JACKSON, Tenn. — April 10, 2013 — A class of 51社区's youngest fans performed a college cheer for Robbie Graves, assistant vice president for undergraduate admissions, when he visited their first grade classroom at Maury City Elementary School on a recent winter day.
Lined up outside their classroom, Judy Poston's students were waiting for Graves when he arrived, wearing the Union T-shirts they don each Friday.
鈥淚t just melted my heart when I walked around the corner,鈥� said Graves, who gave the students Union mementos, talked to them about Union鈥檚 core values and read to them. 鈥淩eading to them was so fun. They were respectful and they listened well.鈥�
The initiative is part of the No Excuses University program the entire school, located 30 minutes northwest of Jackson, adopted last August to encourage the students to consider college in the future.
鈥淭he idea of promoting college readiness to our students really attracted me because many of our students are from low income families who never attended college,鈥� said Melissa Glenn, the school鈥檚 principal.
Each teacher chose a university about which his or her students would learn. Poston, a 1986 Union graduate, chose her alma mater. She talks with students about Union each day, Glenn said.
Poston鈥檚 students already know what year they will graduate college: 2028.
鈥淓very morning we have a school wide assembly which we end with a college chant or cheer,鈥� Glenn said. 鈥淭hese chants encourage students to work hard, strive to reach their academic goals and realize that through hard work, they can reach their goal of attending college.鈥�.
When Graves came, the students treated him like a celebrity, since he represented the university they talk about on a daily basis, Glenn said.
Graves said Union has hosted campus tours for younger and younger students in the past couple of years, but Maury City Elementary鈥檚 students were by far the youngest talking about college, he said.
After talking about some of Union鈥檚 core values and how they apply to elementary school, Graves left through a hallway lined with college banners, hoping to return again soon.
鈥淚t felt as if you were leaving some friends and family that you wanted to go back and see again,鈥� he said.