Spring 2002

Volume 5 Number 2
A publication of Macon State College

Postsecondary Options a Family Affair for the Redds

By Sheron Smith

Marquita and Marques Redd, shown here in the Macon State library are siblings who got a headstart on college through the Postsecondary Options program. Marques is now a student at Harvard University. Marquita will graduate from Westside High School this spring.

As a senior at Bibb County's Westside High School, Marques Redd jumped at the chance to take Macon State College classes through the Postsecondary Options program.

The first class he took was English Composition I from Dr. Alan Bickford. The experience proved valuable for Redd the following fall when, as a Harvard University freshman, he enrolled in a required expository writing class.

"Dr. Bickford's class really prepared me," said Redd, 18, now a Harvard sophomore. "He basically taught us that we had to take responsibility for our work. There was a constant process of revising our essays and focusing on doing the best we could. I think that process of revision brings out the better writer in you."

Redd set a good example for his younger sister, Marquita, 16, a Westside senior. Marquita Redd has already taken U.S. history, English Composition I & II and political science through the Postsecondary Options program, which is called the College Connection in Bibb County schools.

Like her brother, Marquita was drawn to the Macon State classes not so she could skip courses once she gets to college but to get an idea of the academic environment that awaits her in the coming fall. As of early this spring, Redd had narrowed her college choices to Georgetown, Harvard or the University of Pennsylvania.

"The college professors expect more work from us," she said. "Just the extra amount of reading has been something I've had to get used to. But I think it's really going to help me once I get to college."

The son and daughter of Vernon and Melgenia Redd, both telecommunications engineers in Macon, Marques and Marquita's involvement with Macon State dates to their elementary school days. Both participated in Kaleidoscope, a summer enrichment program offered to gifted students through Macon State's Continuing Education department, and each took tennis lessons at the college. They've also attended numerous plays presented by MSC's Impromptu Players.

"The College Connection was just one in a long line of things we've done with Macon State," Marques said.

Marques was salutatorian of Westside's Class of 2000 and Bibb County's STAR student that year, but his most recent claim to fame was his appearance last fall in the college championship of the TV game show "Jeopardy." At Harvard, he is a social studies and African American studies major who plans to either attend law school or continue on for his master's degree and doctorate to become a college professor. Marquita plans to major in business and marketing with an eye on starting her own business someday or becoming marketing manager for a large firm.

Both are grateful for the role the College Connection has played in their academic success and say they would recommend that other high school students take advantage of the opportunity.

"The courses will challenge you in different ways," Marques said, "and help you aspire to higher levels of learning."