Stars continue to shine

Two of the stars of The Cooperative Extension Program at A&T's multimedia annual report, Solutions for North Carolina, have been shining brightly again. The Whiteville News Reporter ran a story on Norman Watkins in early May. Watkins was inspired, motivated and guided by Cooperative Extension's "Parenting Matters" classes to turn his life around after drug and alcohol abuse nearly cost him the custody of his two children, and, previously, his life in a near-fatal car crash. The News Reporter article recaps the same lifestyle turmoil that Solutions covered in a story about Watkins in the 2005 issue, and goes on to report that he and his family continue to be a success story for Cooperative Extension.

And a star of the 2006 Solutions for North Carolina, Tonda Osteen, was on the main stage itself at Guilford College May 5, as she received a bachelor's degree at commencement exercises. As reported in Solutions, Osteen beat a crack cocaine addiction, and then an Extension family financial management program gave her a major handle for pulling life together for herself and her young son. Her bachelor's degree from Guilford was such a glowing Extension programming success story that the Guilford County Extension Center gave her a special graduation reception, and the guest list included members of the County Advisory Committee and Extension's top administrators from Coltrane Hall. One board member was so moved by Olsteen's remarkable story that he added landscaping to the home she purchased with Extension financial management guidance as a graduation present.

Posted May 16, 2007 03:49 PM

Comments

Post a comment

Name:

Email Address:

URL:
Remember Me? YesNo

Comments: