recent grad uates who have received or are working toward advanced degrees are Queen Wiggs, ’70, who earned an M.S. from Howard University; Shirley Sellers, ’72, with an M.S. from Johns Hopkins; Karen Hamp ton Wingfield and Bessie Tarpley, ’74, who both receiv ed M.A. degrees from Smith College; Judy Smith, ’75, who earned an M.A. degree from the University of Idaho; and Thorna Humphries, ’77, who is presently studying at Mass achusetts Institute of Tech nology. Some recent graduates em ployed in the teaching profes sion are Tresca Mitchell Byrd, English Major Is College Professor Overcoming Handicaps Spurs Graduate to Success by Marion Johnson “I have fought hard to be suc cessful in my career by doing the very best I could. In a very great sense, I know I had to do more than the average because I am Black and female.” These are the comments of 1969 Bennett graduate Angelene John son Jamison. Dr. Jamison is cur rently assistant professor of Afro- American literature and drama at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio. Entering Bennett as a math major, Angeline realized during her sophomore year that she pre ferred literature and writing. Thus she changed her major to English. While at Bennett there were many influences, ranging from courses to teachers, which aided Angeline. “All of my courses help ed me, and my entire Bennett ex perience helped prepare me for life. Bennett taught me self-re- spect, discipline and persever ance,” said Angelene. All the teachers at Bennett between 1965- 1969, played a special role in the early graduates’ career prepara tion. But there are those that de serve special thanks: Mrs. Shirley Frye, Dr. Virginia Tucker, Rev. and Mrs. Addo and Dr. Breathett. When asked to comment on her most vivid memories of Bennett Angeline replied, “I remember many things, from the beauty of Founder’s Day and chapel on Sun days and weekdays to my classes in French, American literature, religion and history. I even re member staying an hour after P.E. class in order to learn how to do a headstand!” Listening to some girls on cam pus you would get the impression that Bennett is not helping them prepare adequately for the career of their choice. On the contrary, this is not the attitude of Dr. Jamison. “I learned to appreciate the sig nificance of a teacliing career to the development of the whole person. I learned discipline, per severance and how to work hard. I also learned how to be a good teacher by emulating those good teachers at Bennett at the time.” After completing her years at Bennett, Angeline attended grad uate school and went on to get her doctorate. Bennett’s teachings remained with her throughout her continuing education. “At Bennett, we were expected to excel, we were taught to per form weU and to continue to make contributions in our chosen field. Another very important thing is that the faculty provided us with the training necessary to pursue graduate education.” With economic and employment changes happening daily in our society, good advice in choosing a career as well as preparing for one is good to have. In offering tips to be successful Angelene said, “Choose the career in which you are most interested, the one in wliich you feel you can make the most contribution. I think another important factor is the market value of the career. “Take advantage of all the op portunities available to learn a- bout the chosen career. Take extra courses, attend conferences and by all means study hard. Ask your teachers to provide you with any pertinent information on the ca reer and keep your grades as high as possible.” For those ladies striving for a career in the same or a similar field as Angelene, she says, “If you are planning to teach in col lege, be prepared to go to graduate school. Keep your grades up in order to be admitted to graduate school. Read widely and take ev ery opportunity to improve writ ing skills. Practice discipline and good study habits.” Married and the mother of one daughter, Angelene has found it possible to reconcile marriage with her career. Her own experience is demonstrative of this. “It is pos sible if the husband understands, appreciates and participates in the wife’s career and vice versa. There has to be a strong sense of sharing and respect on both sides in order for a career Eind marriage to co exist peacefully.” Motivation has played an im portant role in Angelene‘s success. It stemmed from her own person al desire to succeed, her parents faith and the personal interest of Bennett faculty in her as a student and as a person. Along with the outside influ ences on her life Angelene attri butes her success to her philos ophy of life. “It is difficult to narrow my values into one statement. How ever, the primary ones have been a love of and respect for my par ents, a strong belief in myself and a strong sense of right and wrong. I might also add that faith in God has guided me significantly.” When asked ‘If you had it all to do again, would you choose Ben nett’?, Angelene simply replied, “Yes.” ’71; Pearl Johnson and Mari lyn Williams, ’73; Karen Hampton Wingfield, and Ber tha Scarborough Scott, ’76. Among recent graduates who represent Bennett in government and industry are Shirley Sellers, with Scott Paper Co.; Reba Turner, ’75, with Southern Bell in Atlan ta ; Geraldine Fleming Harper, ’74, with Western Electric in Greensboro, and Barbara Johnson, ’74, with Eastman Kodak in Tennessee. Dr. Dorothy Brown Sets Many Firsts by Sharon L. Sanders Dorothy L. Brown was bom in Philadelphia, Pa. She was placed in TYoy Orphan Asy lum from the time she was five months old until she was 12% years old. At the age of five Dorothy decided she wanted to become a doctor because of the nice treatment she had received while in the hospital. At the age of 14 Dorothy began working as a mother’s helper in Albany, New York. While working there for two years Dorothy took advantage of the large book collection the family owned and she read constantly. Dorothy returned to high school when she was 16 years old. She made known that she wanted to attend college, so the lady she worked for con tacted the Methodist ladies club, and Dorothy was award ed a four-year scholarship to Bennett College. While at Bennett Dorothy majored in science and partic ipated in the orchestra, the choir and the student senate. She graduated from Bennett in 1941. After graduation Dorothy enrolled at Meharry Medici College and got her M.D. de gree in 1948. Dr. Brown did her internship at Harlem Hos pital, New York City from 1948-1949. She did her resi dency in general surgery at George W. Hubbard Hospital, Nashville, Tennessee. Dr. Brown was the first black single female to adopt a child in the state of Tennes see. She was the first black woman general surgeon in the South. And she was also the first black woman to serve in Tennessee State Legislature. Dr. Brown is currently the chief of surgery at Riverside Hospital in Tennessee; she is a trustee of Bennett College; she is the clinical professor of surgery at Meharry Medical College; she is the educational director of Meharry-Riverside Clinical Rotation Program. These are just a few of the many committees and organ izations she is a part of.
Bennett College Student Newspaper
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Jan. 27, 1978, edition 1
7
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