Boarding the bus, juniors Nykieta Alexander, Aliyah Edwards, Amber Smith and senior Kaliah Rodgers prepare to depart from a tour of Spelman University and Morehouse University. Members of the Marquette Academic Cultural Club (MACC), alongside students from Kirkwood and Webster Groves, attended a college trip in Atlanta to tour local universities, dine at local eateries and meet new people from February 13-18.

Clark Atlanta University student ambassadors Jianna Cousins and Kelton Holman describe various attributes of their university in comparison to other historically black colleges and universities in the state. Holman said it is important for him to share his experiences and success at Clark Atlanta with others. “I pride myself on being the change I want to see and showing people who look like me that when they say ‘you can’t don’t do it’, you can do it,” Holman said. “I pride myself in that I can relate to my peers, I’m able to relate to my generation, and I’m able to provide information that will change the narrative behind our generation.”

Seniors Jordan Reid, Claire Jones, Kaliah Rodgers, Stajah Perry and junior Kyri Smith and sophomore Maggie Ambus listen to Ahmari Graves, Spelman University tour guide, as she offers guidance on aspects of the college experience. Rodgers said building connections with others was most beneficial. “While the academics are good, it’s more so that I am looking for another home while I’m away and where all the networking can take me,” Rodgers said. “Learning about the sisterhood here was really intriguing, along with all of the alumni, like how they host the White Ceremony for the freshman to support them.”

Concluding his Clark Atlanta presentation, Boaz Bivens, undergraduate admissions recruiter, proceeds to answer remaining questions from the audience. He said Clark Atlanta is a special place. “A lot of people on the outside may not know how special Clark is,” Bivens said. “Having the opportunity to share that knowledge is a blessing, and I love being able to work here on top of that.”

Jordan Reid, senior, and Eboni Barrow, junior, view the Reflecting Pool in The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, established by Coretta Scott King in 1968. Barrow said including a visit to the memorial on the trip was important to her. “In school, we don’t learn very much about Martin Luther King Jr. as a man and as a whole,” Barrow said. “We just know about him as an activist and his protests for civil rights. It’s really eye opening to actually see real photos of him and his quotes all around here.”