VANS win second place at regional orientation conference
Kesha Williams
April 07, 2005 Seven Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) students presented a skit at a regional college conference at Clemson University and won second place in a competition involving hundreds of students from universities in nine southern states. The students, Chevaun Swint, Candra Jordan, Anecia Wills, Tim Lewis, Jason Gaddy, Issac Smith and Adrienne Aikins are members of the ECSU student group, Vikings Assisting New Students (VANS). They won second place at the 2005 Southern Regional Orientation Workshop (SROW) conference for their skit, "Sex Lies and Date Rape." The workshops are held annually to train university orientation leaders in the categories of college student orientation, transition and retention. Deborah Branch, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, said attending the conference was a good use of time for the students during spring break. "I’m delighted that our VANS had the chance to present their skit and I’m thrilled that they won second prize. This honor represents the work of our students and also the members of our staff," Branch said. Mrs. Branch and ECSU Counseling and Testing staff members, the Rev. Roosevelt Askew, Mrs. Felecia Brown and Ms. Dawn Bruner, accompanied 30 VANS to Clemson University for the conference that included over 111 student workshops. The award presentation from the National Orientation Directors Association was the focal point of the conference. More than 110 colleges, universities and community colleges participate in the annual Region VI conference. They come from the southern states Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. The VANS are taking their show on the road to perform for high school students at Camden High School. Their high school performance is the first one of its kind. Each year the VANS volunteer peer mentoring service and peer counseling services at four, annual orientation sessions at the ECSU. Adrienne Aikins is a freshman from Yorktown, Va.
Jason Gaddy is a sophomore is from Charlotte
Candra Jordan is a junior from Hobbsville, NC.
Issac Smith is a sophomore from Murfreesboro, NC.
Chevaun Swint is a senior from Burlington,NC
Tim Lewis a senior is from is from Chesapeake Va.
Anecia Wills a sophomore from Edenton.