?Submitted Photos
The local group
poses with
Dikembe Mutombo
(above) andjacqui
Carpenter and
WSSU leaders
(right).
Local kids enjoy excitement
of CIAA Tournament
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
New CIAA Commissioner Jacqui Carpenter applauded longtime C1AA
Tournament volunteers Ben Piggott and Robert Chadwick for year-after-year bringing
a fresh crop of ball boys and ball girls from Winston-Salem to assist during games.
Piggott, .the director of the
Carl Russell Recreation Center,
and Chadwick brought 60 kids to
the recent Charlotte tournament.
In addition to their on-court
duties, the youngsters got the
chance to meet alumni of CIAA
schools and celebrity guests like
Chris Brown* Yolanda Adams,
Fred Hammond, Rick Mahom,
Bernard King and Dikembe
Mutombo.
Dave Morrison, Tim
Cunningham and Jeff Brantley
served as supervisors for the
children.
"We thank God for helping us
to have another great year in Charlotte for the CIAA Basketball Tournament and let
ting the children know that it is more important to graduate from a college than to just
attend and only party your time away," said Piggott.
They also watched as the Shaw University Women's Basketball Team was
crowned the 2013 women's champion and as the men of Bowie State hoisted their vic
tory trophy.
^I " J
Fred Hammond poses with Piggott, Chad wick
and local children.
Judge Denise Harts field administers the oath.
Photo by Todd Luck
GAL
from page B1
treatment to parents to help them cor
rect the problems that led to them losing
their children. In cases where reunifica
tion isn't possible, the GAL program
must suggest an alternative plan for the
child, such as adoption or giving cus
tody to a relative.
Volunteer GALs receive 30 hours of
training to learn the ins and outs of the
program. Each volunteer is asked to
take at least one case. The GAL office
supervises the volunteers on each case.
Most of the new volunteer GALs
already had cases assigned to them by
the time they ended training Saturday.
District Court Judge Denise Hartsfield,
who regularly works with the GAL pro
gram and its volunteers, administered
the oath to the volunteers.
Hartsfield said sometimes children
are more comfortable confiding in a
volunteer, telling them things they
would not share with a judge or lawyer.
Hartsfield urged the volunteers not to
become discouraged when they deal
with cases involving sexual abuse, kids
living in squalor and other difficult cir
cumstances.
"This is a big job and an awesome
responsibility, and I can't thank you
enough for being willing to take this
opportunity," Hartsfield said.
Volunteer GALs come from all
walks of life and backgrounds. Alex
Bohannon, 18, is a freshman majoring
in political science and philosophy at
Elon University. He was Hartsfield's
summer intern; the judge suggested that
he consider the GAL program.
The aspiring lawyer, judge and
politician hopes his youth will be an
asset when he has to communicate with
children.
"My youth ... makes me more relat
able," he said.
Harvey Long, 22, a WSSU senior
majoring in English and minoring in
Sociology, plans to become a school
counselor. He was drawn to the program
by the opportunity to work with chil
dren.
1 m excited about doing it, but I
hope I can live up to it because it's a
huge responsibility," said Long.
Cynthia Moir, 50, earned a master's
degree in community agency counseling
in 2009 from N.C. A&T State
University. She said becoming a volun
teer GAL is a great way to hone her
counseling skills. She's already done a
variety of volunteer work, including
tutoring at-risk teens and illiterate
adults, but said working with the GAL
program will be something special.
"It's sentimental to me because chil
dren don't have a real voice in the court
system and being able to speak on their
behalf is a humbling experience," she
said.
Devine said that GAL trainings are
held several times a year. There are no
special educational requirements to
become a volunteer GAL, but partici
pants must pass a criminal background
check.
For more information about becom
ing a GAL. visit ncgal.org or call 336
779-6651.
GAINING RECOGNITION.
%
ACHIEVING GROWTH.
4
EXPANDING OPPORTUNITY.
During the first several decades, Slater Academy and then WinstoivSalem
Teachers College provided undergraduate degrees in a variety of areas,
but students wishing to gain a graduate degree had to look elsewhere. Many
students went on to gain graduate degrees at other instate and out-of-state
institutions, but opportunities for African American students was still limited.
As the school gained recognition and academic growth, the demand for
postgraduate programs increased. In 1981, the UNC Board of Governors
authorized graduate-level programs in business and education.
Today, WSSU often 11 graduate degree programs in the areas of education,
business, computer science, health sciences and physical therapy.
This is WSSU now.