At front center is B. Donta Truss, vice president for Enrollment
Development and Educational Outreach, pictured with students from
HBCUs and Grand Valley staff who are part of the pipeline consortium team.
Photo Credit: Ashley Cefali
Trayon Miller wants to be the best teacher he can be. That's largely
the reason the Talladaga College student traveled on October 31 to
West Michigan from Alabama to join the HBCU/HSI
Pipeline Consortium visit.
It was the first time all six consortium partners sent students,
faculty and administrators to visit Grand Valley's campuses and learn
more about graduate programs and internship opportunities with area companies.
Miller, an elementary education major, said he was keeping an open
mind about the possibility of earning a graduate degree in a state
culturally different from Alabama.
"I'm all about diversity when it comes to furthering my
education," Miller said. "All of these different experiences
will make me a better teacher."
The 50-person group toured campus, meeting graduate program directors
and community and industry leaders. They also heard from current Grand
Valley students who were once in their shoes.
Jourdan Watson and Danielle Patrick, both graduates of Fort Valley
State University, spoke to visitors about their Industry Sponsored
Graduate Fellowships (IGF). Through this program, participating
companies sponsor a student by providing a paid internship and
covering the cost of tuition. Watson is working at Gordon Food Service
and Patrick at The Christman Company.
Patrick, who is pursuing an MBA, laughed when asked if her Grand
Valley classes prepared her to work at the construction company.
"I once ran a marketing meeting using the same type of analytical
graphs in my presentation that we learned in class," Patrick said.
B. Donta Truss, vice president for Enrollment Development and
Educational Outreach, said the trip was designed to connect
prospective students with Grand Valley staff who are responsible for
handling their application, housing assignments, financial aid and more.
"In fostering a diverse and empowered learning environment, we
are not just educating individuals, we are preparing global
citizens," Truss said. "The collaboration among our HBCU/HSI
Pipeline Consortium partners enriches our community, bringing unique
perspectives that are vital for holistic education.
"Every student embarking on this journey with us is a testament
to our commitment to cultivating an environment where different
backgrounds and ideas converge, creating a dynamic learning
atmosphere. It's about more than enrollment, it's about preparing our
students to thrive in diverse settings and equipping them to become
leaders in their respective fields."