To some Jan. 20
may have simply been an extra day out of classes, but to a student
like Millicent Rogers, Martin Luther King Jr. Day was a time for
service, remembrance and inspiration.
As an Appalachian State University freshman, Rogers is involved
in the service organization Order of Black and Gold, as well as
the Black Student Association. Rogers volunteered Monday to participate
in the MLK Challenge, a one-day service project honoring Martin
Luther King Jr. and his dedication to service.
“I have always participated in MLK programs at home and I
am dedicated to service. Our job as a human race is to make sure
that we work together to keep the world we live in up to par,”
Rogers said.
Participants met in Legends at 8:30 Monday morning. They divided
into groups and received a service project assignment. Roger’s
group traveled to the Watauga Youth Network, where they would
spend most of the day mopping and buffing the floors, and steam-cleaning
the carpets. However, the group’s first challenge was to
find things with which they could clean. Millicent and a group
of students, including Erin Schmidt, drove around Boone collecting
donations from businesses. Boone Rentals donated a buffer for
a few hours and Appalachian Innkeeper Supplies donated cleaning
solution. Farmers also donated some things. “Millicent was
the front person; we sent her into the stores and she would get
the job done,” Schmidt said. Chaisaray Schenck agrees. “Mill
is always a really hard worker—she stays on task and does
her best.”
Once all the needed supplies were collected, the group returned
to the youth center and began the wearisome job of cleaning the
floors. Schmidt recalled, “First we had to sweep, then mop,
then buff, and then mop again.” Rogers was very enthusiastic
about the entire experience despite all the labor involved. She
even has plans to participate again next year.
“The MLK Challenge not only created a bond between me and
other students on campus, but it has also inspired me to get involved
with other organizations,” Rogers said.
Rogers has been a minority in every community she has ever lived
in, and Appalachian is no exception. She said she primarily hoped
to attend a predominantly African-American college. However, she
said she was impressed with Appalachian’s degree in education
and finally made her decision to come to Appalachian. Rogers said
she has no worries about still being a minority.
“It gives me the opportunity to show those with biased views
how the average minority truly behaves and try to undo typical
stereotypes,” Rogers said.
“I have to make a person not only look past my skin color,
but also that I’m a female. It has taught me to work harder
though the competition is stiffer,” she said.
For Rogers, King is a man who had dreams and made them come true.
She said she aspires to do the same.
Dontrell Parson, faculty advisor of the Order of Black and Gold,
said he believes Rogers will have no trouble in that area.
“Ms. Rogers is an outstanding young woman, and the type of
individual who sacrifices her wants and needs in order to help
someone in need. She is the epitome of service, and I feel she
is going to play a pivotal role in the future leadership of Black
and Gold,” Parson said. |
