Kayonjra Guerrant, West Virginia State University- c/o 2021, Social Work
Name : Kayonjra Guerrant
HBCU : West Virginia State University
Graduation Year : 2021
Major : Social Work
Minor : N/A
Email : kguerrant@wvstateu.edu
Where are you from? Who introduced you to HBCUs?*
I'm from Charleston, West Virginia. My family introduced me to HBCUs considering all of them including my close friends that I grew up around attended HBCUs.
Senior year
Why did you choose an HBCU over a pwi?*
Well a pwi was never a choice for me however, an HBCU is something I have never envisioned, by reason of experiencing a daily reality such that opposition is a norm.
Growing up during my childhood years I have gone to schools where educators would not set aside the effort to benefit you since they are brought under the feeling that everybody is on that equivalent degree of information. I have consistently needed to go up against everyone, and I realized that my prosperity would get from my imitating.
West Virginia State Univeristy is a college I chose to go to because I wanted to become familiar with the university’s history and achievements and this HBCU provides students something they can't get anywhere else.
What is the story of your "experience" at Your HBCU given its heralded status as a stellar and prestigious institution?*
To be honest, I did not know what to expect. I'm glad that I walked into an HBCU that is supportive towards one another but mostly family oriented. I had friends to help me make my HBCU experience one to remember because I didn't know how or where to start but I was always told that you, yourself have to make it the best one yet.
Throughout the years, I have made great associates, acquaintances, and friends in school and sorors of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. And I wouldn't want to have it any other way.
Freshman year
"First time" experiences at your HBCU?*
The first time I arrived on campus, students approached me and introduced themselves. At that time, I felt welcomed and comfortable. Meeting new people changes a lot considering you are so used to the people that you have known since elementary, middle school, and high school. With that change, you learn how to adapt to a new environment.
The first week of Freshmen year, I was excited but nervous about how I was going to balance my time and figure out what extra curricular activities I was going to devote my time into. By the looks of the class schedule I received, I assumed I was not going to get through my freshmen year at all, which I will say I over-exaggerated but the best thing about it is that I got through it and I got the hang of it day by day.
Now that I am entering my senior year, I see how senioritis is real and can have real consequences.
Who are the professors that have impacted your life in and out of the classroom? How did they do that?*
I never had her in class but the professor that has impacted my life in and out is Ms. Sharon Banks . Without her, I don't know where I would be.
She taught me how to speak up for myself, I need to be humble and be bold. She tells me all the time, "You got to take charge!" She has given me the strength I needed to take the next steps of being a successful young woman. Everything that she says is ALWAYS from the heart, all you can do is take it and appreciate it because nowadays you don't get that genuine feeling and the honesty from a lot of people. Much love to her!
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West Virginia State University
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Students: 2,847
Under Graduates: 2,792
Post Graduates: 55 - Athletics: Men's football, baseball, basketball, golf, and tennis, and women's basketball, golf, softball, tennis, and volleyball**Member of the Mountain East Conference
- Notable Alumni: Carter G. Woodson - African-American historian cited as the father of black history; served as Academic Dean of WVSU from 1920-22**Wendell Smith - noted African American sportswriter who was influential in the choice of Jackie Robinson to become the first African American player in Major League Baseball**Maria Pappas - Cook County Treasurer since 1998. She earned her master's in counseling at West Virginia State University.**Lou Myers - actor and theatrical director, played Vernon Gaines in A Different World**Earl Lloyd -first African-American to play in the NBA**Robert "RJ" Haddy - special effects artist and twice contestant on Syfy's reality game show Face Off**Antoine Fuqua - writer and director of various movies including Training Day, starring Denzel Washington**Katherine Johnson - African-American scientist, who made significant contributions to America's aeronautics and space exploration for NASA**
- Click here to view on Wikipedia