GCSU BSA brings home big wins

Black Student Alliance won four awards at the Black Collegiate Leadership Conference hosted at the University of West Georgia Sept. 11.

GCSU representatives shared the first place cash prize of $225 for an event planning competition. In addition, they received Most Outstanding Organization, Longest Distance Traveled and Outstanding Leadership by junior Erica Jones.

“The event was schools and organizations coming together and learning valuable information about leadership, and how to apply it to future programming within an organization,” said junior Spanish major Tenay Carty, president of BSA.

The chapter was invited to the conference by the University of West Georgia’s BSA president. GCSU’s eight attendees drove three hours to Carrollton, Ga., for the day-long event.

Different topics of the conference included networking, catering to African-Americans in future programming, using resources within proximity while also reaching to other groups and improving leadership by linking past experiences in planning future endeavors.

“(We learned) organizational, leadership and networking skills. Also new and fresh approaches to solving problems,” said junior Keilah Johnson, a liberal studies major and vice president of BSA. “We also learned our lack of an African-American population is not an excuse. We need to start looking to further opportunities, such as reaching out to neighboring schools and developing our programs already established.”

At the end of the conference participants were instructed to use the information taught during lectures and create an event. The GCSU BSA chose the theme “Too Fast, Too Furious, What is Your Network?” and motto “Together we are Powerful.”

BSA presented their project before judges and five other groups partaking in the conference. Following the presentations was an award ceremony.

A surprise award for Outstanding Leadership, given to one male and one female, was disclosed during the awards ceremony. Judges based this award on their personal observation during the creation process of the events. They watched and listened to each group taking note of those effectively leading. Erica Jones, an English literature major, took home the prize.

“I was happy to be recognized, but even more proud that I could be a good representation of Georgia College & State University.” Jones said.

Johnson believes the awards give BSA hope in re-establishing the organization’s reputation. The awards also confirm the executive board’s efforts in bettering their leadership.

“BSA is improving. There is a place for (students) to go to. There is leadership and organization and academia within Black Student Alliance,” Johnson said.

BSA meets bi-weekly on Wednesdays at 12:30 p.m., in the conference room in the Office of Institutional Equality and Diversity located in Maxwell Student Union, and anyone can attend.

The group hosts weekly events for members, such as study sessions and community development events. BSA hopes to connect students through community service projects and events like their annual Kwanzaa celebration.

The motto created at the conference, “Together we are Powerful,” reflects the group’s goals in partnering with other organizations to improve GCSU student life.

“Anyone can participate,” Carty said. “Sure our main focus is African Americans, but we don’t limit ourselves to just African American participation. We’re open to everybody.”

Editor’s note: Keilah Johnson is an ad rep for The Colonnade.

Posted by Emily McCurley on Sep 24 2010. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.