HU Student's Internships Take Her to the NFL and the White House

Painting the World Blue and White

 
Hampton University students, faculty, and alumni are making a global impact this summer. Students and faculty have embarked on internships, study abroad, and research opportunities all over the U.S. and the world. This blog series will feature Hamptonians on their travels this summer.  #HUworld 

HU Student's Internships Take Her to the NFL and the White House

Fryson visits the Indianapolis Colts training facility. Photo c/o Sydnei Fryson.

At a time of year when much of the world is in World Cup frenzy, one HU senior has her attention focused on the NFL.

Sydnei Fryson, a broadcast journalism major and English minor, recently began her internship with RTV6 (WRTV Indianapolis). Through this news station, she has had the opportunity to work with the Indianapolis Colts NFL team. She has visited their training center and produced packages for the team. She recounts visiting the team's locker and practice rooms as her most memorable experience thus far.

“It was amazing,” Fryson said. “I had to take a minute and let it all sink in. I was actually living my dream.”

Fryson will return to covering the Colts in July when the training camp is held. Until then, she will cover local stories in the Indianapolis area. She says the internship has already taught her a great deal.

“The most important thing I've learned so far is to be creative with standups and writing. I’ve learned to make an impact as an intern. I may not be able to do everything like a real job, but I can definitely make them remember me,” Fryson said.

Fryson at the White House. Photo c/o Sydnei Fryson.

Fryson’s current internship comes on the heels of another work experience. She completed an internship in May with the Scripps Howard Foundation Wire as a participant in the “Semester in Washington” program. The program allows college journalists to spend a summer interning in Washington, D.C.

During her internship with the Scripps Howard Foundation Wire, Fryson covered a variety of events, including the Scripps National Spelling Bee, a Medal of Honor ceremony, as well as a rally to support President Obama’s Surgeon General nominee, Dr. Vivek Murthy.

 “Apply to any and everything that seems the least bit interesting to you,” Fryson advised students seeking internship positions. “You may not be getting money, but you're getting the experience. My internship after freshman year was unpaid, but I was definitely a better journalist my sophomore year because of that internship.”

She also has advice for students who have secured internships. “Ask questions and most importantly, take notes,” Fryson said. “You’ll be grateful for them in the long run.”

Fryson at the Wizards vs. Pacers Game 6 Playoffs. Photo c/o Sydnei Fryson.

Fryson believes that her work experiences have been excellent preparation for her future career. She worked hard, but also enjoyed the new experience. “When you're reporting in places you wouldn’t (ordinarily) be, like the White House, it's important to take it all in,” Fryson said. “I had to keep in mind that I was on the job, but I just stood for a minute and said, ‘Wow, I'm really in the White House!’”



- Tori Twine

Hampton Student Interns at the U.S. Embassy in Greece

Painting the World Blue and White
Hampton University students, faculty and alumni are making a global impact this summer. Students and faculty have embarked on internships, study abroad and research opportunities all over the U.S. and the world. This blog series will feature Hamptonians on their travels this summer.  #HUworld

Hampton Student Interns at the U.S. Embassy in Greece

 

Many people might wonder what it’s like working with sensitive materials inside the U.S. Embassy, but only a few get to witness it for themselves. Taylor Bennett, a rising senior Aviation major, from Memphis, TN, is one of those selected few.

Mykonos Island, Greece. Courtesy of Taylor Bennett

This summer, Bennett has the opportunity to serve as an intern at the U.S. Embassy in Athens, Greece. She works in the Human Resources department handling and imputing sensitive, but unclassified files of former government employees into the government data system. Bennett is also in charge of overseeing the facility grounds and making sure that the maintenance is in good condition. Besides her work inside the embassy, she works with the ambassador by accommodating his home and office for visiting U.S. ambassadors of other countries.



Ancient Corinth, Greece. Courtesy of Taylor Bennett

Bennett’s plans after graduation next May were originally to go to the Federal Aviation Academy. However, her experiences in Greece and influence from her parents working in foreign services may just lead her toward a career change. As Bennett contemplates such decisions she’s also enjoying her time outside of work exploring the Greek islands, embracing herself in the culture, and learning the Greek language.



Meteora, Greece. Courtesy of Taylor Bennett

Bennett says that the Greeks are extremely American friendly and a majority of the natives, that she has encountered, speak English. “My experience so far has been amazing. I came here last December to visit my parents and became familiar with Athens before I traveled back this summer. The culture, food, scenery, and people are astonishing.”

 

The university is excited to see where Taylor goes from here as she makes plans to visit the rest of Europe this summer.

 

 -Sechemelia Lewis





HPER Students Travel to Bali

HPER Students Travel to Bali

 

HU HPER students work with a group of orphanage children in Bali.

Health, Physical Education and Recreation (HPER) Department Chair, Dr. Chevelle Hall, took 10 students to Bali, Indonesia to conduct research and volunteer with the Bali Sports Foundation. For two weeks, Hall and her students conducted research pertaining to helping individuals with physical challenges, and presented research proposals at Udayana University, one of the largest universities in Bali.

As volunteers, HU students worked with adults with physical challenges who liked to participate in physical activity and sports, and at a Christian orphanage where they facilitated games that focused on increasing children’s physical activity.  The students, who were either kinesiology or sport management majors, played games with the children that focused on increasing their physical activity. 

“The purpose of the trip was to expose students to other cultures and allow them to take part in service learning abroad,” said Hall, who organized the trip with HPER Assistant Professor Kimberly Blackwell. Students Ashley Gardner (student coordinator), Zion Gonzalez, Fianna Ford, Quenice Simms, Kai Brown, Marquise Johnson, Shania Anglade, Maya Bouyer, Marche Graham and Gillian Gray took the trip.

“The trip was an eye opener in so many ways academically and societally,” said Simms, a junior kinesiology major. “Being able to help people with physical challenges to be mobile and exercise, as well as working with children in an orphanage, was extremely rewarding.”

HU student Quenice Simms stands with Niska from Bali.

Simms said she is especially looking forward to a visit to America from one of the children, Niska, with whom she bonded.

“She made me a special bracelet that I wear every day,” Simms said.

HPER officials said the overall trip was a success and exposed their department and the University to international education and curriculum. Hall said that Udayana University is interested in partnering with HU for future student exchanges.

“The students, and those we served benefited from this trip,” Blackwell said. “We anticipate similar trips in the future where we can learn, give, help and bring our findings and research back to HU to further what we do as health professionals.”


-Leha Byrd

HU Seniors Receive Hampton Sheriff Scholarships

HU Seniors Receive Hampton Sheriff Scholarships

Jocelyn Cannon and Edward Robinson

Two Hampton University seniors received scholarships from the Virginia Sheriffs’ Institute. Sheriff B.J. Roberts, of the Hampton Sheriff’s Department, awarded the $1000 scholarships to Edward Robinson and Jocelyn Cannon on June 4.

Both Robinson and Cannon are criminal justice majors and members of the Gamma Tau chapter of Alpha Phi Sigma, the National Criminal Justice Honor Society. This was Robinson’s second year receiving the scholarship. He is a veteran of the United States Army, having served for seven years before enrolling at HU in 2012.

“It (this scholarship) means a lot to me because when I embarked on the journey to attend Hampton University, I was coming straight from my overseas deployment to Afghanistan,” Robinson said. “I was really nervous about being a 29-year-old nontraditional student surrounded by young people. However, from the moment I stepped foot on campus, students, faculty, and administration embraced me. I stood out, but in a good way.”

The Virginia Sheriffs’ Institute awards scholarships annually to Virginia college students pursuing majors in the criminal justice and law enforcement fields. Interested students must submit an application with an essay and letter of recommendation from their local sheriff.

- Tori Twine

HU ROTC Instructor Receives National Honor

Capt. Gary Flowers

HU ROTC Instructor Receives National Honor

This spring, the National Defense Industrial Association recognized Capt. Gary Flowers, U.S. Army ROTC Instructor at Hampton University, as the Most Outstanding Army ROTC Instructor of the Year.

Each year, the NDIA selects nine recipients from over 1,500 eligible instructors in ROTC programs across the United States. The award is given in memory of Colonel Leo A. Codd and presented to the most outstanding ROTC Instructor from each service – Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. Each recipient is given a complimentary three-year NDIA membership as well as a certificate of recognition and a savings bond.

“Capt. Flowers is an outstanding officer who embodies ‘The Standard of Excellence’ on a daily basis, and is developing Hampton students to become leaders in the U.S. Army, at Hampton, and in the local community,” said Lt. Col. Yusef E. Good, professor of military science at HU. Good recommended Capt. Flowers for the award.

Capt. Flowers instructing a cadet

In March 2013, Capt. Flowers became the assistant professor of military science and the Army ROTC executive officer at HU. In his first year on campus, he has already made a tremendous impact on the Army ROTC program. Students in the program have shown higher performance in their academics and physical fitness under Flowers’ leadership. He serves as a mentor to many of his students and actively seeks new resources to benefit them in their academics and training.

Flowers was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Infantry. He has received numerous awards and decorations for his service. He has also served in a number of combat and humanitarian tours around the world, including Afghanistan as a company commander and security force adviser team commander, Somalia as a combat engineer, and Iraq as a planning officer.

 

“I would like to thank the Hampton AROTC Cadre members: Ms. Rose, Mrs. Woodhouse, Ms. Carr, Mr. Cross, Mr. Wallace, Mr. Hopkins, Master Sgt. Cornelius, and Lt. Col. Good,” Flowers said. “Without their support and mentorship, I would not have been as competitive as I was. To the Hampton University student cadets, I am extremely blessed to be afforded an opportunity to teach, mentor, and develop you into the nation’s best. You continue to make me proud. Team Pirates!”


- Tori Twine