Odaine Huggins Age: 23 New York Bronx, NY York College of The City University of New York Accounting More about Odaine: Dean s List, CUNY York College Certificate of Academic Excellence, CUNY York College Pi Eta Kappa Beta Chapter Honor Society and Academic Fraternity, CUNY York College Mentor, CUNY York College Division of Student Development Community Service Award, Punta Gorda Seventh-Day Adventist Church Member, CUNY York College Accounting Society Treasure and Member, Mount of Blessing Adventist Youth Society At the age of thirteen I could not read. Growing up in Clarendon, Jamaica education to my family was not important. My parents did not have an education and my siblings all dropped out before they got to high school. I too was on the same path, but realized I that I wanted something more. I went to high school and it was there that I realized I did not have the basic literacy and numeracy skillto function. I would conceal myself behind my classmates because I was terrified of being called on to read. It was not until I was placed in a remedial class that I realized that I needed help. I enrolled into a basic literacy class. After working hard in this program,i was one of the most outstanding students for academic performance for five consecutive years in high school. I also was one of the five students who graduated with honors, an award that is only given to five students every year. Today I am a honor student at my school pursuing a BS in Accounting and will be the first person in my family to graduate with a college degree. Samuel Jackson Age: 27 Boston Boston, MA Harvard Business School Master in Business Administration More about Samuel: President - Business, Industry & Government Club of HBS President Caribbean Business Club of HBS External Relations Chair African American Student Union of HBS Junior Board Member of Brotherhood Sisterhood Sol
Vice-President Dartmouth College class of 2006 Co-Founder Dartmouth College Black Business Association Awarded Dartmouth College Rockefeller Leadership Fellowship My commitment to service stems from my desire to improve the education and life options of underserved communities. This area is personal to me because I view my success as a direct result of investments people made in me at young age that encouraged me to expand my outlook beyond the confines of my upbringing and environment. Svetlanna Farinha New York Brooklyn, NY Medgar Evers College - CUNY Business, Marketing & Management More about Svetlanna: Dean s List, Medgar Evers College - CUNY Vice President of Operations for American Marketing Association Medgar Evers College Teacher Assistant of Queen s College (SA) President of Sisters Having A Definite Excellence Strategy (SHADES) Mentor and volunteer for the Empowering Youths to Excel and Succeed program at Medgar Evers College Member of the Upsilon Theta Pi Academic Honor Society The day of my sixteenth birthday I went to the Convalescent Home with a desire to give to others by sharing my thanksgiving with innocent little children. Yet, they, through their smiles and sheer joy gave me an unexpected gift. Their response of joy, to what I thought were simple cookies, ignited in me the desire to pursue a life of service to young people and to my community. I became more socially active and began to grow immensely. While my experiences have led to both personal and professional growth, I know that it is an ongoing process. As a first generation college student I look forward to opportunities to continue to evolve and to positively impact the lives of others. Teresa A. Pitts Age: 51 Los Angeles University of California at Los Angeles Bachelor of Arts, English
Minor: Civic Engagement More about Teresa: Graduated from Santa Monica College with an Associates Degree with High Honors in Liberal Arts in 2010 Awarded the President s Volunteer Service Award for completing over 100 hours of volunteer service while attending Santa Monica College Member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Alpha Gamma Sigma Honor Society, the Scholars Program, and the UCLA Honors Program Volunteers with Upward Bound and helps low-income, high school students from local high schools prepare for college Author of two books: The Music of a Poet s Heart and Where Freedom Begins which won the International Black Writers Association Award My advice to others trying to overcome challenge is admit to yourself that a challenge exists and then tell yourself over and over that you can transcend it. Even when you feel alone and depressed and don t believe it, tell yourself anyway that you can do it because you are here for a reason. Somewhere, someone is waiting for you to show up so that something really phenomenal can happen, but you have to show up! Amber Kelly New Orleans New Orleans, LA University of New Orleans Spanish More about Amber: Dean s List, University of New Orleans Member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated (Recording Secretary) Member of National Pan Hellenic Council (Vice President of Community Service) Football Cheerleader, University of New Orleans Spanish Tutor (to elementary and college students) I have been very fortunate to be able to give back to my community and impact the lives of others. The feeling of achievement that I receive after every community service project has given me the extra push to continue to impact the lives of everyone I meet in some positive manner, and the gratitude I receive for my services is always an uplifting feeling. Knowing that I have helped someone gives me hope that they will go out and help others. Brittany Harris
Age: 24 Boston Oakland, CA Harvard Business School Masters, Business Administration More about Brittany: Graduated from Brown University in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Community Health Member of Management Consulting, Marketing and Consumer Packaged Goods, Business of Sports, and African American Student Union clubs Harvard Business School Board Fellow for West End House Boys and Girls Club Selected as National Black MBA Association Scholar and California Legislative Black Caucus Youth Leadership Scholar Enjoys a capella singing and volunteering with at-risk youth Leadership is not premised on age, but rather on the ability to persuade others to achieve goals and objectives while respecting the individual worth of each person. Most of my life, I have been told that, to whom much is given, much is required. Accordingly, I know that using my academic and leadership abilities to give back to my community is something that is important and necessary. Clayton Graves Williams Detroit Winston-Salem State University Bachelor of Arts, Music Education (Voice) More about Clayton: Experienced in Drama, Ballet, Tap, Jazz and African Dance Serves as a Summer Camp Music teacher at a local elementary school Recognized as Most Outstanding Sophomore in Choral Program (2008/09) President of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America Inc. (2010/11) Member of Real Men Teach, a WSSU organization promoting male teachers Recently accepted into the 2011 Summer Music Program in Siena, Italy In Clayton s words: When I was sixteen, I heard a church speaker say: The dictionary is the only place where you will find success before work. These words became my motto on how I should live life. When I graduate from Winston-Salem State University, the legacy I will leave behind is my never give up work ethic and positive attitude.
Elicia Sashington Chicago Chicago, IL North Carolina A&T State University Bachelor s Degree, Electrical Engineering More about Elicia: President, National Society of Black Engineers (2010-Present) Volunteers with Adopt-A-Street, Habitat for Humanity, Winter Walk for Aids and Aggie Ambassadors Interned with Marathon Petroleum Company (May 2010 August 2010) Coaches with the Freshmen Academic Success Program (tutor, mentor, motivational speaker) Founded the Target H.O.P.E (a youth development, academic achievement, and college access for high school students organization) chapter of North Carolina A&T State University In the midst of all of my ongoing activities, I never lost sight of why I am at North Carolina A&T State University. Since the sixth grade, I have been interested in circuits, conductors, and currents. As an electrical engineering major, I have the passion to advance the computer technology world. When I receive my bachelor s degree, my goals are to develop the capability of making computers, laptops, and printers more convenient. Jamel Alexander Age: 24 New Orleans New Orleans, LA University of New Orleans Master s Degree, Applied Physics More about Jamel: Received a Bachelors of Science degree in Physics from Xavier University of Louisiana in May 2009 (also minored in Mathematics) Serves as a Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant in the Physics Department at the University of New Orleans President, National Society of Black Engineers (Xavier Chapter) Worked as a Research Assistant in the Chemistry Department at Xavier University of Louisiana during Summer of 2008 and 2009 Worked as a Camp Counselor at the Family and Community Life Center at Xavier University of Louisiana
I would like to pursue an advanced degree in secondary education to make sure that every student, disregarding race, has the same opportunity as the next guy. I have always been taught that the sky is the limit and will continue to strive on this belief long after I achieve my immediate goals. Jessica Garner Detroit Howard University Accounting More about Jessica: Member of the Howard University School of Business Dean's List (2008-present) Serves as a close mentor of the freshman class of 2013 as part of Howard s 21st Century Advantage Program Volunteered with Capital Area Food Bank, Walk for Autism and Boys Hope Girls Hope Participates in Howard University s Executive Leadership Honors Program Serves as Vice President of Community Service for the Delta Sigma Pi Iota Rho Executive Board Growing up, I was taught that a great leader is one with a vision and the most followers. But as I entered the real world, I learned that a great leader is one that knows how to follow. With that, I matriculated to college with the mindset that whether I was a team player or a coach, I would make an impact on whoever I worked with. Keyon Mitchell Age: 22 Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA University of Southern California Master of Social Work More about Keyon: Graduated from Loyola Marymount University in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology Served as Upward Bound Resident Advisor, mentoring students on their academic, personal, social, and career concerns. Designed behavioral research experiments as a McNair Scholar at the University of Iowa
Chosen by the NCAA as the sole student-athlete representative from Loyola Marymount University at its Student-Athlete Development Conference Volunteered with Blessed Sacrament Church Homeless Shelter, Sage After School Program in Nickerson Gardens Project Community and the AIDS Walk Four-Time School Record Holder in Track and Field at Loyola Marymount University It is in my heart and soul to contribute to the well-being and functionality of those who most desperately need help. The number of lives affected will measure the success of my goals, but I cannot do it by myself. I recognize that we, as social beings, are all in this struggle together, making it imperative that we unite our energies to positively influence those around us. Maurice Walls Chicago Chicago, IL Chicago State University Sociology More about Maurice: Dean s List, Chicago State University Member of the Honor s Society at Chicago State University Served Honorably in United States Armed Forces (US Army) Screenplay writer, releasing short films this summer featured at the film festivals After spending six years in the U.S. Armed Forces and traveling the world, I made an indispensable promise to myself to finish college. Acquiring a sociology degree will enable me to impart hope on many disadvantaged children and young adults. This hope I am referring to revolves around becoming self-- sufficient, leaders of the next generation, and scholars. The obstacles of poverty, depression, and despondency will not prevail if someone with knowledge and moral integrity would take the time to help others transport their dreams into fruition.