The Ivy Center for Education Field Studies Trip Shows the Beauty of Arkansas
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Ivy Center for Education completes 2014 College Tour |
The Ivy Center for Education, Inc., took 46 participants on the second Field Studies trip to experience the beauty of Arkansas. There were 37 outstanding students and 9 chaperons. Students and chaperons visited Heifer Ranch in Perryville, Arkansas, The Clinton Library and The Museum of Discovery both located in Little Rock. The goal of the trip was to impress upon our students that Arkansas is a great place to live. Students on the trip represented schools throughout Jefferson County. The nine (9) chaperons consisted of members of the Ivy Center Board & Advisory Board, members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., The Delta Omega Omega Chapter and a supportive parent.
Mattie P. Collins, president of the Ivy Center for Education stated, “Our students were great! They were courteous, respectful and of course displayed their intellect by asking intelligent questions.” Mrs. Patricia Berry, Executive Director of the Ivy Center stated, “I was so impressed with the students character, because they were complimented everywhere we went.” While at Heifer Ranch students enjoyed the tour guides who all live at the ranch. The guides shared their vision of ending world hunger and poverty. They also shared the history of why Dan West founded Heifer International. One of the highlights was seeing Camels in Arkansas!! Students and chaperons had a great "cardio exercise walking the nature trail." Students were able to visit the Global Village where they viewed and entered the following: Zambia House and Chicken Coup (Central Africa), Thailand House, a Yurt, which is a portable house traditionally used in Central Asia, and the slums. Students were allowed to pet Camels, Sheep, Rabbits, Turkeys, Chickens, etc. For more information please visit Heifer.org Students also had a great time at the Clinton Library. The tour guide gave students and chaperons a fun and exciting tour. He told the students about President Clinton wanting them to get a good education so that will they be prepared for a successful future. He also told the students that President Clinton would love to meet them because they displayed excellent discipline, respect and wonderful questions. Students were highlighted by sitting at the table where Clinton's Cabinet sat. The retired educators on the trip were happy when the guide gave the students a quick American History lesson on the Little Rock Nine and why it was a key event that shaped Integration of the schools in Arkansas and the nation. For more information, visit www.lcentralhigh.net The Museum of Discovery was very interesting. Students had fun watching a "mad scientist" carryout his fun scientific experiments. During several experiments, Ivy Center students were invited to participate. After the show, students and chaperones visited galleries tinkering around and soaking up scientific knowledge. There were so many fun things to do and learn at the museum. For more information, museumofdiscovery.org The day ended by treating the students to supper at McDonalds on Broadway. Many thanks to Mr. Joseph Hollis (driver) and Little Rock Tours Bus Company for a safe and enjoyable trip. The Educational Field Studies Trip was made possible by grants from the Pine Bluff Area Community Foundation, The Foundation for The Mid South and a generous donation from Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the Delta Omega Omega Chapter. |
The Ivy Center for Education Inc., recently completed its 11-day 2014 College Tour/Cultural Enrichment Trip to New
York City, Connecticut and Washington, D.C. The tour consisted of 32 very bright and intelligent students. The chaperons consisted of members of the Ivy Center for Education Board of Directors — Mattie P. Collins, president; Patricia Berry, executive director; and Marguerite Flannigan, secretary. Other chaperons included Chandra Griffin, Alycen Jones, Michela Martin, KaRyn Terry, Virginia Hymes, Chanta Pulliam, Brandun Flannigan and Dedric Jones. New York Students once again toured New York University, visited the African Burial Grounds, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and were guests on the BET hit TV show 106 and Park. They visited the Statue of Liberty and enjoyed an evening of dining and playing games at Dave and Busters. Students were given a sightseeing bus tour of the Empire State Building, Ground Zero and enjoyed a fun night walking in Times Square. Students also toured the famous Flight Club where tennis shoes may cost more than $7,000. To top off the New York trip, students and chaperones attended the Broadway Show, “Aladdin”. Kaya Griffin, a rising junior at Pine Bluff High School, said, “I was so amazed with the show and had such a great time. I hope we go back to Broadway next year.” Connecticut Students toured Yale University, which was founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut as a private Ivy League Research University. The university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States. The school was renamed Yale College in recognition of a gift from Elihu Yale. While at Yale University, ICE students viewed an original copy of the Gutenburg Bible located in the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library. In Middletown, Conn., students toured Welselyan University, founded in 1831. Wesleyan, a private liberal arts university, provides graduate research in many academic disciplines, and grants doctorate degrees primarily in the sciences and mathematics. Washington, D.C. Students visited Howard University, which made for the sixth visit to Howard. A luncheon for the students was hosted by members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Students also toured Georgetown University, the African American Civil War Museum, White House, U.S. Capitol, Smithsonian Holocaust Museum, Museum of Natural History, statue of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Lincoln Monument, Reflection Pool, Frederick Douglass Home and the Pentagon. Students attended church at Ebernezer AME Church in Fort Washington, Md., and enjoyed supper at the Cheesecake Factory. This year, Rod Terry, an alumni of Dollarway High School, met the students at the Capitol and Pine Bluff High School alumni John Eaves met students at the Pentagon. Both gentlemen complimented students on their outstanding academics and character. They both encouraged students to stay in school and to get the best education possible. There was an oratorical debate and quiz bowl competition again this year sponsored by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., and moderated by Brandon Flannigan. The winners of the oratorical competition were Ashlyn Wooten, Alex Jones, Michael Ferrell and Alex Ladd. They won $15 each. The quiz bowl competition consisted of over 50 questions about the colleges and universities and other sites visited during the college tour. There were bonus-point questions from the college tour chaperons. All 32 students participated in the competition. |
Upcoming Events
Next Meeting: August 23, 2016 -The Ivy Center for Education, Inc., will have its organizational meeting at 6:00 p.m. at Faith Presbyterian Church located at 913 University Drive. Presenters will be Al Ashley founder of the Arkansas Mentoring and Networking Association and Nick Pettus, Senior Diversity Specialist in the UAMS Center for Diversity Affairs. Students 7th - 12th grades interested in engineering and medicine should attend this very important meeting.