TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 2010 - YAMZ met at the Portland International Airport to begin their excursion of schools and historical sites in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia.  It was nearly midnight when their plane arrived to the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport and after checking in the hotel they were shuttled to Denny's by a CEO of a black-owned construction firm in Dallas.  After their midnight snack, the YAMZ walked back to the hotel for a brief three-hour nap before boarding the bus for the four-hour drive to Grambling State University.  One the way, Dealey Plaza (place where President John F. Kennedy was assasinated and neo-soul artiist Erykah Badu filmed a racy video) was pointed out from the freeway. 

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2010 - YAMZ were exposed to the Waffle House when we stopped for breakfast in Bossier City - anybody attending college in the south or east coast has to know about two places: The Waffle House and Wal-Mart! 

Thanks to Roosevelt High School graduate, Andre Pierce, the YAMZ had a special experience at  Grambling State University.  After a greeting from the university's president and a special performance by the school's modeling troupe, Black Dynasty, each YAM was matched with a college student from United African American Men and Distinguished Black Women. During the visit, YAMZ attended classes, met athletic coaches, toured the campus and met other students.  Before the delegation left Grambling, they were treated to a special performance by a hip hop dance company housed at the university called "Something Serious."

Andre, who is one of three mascots at Grambling, provided special gifts to some of the participants and coordinated an amazing introduction for the 2010 Black College and Heritage Tour.  After saying our good-byes to our new friends at Grambling, we boarded the bus for a short ride to Jackson, Mississippi.

In Jackson we were greeted by Sister Jointer - the former first lady of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Portland.  After her warm welcome, YAMZ feasted on a Bar-B-Que hosted by the hotel and then found their way to the mall and other local places near the hotel.  Some of the students took advantage of the hot tub and basketball court at the hotel and had a brief workout.

THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2010 - YAMU of Oregon woke up to Mother Nature's down pour of rain but was blessed by Reverend and Mrs. Robert Jointer who came to pray with the group.  In spite of the rainstorm, YAMZ toured Tougaloo College and learned how colleges determine which students receive what financial aid.  Students gained a great perspective of what they must do to increase their chances of securing grants and scholarships.

The group was then chartered to the home of Medgar Evers and was allowed to take pictures from the outside. 

At Jackson State the YAMZ were given a challenge.  They were required to interview students and find key departments on campus.  This exercise helped them to understand the tremendous task that lies ahead of them when they begin their lives as college co-eds.  Though the assignment was difficult, it did not break the spirit of the YAM.  They ate lunch at the Golden Corral (a buffet that includes soul food and seafood), and prepared themselves for a similar challenge at Xavier University of Louisiana.

After lunch, the delegation was transfered to New Orleans.  Since the hotel was on the famed Bourbon Street, the tourists got a first-hand view of The Big Easy's festive spirit.  As they explored the French Quarter, they were enthralled by a brass band on Bourbon and Canal that played traditional New Orleans style music and danced for hours.  Even with the temptation of the Frech Quarter, the students met their curfew and prepared for the next day's adventure.  

FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 2010 -  The day began with a visit to the only HBCU affiliated with the Catholic church - Xavier of Louisiana.  After meeting with an admissions representative who shared tips on being admitted to highly-competitive schools, the YAMZ explored the campus looking for students to interview and resources to help students to graduate.  Xavier of Louisiana is known for sending more African American students to medical school than any other college or university (including Harvard, Stanford and Yale).  The YAMZ had a taste of the high academic standards at the school when they noticed that practically every student on campus was carrying a load of books in a back pack.

The tour then moved to Dillard Univesity where the Oregon delegation was given a tour of the campus and heard what it was like for a student post-Katrina.

On the way to Montgomery, YAMZ were exposed to another southern restaurant - The Cracker Barrel.  After the five hour drive to Montgomery, the students checked in their rooms and then was greeted by Benson High School graduate, Andrew Campbell who is a junior at Tuskegee University.  Andrew got the YAMZ excited about what they would see the next day at Tuskegee's Spring Open House.  Then the Oregon delegation went to the bowling alley for an evening of fun.

SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 2010 - Though it was Saturday, it was not a day off for the YAMZ.  Instead they participated in Tuskegee's Spring Open House with more than 600 other high school students from California, Texas, Nebraska, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, DC and a host of other places.  Tuskegee University gave the students an in-depth look at Student Life with special performances by the band, University Choir, Omega Psi Phi, Delta Sigma Theta, AFROTC, and a host of othe student organizations.  This university has rich historical significance and houses the George Washington Carver Musuem, Booker T. Washington's home, a chapel that is an architectual wonder and the burial sites of Washington and Carver.

 On the way to Atlanta, the bus passed the Tuskegee Airmen training field and the YAMZ were introduced to yet another cultural landmark.  Once in Atlanta the group ate dinner at a restaurant near Lenox Mall.

SUNDAY, MARCH 28, 2010 - It was Palm Sunday, and the delegation attended an energetic worship experience at Clark Atlanta University.  The university's chaplain recognized the group during the service and immediately following the experience, YAMZ ate lunch on campus.  This day marked the beginning of AKA Sisterhood Week at CAU and the Oregon delegates had the opportunity to see Greeks do something beyond stepping.

No visit to Atlanta is complete without visiting The King Center.  The YAMZ saw Ebenezer Baptist Church, the gravesite of Martin Luther King and Coretta Scott King, and the house where King was born.  They later spent the evening as a group shopping at Phipps and Lenox malls.

MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2010 - Several Portland natives served as hosts for the Oregon delegation as they toured Morehouse College and Spelman College.  Those hosts were Chastity Wells (St. Mary's Academy), Paul Marshall (Jesuit), Skyler Debnam (De La Salle North Catholic), Lunden Ings (Parkrose) and BJ Butcher (Grant).  The college students escorted the YAMZ to their college classes, residence halls and other places on campus to give them a personal tour of life in the Atlanta University Center.

Following the tours, John Hobbs from Morehouse Office of Recruitment gave all of the students a special tour of the King Chapel and challenged them to be the very best students they can be.  At the conclusion of his fiery charge, the two male seniors submitted an application to Morehouse and then we boarded the bus for the drive to Birmingham. 

TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 2010 -  On this last day of tours, the group started at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, Kelly Ingram Park and the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church.  These visits helped the high school students to learn about the tremendous sacrifices that people made in the 20th Century to ensure they have the right to a quality education.

The group then headed north for a visit at  Alabama A & M after a driving tour of Oakwood University.  Cary Watkins from A & M provided students to give the YAMZ a walking tour of the campus which he followed with the perfect speech to end this year's tour experience.

As a delegation we had a final dinner together at the hotel and prepared to return to Portland. 

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2010 - YAMU of Oregon delegation returned to Portland, Oregon.

$1600 per person (plus an additional $200 Wellness Deposit that is refundable upon return pending good behavior).  $1000 is due immediately; the remaining $600 and  $200 Wellness Deposit are due at the beginning of March.  YAMU highly recommends that parents require their child to pay the Wellness Deposit.

Investment includes roundtrip group ticket from the Portland Airport, ground transportation in a luxury coach as we travel between cities, hotel accommodations, admission to museums, college and scholarship application handbook, most meals and tour paraphernalia.

YAMU reserves the right to modify the route.