Prairie View A&M University alumni are making a difference from Texas all the way to Madison, Wisconsin. That’s where TJ McCray, director of Instructional Technology and Media Services for the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD), and Victoria Crosby, who is pursuing a law degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, recently volunteered to help recruit future Panthers at a local college fair.

“Last year was the first year for the fair, which was hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Black Graduate and Professional Student Association. This year, they were expecting more than 400 students from the Madison area to show up, so I really wanted to be there to express to the students all of the great things that PV has to offer,” said McCray. “I truly believe if we’re able to get at least one student from this area to attend PV, it will definitely cause a ripple effect.”

The focus of the fair entitled, “Issa Experience: An HBCU College Fair” was to expose underrepresented minorities to Historically Black Colleges and Universities across the country, while also promoting the quality of education that HBCUs offer.

“I find my HBCU experience invaluable,” said Crosby. “At Prairie View, I was a member of the Honors Program, I traveled the world and studied Mandarin. I met some of my closest friends and had some of the most invested mentors in my life. PVAMU prepared me for law school and for entrance into the real world. I love my HBCU, and I want to showcase the education and experience I received to anyone that will listen.”

Crosby and McCray don’t plan to stop recruiting. They have another college fair penciled into their calendars for this coming February in the Madison area.

“It is important for PV alumni to remain active in these types of events because students can’t make the right choice if they are not aware of their choices,” said McCray. Crosby said, “As PVAMU graduates, we are always representing our university. So, why not use our education to inspire the next generation of Panthers?”

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-This story by Marchita Shilo originally appeared in Academic Insights.