Tabor’s Alumni Lead the Way

by Tyrel Haynes

Tabor College graduates Donya Anderson and Christopher “Chris” Williams have been leaders for African American students on Tabor’s campus. Anderson, who is from Ardmore, Okla., and Williams from Jackson, Miss., have grown up in two different cultural areas. Anderson grew up in a town that was diverse while Williams grew up in a town that was predominantly Black.

Looking back into her early years, Anderson said she realized that she had to try harder than others to get noticed. As a Black woman, she said she believes that she cannot show emotion because her colleagues are judging her. Working in a predominantly white environment, she believes that she must keep her emotions in check. Anderson said she loves the BLM movement that happened over the summer of 2020 because of the bigger picture of equal rights for Blacks.

On the other hand, Williams grew up with a dad who was a police officer and was brought up not fearing cops. The struggle he faced growing up was not having the same opportunities as his counterparts. As he has grown older, Williams said he has been able to see the hidden racism that he overlooked.

Anderson and Williams said they see a lack of leadership spanning from students and professors on this campus. Tabor has been trying to become more diverse, but there is a struggle with attracting students here because Hillsboro doesn’t have a lot to offer. Also, they realize that African American students struggle to stay here because Black families are pushing the idea of going to college.

Anderson and Williams both grew up in a family that did not push college. They both like the idea of Tabor College creating a minority scholarship. The goal of the minority scholarship would be to help minority students pay for school. In the hope of making Tabor College more diverse, a minority scholarship could be a start.

Donya Anderson and Chris Williams, Tabor Alumni