Alumni Spotlight
Candace Williams
MSW Mental Health concentration Clinical option Washington University in St. Louis '09
George Warren Brown school of social work
BA Psychology University of Missouri Columbia '07
Kenwood Academy '03
Candace works for BJC Behavioral Health serving severly and emotionally disturbed children and adolescents. She interned at BJC August 2008-May 2009 and began working full time in June 2009 as a case manager.
Brittany Hogan
MSW Social and Economic Development concentration Washington University in St Louis '09
George Warren Brown school of social work
BA Psychology Hampton University '07
St Scholastic '03
Brittany has worked at Beyong Housing since September 2009 as a social worker.
Jannyse Starks, RN, MSN, FNP-BC
Jannyse is a 24 year old board certified family nurse practitioner, residing in Nashville, TN. She is a 2003 graduate of Morgan Park High School. During her time at Morgan Park, she studied nursing with the Chicago Public Schools Practical Nursing Program. At the tender age of 18, she was already a licensed practical nurse. Jannyse attended Fisk University in Nashville, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. While at Fisk, she excelled academically. She graduated with highest Latin Honors, Summa Cum Laude, and was granted membership into the oldest and most prestigious national honor society, Phi Beta Kappa.
After graduating from Fisk, Jannyse enrolled in Vanderbilt University School of Nursing. There she completed an RN bridge program and continued on to receive a Master of Science in Nursing degree in August 2009. At Vanderbilt, she was trained as a family nurse practitioner, which prepared her to provide health care services to individuals of all ages. Her matriculation in Vanderbilt continues. Currently, she is a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) student. The DNP is a practice-based doctorate, which is different from the solely research-based PhD. Its purpose is to prepare advanced practice nurses to evaluate the most current medical evidence and practice evidence-based nursing. Upon completion in May 2011, in addition to practicing as an FNP, she hopes to obtain a nurse faculty position at a prestigious University.
Jannyse acknowledges the importance of support and gratitude. Being a member of Target HOPE since 2001, she realizes this amazing academic journey would not have been possible without the love and support of her Target HOPE family. Her matriculation through Fisk and Vanderbilt was seamless because of the bonds she developed over the years. For this, she expresses deep gratitude to Mr. Williamson and her Target HOPE family.
Richard Thigpen
Born in Chicago, IL, Richard Thigpen, the second of
six children did not have a great start to life. His
mother's drug addiction, and the abscence of his father
placed Richard and his siblings in foster care at an early
age. While living with his great-grandmother, Richard
attended public school at Edgar Allen Poe Classical School,
on Chicago's South Side. He later attended Morgan Park
Jr. High School and Morgan Park High School (MPHS). While
at MPHS, Richard was a phenomenal athlete, lettering in
Football and Volleyball. His life changed, however, when he
sustained a leg injury during football training during his
junior year. The time away from sports while recuperating
allowed Richard to realize that professional athletes was
not in his future. Richard refocused his sights on
academics. Always a bright student, his teachers often
commented on his unrealized potential. He started taking
more challenging classes, became a member of the Academic
Decathlon team, and joined Target hope during his junior
year of high school. He was intrigued about the director,
Euclid Williamson's, promise of getting anyone who
wanted to go to college into college. Mr. Williamson, and
the staff of Target H.O.P.E., focused not only on getting
students in college, but on ensuring their success in
college as well. While a member of Target H.O.P.E., Richard
attended Saturday classes, and participated in two college
tours. It was during one of these tours that Richard learned
about Fisk University, the nation's oldest historically
black college or university. With the help of Target
H.O.P.E., Richard applied, was accepted, and was offered a
scholarship to attend Fisk University to study Physics.
Richard also traveled with Target H.O.P.E. during his senior
year of high school to attend its inaugural Leadership
Conference at Kokrobitey School outside of Accra, Ghana.
Richard, along with Mr. Williamson and other Target H.O.P.E.
members spent 2 weeks in Ghana. Richard still considers
this one of the best experiences of his life.
While a student at Fisk, Richard became a member of
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He also started a graphics
design company, 18th Letter Graphics. After four years,
Richard graduated from Fisk University in 2003 with a
Bachelors of Science degree in Physics, Cum Laude. After
graduation, Richard accepted an offer to teach Physics and
coach football at Hunter's Lane High School, In
Nashville, TN. Although he loved teaching, Richard realized
that this was not his true calling. After two years of
teaching, Richard went to medical school at The University
of Michigan Medical School, in Ann Arbor, MI. He is
currently in his final year of medical school, and plans to
specialize in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Richard is married
to Christine Lipscomb Thigpen, and they have two children,
Richard and Pierce.
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