INSTITUTE -- West Virginia State University takes its slogan, "A living laboratory of human relations," seriously.

WVSU is inviting the community to join them May 14 for a Benefit Golf Classic. The event will take place at Scarlet Oaks Country Club with a 9 a.m. shotgun start. All proceeds will benefit the West Virginia State University Haitian Scholarship Fund.

When students returned to WVSU for the Spring 2010 semester, many were unsettled by images seen in media concerning the plight of the Haitian people following the Jan. 10 earthquake. The students were especially sympathetic because a beloved professor, Dr. Paul Mocombe, who is from Haiti, did not hear from his family for three days. On the third day, Mocombe learned his father survived, but other family members had not.

The question, "What can we do?" was the most asked across campus.

Students in International Studies and Communications joined forces in applying what they've learned toward helping the people of Haiti.

"The students discussed fundraisers and organizations to donate through," said Dr. T. Ford-Ahmed, professor of communications, past president of International Studies, and faculty advisor for WVSU Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). "But the question of whether the money would be used as intended kept entering the students' minds."

Students, staff and faculty established WVSU Haitian Assistantship Committee. The newly established committee is partnering with the Mocombeian Foundation to present the foundations' first Benefit Golf Classic in the state of West Virginia. The Mocobeian Foundation is a Foundation originally established by Dr. Paul Macombe to promote literacy in inter-city kids in Broward and Dade Counties, Florida, a.k.a. "Little Haiti." The foundation's mission has expanded to help rebuild.

"Students presented the idea to the foundation of sponsoring a couple of college students who would return to Haiti and help rebuild," explained Ford-Ahmed. "We put the scholarship offer out there with some pretty basic criteria; the applicant must speak English the applicant had to provide a transcript from his/her school (this was especially challenging since most Haitian schools and records were lost) and the applicant wrote an essay."

Both winning scholars are noted for their goal setting. The first, Sophonie Pierre, is currently a second year student majoring in Public Relations and Marketing at the Centre d'Etudes Diplmatiques et Internationales. Pierre witnessed the tumbling of her school on Jan. 10 and is lucky to be alive. Pierre has applied to attend West Virginia State University to study Communications. Pierre is devoted to working for change in Haiti and the world's perception of Haiti.

Nahomie Saintil is in her fourth year at the Faculté de Medicine et de Pharmacie which was greatly effected by the Jan. 12 earthquake.

Saintil is currently utilizing the skills she's learned by volunteering with organizations including the Haitian Red Cross and Catholic Relief Services during the crisis. Saintil is expecting to continue her studies in the College of Natural Sciences at WVSU to acquire more skills to better serve Haiti in the future.

Dr. Carol Taylor-Johnson, director of WVSU's National Center for Human Relations, explained the goal of the Benefit Golf Classic is providing assistance for on-campus lodging, books and a work-study arrangement for both students.

"By bringing these students here to complete their degrees, many sectors of the community will benefit by gaining an understanding of how people respond to and overcome disaster, and how people must be resilient and adaptable in order to make the kinds of changes that are necessary after a disaster has occurred. Also, the country of Haiti will benefit from them having been here."

A condition of the assistantships is that the students return to Haiti to contribute to rebuilding efforts after degree completion.

WVSU is bringing the first Mocombeian Golf Foundation tournament to be held in West Virginia to Putnam County. "We've been very pleased by the response in Putnam County," said Ford-Ahmed. "Toyota was our first sponsor; many of our students are commuters from Putnam County, and we are so thrilled to be getting the support of Putnam Businesses. AEP has just come on board, we are not sure of the level yet; this is our first golf classic and we are excited with how it is all coming together."

Organizations or individuals can support the endeavor in one of three ways, by becoming a sponsor, by registering personally to play in the tournament or by purchasing a table or dinner tickets for your company at the dinner, which is a component of the May 14 event.

The schedule of events includes breakfast and post-event luncheon.

Each participant receives a gift bag, there will be winning prizes and also awards in Longest Drive, Closest to Pin, Straightest Drive, a 50/50 Honey Pot and Hole N One Contests. There will be trick-shot entertainment.

For more information or to reserve your place on the Tee, contact Roger Caldwell, 888-324-9515, Rcaldwell@GreatGolfEvents.com or register online at www.greatgolfevents.com/Mocomb.

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