March
27, 2003, Bloomfield, NJ -- Bloomfield College student Terrance Bankston has
wasted no time establishing himself as a campus leader. In his three years
at Bloomfield, he has been the President of the Freshman Class, Vice
President of Day Student Government, and President of Day Student
Government.
Now, the 20 year-old junior has become the youngest candidate to run for the Newark Board of Education.
“I can be the voice of this generation,” said Bankston. “The Board needs to relate to today’s youngsters and it needs someone who can bring issues and concerns to the table that older people might not consider.”
Bankston, a political science major, feels that his age and his perspective are tremendous assets when it comes to addressing many of the city’s challenges -- drop-out rates, drugs, gangs, attendance issues and low standardized test scores.
To strengthen the school system, Bankston hopes to introduce many programs that build character and teach necessary skills. He sees Bloomfield College’s DEEP and STEP leadership programs as good models to emulate.
“I admire these programs because they teach students to be independent and make a successful transition from high school to college,” said Bankston.
From an early age, Bankston was immersed in city government and community service. His grandfather, Earl Johnson, is a commissioner in Newark, and his aunt, Kim Gaddy, has been a Board of Education member and a community activist for many years. As a young boy, Bankston recalls sitting in her office and meeting many important political figures.
He also credits Bloomfield College with fostering his love of government and activism, and points to Dean Patrick Lamy and Vice President John Johnson of the Office of Student Affairs as two of his biggest influences.
“The Bloomfield administration allows students to actually lead and be creative,” Bankston says. “Students have an opportunity to experience real world responsibility.”
As President of the Day Student Government, Bankston says his greatest accomplishment has been merging the Day Student Government with the Evening/Weekend Student Government to improve efficiency. Apart from student government, Bankston has been a resident advisor, founder of the DEEP student union, a co-curricular program junior staff supervisor, manager of the student ID center, a participant in College Leadership New Jersey, and a Clee Scholarship Award winner. He has won several awards for dancing, and was asked to manage a professional dance group. Bankston says he thrives on having such a full slate of activities.
“From Monday to Sunday, I’m always doing something,” said Bankston. “My pleasure truly comes from a desire to help other people, and all my activities are somehow tied back to this school.”
After graduating next year, Bankston hopes to pursue a career in government or college administration, and he is also working to start his own motivational speaking company, TTP (“Taking The Plunge”), which is targeted to high school and college students.
For Bankston, running for the Newark Board of Education has been both exciting and challenging, and no matter the outcome, he says he has gained from the experience. “The win will be in the victory of having done it, not just in the victory of having a seat on the Board,” said Bankston.
