Communiversity News
Seminar to
Give Families College Financing Advice
By
Joan Gandy
The Natchez Democrat, August 28, 2006
NATCHEZ — Families with children expecting to attend college
will have a chance on Saturday to learn more about how to afford
higher education.
Janice Davis, a 2003 Natchez High School graduate and a
candidate for graduation in 2007 from Stanford University in
California, has put together a seminar, “How to Attend College
and Not Pay for It,” 10 a.m. to noon, at City Auditorium.
Davis, who is in a human biology/pre-med program at Stanford,
wanted to do something for young people in her hometown, she
said. A track star in high school and college and attending
Stanford on an athletic scholarship, she thought first of
offering a track clinic.
“But not everyone is athletically inclined,” she said. “I was
sitting around talking with my roommate, who is from India. She
started studying science when she was 6, the same time I started
track.”
It occurred to Davis that there is a reason she is the only one
from Mississippi attending Stanford. “It’s not that we are not
motivated in Mississippi; we don’t have the information.”
The seminar will be set up so that parents and students may
choose the experts they think may help them most. The areas to
be covered will include how to apply for grants, financial aid
and scholarships and how to fill out applications to make
admissions officers notice, for example.
Davis has started to visit schools and distribute flyers this
week. She hopes to attract a diverse group. “Diversity is
important to me,” she said.
Panelists include:
Davis, who will speak on “Junior College Transfers.”
James Beck, a 2005 Yale University graduate in sociology and a
2007 candidate for an M.A. in counseling from Vanderbilt
University, will talk about “Getting Started.”
TaSheitha Butler, a 2005 graduate in biochemistry from the
University of Mississippi and a 2007 candidate for an M.A. in
health administration from Indiana University, will speak on
“National State, Local and Institutional Opportunities for
Scholarship Money.”
Sanquanett Jones, a 2005 graduate of Mississippi State
University in electrical engineering and a 2007 candidate for an
MBA at Purdue University, will speak on “Academic and
Merit-Based Scholarships.”
Kelvin Harris, a 2004 graduate of Mississippi State University
with a B.S. in biological sciences and a 2007 candidate for an
M.S. degree in microbiology at MSU, will speak on “NCAA
Clearinghouse.”
Michael Winn, a 2009 candidate for a doctor of pharmacy degree
from Xavier University, will speak on “The Importance of ACT
Test Preparation.”
Brittany Thomas, a 2007 candidate for a B.S. degree in
biological sciences/pre-med at Mississippi State University,
will speak on “State Scholarships.”
Jacob Stutzman, a 2002 summa cum laude graduate of Troy State
University in political science and a 2005 graduate of the
University of Mississippi School of Law, will speak on
“Maintaining Scholarships and Life Beyond College.”
Lance Reed, holding a 1996 degree in mathematics and 1998 M.Ed.
in mathematics education from Louisiana Tech University, will
speak on “NCAA Football Recruiting.”
Juanita Russell, a 1986 graduate in business administration and
1992 graduate with an M.S. in guidance education, both from
Alcorn State University, will speak on “Financial Aid.”
Wanda McGowan, who holds a master’s degree in political science
from the University of Southern Mississippi and a Ph.D. in
political science from Clark-Atlanta University, will speak on
“College Admissions.”