James Shields '00 offered the opening remarks to the Gertrude Judd Upperman '69 Symposium.
Students from around Greensboro gathered at the College on Feb. 23 to learn how to be their best in whatever they choose to do.
“Guilford’s a place where people of color can see themselves and that’s a big deal. It’s important to help people feel like they can connect and they can be their authentic selves in any situation. Guilford does a really good job with that everyday but even more so today.”
Claire Hua of Greensboro has driven by Guilford and admired its trees and red-bricked buildings through the years, but never showed interest in attending the College.
All that changed Feb. 23 when the Greensboro Day School senior spent an entire day on campus attending the first Gertrude Judd Upperman ’69 Symposium. Claire and 63 other high school students from Guilford County explored Black cultural identity, expression, experiences, activism, challenges and resilience.
It also served as a way for students like Claire to learn more about a liberal arts college in their own backyard. She wants to attend college and major in Psychology. “I really enjoyed the breakout sessions and getting to know more about the school. I hadn’t given (Guilford) much thought, but it’s definitely on my radar now,” she says.
That was one of the many motivations beyond hosting the symposium, named in memory of one of Guilford’s earliest Black students and most active supporters over the years. Ayesha Swinton, the College’s Director of Transformation and Inclusion, says the symposium was another way of supporting students of color in Greensboro while showing off the College.
“Guilford’s a place where people of color can see themselves and that’s a big deal, says Ayesha. “It’s important to help people feel like they can connect and they can be their authentic selves in any situation. Guilford does a really good job with that everyday but even more so today.”
Ayesha says she needs to start looking for more classroom space on campus for next year because she wants to invite more students. “It was a little tight with space but what a great problem to have,” she says. “I’d love to have even more students from around Greensboro come out because I think what we’re showing kids about Guilford and helping them see in themselves is so important.”
There was something for everyone at the symposium. Students learned about self care and empowerment and how to unlock their own personal gifts. Claire enjoyed a session on the cultural history and celebration of Hip Hop. “We got to have some really good conversations on pop today and how it’s changed America,” says Claire. “We talked about Hip Hop in ways I never thought about. I loved it.”