Fort Valley State University

June 19, 2009—Camp leaders who visited Fort Valley State University Wednesday believe their students are destined for greatness, and it’s hard to hide their sentiments because the acronym for their program is a dead giveaway.

The FVSU is G.R.E.A.T. – Gang Resistance Education and Training - Twiggs County Day Camp is for the little boy whose father recently left the home, the child who doesn’t play outside for fear of being harmed or the little girl with low self-esteem.

“We have a serious waiting list. I have parents calling me every year,” said Levi Rozier who started the program five years ago. “All the kids have to do is get up [for camp]. Everything is paid for.”

Through the federally funded program geared toward rising seventh graders, the students participate in classroom activities, take trips to museums and visit college campuses.

On Wednesday, Jakill Thomas, who wants to attend Fort Valley State, was among 25 students who visited FVSU. After spending three hours on the campus learning about crops, gardening, fish and college life, the 12-year-old said his favorite part of the tour was seeing the trophies in the glass case that’s in the entrance hallway of the Health and Physical Education Complex. The Twiggs County Middle School student, who’s an aspiring lawyer, said he liked seeing something that displayed accomplishments.

During the school year, Jakill said he and other G.R.E.A.T participants learn about many things, including why they should stay away from drugs and violence, and how to manage anger. If he weren’t in camp, Jakill said he’d probably be sitting home watching television. He is grateful for the dedication of Rozier.

“I like it because he takes time out of what he’s doing to do stuff with us, because he could be doing something else,” said Jakill, who’s attending the two-week camp that began Monday.

Rozier, also the police chief for Twiggs County public schools, said one of his goals is to make sure his program participants complete high school and hopefully attend college. One way to do that, he said, is by exposing camp participants to campuses.

Woodie Hughes Jr., an FVSU employee who’s been working with the children at the camp, said, “We wanted to bring them here today because many of them are considering careers in agriculture and family and consumer sciences, which are areas of study offered at Fort Valley State. So by coming here, they are able to learn more about these fields.”

For two, two-week sessions, and a total of 60 children, Terralon Chaney, the Twiggs County agent for FVSU’s Cooperative Extension Program and Hughes, the 4-H and youth development specialist, will work with Rozier.

“This is the first time I’ve ever coordinated with another entity and the kids love it. Just in the past three days, the impact that Ms. Kristina is having is unreal,” said Rozier, referring to one of the camp leaders who is an FVSU food and nutrition major graduating in December.

It was Chaney who has known Rozier for years and teamed up with him for the camp partnership. Hughes said she is also responsible for initiating the new partnership with the Twiggs County school system and the FVSU 4-H and Family and Consumer Science programming at the request of the Twiggs County superintendent who was impressed with the G.R.E.A.T. program.

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Contact:
FVSU Agricultural Communications Department
(478) 825-6345