Alcorn State University recently welcomed 30 students from Chester Charter Scholars Academy in Chester, Pa. as part of an Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) tour. Since the visit, five students were admitted to Alcorn and will attend in the fall.
The students were led by Jonas Crenshaw, executive director of Mississippi Charter Schools Association and Alcorn alum. During their seven-day tour, they visited nine HBCUs with Alcorn being the eighth school visited. According to Crenshaw, since the start of his teaching career in 2001, he has sent over 350 students to attend Alcorn.
“A lot of our scholars aren’t familiar with southern HBCUs and I wanted to make sure they were offered affordable options that would also give them a good experience overall,” said Crenshaw. “I know the kind of support that our scholars can get at a school like Alcorn.”
He also emphasized the university’s affordability compared to northern HBCUs, noting that Alcorn does not charge out-of-state fees, making it a cost-effective option.
The group was greeted with a formal welcome from President Tracy Cook, the Student Government Association, Brave Ambassadors and Royal Court. Throughout the day, students received a tour of the campus, along with a taste of Alcorn traditions and customs, which stood out to student Cincere Friend from Chester, Pa.
“What really touched me the most was the student building for the Alcorn business school,” said Friend. “They touched on a lot of things that I was actually interested in. Overall, it was a warm welcome, felt family-oriented and overall just a 10 out of 10 experience.”
They also had the opportunity to engage with various faculty, staff and departments before going to lunch. During the visit, the group experienced “Fish Friday”, when the campus community gathers in the cafeteria to enjoy music, fried and baked fish, Greek organizations strolling, and trail ride dancing. The atmosphere left an impression student Jacob Mickens from Philadelphia, Pa.
“The students, the ambassadors, the President, I can’t explain the energy that I got from Alcorn because it was so different from any other colleges that I’ve ever visited,” said Mickens. “It felt like home and the food, especially the catfish, was amazing!”
Assistant Director of Admissions Demartinez Simmons warmly welcomed the group, praising the students’ professionalism and expressing enthusiasm about assisting them through the enrollment process.
“The visit provided them with an opportunity to explore our academic programs and connect with staff and students, which helped them gain a better understanding of our culture,” said Simmons. “It was especially rewarding to see several students receive on-the-spot admission, and we look forward to the possibility of welcoming them back in the fall.”
The central theme emphasized during the visit was the university’s strong sense of community and its family-oriented environment.
