03/27/2024
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By: Erin Smith

On Wednesday afternoon, the Media Center at East Bladen High School was abuzz with activity as 80 Seniors eagerly filled the room to celebrate their achievements with College Decision Day 2016.

EBHS Principal Wray said the school had developed a program where seniors could learn about  the FAFSA forms that are needed to apply for college financial aid and how important it is to get those forms completed early.

Principal Wray also said that students have received acceptance letters from a number fo colleges as well as financial aid and the school wanted to celebrate that.

“Mrs graham has spearheaded this. Over 90 percent of our seniors are on track to graduate this year,” said Principal Wray.

He added the College and Career Promise has helped play a part in that number. Principal Wray said that  a lot of the students begin taking courses at Bladen Community College in their Sophomore year of high school and when they graduate high school they also have their Associate Degree.

Kendyll Graham, who is a college advisor with NC State University, said, “Today we are celebrating the seniors going to college and joining the military.”

“I work for NC State University College Advising Corps and our mission is to increase the college awareness in the rural areas. This is the first year they have had a college advisor on campus and I want to eliminate the stigma that college isn’t accessible or affordable to everyone.”

There were door prizes given away and awards were announced.

Two students were recognized for being accepted into the most colleges. Charlanna Coleman and Saba Algozy were both accepted into 11 colleges each.

Two students were recognized for for having complete4d their financial aid forms first. Both students completed their forms on January 1. They were Shadia McKoy and Umoja Turner-Dobson.

Daimere Brown, one of the seniors who was celebrating, said, “I would just like to thank Mrs. Graham so much for planning this party for us. I’m going to be the first one in my family to go to college. I’ve been accepted to  Livingstone College in Salisbury.”

He added, “I couldn’t have done it with out her help. She encouraged me to look at applications and apply.”

Brown said that Graham also encouraged him to look at scholarships and financial aid applications.

“Honestly, I didn’t think my grades were high enough because I played around in school,” said Brown.

He said with Graham’s help, he learned that he could achieve his dream of a college education.

Taliya Houston, another senior who was celebrating, said, “Ninety percent of us wouldn’t be going to college if it wasn’t for our college advisor (Graham).”

Houston said that Graham took the college application process and broke it down step-by-step for the students. Houston said that Graham took the time to make sure that everyone understood the process and understood what all of their options were when determining where they wanted to go to college.

“My Mom went to college and my Dad went to trade school but I am the first of all of my siblings to graduate high school and go to college” said Houston.

Houston was also accepted into Livingstone College

“First let’s start by saying I didn’t think I would be able to go to college. But Mrs. Graham showed me I can do pretty much anything,” said Houston. 

Houston said her decision is to join the United States Air Force though she is accepted to Livingstone College.

Other students have been accepted to schools such as UNC-Pembroke, UNC-Wilmington, UNC-Greensboro, UNC-Chapel Hill, East Carolina University, NC State University, Bladen Community College, Winston Salem State University, NC Agricultural and Technical State University, and many others.

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