Oconaluftee awards WCU's Deltas and Omegas for their 2010-2011 Mentoring Program.

The ladies of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, Pi Gamma chapter at Western Carolina University dedicate countless hours once a month to spend time with the female residents at Oconaluftee Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center.  They mentor the young women of the center in many areas including attitude, education, goals, and even how to ‘dress for success’.

The Deltas start off every month with a fun icebreaker exercise involving a person standing in the middle of the circle stating a fact and someone else had it in common they would exchange places and the last person left would be in the circle and they would have to say a fact and the exercise started all over again.  They conducted a ‘What Not to Wear’ fashion show where a sorority member modeled an outfit and the students explained if the outfit was appropriate to wear to a job interview.  The ladies of Pi Gamma also discussed what not to wear in a job interview, for example, no short skirts, fish net stockings, hoop earrings, and bright colored eye shadows.

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is a private, non-profit organization whose purpose is to provide assistance and support through established programs in local communities throughout the world. This mentoring program is helping the female residents have strong positive female role models as they are also being taught skills that they can apply in their career search after they graduate from Job Corps.

The male students also received guidance and encouragement from the men of WCU’s Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Theta Lambda Chapter.  WCU Assistant Basketball Coach, Anquell McCollum, Omega Psi Phi Advisor often starts out discussing that friendship is essential and one of keys of life.

Omega members also speak with the center’s young men on topics ranging from “Dressing for Success” to “Integrity” and much, much more. For many Oconaluftee students, the lack of positive male role models in their home environments has left a real need for strong leadership, ideals, and tools for success.

The fraternity has worked to build a strong and effective force of men dedicated to its Cardinal Principles of manhood, scholarship, perseverance, and uplift.  The mentoring program at Oconaluftee has given the male students a role model and motivation to pursue their career goals after they graduate from Job Corps.  Many of the males have an incentive to attend college, not only to experience college life, live independently, be responsible, and receive a Bachelor’s degree, but also an opportunity to apply for membership into Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated to make a lifetime commitment to public service and continue the legacy of the  founders.  The male students look forward to seeing the members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity visit Oconaluftee as they can bring them of wealth of knowledge, wisdom, and past experiences.

In Photo: Brianne Young- Counselor, M.E. Smith- Center Director, Lakeshia Gallaspy- TEAP Specialist, Anquell McCollum, Bradley McCurdy, Nick Stamp, NaKristin Greene, Angelica Skeen, Yrome Graham, and Shalyn McMichael.