Good IFC/Panhel project at UVa

[hoosier]

UVA Greeks talk college to OCHS freshmen

------------------------------------------------------------------------

By Maria Pace
Review Staff Writer

Approximately 20 students from 5 different fraternities and sororities at the University of Virginia visited Orange County High School last week. The university students visited 6 classrooms of nearly 200 9th graders to talk to them about college life and address their questions and concerns.
Ms. Carlton, social studies teacher at Orange County High School, invited the older, more experienced students to come speak as part of the 9th Grade Transition Program – a new program at the high school, designed to encourage better adjustment and performance from freshmen. Last summer, Carlton contacted sororities and fraternities at UVA to see if they could help the cause by coming in to talk about college life with the young students.
“Through the Transition Program,” Principal Gina Keller explained, “we want to create exposure and build on it.” On average, 36% of Orange County High School graduates attend a 4-year college, and 30% attend a technical school or 2 year college.
“We want to expose ninth graders to the fact that college is a reality for them,” said Assistant Principal Sue Ross.
“In college, you become entirely responsible for yourself,” one sorority girl told a class full of attentive ninth graders.
“A college education is very important in this world,” Brian Pennington, a 3rd year at the University of Virginia and a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha frat, told the young high school students. He explained that although many people obtained bachelor degrees nowadays, the degree still provided an important competitive edge over those without a college degree.
“I want to encourage young high school students not to limit their options and to help them see that college is one of the most exciting parts of life,” said Pete Lee, a fourth year at the University and a member of Sigma Pi fraternity.
The university students are part of the “Comfort Zone Program,” which they self-organized to promote social and community service activities between predominantly black and white Greek groups that generally failed to interact in the past. Members of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Theta Nu Xi sorority, Delta Zeta sorority, Sigma Pi Fraternity, and Gamma Phi Beta sorority spoke at the high school as part of the program.