Virginia State University News February 4, 2016 VSU students excel at TMCF Leadership Institute Sixteen Virginia State University (VSU) students recently participated in the Thurgood Marshall College Fund's (TMCF) 15th Annual Leadership Institute in Washington, DC. The event brought together more than 300 students from 54 public, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) from around the country. Dr. Daniel Roberts, TMCF Campus Coordinator and Director of the VSU Honors Program; and Joseph Lyons, Associate Director/ STEM liaison of the VSU Office of Career Services led the VSU delegation. Students were selected to attend the Institute based on video and on-campus interviews. This year's delegation represented a record number of VSU students to participate in the program. VSU also claimed the fifth-largest contingent of students from any college/university attending Leadership Institute. The award-winning Leadership Institute is a national program designed to develop students' leadership skills, create a community of scholars, provide companies with access to a talented and diverse student population and help students make connections that lead to careers. The VSU group was highly sought-after by recruiters, with nearly all participants completing on-site interviews that resulted in offers for either an internship or permanent position. These companies included Apple, John Deere, Altria, Booz Allen and Hamilton, Deloitte Consulting, Eli Lilly Company, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and W.K. Kellogg. "I am impressed by the impact of the experiences and opportunities afforded our students as a result of their participation in TMCF programs, and the Leadership Institute in particular," said VSU Provost W. Weldon Hill. "The relationship between TMCF and VSU is testament to our students' intellectual and leadership acumen and represents the power of collaborative innovation." Students representing VSU at the 2015 TMCF Leadership Institute are: Bryashia Buggs of Charlotte, NC; Jason Daniels of Nottingham, MD; David Ghartey of Woodbridge, VA; Paul Jackson of Stony Creek, VA; Bereket Kahsai of Chester, VA; Tanika Mann of Triangle, VA; Raven McGriff of Lancaster, SC; Kelvin Parker of Waverly, VA; Kayla Pinson of Charlotte, NC; Morgan Pollard of Charlotte, NC; Amber Raymond of Baltimore; Kia Richmond of Stafford, VA; Frednesha Sanders of Charlotte, NC; Marshai Waiters of Chadbourn, NC; Shai West of Lorton, VA; and Deonesha Williams of Prince George, VA. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-592-4820 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.