Popular program lets HS students experience college, MLK events

Updated 11:00 AM January 16, 2006

Popular program lets HS students experience college, MLK events

By Kevin Brown

The success of the Black Volunteer Network (BVN) High School Visitation Program, scheduled to wrap up its 11th annual session today (Jan. 16), can be measured in the participants who clamor to return next year.

"Every year (high school) freshmen come back as sophomores and sophomores come back as juniors, because it's never the same event twice," says Kyle Warfield, a senior majoring in sociology and African American studies and president of the executive board of the BVN overseeing the two-day program.

The roughly 70 high school students that were scheduled to be on campus Jan. 15-16 typically are African American, and attend the Detroit-Ypsilanti-Ann Arbor high schools that BVN volunteers visit to mentor students. The student participants are identified during fall mentor visits to high schools. "We have particular schools we have relationships with, schools we work with," Warfield says. "Some are schools our members have attended." The BVN visitation program is done in collaboration with the Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives (OAMI).

Warfield estimates around 45 U-M students would be on hand to accompany the high school students this week as they attend the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Symposium. Many of the high school students are picked up by buses and vans provided by the University.

Upon arrival at the Trotter House, "There's generally an icebreaker; we get to know them," Warfield says. A speaker, most often a faculty member, addresses the group. "It's motivational—They talk about secondary education and get them to do some reflection," he says.

Students eat dinner at Trotter House, then head to Angell Hall where Greek organizations and student groups perform skits and dance routines, and provide other entertainment. Then it's back to Trotter House for movies, cards and games, and an overnight stay.

On Monday, the high school students rise around 6:45 a.m. to go to residence halls to shower and have breakfast, before walking to the MLK Symposium keynote address by Anna Deavere Smith.

Students eat lunch at the Michigan Union, and attend four workshops that rotate over three hours. The workshops teach students and get them thinking about their future in activities that have ranged from a Black history "Jeopardy" game to round table discussions.

"The activities are provided to get the high school students to interact with students on a college campus, which is something that's not easily available to them at home," Warfield says.

Warfield, who has been volunteering for the program all through college, recalls the time he talked for four hours with a high school student who was motivated by the experience. The student talked about life and what he hoped to do with his future.

"It kind of opened his spirit," Warfield recalls. "It's really about interaction, that becomes bigger than the programs that are planned."

The program closes with the high school students joining a group discussion on their experiences before getting back on the buses and vans to return home.

"The program does a good job of keeping in contact with the students, to assist in any preparation they need from high school to college," says Theda Gibbs, OAMI program coordinator. "The program also seeks to help the students understand the importance of being active in the community and continuing Dr. Martin Luther King's Legacy."

Popular program lets HS students experience college, MLK events

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