After we departed from JSU at 2:45PM, we left for New Orleans, Louisiana.
We arrived in New orleans at 6:00PM. Afterwards, me and other TRiO students went down to Bourbon Street. For those of you who are from Memphis, TN, Bourbon Street is basically the New Orleans equivalent of Beale Street. Bourbon street is located in the heart of New Orleans' oldest neighborhood, the French Quarter.
My companions and I saw some........interesting things on Bourbon Street Let’s just leave it like that.
I also tried jambalaya and gumbo for the first time ever at a local restaurant.Â
That is Brandico and I at a local restaurant in NOLA. Here, we are trying beignets for the first. A beignet is a fried dough in the form of a square that is eaten hot with sugar on top. I actually thought it was delicious but Brandico could not handle it, lol! It was too hot for him! His tongue was literally on fire and he was jumping around like a cartoon character XD!
My companions and I had fun on Bourbon Street!
Here are some pics of it.
The next day, June 14th, TRiO SSP took a tour of Tulane University. We arrived there at 8:30AM.
I enjoyed being on Tulane University’s campus because it is where Calvin Mackie, was an Associate Professor for 11 years.
Following his graduation from Georgia Institute of Technology with a PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Dr. Mackie joined the faculty at Tulane University where he continued to pursue research related to heat transfer, fluid dynamics, energy efficiency and renewable energy until the Engineering Program was discontinued in 2006 due to the building, in which the program was held in, being destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.
Calvin Mackie is an award-winning mentor, motivational speaker, inventor, author and entrepreneur. I first seen and met him at the 12th Annual TLSAMP Undergraduate Research Symposium back in February 2014. He gave a very inspirational speech at the symposium.
Dr. Mackie has done some really great and impressive things. He is very passionate about STEM and really believes that most children have the potential to be in the STEM Profession or be an Engineer, that is if they have the right push and the right opportunities.
Dr. Mackie is the founder of STEM NOLA. The purpose of STEM NOLA is to expose, inspire, and engage members in the surrounding communities about the opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). STEM NOLA design and deliver activities, programs & events that bring inspiration, motivation and training to all STEM stakeholders, specifically focusing on underserved communities, across the city of NOLA. Participants will receive the opportunity to obtain 21st Century skills of Communication, Collaboration and Critical Thinking.
STEM NOLA realizes that any effective community-based STEM program must be broad enough to include everyone, yet focused enough to reach the people where they are, on their level, and taking them to where they need to be to compete, and succeed in life.
Here is the kickoff video:
And if you want, please listen to this amazing speech by Calvin Mackie. Its truly extraordinary and inspirational. He is such an amazing speaker that sometimes listeners leave the room crying with tears of joy and astonishment!
For more videos of STEM Saturdays and Calvin Mackie, please check out his Youtube Channel.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIWmV_a1gIeNPQMIGM57_
Here are some pics from Tulane University.
After our tour of Tulane University, we went to Xavier University to tour their graduate school program.
Dr. Calvin Mackie’s office is actually located in Xavier University but he was not there by the time we arrived because he had to go on a business trip.
It would have made my experience on this trip more memorable if I had the chance to actually meet Dr. Mackie, but nonetheless, I still enjoyed touring the school of Xavier University.
One intriguing person I met at XU was Tracie Thomas.
She was our tour guide and one of our speakers.
She has an interesting background. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Biology at Xavier University of Louisiana, then received her Master’s Degree in Mass Communication at Grambling University, and then she received her PhD in Educational Leadership (Higher Educational Administration). She started off in a STEM degree but she realizes that she is more skillful in educating, communicating, teaching, and being a leader. With that being said, she is a well-rounded woman and she is a great leader and role model to others.
Enjoy the pics below of us on Xavier University’s campus!
After we got done with our tour of Xavier University, we then took a Swamp Tour at Jean Lafitte Swamp Tours.
When me and the rest of the TRiO SSP group was riding on the boat, it felt like I was in a horror novel or something.
That is Brandico Barr holding a pelt made from an animal’s fur.
That is an actual alligator’s head.
Nobody actually lives here. These are just props. Believe it or not, this area is a very popular location for filming movies and tv shows.
It was fun exploring this bayou! We even had the chance to see and hold a baby alligator!
That is our tour guide with the baby alligator.
That is me with the baby alligator.
That is my friend, Scott Tran, holding the baby alligator.
Later, at 6:00PM, we all ate dinner at Praline Connection, a Cajun/Creole Soul Food restaurant.
After we ate, we then went on a Ghost Tour of the French Quarter in New Orleans. New Orleans has so much history behind it and it is rich with exotic cultures and customs. I learned a lot from the Haunted History Tour but I can’t repeat the information I learned  there onto here because it is too graphic, dark, and disturbing (not kidding).
But overall, New Orleans is a cool place to visit and I definitely want to come back again in the future!
