By Kyle Roberts
Tears of joy filled the Boys & Girls Club of Northeast Louisiana Wednesday as worker and Americorps volunteer AunDra Lacey was surprised with a full scholarship to Grambling State University to study to become an educator, given by GSU’s chapter of the “Call Me Mister” program.
“This means so much,” Lacey said, noting his desire to teach started with his work at the Boy & Girls Club. “I did not see this coming. It meant so much walking in and seeing all the kids in our midst; they have my back like I have theirs.
“I’ve wanted to teach and be a mentor for kids, and I just appreciate this so much.”
The gymnasium at the Boys & Girls building was full of family, friends, and kids in the program as they cheered Lacey on as he signed his official scholarship and ceremoniously put on a Grambling State University in a fashion of an athletics signing.
“Most black males when they sign up for scholarships, it’s for athletics,” said Jaderic Talbert, president of “Call Me Mister” at GSU, who is also a senior education major. “This is for academics, so we’re changing the narrative. (Call Me Mister) works hand in hand with the regular teaching education programs, and it gives additional support.”
That support includes funding such as tuition assistance and scholarships, along with mentoring and coaching.
Dr. George Noflin is the director and oversees the “Call Me Mister” chapter at Grambling State and spoke to the process that Lacey followed to secure his scholarship.
“There is an application process,” Noflin said. “There are several essays that (Lacey) had to complete. Then he went through two interviews. After his second interview, he was overwhelmingly selected.”
“Call Me Mister” starting in 2000 at Clemson University to address the lack of black male educators in the United States. Currently, only 1.3 percent of teachers in America are black males.
And for Lacey, it’s the perfect way to be sent off to college to fulfill his dream with the opportunity to go to school on a full scholarship ride.
“It hasn’t truly hit me yet,” Lacey said. “I’m just lost for words.”
