HYLA Students Tour State Universities

The Hancock Youth Leadership Academy (HYLA) High School Program Class of 2014 embarked on a College Cruise, generously sponsored by Wal-Mart, on September 16 and 17 in order to tour state colleges and universities and get a glimpse of higher education opportunities in the state.  “The College Cruise is an important part of the preparation process that we undertake with participants of the youth leadership academy.  Many students have not yet had the opportunity to see what Mississippi has to offer students entering college and we like to arm them with that knowledge,” says director Rhonda Rhodes.

On September 16, 2014, the group traveled to University of Southern Mississippi where they met with counselors to discuss the admissions and scholarship application process.  They also met with faculty from the Criminal Justice department and then toured the forensics building and learned how to dust for fingerprints.  The visit was complete with a tour of the entire campus and lunch at the Fresh Food Company.

From Hattiesburg, the leadership group traveled to Oxford and spent the night at The Inn at Ole Miss. Students were able the walk around The Square and ate dinner at the Old Venice Pizza Company. The next morning the group met with University of Mississippi Admissions Director, Whitman Smith, who stressed the importance of choosing the right college based on the students’ needs and highlighted what the university has to offer.  Students were able to choose from three different tours: The Croft Institute of International Studies, The Center for Manufacturing Excellence, or the Trent Lott Leadership Institute.  The group then toured the entire campus together.

From Oxford, the tour continued on to Starkville to tour the campus of Mississippi State University.  Erron Flowers, Assistant Director of MS Recruitment, greeted the students and introduced them to the wide variety of programs offered by Mississippi State. Students then toured the Leo W. Seal Family Business Complex and were excited to see firsthand how the contributions of their fellow Hancock County native has allowed Mississippi State to flourish. They then toured the Leo Seal, Jr. Football Complex, including the locker rooms and workout facility, and watched the Bulldogs on their practice field. The day ended with a campus-wide tour and dinner at the Perry Cafeteria.

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