Students learn about colleges
Published 10:11 pm Monday, February 1, 2016
Ta’marcus Jones, a Selma High School senior, was awarded the Alexis Hunter Scholarship on Monday, Feb. 1 during the eighth annual Gearing Up for College seminar. The scholarship was awarded in a raffle drawn by Joann Hunter, the mother of the late Alexis Hunter.
By Emily Enfinger | The Selma Times-Journal
More than 40 high school seniors and their parents attended the eighth annual Gearing Up for College seminar Monday night.
“Looks like every year it gets bigger, better and stronger,” said Selma Mayor George Evans.
The seminar was held at the Carl C. Morgan Convention Center beginning at 6 p.m. and included representatives from the University of Alabama, University of West Alabama, Wallace Community College, Trenholm State Technical College, Marines and other institutions.
Shakira McBride, a Selma High School senior, was awarded the Dr. Geraldine Allen Scholarship by City Council President Corey Bowie and Mayor George Evans.
City council President and sponsor of the seminar Corey Bowie said the evening was a success.
“I feel like it was very engaging and very informative,” Bowie said. “Everybody seems to be happy with the information that was obtained.”
He said the main objective of the seminar is to help students with their transition after graduation, whether it to be to college or directly into the workforce, by providing quality information to make a quality decision.
“Hopefully, they will apply this information and be successful in life,” Bowie said.
Representatives from each booth were given a little over five minutes to give a brief presentation on their school or organization before departing back to their booths for individual Q&A.
Marian Deyampert attended the seminar with her daughter Khadijah Simmons to gain information on scholarships and what other schools had to offer.
“We plan on visiting every booth and talking to everybody to see what they have to offer,” Deyampert said.
Two $500 scholarships were awarded following the brief presentations in a raffle, both to Selma High School seniors. Ta’marcus Jones was awarded the Alexis Hunter Scholarship and Shakira McBride was awarded the Dr. Geraldine Allen Scholarship.
Jones is planning on attending the University of Memphis to pursue a degree in graphic design.
He said he came to the seminar to gain more information about scholarships and is thankful to have been picked in the raffle.
McBride said she wants to attend culinary school to become a chef but hasn’t decided on a school. She said she’s glad she was awarded the scholarship because it will help her regardless of where she attends.
“Every penny counts, so I’m just glad I won,” McBride said.
