Photo by Jade Williams
For Immediate Release from RPCC
Gonzales, LA – On Wednesday, Oct. 19, River Parishes Community College (RPCC) was excited to host Everybody’s Favorite Twins, Cherry and Sherry Wilmore at the Gonzales Campus to discuss a perspective of persistence and adversity while navigating life through the Louisiana foster care system.
“It was our esteemed pleasure to accept RPCC's invitation to speak to their student body,” said Sherry. “We were so excited to speak to the student body as many are non-traditional students with non-traditional pathways to education. Our foster parents valued learning and instilled in us how education can change the trajectory of your life. As my sister, Cherry is fond of saying, "education is the great equalizer."
Cherry and Sherry grew up in Lake Charles, La where they also grew up in the foster care system. The foster care system then took them to Houma, La where they were able to learn a strong belief in community service and a strong belief in resilience and people.
Cherry and Sherry are famous for being Everybody’s Favorite Twins, which is a social media platform that educates, empowers, and engages their culture and community. With this platform, they were able to accomplish campaigns like Laptops of Love where they gifted laptops to graduating foster students. They also co-host events like Women’s Brunch, which is an event that provides a space where women uplift one another.
Sherry said they are a part of the three percent who have earned a post-secondary degree as former foster children. Sherry received her Bachelor’s in Government from Nicholls State University. Sherry then became one of the first foster children to successfully complete the Young Adult Program in the state of Louisiana. Cherry also received her Bachelor’s in Government and a Master’s degree in Education from Nicholls State University.
This event at RPCC was presented by RPCC’s DEI Action Team. Cherry and Sherry presented their perspective on growing up in foster care as well as the importance of education to the students, faculty, and staff. The college was excited to have them visit.
"We were thrilled to have Cherry and Sherry Wilmore of Everybody's Favorite Twins join us to share with our students and college community their story of resilience and dedication to purpose. I have had the privilege of knowing these women for 20 years and to see their evolution and be a part of their story is so humbling and extraordinary," said Ariel Triggs, RPCC’s Dean of Students.
The Gonzales Campus is located at 925 West Edenborne Parkway Gonzales, La. 70737. For more information, call (225) 743-8500 or email [email protected].