GSU STUDENT SELECTED AS HBCU ALL STAR

 

Biology major Green surprised when phone call from D.C. gives her a special honor

By JESSICA WRIGHT
GSU Media Bureau

Endiah Green 2016 HBCU All-Star and mentor Melvina Martin, Associate Professor of Biology
Endiah Green 2016 HBCU All-Star and mentor Melvina Martin, Associate Professor of Biology

Endiah Green sat inside the Grambling State University provost’s office suite, waiting for Ellen Smiley to call her in to talk about “opportunities for STEM students” with her faculty adviser and mentor Melvenia Martin. When it was time, they went in and the bright young woman provided some interesting ideas when the telephone rang.

It wasn’t for Smiley; it was for Green.

Elyse Jones was calling from The White House Initiative on HBCUs to personally congratulate Green on being selected to represent GSU as a 2016 HBCU All-Star.

“We really enjoyed reading your application, learning about you and were really impressed with your commitment to your campus and community,” said Jones. “We are looking forward to working with you… we know that you’re going to be a great addition to our 2016 cohorts and you’re going to do awesome things in your community.”

The White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) works to promote HBCU excellence, innovation and sustainability. The initiative recognizes undergraduate, graduate and professional students for accomplishments in scholarship, leadership and civic engagement. In October, Green will attend the annual HBCU Week Conference in Washington, D.C., with 72 other students.

Green, 20, junior, biology major with a pre-med concentration, learned about the opportunity when she saw a notice on a board in the school’s financial aid office. She thought it was a great program and discussed it with Martin, an assistant biology professor who has worked with Green since 2014. “I’m so happy to be her mentor and that she brought this opportunity to my attention,” said Martin. “Now you (Green) just have to get your peers to apply so we can have more than one.”

The program is open to undergraduate, graduate and professional students at any Historically Black College or University (HBCU). Applicants submit application packages including a nomination form, a transcript, an essay, a resume and an endorsement/commitment letter. As an HBCU All-Star, Green will use social media and personal and professional relationships with community-based organizations to share some promising and proven practices that support young people pursuing academic and career excellence.

Ellen Smiley, Provost & VP of Academic Affairs, and Endiah Green
Ellen Smiley, Provost & VP of Academic Affairs, and Endiah Green (Photos: Glenn Lewis)

Green, a native of Ruston, has been growing in Grambling as a student and a young woman. She went to Grambling Lab High School and she participated in GSU’s High Ability program. In college, she is chief justice for the GSU Student Government Association, she is a member of the Center for Mathematical Achievement in Science and Technology (CMAST) and she is a part of the Favrot Student Union Board (FSUB). She is also is a legacy student, the daughter of Grambling alumnae Karen Green, an administrative assistant 3 in the Grambling State registrar’s office.

“Ms. Greene is one of Grambling State University’s treasures. This accomplishment is a distinguished honor for Grambling State University,” said Smiley. She congratulated Green on her success and complimented her selection in choosing a mentor. “Dr. Melvenia Martin is a faculty mentor who goes above and beyond the call in order to drive her students toward success,” said Smiley.

Green gave Smiley a promise to represent the university well and motivate more students to get involved in STEM opportunities. Green said she had no idea about the recognition, and she was surprised. “Everyone maintained the secret so well,” she said.

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