With the end of the academic year approaching, the Crusaders went on their first annual HBCU tour. Spanning from schools through Tennessee, Alabama and Ohio, students were offered the opportunity to experience an HBCU campus while learning about the qualities of each school. Students visited Tennessee State, Miles College, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Alabama A&M University, Central State, and Wilberforce University.
The mindset and work ethic of junior Deanna Washington was changed on the tour.
“The trip was very fun; it changed my perspective,” Washington said. “I came back ready to start taking life more seriously. The college tour encouraged me to get things together for senior year, so I can be where I want to be in life. I learned a lot of things about sororities and fraternities and some of the colleges talked about church and it encouraged me to get closer to God as well.”
Current Crusaders were able to see alumni at some colleges. Principal Damian Perry acknowledges how this experience is almost vital for younger students to see where they could be in the future.
“Our first stop was Tennessee State University and during that visit I was able to see a MLK grad on TSU’s campus,” Perry said.
“That student gave our group a tour and shared some timeless wisdom with our students. The same thing happened at Central State University, where we literally bumped into a MLK cheerleader alumna, who did the same thing.”
Perry said he believes the King community is on the right path by providing students with experiences like the tour and many others.
“This interaction spoke loudly to me and helped me further understand and realize that we are properly preparing our students to be successful, and because of what they learned here at MLK they are ambassadors of goodwill and leadership,” Perry said. “This was also evident by the students who attended the tour. They were all well behaved, articulate, and represented the very best of MLK and this amazing district.”
