April 2017 will make a year since Project Middle Ground was founded at Winthrop University by two profound young ladies. Candace Livingston and Kaala Maple are political science majors on a mission to lead middle school students to academic excellence through tutoring, planned activities and mentorship. Livingston and Maple will be graduating Winthrop next semester with their bachelor's in Political Science.

Check out their Q/A below:

SB: What leadership roles have you heldas a student at Winthrop?

CL: I was a Winthrop University Peer Mentor (co-teacher to Dr. Neff), Vice President of my cohort in Winthrop Teaching Fellows, Chairwoman of the NAACP Employment and Economic Empowerment committee, co-founder of Project Middle Ground, and the current President of Winthrop’s NAACP chapter. I am also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and the President of our Mu Xi chapter.

KM: I have been a member of CSL (Council of Student Leaders), a member of the Winthrop chapter of NAACP to help make changes in my community and I am also a member of Alpha Kappa Psi Business Fraternity. I have been a part of these organizations since my sophomore year at Winthrop. I am also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and the Vice President of our Mu Xi chapter.

SB: Tell me about founding Project Middle Ground.

CL: Project Middle Ground was a result of one spontaneous idea that stemmed from two years of contemplating on how we could serve the students in the area. We had been talking on and off since our Sophomore years about wanting to do something within this capacity, but we just did not know what.

Kaala came up with the idea of starting an afterschool outlet for students, and I came to the conclusion that it should be focused on middle-level students because they are the age group that is neglected in various ways. However, we wanted it to be a little different. We then decided simultaneously that it should be a mentoring program that merges mentoring, large discussions, and academic help.

KM: It took us about 2 weeks to complete everything that was required of us by the school to be chartered. We had to name our organization, create a constitution, form an executive board, and plan out ideas that we felt would help benefit our students. We mentor on Thursday's at Dutchman Creek Middle School after our students are released from school from about 3:40-5pm.

SB: Project Middle Ground Students with Livingston and Maple

SB: Did you present your organization to Winthrop’s Council of Student Leaders?

CL: Yes, we gave a very interactive presentation in front of the CSL representatives on April 11, 2016.

The purpose of Project Middle Ground is to focus on improving the academic standing, sociopolitical awareness, and chances for success in middle school students.

We vocalized our ideas to each other and then got the information that was needed from the leaders in CSL. We filled out a charter packet which included creating a constitution for our organization, recruiting at least 10 individuals (we got 20+), form an executive board, and come up with a purpose and mission for our organization.

SB: How long has your organization been effective and do you want it to continue after your graduate from WU, if so what preparations do you have to keep it going and thriving?

CL: This is our first semester as an organization, but we do plan to continue with it after we graduate. We are prepared to keep it going by training dedicated underclassmen to carry it on long after we leave.

KM: As Candace stated, this is our first semester as an organization. We plan and hope that the growth of this organization will continue long after we graduate. We are prepared to keep it going by training underclassmen to be in executive positions in bringing forth new ideas.

SB: Where do you see yourself 5-10 years from now?

CL: Five years from now? Influencing the kids!

I’ll be somewhere in someone’s high school molding minds. 10 years from now? I’ll be Dr. Livingston (or if I finally have a husband, Dr. Livingston - whatever his last name is)

KM: Five years from now I see myself being in law school to pursue my legal profession. 10 years from now I see myself being an attorney and owning my own political consulting firm.

SB: Fun fact about you?

CL: I have gone skiing in Tennesee.

KM: I played the piano for seven years.

SB: What is an interesting thing that you have done in your life?

CL: I have been to Paris, France.

KM: Meeting Morris Chestnut and completing Cadet Officer Leadership Training at the Citadel in high school.

SB: What are your long-term career goals?

CL: Cultivating success in high school students. Working for a social justice organization and writing a book.

KM: To own my own political consulting company and become a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives.

SB: What are your plans next year for the students within this organization?

CL: We are planning to bring the students to Winthrop very soon and our goal is to mold and shape them to be well-rounded, confident, critical thinking individuals. We have received great feedback from the principal and the students.

KM: Our goal is to bring our students to Winthrop in the Spring semester for a visit of the campus. We have so many great things in store for them, it has been a pleasure to work with these bright stars thus far.

SB: "Great leaders don't tell you what to do...they show you how it's done."-Alessandro Berselli.

Don't sleep on these two, they have some great things in store for Project Middle Ground.