Hello MEGA Mentors and Supporters! It's been a GREAT year for MEGA and we look forward to another spectacular one. Please mark your calendars for our upcoming Fine Art Benefit and Sale (FABS) on Friday, January 12, 2018. We will send out flyers and reminders soon. Here's a recap of our activities and accomplishments this year. | Field Trip: National Museum of African American History and Culture Approximately 85 MEGA Mentors students and chaperones visited the NMAAHC March 21 in Washington, D.C. Greg Cummings, MEGA Mentors Vice President for Administration, said the museum was a insightful and inspiring learning adventure. "Needless to say, it was a special to have a group our size attend because the museum has been booked for quite some time," Cummings explained.
Cumming said MEGA was honored to have Mr. John Franklin, Director of the Office of External Affairs for NMAAHC, and Thameenah Muhammed, Senior Major Gifts Officer for NMAAHC, provide a personal guided tour of the first three levels of the museum. "It was like stepping back into history to understand not only the historical relevance but also how those contributions impact our current lives," Cummings said. "Even more interesting was the story behind how the museum acquired the artifacts and collections. Thank you Mr. Franklin. We are forever in your indebtedness."
The group followed the tour with a visit to the Lincoln and King Memorials. The entire group returned home that evening tired but full of new knowledge and memories. | Field Trip: Norfolk State University and Nauticus MEGA Mentors sponsored a trip for 87 middle school students to Norfolk State University and the Nauticus museum April 3. The students, along with 17 Mentors, toured the NSU campus and received a motivational presentation about what it takes to be successful in life and what it takes to get into college.
After the tour of the campus, the group went to the Nauticus museum where students ate lunch and then went on a guided tour of the ship and the museum. "It was a very fun and educational trip, even for us adults," said LaShanda Hill, Carver Middle School lead mentor. "I look forward to next year's adventure and seeing the excited look on the kids' faces." |  MEGA middle school students attend an information session at Norfolk State University. | | Best-Selling Author Troy Lewis visits Providence MS Troy Lewis, best-selling author of the book "Gas Money," was the guest speaker at Providence Middle School April 6. He spoke to over 50 students, school administrators and MEGA Mentors volunteers over two sessions. Gwen Epps, Lewis' lifelong friend and a MEGA Mentor at Providence, was instrumental in getting him to be the guest speaker.
Troy and his book have been featured on C-SPAN Book TV, Steve Adubato's "One-on-One" PBS TV program, radio shows, various newspapers and a review in the Huffington Post. Since the launch of his book, Lewis has had numerous public appearances and speaking engagements. He is a dynamic speaker who shares his inspirational stories with schools, libraries, fund-raisers and book clubs.
Lewis was born and raised in the tiny town of Saluda, Virginia, where the population has doubled to 769 since his departure in 1974. He currently resides in New Jersey and enjoys writing. "Gas Money" is his first foray into the literary world. | MEGA hosts Excellence Awards and Recognition Celebration MEGA held it's Excellence Awards and Recognition Celebration May 18. Approximately 320 students, parents, mentors, school officials and other guests attended this annual event. This year's guest speaker was Ms. Nikki Jackson, senior vice president and regional executive of the Louisville Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. In her role she focuses on community development and education as well as regional economic research and policy input. This year she was recognized by Business First of Louisville as the 2017 Woman of Influence and the same publication, in 2016, selected her as one of Louisville’s “20 People to Know in Banking and Finance.” She has also been honored as a 2009 “Forty Under Forty” winner.
"It was an honor having Ms. Jackson speak to the students," said Howard Corey, MEGA Mentors President. "We strive to have successful people from various fields come speak at our recognition event, and she was an excellent representation of the banking and finance sector." |  Ms. Nikki Jackson was the guest speaker at this year's annual recognition event. | | Students 'Walk a Mile' with Dominion, Richmond Flying Squirrels MEGA students “walked a mile” with Dominion Power and the Richmond Squirrels management team May 5. MEGA sponsored the event and Communities in Schools (CIS) was the liaison. Sherri Roccaforte, CIS Workplace Coordinator at Carver College and Career Academy, said the Dominion team went out of its way to make the visit informative and relevant for the students. “They had a good mix of representatives from different aspects of their operations, so the students were able to grasp the scope of Dominion’s work and potential career opportunities there,” she said. “I found it fascinating, and could tell by the students’ questions that they were engaged and maybe had even done some research on the electric and power industry before the tour.”
The Richmond Squirrels management team had the opportunity to spend time in various areas of the business with the MEGA students and chaperons. In addition to seeing what happens behind the scenes for game production, the group learned about real world business experience. "The students had time to meet with the general manager and chief operating officer who presented their business perspective," said Greg Cummings, MEGA's Vice President for Administration. "From their comments and enthusiasm, it was evident that they learned a lot and had fun."
Megan Angstadt, Director of Community Relations & Flying Squirrels Charities, said the students were incredibly polite, inquisitive, and eager to learn as they followed her on a hectic game day morning. “I appreciate their interest and have their contact information to follow up with them individually, as a few of them asked for more information about summer job opportunities.”
Cummings said MEGA is grateful to Dominion Power and the Richmond Flying Squirrels for providing this learning opportunity for the students. “Thank you for making this memorable day possible for our students.” | MEGA Graduation Award Recipients Nominated MEGA awarded nine students with $700 graduation scholarships in May 2017. "Since the start of the Graduation Award Program in 2014, the organization has awarded $23,200," said McKinley Moore, MEGA's Treasurer.
This year's recipients and intended colleges are:
• Azonjay Robinson, Carver College & Career Academy; Bland College
• Cierra Elder, Meadowbrook High School; Hampton University
• Diamond Norman, Meadowbrook High School; Shaw University
• Eayanah Williams, Meadowbrook High School; JTCC
• Jasmyme Winfrey, Meadowbrook High School; JTCC
• Jessica White, Meadowbrook High School; JTCC
• Loghan Carter, Meadowbrook High School; Bridgewater College
• Shamon Whiting, Meadowbrook High School; VSU
• Tasaan A. Trent, Meadowbrook High School; Virginia Wesleyan College | MEGA Mentoring Schedule Below is MEGA's mentoring schedule and points of contact for those who wish to mentor at one or more of the schools we service. | |
