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College BoundBaylor honor society encourages local students
By Sarah Gadsby
High school students from all over Waco are considering their futures.
They want to study history and nursing, become singers and lawyers,
travel the world, and compete as Olympic athletes. But many of them are
unaware of the opportunities that will help them achieve their goals.
All they need is the right information and a little motivation.
On March 28, Baylor's chapter of the National Society of Collegiate
Scholars (NSCS) sponsored the third-annual March to College Day, an
event to inform Waco high school students of higher education
opportunities. NSCS member and chair for the event Bethany Green
(pictured, bottom row center, with participants), a senior from
Houston, said, "The purpose of March to College is to promote higher
education to high school students in the Waco community who may not
necessarily think that they have the funds or the resources to attend
college."
 This
year, students from Waco High, Waco Alternative School, A. J. Moore
Academy, University High, and S.T.A.R.S. High School came together on
the Baylor campus for a day filled with college information, campus
tours, and entertainment.
The chaperones from the high schools were excited about exposing their
students to the college setting. Coach Gary Carr from Waco Alternative
School said, "Most of the kids we get at Waco Alternative are kids that
have supposedly been in trouble or don't think they have a chance to go
to college, so this event will help us with encouraging them to come to
Baylor or any other college," he said.
Courtney Copas, a U.S. history teacher and coordinator of a college
preparatory program at Waco High, said, "We just want our students to
see what university life is like. You do have a lot of personal freedom
when you're in college, and they need to begin preparing themselves for
that."
As a highlight of the event, Dr. Bennie Lambert '83, MSEd '90, vice
president of student organizational development at North Harris College
in Houston, presented a motivational speech. After driving
three-and-a-half hours, Lambert enthusiastically shared with the Waco
students his own success story as a testimony of hope and possibility.
He told the students, "I did this for you because I've sat where you're
sitting. I know where you come from, and I believe in you." He added
that he and his sisters were the first African Americans to go to
Waco's Midway High School but no one in his family before him had even
graduated high school.
Lambert's testimony struck the hearts of many students at the event,
including Michaela Almon from Waco High. "I'm the only child in my
family, and my parents didn't go to college. They work out at the
prison in Marlin, and they're always telling me, 'Further your
education because you don't want to be working out here with us!'"
A diverse panel consisting of eight college students--each from
different majors, groups, and cultures--served as voices of experience
for the high school students. Lofi Masaniai, a junior and member of the
Association of Black Students, said she volunteered because she thought
it would be a good opportunity to influence the younger generation and
help them to see that education is important.
The day concluded with a time of reflection for the students to
consider their future educational goals. A. J. Moore senior Talon
Garcia's first goal is to finish high school while balancing a job at
H-E-B and taking care of her young son. Garcia sees the importance of
pursuing higher education. "Going out of school right now and just
working at H-E-B is not for me," she said. "I want to graduate and get
a better job to provide for my son."
Lambert left these words with the students, "It's not as important in
life where you're from but where you are going. It's not as important
what you have but what you're willing to do with what you have." The
March to College event served as a reminder to students like A. J.
Moore senior Margaret Humphrey, who has already been accepted to the
University of North Texas, to be motivated to do whatever is necessary
to attend college. "Without education, a lot of things are impossible
and a lot of doors are closed if you don't have a good education. I
love my school, and I'm ready to go to college!"
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