Meet Sha'Nay McQuirter

Whitworth Cadre One
'07 Graduate (B.A. Sociology)
Mt. Tahoma High School '03

Telling it like it is

"With or without Act Six, I would be who I am today," Sha'Nay Mcquirter explains unapologetically. Three thousand miles away from family and comfort, Sha'Nay has not only survived an environment drastically different from her hometown of Fayetteville, NC, she has maintained confidence in her identity and capitalized on her ability to, "say what needs to be said" on the Whitworth campus and in the Spokane community.

The new girl takes over the school

When Sha'Nay's mother, Cassandra McQuirter, moved the family to Tacoma in 1999, it was a difficult transition for everyone, but Sha'Nay, then an 8th grader, seemed to have been affected the most. "It was the first time I ever experienced culture shock," says Sha'Nay reflecting on her experience. Despite the initial shock, Sha'Nay's adaptation to the new environment seems above average in light of many accomplishments during her high school career. During her time at Mt. Tahoma High, Sha'Nay was the president of Afro-American club, participated in concert choir, was on the newspaper and yearbook staff, and was the captain of the school step team.

The issue of race, as a journey

Several forms of diversity began to reveal themselves as Sha'Nay's journey weaved her through the multiple cultural climates. As an 11th grader, a seminar on institutionalized racism convinced Sha'Nay to take on the topic of race personally. By her freshmen year in college, her interest in race had developed into the declaration of the sociology major.  

New place, same leader

Aside from discovering her academic passion, while at Whitworth, Sha'Nay began exploring her role as a leader. This time, she was joined by 10 other Act Six scholars, all with 10 months of training and a few campus visits under their belts, but according to Sha'Nay, her response to the challenge was the same. "I don't feel like I should have to change because I am just being me," Sha'Nay says responding to some of the difficulties she has faced as a leader at Whitworth "…but I have also learned ways to connect with people and get my point across," she adds.

Directing Exceptional Praise

Sha'Nay has been successful in finding her place in leadership on the Whitworth campus and in the Spokane community, most notably through her role as the founder and director of Whitworth’s first gospel choir of over 40 student members. Not only has the leadership of the choir, appropriately named Exceptional Praise, broken down cultural and racial barriers on campus, but it has reached diverse audiences in the Spokane Community with performances ranging from events at local coffee shops to various churches across denominations.

A spirit that must live on

"There are a lot of communities that are in need; I think even Whitworth is a community in need," Sha'Nay comments, remaining in her spirit of honesty. Sha'Nay has served the Whitworth community with exceptional heart and talent simply by being herself confidently and honestly. Her presence will undoubtedly be missed as she returns home to the south, where she plans eventually to become a school administrator, but it will be up to the Whitworth campus to keep her legacy living.

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