Voorhees celebrates student successes; scholarship donors honored at UNCF luncheon
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Posted By: How May I Help You NC on October 21, 2016 Camron McClain said he would not have become the man he is without the help of Voorhees College and the support and education he received at the historic Denmark institution. McClain didn¡¦t have many responsible male role models growing up and attending college was nothing more than a dream after he barely graduated from high school. Receiving a college education at Voorhees with the help of scholarships, the senior mass communications major wanted to thank those who made his dream a reality. ¡§Voorhees took a subpar athlete and molded him into a hungry scholar, from a 1.8 GPA to finishing out last semester with a 3.6. So today I would like to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. This institution could not exist without dedicated supporters like you,¡¨ McClain said. ¡§I would not be standing before you as the man I am today. I hope that your support continues because it is my dream that the generations after me can benefit from your generosity,¡¨ he said. McClain was one of eight scholars who attended Voorhees College¡¦s third annual United Negro College Fund Corporate & Community Luncheon on Wednesday. More than 100 community members from Bamberg County and surrounding areas gathered at the Leonard E. Dawson Health & Human Services Center for the luncheon, which helps raise funds to provide scholarships for deserving students. Teesa Brunson, assistant vice president for institutional advancement at Voorhees, said, ¡§The purpose of the luncheon is to involve our businesses and communities in Bamberg County and surrounding area to raise scholarship funds for our students.¡¨ ¡§Voorhees College is one of several of the UNCF schools, so we work with the UNCF to raise additional funds. Each year the luncheon has gotten bigger. The one last year did really well, and with this one we¡¦ll be raising even more funds,¡¨ Brunson said, noting the 2015 luncheon raised $10,000. ú^ Advertisement (1 of 1): 0:26 úB úC ú@ Brunson said the university is thankful for the support it has gotten from the community, including the cities of Bamberg and Denmark and ¡§different organizations like the NAACP, different companies and organizations in the area.¡¨ ¡§If they don¡¦t have additional scholarships, many of our students would not be able to get a quality education. A lot of our students come from backgrounds where their parents might not be able to afford a college education. It continually rises and rises each year, so without events like this one, a lot of students would not be able to continue their education,¡¨ she said. ¡§So it¡¦s important, and we appreciate the support.¡¨ Voorhees College President Dr. W. Franklin Evans said, ¡§Educating minds is extremely important. ... We here at Voorhees understand our mission and so when we have community and business partners and supporters ... coming and spending time and supporting our institution and our students, it really touches my heart. That¡¦s the business that we¡¦re in.¡¨ Evans added, ¡§I¡¦m appreciative of our involvement with the United Negro College Fund because it affords students the opportunity to go to college. ... Going to college is an expensive endeavor ... so your presence here today is a meaningful one.¡¨ State Rep. Justin Bamberg, D-Bamberg, said he also appreciates the community support he has received in developing as a both a representative and attorney. The 29-year-old encouraged the scholars to take advantage of every opportunity that comes their way. ¡§You never know when an opportunity will come. The question is whether or not you will be ready to walk in those steps when you¡¦re called,¡¨ he said. Rosaline Achiangia, a junior biology major at Voorhees, was another scholar who spoke during the luncheon. She was also thankful for the scholarship support she has received at Voorhees. She said her experience at Voorhees has built her confidence and ¡§will bring me ever closer to my dream job of becoming a researcher.¡¨ ¡§This college has shown me the true meaning of changing lives and changing minds and my efforts to be the best I can because of you,¡¨ she said. Contact the writer: dgleaton@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5534. Follow "Good News with Gleaton" on Twitter at @DionneTandD Source: http://thetandd.com/ „K „J „³ ƒ} ƒú If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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