WKU News

Junior Alannah McCray-Adams arrived on campus in July 2019 to participate in the Summer Scholars Program. This five-week summer college transition program offers an early move-in to campus, the opportunity to earn college credit, and personalized support for incoming Hilltoppers. 

"Summer Scholars was my very first opportunity here to better myself and work hard. I gravitated toward it because it showed WKU cared about my personal and academic growth. WKU took a chance on me while seeing that I didn't have the best test scores and wasn't the best student in high school," McCray-Adams shared.

In turn, McCray-Adams took that chance and ran with it - creating a strong foundation with the help of the WKU Intercultural Student Engagement Center (ISEC) Academy, faculty and staff members here on campus. 

Within ISEC, she emphasized the support of Executive Director Dr. Martha Sales (who also serves as the Interim Dean of Students and Executive Director of WKU TRIO Programs), Assistant Director LaMario Moore, and the entire ISEC staff. And individuals such as Randall Bogard, Assistant Director of Student Activities; Marrissa Bryant, Associate Director of Academic Advising; and Lindsey Houchin, Assistant Director of the Office of Scholar Development, helped her gain more confidence and discover opportunities outside of the classroom. 

Furthermore, McCray-Adams specifically highlighted the steadfast support of Niasha Shaw, an Academic & Outreach Coordinator in the Office of Student Support Services (SSS), as a critical part of her WKU experience.

"Ms. Niasha Shaw has been my go-to person every step of the way since we've met. She has been my listening ear, my shoulder to cry on, an advisor and a mother away from home. She helped open many doors for me personally and academically. She is one of the many people that wants to see me thrive and succeed. She cares for all of her students and doesn't always receive the proper recognition for all she does for us," said McCray-Adams.

Shaw also shared her appreciation for McCray-Adams, who is an active participant in WKU SSS programs and aids the office.  

“Alannah made SSS her home from the moment she was accepted to the program. She immediately became involved and is always looking for ways to enhance the project. I absolutely love her!,” said Shaw.

McCray-Adams also found a strong and supportive community within her academic college, the WKU Gordon Ford College of Business. 

"I came to WKU as a Psychology major, but I switched to Entrepreneurship and started working with Sedrick Newbern. He is one of my favorite professors. He is also the advisor for the WKU Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization (CEO) and has given me such guidance within my particular major," shared McCray-Adams.

Newbern serves as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence in the WKU Department of Management and is a mentor for McCray-Adams as she pursues her educational goals. Recalling Newbern’s influence on her path so far, she is thankful for his impact on her educational career so far - and, in turn, on the peers she mentored. 

"Having mentors and eventually being a mentor humbled me and forced me to grow up in only the best ways," said McCray-Adams.

Reflecting on the past three years, McCray-Adams emphasized the gradual steps on her journey to get more involved on campus and make an impact. 

"My freshman year, I wasn't really involved, but I pushed myself to be more involved each year - starting with being an ISEC Navigator my sophomore year. My junior year, I wanted to focus on being more involved outside of ISEC. I joined Campus Activities Board (CAB) and Blaq Art Nouveau last fall. I realized that Blaq Art Nouveau wasn't the right fit and recently joined Sister Act Mentoring Program because of my love of mentoring and social media. I also am active with Student Support Services, where I assist inside the office and also receive help for myself and learn new resources."

As she continues to become more involved on campus, McCray-Adams joined the Cultural Committee to assist with planning Black History Month events. One key event is the upcoming "Kicks and Culture: A Tribute to Virgil Abloh" Sneaker Gala. In addition to assisting with planning, McCray-Adams is excited to co-host the event with fellow Hilltopper Avery Wells. 

Sponsored by ISEC and CAB, the gala is a capstone celebration to this year's Black History Month activities on the Hill. Virgil Abloh, an influential fashion designer and entrepreneur who passed away in late 2021, was a central inspiration for this year’s event. As an entrepreneurship major, McCray-Adams shared that learning more about Abloh was a highlight of the experience. 

"My favorite part of the planning has been getting into my creative side and learning more and more about Virgil. I definitely had to tap into my entrepreneurship side because that's what most of my classes are centered around: creativity and innovation. How can we make this better than what we're thinking now?" 

McCray-Adams also assisted with planning for additional Black History Month events, such as "Soul Food Wednesday," a lunchtime event in partnership with CAB and a local food truck called Ms. Emmett’s Legendary Kitchen. Along with sampling classic soul food dishes, Hilltoppers could learn more information on the origins of soul food and its importance to the Black community. She will continue with the Cultural Committee next month planning Women's History Month events.

McCray-Adams’ interest in culture extends beyond the Cultural Committee at WKU. She recently received a Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, which will help her travel abroad and explore other cultures. The program funds study abroad opportunities for undergraduates who might not otherwise participate due to financial constraints. As part of the program, she plans to intern in South Korea this summer - an achievement she hopes inspires others. 

• More: 19 WKU students earn Gilman Scholarship for study abroad

"Receiving the Gilman Scholarship was a big deal for me. I am not a 4.0 student that came from a perfect background with money and unconditional support from family and friends. Receiving the scholarship was for every black girl who was bullied, questioned their sexuality, or simply went through an experience that other kids don't go through. I like to think that winning that scholarship was for them, to give them courage that they can compete with the kids that don't look like them and win," shared McCray-Adams.

Looking to the future, McCray-Adams plans to pursue a graduate degree in Student Affairs. She hopes to use that degree to benefit minority students and increase their recruitment, retention, and success in higher education. 

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To learn more about Black History Month events at WKU, visit https://www.wku.edu/isec/blackhistorymonth/index.php  

To learn more about earning a degree in Entrepreneurship at WKU, visit https://www.wku.edu/management/bachelor-of-science-in-entrepreneurship.php