Project Discovery's Spring 2019 Out of State Campus Visits Review
Project Discovery students at the Martin Luther King Jr. Center
The Take Off:
April 1st of 2019, Project Discovery set out to explore colleges, universities, and landmarks of the Southern regions along the east coast. At 6:45 am, twenty-three excited and nervous students from Charlottesville, Monticello, Albemarle, Nelson County, Louisa County and Fluvanna County High Schools, four gracious parent chaperones, one hopeful Project Discovery Director, and one awesome Professional Navigator of the Roadway departed the Monticello Area Community Action Agency for Greensboro, North Carolina. Whispers of “what do you think it’s going to be like”, and “I can’t wait to get to …” and “I’m still sleepy” swirled around the red luxury motor coach.
The Journey:
Project Discovery’s first stop at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, the largest historically black university in the United States, was a great way to begin our quest for more knowledge about southern colleges and universities.
April 2nd, the group split up. The young women set out for Spelman to learn more about the distinguished, private, and all female college. Spelman College is a global leader in the education of women of African descent. The young men migrated through the campus of Morehouse College, the alma mater of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rhodes Scholars, and many other notable African-American community and civil rights leaders. Afterwards, students experienced “the FUN place to eat “at “the world’s largest drive in”, a staple of downtown Atlanta, Georgia since 1928, and known as the Varsity. Project Discovery then navigated down the streets of Midtown Atlanta to discover the campus of the Georgia Institute of Technology, ranked the “smartest” public college in America. The next stops on the journey educated students about the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and others who were influential to the civil rights movement. Students appreciated becoming more knowledgeable of Dr. King’s impact on the world at the King Center, his birth home, Ebenezer Baptist Church, and the Fire House. Our last stop of the day ended at Lenox Square for shopping and dinner at California Pizza Kitchen.
April 3rd, reluctantly bags were packed and the bus was loaded to head back home. Before Project Discovery departed Atlanta, one last stop was made at the World of Coca Cola, another staple and popular attraction of downtown Atlanta. The tour guide was excellent in providing the history of the Coca- Cola Company and explaining key artifacts of the brand. Students and chaperones expressed how much they enjoyed the experience, and how tasting all the flavors of Coca Cola from around the world was a nice treat!
The Conclusion:
Project Discovery stopped for a quick fast food lunch, to-go, on the journey back home. After traveling for serval hours, Project Discovery stretched their legs during a family style meal at Golden Coral, while recapping and sharing the group’s thoughts and reactions to the three day journey. Many miles later twenty-three thrilled students, four pleased parent chaperones, one satisfied Project Discovery Director, and one delighted Navigator of the Roadway returned to the Monticello Area Community Action Agency safe and sound with more awareness of themselves, their future, and the world.
Project Discovery students at North Carolina A&T