Author Spotlight
Isabel Baldassaro
A group of students called C.O.R.E (Coalition of Racial Equity) and some other East students went on a trip to Lincoln University in Missouri last school year, and are now planning a similar trip with the same group for the current school year.
Lincoln is an HBCU, or a historically Black college, that is open to the public and was founded by Black veterans of the American Civil War-beginning their own university when they couldn’t afford higher education, according to East Industrial Arts teacher Shaban Scott.
The idea for the trip was presented to and then approved through the East Fund Board. The trip was planned by Scott, special education teacher Danisha Roach and science teacher and coach Adrian Pearson. According to both Scott and Roach, the trip was very successful. East students experienced being students on campus and were exposed to a new environment.
“I don’t think we could’ve asked for a better outcome for our first rodeo,” Scott said.
One particularly fun event was when sororities and fraternities performed dances for the students during lunch, according to Scott. Sophomore Ava Seay says she really enjoyed the dances they put on for them.
“We got to see really cool dances that the students did in the cafeteria while everyone was eating and enjoying themselves,” Seay said. “They had great music too.”
Seay describes her experience at Lincoln as very welcoming due to the kindness of the people at the school and the sense of belonging she felt throughout her tour. Her experience made her want to attend similar trips in the future.
“Lincoln University is a place where everyone can feel comfortable,” Seay said. “People greeted you when you walked in and it’s almost like you had a family. It was very heartwarming.”
This environment is what prompted Roach and Scott to choose Lincoln as the center of this trip.
To follow such a college experience, Roach found Langston University in Oklahoma as the potential place to plan their next trip.
Langston University is another HBCU, and the only historically Black college in the state. She and Scott hope that the students will have yet another successful experience that will make them want to keep exploring more captivating college options.
While the plan is still in process, Scott and Roach say they are already expecting over 30 returning students to join them once again. The students are the cause of his excitement for the trip this year.
“Everything that we had gone through to get them to Lincoln last year was worth their expressions that we saw when we were getting back on the bus to come back home,” Scott said. “Everybody was over-the-top excited, impressed and inspired.”
As an East graduate, Roach adds that she didn’t ever get to experience such a unique trip, limiting her knowledge of interesting college options.
“I was a graduate of Shawnee Mission East and this was an opportunity that I never had,” Roach said.
The tour of Lincoln University allowed students exposure to a different environment than what they are used to, and allowed for more exploration of similar colleges where students can experience more of the distinct qualities that historically Black colleges have to offer.
When participating in the upcoming trip to Langston University, the teachers hope for another success for the impact on the East students.
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