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Jametta
Thomas |
Talesha
Hall |
Two
engineering students at North Carolina Agricultural
and Technical State University will graduate at
the top of their class with perfect grade point
averages. The 4.0 students were honored at the university’s
2005 Annual Spring Commencement 8:30 a.m. Saturday,
May 7 at the Greensboro Coliseum. The commencement
speaker was Carly Fiorina, former CEO of Hewlett-Packard.
The high achievers Talesha Hall and Jametta K. Thomas
will receive their degrees along with 1,100 other
A&T students.
Hall is a chemical engineering major from Baltimore,
Md. The 21-year-old says she never set out to earn
all A’s when she came to the university. She
attributes her good grades to having natural ability
rather than good study habits.
“I
never focus on grades,” she said. “I
mainly like to learn the theory. Because if I learn
the theory, then I can solve any problems.”
One of Hall’s major challenges while matriculating
at the university has been getting her peers to
work at her level.
“We
have a lot of group projects,” Hall said.
“Trying to raise the level of your peers can
sometimes be a challenge. You expect everybody to
know what you know but it doesn’t always work
out.”
Hall is very active at the university. She is a
member of numerous organizations including National
Society of Black Engineers, Society of Women Engineers,
Tau Beta Pi (treasurer), American Institute of Chemical
Engineering (secretary/treasurer), Society of Plastic
Engineering, University’s Honors Program,
Phi Kappa Phi and Alpha Lambda Delta –Freshman
Honor Society.
After graduation, Hall will pursue her doctorate
at Purdue University where she has received a National
Science Foundation Fellowship.
Hall is the granddaughter of Helen Smith of Baltimore,
Md.
Thomas is an industrial and systems engineering
major from Charlotte, N.C.
Just
like Hall, Thomas’ goal wasn’t to make
all A’s when she came to the university.
“It
wasn’t a conscious decision,” the 22-year-old
said. “I worked hard and the A’s came.”
She
also admits to having the natural ability to excel.
“I
think it was inherited and a good work balance helps,”
she said. “You have to study and have fun
too. There is a time for work and for play.”
Thomas was also very active during her tenure at
the university. She was affiliated with numerous
organizations including Tau Beta Pi (president),
National Society of Black Engineering (committee
chair), Phi Kappa Phi, Alpha Lambda Delta –
Freshman Honor Society, Golden Key Honor Society,
Society of Women Engineers and Alpha Pi Mu.
She also tutored high school students from Guilford
County Schools and was a mentor for A&T’s
honors program. After graduating, she also plans
to pursue her doctorate. She has also received a
fellowship from Purdue University but has not made
a decision.
Thomas is the daughter of James and Brenda Thomas
of Charlotte. She has two sisters, LaTisha and Tierney.
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