Homecoming weekend gives students and alumni the opportunity to reminisce on old memories, as well as make new ones.
New memories were made throughout the campus at various events, but especially at Wofford’s 7th annual Black Alumni Summit.
The Black Alumni Summit is a conference hosted by the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and led by the office’s newest addition Dr. Dwain Pruitt, Wofford’s first Chief Equity Officer.
Through this event, Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) students and alumni were able to gather together to discuss what campus organizations and the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion have been able to accomplish during the course of the year.
Students got the opportunity to network and strategize with alumni, but perhaps the most prominent highlight of the conference was the two scholarships that were given out.
These scholarships are given out annually to extraordinary students that exemplify the traits of a Wofford student.
As a result, the scholarships allow the students to expand their horizons by encouraging learning both inside and outside of the classroom.
The first scholarship that was given out was the 1854 Heritage Fund Travel Grant Award. This scholarship is dedicated to helping students of color get the opportunity to study abroad.
This year, the scholarship was awarded to third-year student Hannah Sterling ‘22, the current president of Wofford Women of Color. Through this scholarship, Sterling will get the opportunity to study abroad for Interim.
Sterling plans to travel to Havana, Cuba and study at the University of Havana during the 2022 Interim semester.
For students that do not have time in their academic schedule to take a semester abroad, Interim is a great way to experience another culture and see the world from a different perspective.
“Interim travel has been on my bucket list for college at Wofford,” said Sterling on why she chose to study abroad for Interim. “I really wanted to go, especially since this is my last year physically here because I’m graduating early! I desired to go but I could only go if I had financial aid, which was the main factor for applying!”
This is a new and exciting time for Sterling.
“The scholarship means freedom, and the reason I say this is because I’ve been able to experience so many opportunities because of this college,” said Sterling. “This grant and trip is something that everybody should be able to experience, especially while young!”
The second scholarship that was given out during the Summit was the Penny Koger Memorial Scholarship. Honoring the life of the late Penny Koger, a BIPOC and a graduate of Wofford College. This scholarship is given to a student that has seen high academic achievement while still being involved on campus.
This year, the scholarship was presented by Leslie Kroger, Penny Kroger’s sister, and was awarded to Breana Dogan ‘22.
“It was a lot of communication back and forth with the Director of Equity, Dr. Pruitt,” said Dogan, on how she learned about the scholarship. “It was very interesting in general to learn about the Penny Kroger story so I did a lot of research.”
This scholarship focuses on students that are planning to further their education in the coming years and Dogan plans to do just that.
“I am doing a post-grad program after this, so it will definitely go to my education,” said Dogan.
Throughout her college experience, Dogan has displayed fortitude and tenacity.
“It feels like I have been given an amazing opportunity and I will not take it lightly,” said Dogan, expressing how it feels to finally see her work paying off.
Her only advice to younger students was to “keep pushing forward and keep trying.”
The Black Alumni Summit is a great opportunity for BIPOC students to see all that they can accomplish and support one another. Sterling and Dogan have set a precedent and have shown all Wofford students what they are capable of.
Students should be on the lookout for more activities hosted by the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in the coming months.
