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Virginia Congresswoman Speaks to Regent SIFE High School Partners
April 7, 2008
Congresswoman Thelma Drake speaks at Norview High School
In a continued partnership with Norview High School's educational programs, Regent University Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) arranged for Virginia Congresswoman Thelma Drake to speak to ninth-grade students. Drawing from personal experience and a marked desire to encourage the students in reaching their full potential, Drake engaged them in a discussion on how to be successful entrepreneurs.
"Thelma Drake indicated that she'd like to visit the school to meet with the students, so I arranged for her to visit during our Biz4Kids [entrepreneurship] program," said Dr. Shauna Tonkin, SIFE faculty advisor.
Drake, whose husband graduated from Norview High School, explained a congressional goal to support youth by providing opportunities for them to enter the job market — to find a need that they enjoy and fill it. The students expressed a strong interest in Drake's background as a real estate agent, and how that experience led to eventual community support as a congresswoman.
Following the classroom discussion, Drake visited teen leadership and national Teacher of the Year candidate Tommy Smigiel's classroom, where students gave brief presentations and a walking tour on their "Edible Schoolyard" produce project — an effort launched from Biz4Kidz and stemming from the partnership between Regent SIFE and Norview High School. The produce project aims to administer preventative outreach activities through Norview's program, The Success Academy, and helps motivate students to be involved with the community.
"It is an impressive partnership between a private university and a public school system that ties into [helping] a big concern of the youth of today," Drake commented. "To use the resources of Regent and Norfolk is impressive and creative...opening up opportunities for more and more students [to] move forward and meet workforce demands."
Regent SIFE faculty advisors Dr. Greg Stone and Dr. Tonkin will continue to work with the SIFE team members to provide educational outreach programs that promote personal and economic success. For more information on SIFE and their educational outreach projects in the Hampton Roads area visit http://sife.regent.edu.
PR/NEWS CONTACT: Judy Baker
Public Relations
Phone: 757.352.4307 Fax: 757.352.4888
E-mail: judibak@regent.edu
