The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) was named after the first African American U.S. Supreme Court Justice, Thurgood Marshall. It is a national organization that was established in 1987 and since then has gone on to support and represents nearly 300,000 students attending 47 publicly supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs). The foundation’s mission is to ensure student success by promoting educational excellence and preparing the next generation of leaders through scholarships, internships, professional development, and public policy advocacy. Two of Acorn’s very own, A’zarianne Johnson and Kenaysia Stanton got a chance to go to Washington, D.C., October 1st through October 5th to participate in the Leadership Institute conference.
A’Zarianne Johnson is a Senior Mass Communications major from Minden, Louisiana who got the chance to participate in the Leadership Conference for a 2nd time this year. “Participating in the Leadership Institute for the second time this year was an exciting experience that significantly contributed to my professional development growth. The opportunity to collaborate with like-minded individuals from similar backgrounds was incredibly motivating, driving me to return this year with a renewed sense of purpose and not just as a yard ambassador this year. The skills and insights I gained during the program have directly translated into my career advancements, as evidenced by the three job offers I’ve received so far. This experience has reinforced the importance of proactive leadership and personal transformation, empowering me to take ownership of my future and become a catalyst for positive change.”
Kenaysia Stanton is a Junior Mass Communication major from Pascagoula, Mississippi who believed the experience was life changing. “I traveled to Washington, D.C. for the Thurgood Marshall College Fund Leadership Institute (TMCF LI), where students from HBCUs across the country gathered to network and grow professionally. Throughout the week, I attended panels, networking events, and a large career fair where I had the chance to speak with business partners about future internships and full-time job opportunities. I applied for this opportunity through the TMCF website and encourage Juniors and Seniors to apply next year so we can continue building Alcorn’s presence. Seven Alcorn students attended this year, but it would be great to see even more. My biggest takeaway from this experience was learning to step out of my comfort zone. I was intimidated the first couple of days, but looking back, there are so many things I’d do differently, and I can’t wait to attend again next year.”
A’zarianne Johnson
Kenayshia Stanton
