2018
COLLEGE TOUR
COLLEGE TOUR - DAY 4
We are almost home. The group's next to last day of campus visits. After an extremely long day on Wednesday, two campus visits, a little time at the beach, followed by a two hour bus ride back to North Carolina.
Thursday was another great day. The group started the day with prayer and praise. Their first stop was North Carolina-Chapel Hill, the first public university in the nation. A school with many traditions, a very strong academic program along with a not too shabby athletic program. After Chapel Hill, the group visited Elon, a mid-sized private university where the majority of the students that attend are out of state. The students also had an opportunity to visit with Kevin Samples a graduate of Elon and a former college tour participant.
The day end as it began, prayer, praise, and vegetables at a local restaurant in the area followed with some down time at the hotel.
Today, the group will visit High Point University which is near NC A&T. High Point is the highest rated university in the region and this will be our first visit. It is also an United Methodist affliated school. After their visit at High Point, the group will travel to Charlotte for their last campus visit, Johnson C Smith. Johnson C Smith is an independent HBCU with a very strong liberal arts program that integrates business.
Usually it is everyone's expectation that the last day of any experience is a day when things tend to fade and very little happens on that last day. However, let me assure that Fridays and Saturdays on the tour are days that the chaperones look forward to and will make sure that the final days are just as experiential as the first.
Stay positive, work hard, and make it happen
2018 - Day 5
Yesterday was fantastic. The group visited a phenomenal campus, High Point University. The campus had all the amentities student would need to be comfortable. It was more than a home away from home. Dorms that looked like luxury apartments, fine dining, and a campus gameroom that would put Dave and Busters out of business. What was really unique about all of the amenities that were available on campus they were placed on the campus with the intent to develop a highly qualified candidate for Corporate America. The academic program at High Point was just as powerful. The student were introduced to several research projects that included cutting edge technology. It was very obvious why High Point is the top rated campus in the US News Southeast Region. It was a great visit. While High Point was probably the highlight of the week, the visit to Johnson C Smith was a stark contrast to the High Point visit. We have had great visits at JCS in the past but yesterday was not that great. The group arrived to campus late due to traffic, there was mix up in the group's reservation and admissions was not prepared for their arrival. They accommodated us and the information session went well. The chaperone that have visited campus before commented that it appears that the campus is going through a transition.
The day ended with the group's trip to the mall for shopping as we had promised. After three hours in the mall, the group check in to the hotel for their final on the tour.
Peace and blessings.
2018 - Day 6
Today is the day we ask the students to give back. The chaperones have arranged a visit to a local Salvation Army facility. All week, the students have collected the toiletries from each of their hotel stays and will deliver those items to the facility. They will also purchase and deliver food for the facility. After visiting the facility, the group will head to the airport for home. The group is expected to arrive at Love Field at 4:30.
It has been indeed a pleasure to have your child take part in our Ministry's efforts to foster a desire for middle and high school students to pursue a christian centered post-secondary education. Thank you for placing your precious cargo in our hands allowing us to play a role in their development. This was an exceptional group of individuals and we hope to connect again in the very near future.
2019 New York-Washington DC (Columbia, NYU, Princeton, Lincoln, Bowie St, Johns Hopkins, Morgan St., Howard, Georgetown, George Washington)