Student Representative to the American Indian Science and
Locklear will serve a year in the junior student post before
becoming the senior representative. A national organization
with 3,000 members and more than 10,000 alumni, the AISES
mission is to increase the representation of American Indians in
engineering, science and related fields. Locklear's role on the
board will be to represent the interest of its student members.
The Pembroke native is the first UNCP student elected to
the position during the annual conference of college chapters.
UNCP's AISES chapter, which is celebrating its 20th year this fall,
is co-advised by Valerie Deese, who attended the conference
with Locklear.
"Because the conference was in Albuquerque and that region
had a strong candidate, I didn't think we had a chance," Deese
said. "Then Daniel made his speech at the opening Spirit Stick
ceremony."
playbook on making first impressions. "I told them `I am Daniel
Locklear from the home of sweet tea, southern charm and true
hospitality.'"
"The woman next to me laughed out loud, and everybody
broke into applause," Deese said. "After that, Daniel was a
celebrity."
The win was not lost on Jackie Clark, UNCP's vice chancellor
for Enrollment Management, who sat in on the interview. "I
know from my daughter's experience how powerful the AISES
connection can be," Clark said. "This is a great thing for Daniel
and for UNCP. Daniel has remarkable leadership skills."
Locklear said membership in student organizations beginning
in high school has helped him. "For the state FFA (Future Farmers
of America), our advisor told me I was in the extemporaneous
speaking competition. I didn't speak in public before that, but I
did well."
Locklear was later elected vice president of the state FFA. He is
currently a member of the Pembroke Volunteer Fire Department
and Epsilon Chi Nu fraternity and leader of an after-school
program with Communities in Schools. He's also active in his
church.
Locklear believes it is important to be well-rounded. "Family,
church and community are important, but it's important to get
away from home, too," he said.
He knows when to come home, too. His first three years of
college were spent at NC State University, but an illness in the
family brought him home again.
"AISES is the type of organization that is very valuable for
making connections," Locklear said. "I've made a lot of friends.
When my grandmother, who raised me, was in the hospital, I had
calls from all over the country."
Jackie Clark listened to those comments intently. "Daniel is a
wonderful example of an engaged student," she said. "I would
like to talk with Daniel later about helping other local students
have similar experiences."
Daniel agreed, "When you are from this community and
commuting, it's natural to go home to dinner and be engaged
with your home community. You can do both.
"I would like to see more American Indian students take
advantage of the college experience at UNCP," he said. "The
college experience is important, and it only comes along once in
a lifetime."