I love my tobacco spittin Winston-Salem State University Rams because it is where I discovered myself! I “entered to learn” how to be a nurse but “departed to serve” in many other capacities! My initial love came in the Summer before the 8th grade during Virginia Newell’s Math and Science Academy where Mr. Johnny Sigers helped me be the leader of my Math class the following year. This is also where, the DIVA, by the name of Sarah Alston, helped me excel in my English class and became the 1st person to leave me speechless when she told my mother, “She is the epitome of a strong black woman.” I was speechless because Mrs. Alston was stern, she didn’t say much to me and since Google hadn’t been invented and I had to wait until I got home to look up the word ‘epitome’, I didn’t know if it was a good or bad thing Lol.The Health Science building is where the continued lesson of, “if you want something you’re going to have to WORK for it,” was taught. The Thompson Center, in the Registrar and Financial Aid Offices, was where I learned that: relationship building, planning ahead, following up, and the saying of, “it’s not what you know but rather WHO you know,” were all instrumental to making sure my schedule was not purged and my money was where it needed to be.

Then there’s Dr. Soncerey Montgomery who allowed me to openly express myself in her Freshman Composition Classes and encouraged me to continue writing. And who, in her Speech class (Yes, I registered for EVERY ONE of her classes), helped me find out that even though I’m an introvert, I can be a skilled extrovert when needed.

I can give you more reasons because it IS so hard to be “R A M S WHEW”

My HBCU (Virginia State University) gave me a sense of who I was, community, relationships, culture, survivor, growth, scholarship, and a future!!

I am not an HBCU grad, but there are three important ones for me: Winston-Salem State which allows me to to work with the next generation of leaders for our community; Wilberforce University, the alma mater of my niece and West Virginia State College (now University), my mother’s alma mater. For without WVSC, there would not have been Ohio University for me.

I love my HBCU Livingstone College. Growing up in a very small community in NC, I thought I was in a big city when I got to Salisbury. My sister was already there. My Mom had attended Livingstone so I felt a sense of heritage.I met some wonderful people whom I am still friends with. I felt like I was in a home away from home! Curfews, friendly people and teachers that treated you like you were one of their children.

Ms. Pemberton, she was tough!! She was determined that if your major was Business, you would have to know it before you made it out!

I loved all four years there and have so many wonderful memories. My education there has allowed me opportunities that I give it full credit for!

There could never be an experience greater than proudly saying I’m an Alumni of an HBCU! My Livingstone College!!

I could actually write a book about why I LOVE MY HBCU, LIVINGSTONE COLLEGE. First and foremost I love my LC because when I arrived my sister Pam had already been in attendance for one year. I was VERY HOMESICK, but we had each other . I grew up at my HBCU and by the GRACE AND MERCY OF GOD HE HAS ALWAYS PREVAILED IN MY LIFE!!!! I met life long friends at LC. I think of them often, especially as I am planning OUR 60th BIRTHDAY PARTY to be held during HOMECOMING weekend, 2014. OUR THEME IS, “SAY IT LOUD!!!! WE’RE 60 & WE’RE PROUD!!!!” I already have 33 committed classmates and 10 spouses/guests. I know the numbers will grow because that is how strong our bond is from our days at LC!!! I love my HBCU because I had wonderful professors; Ms. Carolyn Anderson, Mr. William Pollard, and Ms. Mattie Lakin. I always loved Math, but my heart and dream was to become a Social Worker. Mr. Pollard was the reason I continued my education and secured a Masters of Social Work after graduating from LC in 1976. I pledged DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY under strong wonderful BIG SISTERS. Some of those Sorors include Sarah Littlejohn Alston, Evelyn Jones McNeil, Lucinda Stroble Benjamin, Lisa Oglesby, Brenda Walls, Sharon “Keeta” Henderson, and Dellosa “Nani” Holder. I do not know where she found the time, BUT she made time for US; Ms. Anderson was also my SORORITY ADVISER. Some of my dearest friends were pledging AKA. We were friends then and we have remained friends all of these years. It will 40 years since we came off line on 4-4-74. We were the last lines to pledge for one year. I love my HBCU because that is where I met and started dating a fellow, Ronald McCleave. He majored in Business, played football and pledged Kappa Alpha Psi while I was pledging. Two years after LC graduation and 1 month after graduate school graduation we married. Two years later we bought our first house. Two years after that we had our one and only child, our daughter, Rachel Marie McCleave Poole. Like I said I could write a book about why I LOVE MY HBCU LIVINGSTONE COLLEGE………………………………………… ‘O LIVINGSTONE!!! MY LIVINGSTONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I THANK GOD FOR LIVINGSTONE COLLEGE!!!!!!!!