Posse New Orleans Director Monica Sylvain with Scholar Charlie Draughter, a sophomore at Tulane University.

Tulane Scholar Selected as Panelist for NBC Education Nation

Summer 2013 | New Orleans

In April, Charlie Draughter, who will be a sophomore at Tulane University this fall, was chosen from hundreds of local students to be a student panelist at a town hall forum in New Orleans for NBC News’ Education Nation, a series that explores the state of education in America. NBC News Chief Education Correspondent Rehema Ellis facilitated the forum, which tackled issues ranging from college transition to post-graduate education.

“I enjoyed participating on the panel because I learned other students’ perspectives on the New Orleans education system,” Charlie says.

Charlie, a philosophy major, will begin his second year at Tulane in the fall as chief of staff for the Black Student Union, a resident assistant, and a mentor to incoming Tulane freshmen.

“Charlie was a perfect nominee for the panel,\" says Posse New Orleans Director Monica Sylvain. “He has become an academic standout at Tulane and is a true representation of a Posse Scholar on campus.”

At the conclusion of the town hall meeting, Charlie advised aspiring college students to get involved on campus because involvement opens up more opportunities like his experience with Education Nation.

“Posse believed in me when I was chosen as a Scholar, and they believed in me when they nominated me to participate on this panel,\" says Charlie. “Put your best foot forward and someone will notice.”