Mark Braboy
News Editor
Candace Chambers said she is motivated to acheive and wants to make a difference by becoming a teacher.
The Jackson State University junior English education major was recently selected as an HBCU All-Star for the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (WHIHBCU).
The 75 students who were selected will be ambassadors for the renewed initiative and will communicate with other students about the importance of education through social media, sharing their methods of their consistent achievement.
Chamber duties will include hosting events about college, visiting local high schools and middle schools, and serving as a national face of a student at an HBCU who can achieve success. Chambers is one of five students selected from HBCU’s in Mississippi.
Chambers, a native of Jackson, Miss., was awarded this prestigious honor after finding the information in an e-mail sent to W.E.B. Dubois Honors College members. All applicants submitted a resume, transcript, and a letter of recommendation.
“I was elated to receive that recognition because I do a lot of work on campus and in community and so just to be recognized for my work is a good feeling. And I usually don’t expect recognition for what I do because I do it just because I love it, so just to have that recognition is a plus,” said Chambers.
“It was a week before we came back from Christmas break and so the deadline was the Friday of that week so I pretty much only had a week to get my application materials together. They were looking at leadership, academics, and community service, so I’m like ‘well I think I’m going to try this’. I submitted it and on Saturday, Feb. 7th they emailed me and told me I received the recognition,” said Chambers.
In a press release announcing the students selected from a pool of 445, George Cooper, executive director of the WHIHBCUs said, “Engaging with the next generation of leaders who will graduate from HBCUs and go on to make meaningful contributions to society is crucial to the success of our community, our country and our global competitiveness. It is a privilege to announce these 75 students who have demonstrated a commitment to both their own academic achievement and making a difference in their communities, and we look forward to working with them as partners in advancing President Obama’s college completion goal.”
Chambers said she was overjoyed when she received the news that she was selected.
During her spare time, she works with the youth at her church, New Oak Ridge Baptist Church in Edwards, Miss. by coordinating youth activities for boys and teaches bible study classes.
Chambers is also involved in many organizations. She serves as a staff writer for The Blue & White Flash and is also involved with Project Safe HIV Awareness, Student Advisory Council, SPNEA (Student Program of the National Educator Association), the President’s Society, Alpha Lambda Delta, and Sigma Tau Delta honors societies, which she serves as the President of the former.
“I like to be involved in things because I want to become a teacher and I want to be an example where students can look up to and say ‘well if she did it, then I can to,’” she stated.
Helen Crump, Assistant Professor in the Department of English and Modern Foreign Languages is one of the many professors who is witnessing Chambers development as a rising star.
“Candace Chambers is an impressive young woman with great vision, drive, intelligence, and thoughtfulness. She is such an admirable role model and inspiration to others through her hard work and dedication to any task she undertakes. As a Sigma Tau Delta Faculty Advisor and English professor, it is a pleasure to work with Candace and to watch her flourish as a scholar and as a conscientious leader,” said Crump.
“I’m motivated to achieve because what else is there to do but achieve? I mean, you only have one life so you might as well make the most of it. And so I like to just be involved in different events, different organizations, just to be involved and make an impact and to utilize all the talents and gifts that I have in the community, in school, in church, in my family and it makes me a better person on the inside.” said Chambers.
