CORRECTION: It should have read that Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore is the dean of the Honors College. Also, MSU’s African Studies Center provided staff and funding for Explore Africa. John Metzler is an assistant professor and the coordinator of the African Studies Center.
Even though their trip to Africa was canceled because of low enrollment, the 12 high school students participating in Explore Africa at MSU are enjoying a week on campus, learning about the culture, geography and history of the continent.
Explore Africa, a weeklong residential program that costs $475 per student, is open to any high school student entering into 10th-12th grade, said Kathee McDonald, dean of the Honors College and director of Gifted and Talented Education at MSU. Applicable students must have at least a 3.5 grade-point average and have strong standardized test scores, she said.
“It’s just an overall crash course on Africa (and) all (its) different facets,” McDonald said. “There were 12 students (applicants) this summer and we took in all of them.”
The students learn about many aspects of African culture and are taught by African Studies Center teaching staff, McDonald said.
Explore Africa was supposed to include a two-weeklong stay in Cape Town, South Africa, but the trip was canceled due to a lack of interest, said Neil Edwards, an 11th-grade student from New Jersey.
There may have been fewer applicants for the program this year because of the poor economy, McDonald said, but she hopes the trip will take place next year. This is the eighth year of the program and there are usually up to 20 applicants, McDonald said.
“I’ve been liking the new friends I’ve made, no matter what color or where you’re from,” said Zione Ndovi, a 12th grader from Michigan who was born in Malawi in South Africa. “We’re just like sisters and brothers.”
Lynda Akono, a 12th grader from Michigan who was born in Togo, a country in West Africa, said her main objective for the program was to learn more.
“We’re all learning about one place,” she said. “We’re learning Swahili too.”
McDonald said the students take Explore Africa, which is an academic program, seriously.
“My dad has a Ph.D. in Ethiopian history and I grew up with literally thousands of books on African history in my house,” Edwards said. “I’ve been studying African history for the past four years.”
On Tuesday night, the students had the opportunity to hear guest speaker Jacob Atem, one of the “Lost Boys” of Sudan.
Edwards said he enjoyed meeting and having dinner with Atem and hopes to help him in his efforts to restore a health clinic in southern Sudan, which may eventually become a hospital.
The students will have an African dinner Thursday night on campus, McDonald said.
“It’s been like the little buzz on campus,” said Ndovi. “Explore Africa, Explore Africa.”
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