Tartan High School Students Head for Historically Black Colleges over Spring Break

Friday night, a group of 30 students from the Black Student Union, will embark on a one-week college tour that will lead them to Ohio and North Carolina, with stops at several colleges rich in black history and culture. Thirty students from North High School will also be on the trip.

The Tartan Black Student Union manager of special events, Dee Dee Sawyer, who participated in last year’s bus tour to Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee, said one of the best parts was making new friends.

“It was awkward at first, since we didn’t all know each other, but by the end we each spoke, sharing an important part of the trip and everyone started singing—it was really emotional," she said. "I just wanted to cry and say 'I love you guys!'”

Now in its second year at Tartan, the Black Student Union was formed to expose students to African American culture and promote strength and unity with a large focus on college readiness.

 Hindi Abdi, treasurer, said being a member of the Black Student Union has been a rewarding experience that includes attending weekly meetings, entertaining guest speakers, going to plays and taking day trips.

“We do many activities benefiting African Americans, but every culture is welcome to join,” she said.

 Vice President, Matthew Blakely, said the organization has made a big impact in his life.

“This group makes me feel like I am part of something bigger than myself by being able to do things for other people,” he said.

Michaela Starr, president of the Black Student Union said she agrees.

“To some people it might seem like we’re trying to separate ourselves, but really it is more about coming together," she said. "BSU gives a sense of unity and culture and not just within the group; we can take that positivity and share it that with those around us.”

The group has served the community by working with North High School on collecting toiletries for families in need for the program 622 Project Family Connect. On Martin Luther King Day, the group participated in a video shoot of a public service announcement about conserving water, focusing on those in Africa with limited resources.

Black History Month was an especially busy time for the group as they organized speakers, hung posters, created trivia questions and shared fun facts over the school loudspeaker during morning announcements.

The students were also present when Oakdale Mayor Carmen Sarrack proclaimed February Black History Month in the city of Oakdale.

"We were really excited because not only are our students recognizing Black History Month, the community is recognizing it as well," said advisor Kimberly Moore. "This was a very important first.”

The bus tour will include stops at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Museum in Cincinnati, Duke University, Winston-Salem State University, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina State University and Fayetteville State University. The group will share details, pictures and videos of the trip each day on their blog at http://northtartancollege.blogspot.com/.