Class of 2022 reflects on UDC experience

When graduating senior, Cheyenne Barber, transferred to the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) in the spring of 2020, she didn't know what to expect. Initially, she was nervous being a little older than the typical student and not knowing anyone. Two years later, she’s on track to graduate summa cum laude.

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Barber was comforted by UDC's accommodating environment for its students. "Here at UDC, it was the acceptance that kept me here," said the business administration major. "You can see a mother just trying to pursue her education, and yes, she's late, of course, she's going to be late, but it wasn't like 'oh, you can't come in.' The fact that I'm able to interact with people that are different from me whether it's because of our age, you know, or background, culturally…I just think [of] the experience and the knowledge that uniquely, you can only get at UDC."

Like Barber, many graduating class students have unique experiences at UDC, such as Michelle Edmonds, who started at the university in the fall of 2011. Edmonds decided to come to UDC because of its flexible class schedules. The mother of one needed to continue working as a recreation specialist for the district's parks and recreation department and to raise her son. "UDC is here where I'm from," said the native Washingtonian. "They have classes that work well with people who are working, or parents and older people, and so on and so forth."

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After taking a year and a half break from school, Edmonds also wanted to get the traditional college experience even as a nontraditional student and soon immersed herself in Greek life. "I was introduced to greekdom through a mentor in middle school," said Edmonds, a spring 2020 initiate of the Beta Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. "All the things that she talked about when she was in her sorority, I wanted to experience for myself. So when I got pregnant and didn't go to college right away, I definitely thought I missed my opportunity. But I got to meet some of the women of Sigma Gamma Rho at UDC, and I realized that some of them were older than me, some of them were the same age as me, and…it lit that ignition in me to go for those personal experiences that I wanted."

Although Edmonds received her Bachelor of Arts in human development earlier this year, she is excited to walk across the stage at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on May 14, 2022 with the distinction of magna cum laude. "It's been a long time coming," she saids.

While most students are excited to graduate, the achievement  hasn't sunk in yet for others, such as civil engineering major Chavar Henry. "I'm currently under the pressure of senior year and the end of the year," he said, "The celebration of graduation will really be exciting on the day. I'm not excited yet."

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Henry first heard about UDC from one of his teachers at Titchfield High School in Portland, Jamaica. He decided to apply, was accepted and offered the DC-up scholarship, a merit scholarship that covered his tuition as long as he kept his grade point average (GPA) above 3.0. "I jumped at that opportunity to have that scholarship," said Henry.

Since starting at the university in the fall of 2018, Henry has had a few positions on campus, one of them being the public relations officer for the Caribbean Student Association. "I did a lot knowing that I was closer to people like me…international students, specifically students from the Caribbean," said Henry. "We had a lot of events, and we had a lot of social gatherings…I think that really made me feel a part of the UDC community." In addition, Henry was also the student representative for the board of trustees (BOT) for the 2020-2021 school year, which helped him solidify his legacy at UDC. "I have the tendency to jump at leadership positions," said the Jamaican native. "That was one that I felt that my voice would have a lot of impact on. I saw where I can make a change at UDC, and I could bring the ideas of the student body to the board of trustees." Following Henry, Barber took over as student representative position for the BOT for the 2021-2022 school year. It was because her experience at UDC had helped her not only become an advocate for the student body but herself too. "I've gotten to know myself more," said Barber. "I've always advocated for other people, but yet when it comes to me, I'm always nervous to speak up about myself. And I recognize that until I help myself, I cannot help the people that I care about." During a difficult time when Barber needed support, some faculty and staff were there to assist her, such as Dr. Malva Reid, associate dean of the school of business and public administration (SBPA). "She talked to me until I could get virtual appointments with my therapist," said Barber. Another was Debra Robinson-Foster, an instructor for the SBPA, who sat with Barber and talked with her to ensure she didn't fail. Because of this support system, Barber thrived. "That semester had to be my best GPA I've ever gotten in my life!" said Barber. "And it was during a pandemic; it was during a place where I wasn't my best mentally, and it was because people saw that I needed help, and they reached out to me, and they assisted me. I started to find my voice." Barber, who has already received a job offer from S&P Global, and many other opportunities, said she's forever grateful for her UDC experience. "It was because of the great people here at UDC that have helped really develop me as a person," said Barber. "It wasn't that I had a student position; it wasn't that they knew me for anything. They just saw me for my potential and who I was before I was even that person. I just think that's the magic of UDC. People look at you and view you as you are and not by a title, and they respect you no matter what."