Wittenberg University Students and Staff Delta Trek

From the university’s campus in Springfield, Ohio, to the heart of the Mississippi Delta in Marks, Mississippi, a group of students and faculty members from Wittenberg University embarked on an educational trip to Marks, Mississippi Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026. The trip was part of fulfilling the requirements for a course titled, FIRE (Focused, Integrative, Reflective, Experience). The goal is to have students spend time outside of the classroom to experience the culture and the people, and learn about the history firsthand. The professors accompanying the students are experts in the area of Science and Biology.  These students had the opportunity to see the geographic lay-of-land in the Delta, learn about the vital role of agriculture, the impact of flooding, and the political landscape impacted by Marks/Quitman County’s civil rights history.

As part of the tour, students engaged with community leaders: Pastor Michael Jossell, Samuel McCray, Manuel Killebrew and the Quitman County Economic Tourism & Development staff, where they participated in discussions and reflections on the significance of history and culture in the Delta. The immersive experience in Marks allowed students to connect the past with the present and recognize ways in which the movement for economic justice is still unfolding.