Page 8
December 2005
The AC Phoenix
Brittany Glenn
People To People
Student Ambassador
Brittany Glenn
My name is Brittany Glenn, and I am in
the llth-grade at Mt. Tabor High School in
Winston-Salem. I was recently interviewed
and accepted to participate as a member of
the People To People Student Ambassador
Program to in England this summer. The
objective of the program is to promote
international understanding while building
leadership skills among America’s youth.
The 20-day experience includes meetings
with government officials, interaction with
other students my age, educational activities, and home stays with
host families.
I am currently seeking donations to help me with tuition, and hope I
can count on your support. In case you haven’t heard of People To
People, please allow me to share some history with you. President
Dwight D. Eisenhower founded the organization in 1956. He believed
that if people from different cultures could come together in peace and
friendship, so eventually would countries. Since it’s founding. People
To People has launched many international programs, including Sister
Cities, Project Hope and Pen Pals.
People To People student ambassadors are carefully interviewed
and evaluated before their acceptance and I am honored to have been
selected. Personally, I am looking forward to broadening my perspec
tives of the world, which will help me further my education by letting me
experience other parts of the world. My goals are to graduate High
School and attend Howard University where I will receive a degree in
medicine. I am an honor student and have a GPA of 3.75. Upon my
return, I plan to share my experience with schools and civic groups in
our community. As an ambassador, I can also earn high school and
college credit because of the many educational elements in my
program.
The program tuition is $5,500, which includes all transportation,
accommodations, meals and educational activities. Is it possible for
you to assist me by making a donation? Any amount of donations
would be appreciated. I will be sending each contributor a postcard
while I am on my trip.
Please make checks payable to Brittany Glenn. If you have any
questions, please contact me at (336) 399-9674. Your generous
donations would enable me to share in this wonderful opportunity.
Thank you for your support.
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NEWSPAPER IN THE Triad.
Kwanzaa Symbols
Honor
Kwanzaa
Symbols Honor Past And
Celebrate Future
Family, community responsibility,
commerce and self-improvement—these
traditional African values are important to
many African-Americans and the focus
of Kwanzaa, a seven-day celebration
observed by millions each year.
Kwanzaa, which means “first fruits of the
harvest’’ in the African language
Kiswahili, encourages people to honor
their African roots and reflect on their
present-day lives. Founded by Dr.
Maulana Karenga in 1966, this event is
celebrated from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1.
Kwanzaa is based on Nguzo Saba,
seven guiding principles: Umoja (unity),
Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima
(collective work and responsibility),
Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia
(purpose), Kuumba (creativity), and Imani
(faith). It is a time for African-Americans
to come together and work toward a bet
ter future, while remembering their past.
When observing Kwanzaa, it is
important for family members to select a
central place in their home where they
will celebrate. This area should be dec
orated in black, red and green, the colors
of Kwanzaa. Black represents the
African-American people, red represents
their struggle, and green represents the
future and hope that comes from their
struggle. The basic symbols of the
celebration are:
•Mazao (crops)—Fruits and
vegetables represent the African harvest
celebrations and the rewards of produc
tive and collective labor.
•Mkeka (mat)—A place mat symbolizes
tradition and history and, therefore, the
foundation on which African-Americans
build their lives.
•Muhindi (corn)—Ears of corn repre
sent African American children and their
future.
•Kikombe cha umoja (unity cup)—
This is symbolic of the principle and
practice of unity, which makes all else
possible.
•Zawadi (gifts)—Presents symbolize
the labor and love of parents and the
commitments made and kept by the
children.
•Kinara (candleholder)—Symbolizes
African roots and the cultures connection
to their parents.
•Mishumaa saba or seven candles—
These candles, one black, three red and
three green, represent the Nguzo Saba.
Each day, one of the seven
principles should be recited while the
symbolic candle is being lit. Then,
family members should tell what that
principle means to them. Not only can
this help people to reflect on the past
and look toward the future, but it also
can bring their family and community
closer together.
Many Students Missing
Opportunities For
Financial Aid
Hundreds Of Thousands Of
College Students Missing
Out because They Don’t Apply
By: Jim Brown
A new study says hundreds of
thousands of college students who may
be eligible for federal financial aid don’t
get it for a simple reason: they don’t
apply for it.
The study comes from the American
Council on Education (ACE), which
represents colleges and universities.
It says half of undergraduates
enrolled in 1999-2000 at institutions
participating in federal student aid
programs did not complete the Free
Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA).
And 850,000 of those students,
according to the study, would have been
eligible for a Pell Grant.
Jackie King, director of the ACE’s
Center for Policy Analysis, says while
she has no hard data on why students
choose not to pursue financial aid, she
does have some hypotheses.
“Despite all of our efforts in colleges
and in high schools, there are still
students out there who aren’t aware that
this money is available. So we’ve got
some more work to do there,’’ King says.
“We also think that there are quite a
few students who are simply misin
formed about who’s eligible and assume
that whatever money may be out there,
it’s not for [them]; it’s for somebody
else.’’
King says a final group of students is
put off by having to fill out a fairly com
plicated government form.
She recommends students and
families overcome those self-imposed
obstacles and fill out the FAFSA in order
to find out the aid for which they are
eligible.
“It is possible that you won’t qualify
for grant assistance. You may only
qualify for sfudent loans,” she explains.
“But these days the interest rates on
student loans are at historical levels. So,
while a loan may not be your first choice,
it’s not a bad choice for many students.”
She encourages parents to contact
the financial aid office at their children’s
school to get a sense of what is
available.
“Vital assistance is available and no
student should pass on the opportunity
to receive that aid because he or she is
misinformed, lacks the necessary
information, or is unable to navigate
through the financial aid
process,” King says.
According to the study,
two-thirds of community college
students did not complete a
FAFSA in 1999-2000.
By comparison, only 13
percent of students at private for-
profit institutions failed to do so.