LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Grace James Academy hosted a special group of college students from Washington that came to Louisville to mentor and to learn.

What You Need To Know

  • Howard University students visit Louisville on service trip

  • The 'Alternative Spring Break' service trip spent part of their week at Grace James Academy

  • Howard students participated in classroom activities and mentored students

  • These service trips are happening in cities across the country

Students from Howard University, a historically Black university, visited the middle school as part of their Spring Break service trip.

“It is a student service-led organization that gives Howard students an opportunity to travel around the country to give back to different communities based on initiatives,” said Howard sophomore Melody Drumgoole.

Drumgoole is one of 22 Howard students who spent part of the trip at Grace James Academy, connecting with younger students. Howard students participate in classroom discussions and activities and get to know the middle school students.

“I just want to be a mentor. I want to be someone they can look up to for any advice. I can just tell them what I wish I was told in middle school,” Drumgoole said.

Drumgoole and her classmates are also visiting elementary schools, churches and area food banks during their time in Derby City. They arrived Monday and depart this weekend.

“It’s been nice. It’s been like having big sisters,” seventh-grade student Madison VanCleave said. “They check up on you and they really just ask about your surroundings. Like today, we had students come into my second period and they were really just sitting with us, engaging with us and doing work with us,” VanCleave continued.

And even though the two schools are states away and hundreds of miles apart, the two institutions have a strong connection in Grace James Assistant Principal Melanie Page-Hayden. “I am, I am very much a proud Bison. I am class of 2007 from Howard University. I was able to take part in this trip many moons ago and so I know the value that it is for these Howard Students truly being able to give back,” Page-Hayden said.

The assitant principal said the lessons go both ways. “It has been amazing. The girls have been eating it up. I’m not sure who’s more impressed with who.”

In addition to Louisville, Howard University students are also in cities like Philadelphia, Cleveland, New Orleans and many others during their Spring Break service trips.

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