by Meredith Crouch |

Students may often find themselves having a craving for something sweet during the school day, or may just need a quick snack to hold them over until lunch. Luckily, members of the American Association (AAA) are selling chocolate bars during the school day.

During spring break of 2013, AAA and the Diversity Club from LNHS will go on the Historical Black College and University (HBCU) tour for the second time. Last year, members had the opportunity to travel to Louisiana, Alabama and Tennessee, visiting historically black colleges like Louisiana State University and Xavier. Many of the members want to go this year and some who went last year are hoping to go a second time. This spring, members will be going to Florida, Alabama and Georgia, where they will be visiting schools like Emory University and Morris Brown College.

“We went to about seven different colleges last year,” senior Artie Tuggle said. “It was very interesting to find out what they expect on your ACT score and what their campus is like.” To help lower the cost of their $480 trip, the members are selling chocolate bars at $1 each. For every box of 60 chocolates they sell, they get $25 to go towards their trip. The number of students who can go is limited because the bus can only hold 49 students.

Like last year, they will travel by bus the entire time. More than 10 hours at a time on a bus may seem unbearable, but students pass the time by getting to know new people and eating snacks provided for them. The bus is also equipped with reclining seats, wireless internet and a DVD player.

Assistant Principal Eric Greely, who sponsors the organization, believes students should be strong in their academics. He pushes them to take AP classes and to study hard for finals and tests, like the ACT.

“The HBCU tour introduces students to alternative colleges and inspires them to continue to seek the benefits of education,” Greely said. “Students who are African American have a better chance of graduating at a historically black college than they would graduating a large, popular school,”

Many students find Greely’s advice helpful and inspirational.

“Mr. Greely is a very good leader, he gives us advice in a way that is easy to understand,” sophomore Isaiah Cubit said.

Junior Nyshele Posey, who is president of the organization, went on the trip last year and plans to go again. She loves having the opportunity to lead her peers. She enjoys organizing the meetings and motivating the members to be better students and people.

“The HBCU tour was very beneficial to me because I got to see people like me make improvements to their lives rather than being stuck in the same habits that their families had been in,” Posey said.

Not only do students have awesome opportunities to go on college visits and reach out to the community, they are also guided through high school by Greely. Chocolate bars can be purchased from members selling them in their classrooms and during passing period, as well as at a table during lunch.

The organization is open to all students who are interested in impacting cultural change for African Americans and other minority students at LHS. Their mission is to improve academics, engage in community service and to have unity amongst members. It gives students the opportunity to have a leadership position within the organization. They also do community service by mentoring junior high students and helping with the Halloween Night Out. This organization meets on Tuesday mornings at 7:15 in room 101.