Special to The Truth
The Brothers of the Xi Tau Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Inc. coordinated a successful campus visit to the University of Toledo (UT) with 25 students from the Martin Luther King Academy. Students had an opportunity to meet the faculty & staff at the University, engage in discussions about the importance of academics and career awareness.
Students were met in the morning with greetings from the vice president of Student Affairs, Sammy Spann, PhD. Spann oversees student involvement and leadership and has been highly instrumental in providing opportunities for all students at the University of Toledo.
Valerie Simmons-Watson, assistant to the President for Community Engagement and Strategic Partnerships, shared with students the significance of setting academic and career goals. Simmons-Watson also shared strategies adults could use as parents to engage with students about careers other than sports.
The students of MLK met the president of the University, Dr. Gregory Postel, MD, who offered words of encouragement throughout their tour and engaged in Q & A with students about the campus.
Next, students met with the Upward Bound Program, Toledo Excel Program and the Equity & Diversity Administrators. Parents and teachers were able to hear about the benefits of the Upward Bound Program and the pathways to support success through the program.
Students learned about the critical role the youth program has had on high school and college graduates, some of whom share testimonials of the benefits of participating in both the Upward bound and Toledo Excel programs.
The MLK students then made their way to the Athletic Department, where they met Bryan Blair, vice president of Intercollegiate Athletics and Director Athletics, and Austin Kowalski, Athletic Events and Operations Manager allowed students to tour both the indoor and outdoor fields.
Bryan Blair discussed balancing sports and academics. In conjunction, Austin reiterated the importance of practice and improving self-discipline with physical, social and scholastic goals.
Students ended the day having lunch and leadership discussion groups with enrolled UT students who shared their experiences of campus life, making good decisions, and the importance of remaining focused on your goals.
