By By Steve Gillespie/The Meridian Star
Dec. 6, 2001
Even though Blair Kynerd is a senior at West Lauderdale High School, she still got a taste of college life this semester at Ole Miss and came away impressed.
Kynerd, the daughter of Rusty Kynerd of Philadelphia and Connie Joyner of Collinsville, participated in the "Be a UM Student for a Day" program in Oxford at the University of Mississippi.
The program is an effort to let interested students experience the university, rather than just visit it. The program is open to all high school seniors regardless of their academic record or standardized test scores.
Students can register online at the Ole Miss Web site at www.olemiss.edu/
admissions. The next sessions will be Feb. 18 and March 18.
High school students spend a day touring the 640-acre campus. They visit residence halls; they meet with faculty, students and admissions staff; they have lunch in the university cafeteria; and they attend classes of their choice.
Ole Miss began the "Student for a Day" program last year. Thigpen said more than half of the high school seniors who participated last year are currently enrolled at Ole Miss.
Kynerd had been looking at five different colleges. After her day at Ole Miss, she decided that's where she wants to go.
Kynerd sat in on a history class and a psychology class while at Ole Miss. She is thinking about majoring in psychology.
At her high school, Kynerd is Fellowship of Christian Athletes president; student council secretary; senior class treasurer; secretary of Teens Against Tobacco Use; Lauderdale County Teenage Republicans chairman; and a Christian Fellowship Club member.
She was 2001 Homecoming Queen and is involved in her school's campus beautification committee.
After talking to several Ole Miss students, she said, she learned that time management is essential in college.
Steve Gillespie is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. Call him at 693-1551, ext. 3233, or e-mail him at sgillespie@themeridianstar.com.