AVERAGE ISN’T AN OPTION TADEAN PAGE GIVES EVERYTHING HIS ALL


Rachel Burns is no stranger to travel: she’s visited Pompeii (pictured) and spent a semester studying abroad in London.


Whenever Tadean Page wonders if he can achieve his latest goal, his mother always says, “Why not?”


Like creating a scholarship for underprivileged males in Dillon County. Page, an individualized studies major and Dillon resident, thought he would establish a scholarship or similar program post-college. That is, until his mother said, “why not now?”


Burns, center, is pictured with students at the South African school where she teaches.


SHIFTING THE FOCUS


Burns’ success illustrates how Bickford shifted ONCA’s focus to more awards like the Fulbright, which she said seems to match Winthrop students so well. “I feel like that’s a good indication that Winthrop students are well-positioned to compete for these larger awards,” said Bickford, who has served as director since 2013.


She also encourages students and faculty to bring in awards for consideration, pushing for a collaborative environment. Both Bickford and Disney, now chair of the Department of Political Science and director of the women’s and gender studies program, emphasized how important faculty members have been to ONCA’s success, from writing student recommendation letters to finding awards to promoting the office to students.


“There’s a balance between wanting to help everyone with every award out there and focusing on a few awards,” Bickford said. “I have to research what’s out there. When students are coming in with new awards it’s great because it helps me to match those awards with other students down the line. It’s an added resource.”


Disney echoed the importance of research. For example, the Harry S. Truman Scholarship goes to a junior with leadership experience committed to a career in public service.


“To be competitive for a Truman, we need to cultivate that in freshmen and help them make these types of choices,” Disney explained. “They have to demonstrate that they have the achievements and then show they’ll do more in the field. That’s an exceptional student. We have to identify those students at both ends of the continuum, both for retention efforts and for the stars who can compete.”


The result: Page created the I Am H.I.M. (Humble, Intelligent, Motivated) Scholarship Foundation, which awards an annual scholarship to a male graduate of Dillon High School with a 3.0 GPA who plans to attend a four-year state institution. To date, he’s awarded $2,500.


The foundation also publishes Motivating Males, a social media project featuring inspirational stories, and offers resume help, assistance with completing federal financial aid forms and college tours.


“I witnessed a lack of resources and a lack of expectations,” Page said of his hometown. “I believe these students can do it. I created this so that they could believe they can do it as well.”


He hosts a gala to help raise foundation funds and uses it as a way to highlight the good things people are doing in Dillon.


“It’s still unbelievable that there’s a need for this vision today, yet people grabbed hold of it,” he said.


Growing up on the education scene — Page’s parents owned and operated a daycare — Page set his sights on a teaching degree. He incorporated his love of service into his high school involvement, including participating in student government.


“I didn’t know about Winthrop at the time, but heard Winthrop had the best education program in the region,” he said. “My eyes were very much opened. I thought, ’I can come here and be whoever I want to be. I can dream.’”


Page wasted no time getting involved. He’s served as an Orientation Leader and president of the student chapter of the S.C. Education Association, joined the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., hosted a show on Winthrop’s student-run radio station and currently serves as president of the Council of Student Leaders. He speaks at public engagements and teaches a course at Clinton College in Rock Hill.


His love for service led him to make a change. He switched majors from education to individualized studies and organizational leadership with an emphasis on social justice.


LIFE-CHANGING SUPPORT


For many students, ONCA provides life-changing support and experiences. Sigourney Woodfork ’13 competed for a Fulbright, but didn’t get it. Bickford suggested she go for the Rotary Foundation Global Grants Scholar, worth $30,000, which she won. Woodfork spent almost two years in Paris, studying global communications with a focus on developing communications. Now, she works at Merkley + Partners in New York City as an account manager and also develops a blog on sustainability for people of color.


“I would go to [Bickford’s] office like twice a week and we would work on all my applications,” Woodfork said. “It’s really intense how much she helped me. That put my life into action. I would not have gone to France without the assistance of ONCA.


To learn more about ONCA, please contact the office at 803/323-3906 or onca@winthrop.edu.


“I wanted to make a bigger impact on more lives, put my hands on more heads, so to speak,” he said.


As a graduation gift to himself, Page plans to publish a book in May featuring stories of African Americans and the issues they face that aren’t commonly discussed. He also wants to attend graduate school, earn a Ph.D. and eventually open a charter school for African- American males.


“Average isn’t in my vocabulary,” he said with a grin.


His advice for others?


“Dream, jump – get rid of your fear to reach your full potential. Being from Dillon, I’m not supposed to be here.


too.” Photo credit: Becky Fuller 6 7 I’m the first generation in


my family to finish college, and I started a non- profit at 18. If I did it, I have faith you can do it,


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