Top high school seniors attend TSU Memphis Recruitment Reception

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Michael Payne says he’s heard “great things” about Tennessee State University, and the Memphis high school senior believes they were confirmed at a recruitment reception he attended Wednesday night.

“I know freshmen that are there, and they say the environment is really nice,” said Payne of TSU. “It’s a great all-around school.”

High school student Kabrea Bell and her mother, Tiffany Stevenson, attend recruitment reception. (Photo by Erynne Davis, TSU Media Relations)

The prospective mechanical engineer said he understands why the freshmen attending Tennessee State feel the way they do after hearing TSU admissions officials talk passionately about what the university has to offer and how to enroll.

The program was the annual TSU Memphis Recruitment Reception at the Sheraton Memphis Downtown Hotel for graduating high school seniors and their parents and family members.

TSU’s Office of Admissions holds the reception each year as part of activities leading up to the Southern Heritage Classic between TSU and Jackson State University at the Liberty Bowl.

Admissions officials say the goal of the reception is to seek out the best students, nurture them, and graduate them prepared for the global market.

“We like to position them this time of the year so that they will be prepared for admissions, and more importantly, be prepared and positioned and lined up for scholarship opportunities,” said Dr. Gregory Clark, TSU’s director of high school relations and NCAA certification.

TSU alum April Terrell helped coordinate the recruitment reception. She said she wanted to convey to the high school students the special experience they will have if they choose to attend a historically black institution, particularly Tennessee State.

“They can receive a quality education from a HBCU, one that is affordable in the state of Tennessee, and is going to have them ready for the workforce,” said Terrell.

Kabrea Bell would like to attend a HBCU and major in criminal justice. She attended the reception to hopefully get information that will help her make a decision on where to go.

“I’m hoping to get a lot out of this,” said Bell before the event. “I want to one day be a lawyer.”

TSU admissions official, Dr. Gregory Clark, talks to attendees. (Photo by Erynne Davis, TSU Media Relations)

Bell’s mother, Tiffany Stevenson, commended TSU for having the reception, which she said is an important way to inform high schoolers about the admission process, and college life in general.

“They learn what’s needed to attend a college, but they also get an idea of what’s to come, what to expect in college,” said Stevenson.

In 2016, TSU raised admission standards to attract the best and brightest students. For more information on TSU’s admission requirement, go to http://www.tnstate.edu/admissions/.

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