N.C. A&T Alumni Times

If it is true that Aggie Pride is worldwide then hold onto your seats because Aggie Volleyball is about to prove that statement in a big way. We are proud to announce that the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University volleyball team has been permitted to plan a travel abroad experience to Italy February 28 through March 8, 2020.

The positive impact of a trip like this is incredible on so many levels. For us to be the first female sport from North Carolina A&T to make a foreign trip is amazing and honor.

The NCAA allows this type of trip every four years and honestly, with many institutions, it’s almost a given. However, very few student-athletes who attend an HBCU get to have this type of experience. Paraphrasing Chancellor Martin’s preeminence 2020 statement, “how can we prepare students for the dynamic, global world we live in if we don’t offer global experiences to our students?”

From a player’s perspective, this is a once in a lifetime trip. It’s a chance to visit a new continent and culture. To see historic sites that are older than our own country. It’s hard to wrap your head around it. When they see the enormity and beauty of these structures and realize they were built before a time of power tools or large cranes. They were built by the will of people with precision that survived time.

From a program’s perspective, there is a positive impact. It shows the growth and vision of the North Carolina A&T athletics department and its support of athletes to provide them with a global cultural experience.

However, we are going to need the help of our A&T Alumni. We are challenging alumni to sponsor a student-athlete to cover the cost of a players’ fees associated with the trip. The cost to sponsor one student-athlete is $3,500 and there are currently 16 members on the team.

To support this cause, make an online donation in support of the team's trip to Italy by texting VB2ITALY to 71-777 or by clicking here.

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