Contact: Robbie Ward
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Twenty-one freshmen already will have crossed the "bridge" from high school to university life when they begin taking Mississippi State classes later this month.
MSU's Summer Bridge Program, which concludes this week, is designed both to ease the transition to college life for students selected for the annual summer program and increase the number of minority students majoring in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology.
A part of the campus chapter of Increasing Minority Access to Graduate Education, it helps participants learn strategies and life skills while earning academic credit. Along with class work, the IMAGE group has heard campus faculty and staff members describe various paths for success in higher education.
"We want them to manage their time, perform in class and develop leadership training," said Tommy Stevenson, assistant dean for diversity and student development in MSU's Bagley College of Engineering.
During the evening, group members took advantage of set study hours to help them establish structure in their academic schedules. In the process, they have bonded and worked together as a team.
"We don't leave until everybody gets done," said Cedric McKinney of Batesville.
Stevenson said encouraging students to work in teams helps ensure they all succeed. For example, those strong in English or mathematics help other students to learn concepts and ideas. Knowing other students will help them with problems, academic or otherwise, can relieve their burden of feeling like they have no one to depend on for help, he observed.
"It's a lonely journey if you have to do it all by yourself," Stevenson said.
To provide role models, the Bridge program introduces students to various university leaders. Recently, MSU President Robert H. "Doc" Foglesong invited the students to consider leadership roles and find their passion in life.
"Each speaker talked about something different to help make us well-rounded students," said McKinney, a South Panola High School graduate who will major in electrical engineering.
Other members of MSU's 2007 IMAGE Bridge Program include (by hometown):
BROOKHAVEN--Ro'Javian L. "R.J." Jenkins, a Brookhaven High School graduate who will major in industrial engineering.
COLUMBUS--Kieran Edwards, a Columbus High School graduate who will major in computer engineering.
DECATUR, Ala.--Darius A. Crayton, an Austin High School graduate who will major in industrial engineering.
GLUCKSTADT--Johnnie Price, a Madison Central High School graduate who will major in industrial engineering.
GREENVILLE--Billian Glasco, a Greenville-Weston High School graduate who will major in chemical engineering.
HARVEST, Ala.--Julian Heidelberg, an East Limestone High School graduate who will major in civil engineering.
INVERNESS--Renaldo Shedd, a Gentry High School graduate who will major in computer engineering.
JACKSON--Larry Davis, a Provine High School graduate who will major in computer science; and Samuel Dyse, a Jim Hill High School graduate who will major in electrical engineering.
LOUISVILLE--Troy K. "Tyler" Yarbrough, a Louisville High School graduate who will major in biological sciences.
MAGNOLIA--Tralanda "Landie" N. McCray, a South Pike High School graduate who will major in chemistry.
MOSS POINT--Chassidy Brazzle and Kacha Jennings, Moss Point High School graduates who will major in biological engineering and biological engineering/pre-medicine, respectively.
MOUND BAYOU--Timothy Hall, a John F. Kennedy Memorial High School graduate who will major in computer engineering.
SHELBY--Adam C. Pittmon, a Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science graduate who will major in chemical engineering.
STARKVILLE--Adeola Adebiyi and Drenicia Jones, Starkville High School graduates who will major in chemical engineering and microbiology, respectively.
VICKSBURG--Ashley Ragan and Jada Selma, both Vicksburg High School graduates who will major in biological engineering.
WARRIOR, Ala.--Alisan Abernathy, a Mortimer Jordan High School graduate who will major in biomedical engineering.
NEWS EDITORS/DIRECTORS: For more information, contact Dr. Stevenson at 662-325-8573 or tommy@engr.msstate.edu.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.