Observing the impact of engaged and involved students, Talladega College has taken a comprehensive approach to expand its co-curricular activities. Through its enhanced intercollegiate academic programs, intercollegiate sports, newly revamped honors program, and the Great Tornado Band, the College provides students with diverse opportunities to explore their passions and engage in meaningful experiences beyond the classroom.
More importantly, these programs provide pathways for students with diverse interests to hone their talents and leadership skills, and they attract highly motivated students to the College. The Fall 2023 incoming class is a perfect example.
New Orleans native Yasmine McGee is one of two valedictorians who enrolled at Talladega this fall. As valedictorian for the Dr. Martin Luther King Charter School for Science and Technology, McGee realized the academic opportunities at Talladega College suited her goals and interests to major in Business Administration and minor in Entrepreneurship. She was also drawn to the unique opportunity to join the Dega Diamonds. With a passion for dance and an eye on eventually starting her own dance company, McGee knew Talladega was perfect for her.
A high achiever, McGee relishes the opportunities to work in high-pressure situations and develop interpersonal skills needed for graduate school and career.
McGee says her experiences so far have been “amazing,” especially the bonds she has created with her sisters on the Dega Diamonds. Her favorite course has been Principles of Management, taught by Mr. Gary London. “I love the way Mr. London teaches, he is very realistic, and he keeps his class engaged in his lesson,” says McGee.
More than half (57%) of the incoming class for the Great Tornado Band includes students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Ja’marrion Johnson is one of those students. Hailing from nearby Birmingham, Johnson was a drum major for Pleasant Grove High School, where he helped lead the band to first place in the 2022 U.S. Southeast Bands Showdown. It was his most memorable performance with the band. Johnson also chose Talladega for the academic offerings. He is majoring in Business Management with the goal of becoming a real estate agent.
Sixty-three percent of Talladega College’s incoming scholar-athletes have GPAs above 3.0. Two cross-country runners in the incoming class demonstrated success on the track and in the classroom: Dequan Nisbett from St. Kitts and Makayla Bratcher, from Rockwell, Texas, near Dallas.
Nisbett was often mentioned in St. Kitt’s sports news, whether for tennis or track. At the September Foothills Invitational, where Talladega competed against 28 teams—14 of which were in the NCAA—Nisbett ran the 5K in 20:00.30, leading the way for the Degan men.
Bratcher has made her mark at Talladega College, too, setting a new school record of 20:52.29 in the women’s 5K at the UNA Invitational. In the Foothills Invitational, Bratcher ran the 4k in 16:36.90, the best time of the Talladega women running. Her goal is to run the 5K in 19:00 and help spread support for cross country around the College.
Bratcher graduated from Rockwell Heath High School in three years, maintaining a 3.7 GPA. “After taking a year off, Talladega was willing to take a chance on me and my running abilities,” she says. Bratcher loves how welcoming everyone at the College has been—a hallmark for an institution that puts students first.
