Youth from the Minden and Haughton areas had an opportunity to explore higher education and history on Saturday, March 8, during a field trip organized by local nonprofit 22 Hands-Up.
Led by Executive Director Darrell Hampton, the group of young participants, along with parents and supporters, visited key locations in Ruston and Grambling. The trip was coordinated with the assistance of Tommie Woods and the HBCU Boosters.
The group toured the Main Ruston Station before heading to the Eddie G. Robinson Museum at Grambling State University, where they were welcomed by Hall of Fame coach Wilbert Ellis. The museum, dedicated to legendary football coach Eddie Robinson, provided an educational experience about his impact on college football and the legacy of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
Following the museum tour, the group dined at the Grambling State University dining hall before attending a GSU basketball game, rounding out a day of learning and engagement.
Hampton emphasized the importance of exposing youth to educational opportunities and HBCU culture. “Proverbs 22:6 says, ‘Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.’ How do we expect children to know if they have not been taught? We have work to do.”
The trip was the first of 2025 for 22 Hands-Up, and organizers hope to plan similar experiences in the future.
