Thomas C. Bass wants to reach out to the busi- ness community.

N.C. Central University’s new freshman president said that, although he considers his election a small accomplishment, it gives him a chance to make a difference.

Durham native Thomas Bass, a double major in computer information systems and political science, took office Sept. 30.

“I feel like there is a lot to be done and I can do it,” said Bass.

A graduate of Hillside High School, Bass was president of its Student Government Association his senior year, as well as president of the Computer Club.

Also, while at Hillside, he worked with the Technology Outreach Program-Community Access to Technology program at NCCU.

Bass was a computer technician, taught Web design and taught students how to assemble computers.

“I did that in high school and now I am a poster boy for them,” said Bass.

Bass said he wasn’t always so dedicated to the community and school.

He finished his freshman year of high school with a 1.7 grade-point-average. He said his future at that point didn’t seem so promising.

“I was one of the worst students some of my teachers ever had,” he said. “I never did my work.”

Bass said his teachers would tell him that he had many talents that would go to waste if he didn’t change.

“My teachers in high school wanted to help me and they did,” he said. “They were my mentors.”

With the help of his teachers, Bass finished his senior year with a grade-point-average of 3.2. He said that change showed him that he could do anything he put his mind to.

“That tremendous turnaround gave me the motivation to want to do bigger things,” he said.

Bass said his campaign slogan, “The Renewed Eagle,” reflects how he plans to bring back the vision founder James E. Shepard had for NCCU.

Bass has a four-year plan called “Health, Wealth, Self and Community.” This program, Bass said, will be instrumental to everyone, because he wants to host financial advice forums, business camps and mentoring programs in which upper-class students mentor freshmen.

“My goal is to bring our class together and help them to attain their goals and maintain success,” he said.

Already quite visible in his new job, Bass attended the school’s Career Fair this past Thursday.

He said he plans to form a network with various insurance companies and other businesses to have them to come talk with students about managing finances, as well as academic concerns.

Bass said there is so much to do and he knows it won’t be easy.

“There are so many things I want to do to better the University,” he said. “This position is not just fun to me. When I found out that I won, I knew that is was time to work and do what presidents do.”

Bass said that after his term as freshman class president is over, he plans to campaign for sophomore class president, SGA vice president, and then SGA president.