DSU Students in China & Ghana – Photo Slideshows and Article

One group of DSU students spent some time this summer doing research in China and teaching its students there some of the finer points of band etiquette, while another group of students learned about agriculture practices in Ghana.

Photo slideshows from both trips are below.

Ten science students and five music students from DSU spent May 26 to June 28 in Ningbo University in China along with several faculty members.

The ten science students – Shanice Bennett, Devina Gilmore, Chantell Gissenbaner, Jamil Huggins, Ikenna Ikpeama, Samuel Jenifer, Jessica Miles, Tiarah Thomas, Breonna Tucker and Shana Williams – did a number of research projects during their time in the Far East country.

Samuel Jenifer, a rising senior engineering/physics major, did research on anthocyanin in red cabbage and the impact different methods of cooking have on it. Anthocyanin is known to help prevent cancer cells and reduce fatty cells.

Mr. Jenifer said the trip has made him culturally sensitive to what it means to be a foreigner in another country.

“It allowed me to be someone else’s shoes,” he said. “Doing a simple task that involved communications was a challenge.”

The five music students –Aaron Balentine, Grace Batten, Jason Faustin, Devin Schlegel and Cortney Williams – learned how to play Chinese instruments and also performed with some Chinese students who tried their hand at playing play jazz music.

Mr. Williams, a rising senior music education major from Bowie, Md., said he learned how to play the Chinese flute. “I got the opportunity to learn a new culture and it broadened my view of music across the world,” Mr. Williams said. “I learned that music is a universal language – that although the Chinese students couldn’t speak English very well, we could communicate through music.”

All of the students also visited a variety of Chinese cultural sites in Shanghai, Beijing, and elsewhere. Accompanying the students on the China trip were Dr. Marshall Stevenson, dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Randolph Johnson, director of bands; Dr. Fengshan Liu, associate vice president of International Affairs; and Dr. Mazen Shahin, director of the DSU Alliance for Minority Participation Program. They were joined by DSU President Harry L. Williams from June 21-26.

From May 21 to June 10, eight DSU undergraduate students learned about the agriculture industry in the West African country of Ghana.

The DSU students – Deidre Carter, Kevin Coles, Gabrielle Delima, Hillari Howard, Raequan Jones, Rachelle Purnell, Clinton Williams and Eboni Yearwood – were joined a couple of students from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore on the trip. Dr. Sathya Elavarthi, assistant professor of agriculture, led the DSU students in the international experience.

“Students experienced all aspects of agriculture, including policy making, infrastructure development, research, production, processing and value addition, as well as marketing and international trade,” D. Elavarthi said.

The students also learned about the history and the culture of Ghana by visiting sites of historical importance such as the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial in Accra, Manhiya Palace in Kumasi and the Elmina slave castle in Cape Coast. In addition, the students visited former Ghanaian President John Kufuor, who shared how policies put in place with grants provided by the United States have helped Ghana achieve food security through the Millennium Development project.