Alexis Anderson
Staff Writer
For the past twenty years, ‘High School/Community Day’ has played a vital role in recruiting, motivating, and encouraging potential high school students and parents to take part in the Jackson State University experience. The program includes a full day of activities, including campus tours, access to faculty and staff members, lunch, and tickets to the football game between JSU and Alabama State.
“High School Day is a program that is designed to market, identify, encourage, persuade and recruit talent to choose Jackson State University,” said Linda Rush, Student Recruitment Director and advisor to Tiger Pride.
Rush added that the event is a university presentation that showcases the academic programs, social and cultural elements of JSU and also serves as a marketing tool where prospects are generated and high school counselors gain insight.
In 2010, 40 Mississippi counties and eight states participated in High School Day including students from Missouri, Texas, Kansas and Florida.
Some members of Tiger Pride feel that this event is fun, but informs students about the importance of academics and the misconceptions about JSU.
Chris Lavine, a senior biology pre-med major from Jackson, Miss. and the captain of tours for Tiger Pride said, “Some high school students think JSU is a party school, we’re a university which recruits students and informs them about academics. My favorite activity on “High School/Community College Day is showing students a full tour of the campus, especially the out-of-state students.”
Tommy Johnson, a senior mathematics major from New Orleans, La. and Tiger Pride member said, “I tell high school students that time management skills should be a top priority. I also tell them that JSU is not a party school and networking is a vital part of becoming an adult in the professional world. My favorite part of High school day is seeing students who decide that they want to attend college and answering any questions they might have.”
James Watson, a sophomore computer technology major from Canton, Miss. said, “When I attended high school day, I learned more about the organizations and the process of admissions. My favorite part of high school day was the entertainment. I liked how the organizations talked about academics like the GPA requirements.”
Jessica Everett, a senior industrial technology major and the current president of Zeta Phi Beta sorority Inc. said, “High school students should know that the Greeks do more than step, we want to show students that there’s a lot of work into promoting excellence and the importance of academics in college. We strive to inform students about how much work goes into being Greek.”
Some members of Tiger Pride have their own personal reasons why High School/Community College Day is important to them.
Alexis Walker, a junior mass communications major from Jackson, Miss. and the membership secretary of Tiger Pride said, “My purpose for doing high school day is to show others how much I love JSU and to hopefully influence someone to choose Jackson State. My favorite activities are greeting the students so they can see my Tiger pride and giving tours to show how beautiful the campus is.”
Lekeyta Williams, a senior political science major from Columbus, Ohio. said, “My purpose is to help promote this wonderful HBCU we call JSU to any high school student that is interested and will listen. I think that all students should be exposed to the college experience and I love to feel like I am making a difference in making that happen. My favorite activity at High School day is the greeting of all the members of Tiger Pride every year with pom poms and singing songs.”
Mar’tyle Mace, a senior speech communications major from Vicksburg, Miss. said, “I think the number one thing for the high school students is that they have fun at high school day, but also use this opportunity to start building connections with people in places like financial aid, financial services, housing, so that when coming to JSU, a bond will already be established when registration starts for classes.
