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INSIDE MOREHOUSE. MAY 2011
"Up, You Mighty Men. Become Co-Creators of a Better World!"
D uring his inaugural address in February 2008, President
Robert M. Franklin 75 shared his vision of a renaissance
for the College. This "rebirth" of proven traditions would be
married with all the latest advances of 21st-century teaching. The
offspring of such a powerful union: Renaissance Men.
The 500 men of the class of 2011 are the first to matriculate all
four years under Franklin's tutelage. They are Franklin's Renaissance
Class, and embody the president's five wells: well-spoken, well-read,
well-traveled, well-dressed and well-balanced.
Here we introduce you to a few of them. As you will read in
their brief profiles, they have all been inspired to go into their
corner of the world and make a difference. They speak earnestly
of their desires to help others, serve as role models and uplift
their communities.
Luke Yancy Jr.
HOMETOWN: Southfield, Mich.
MAJOR: Computer Science
AFTER GRADUATION: Entering into a doctoral program in
biomedical informatics at Stanford University
CAREER GOAL: To become a researcher, study diseases that
affect minority populations
“Coming to Morehouse has been one of the greatest deci
sions that I have ever made. It has opened my mind not
only to research, but also to the social and ethical concerns
associated with scientific research. Sometimes you have to
look at the smaller problems that may not be as well funded or appreciated, but in the long
run it will help benefit someone. Morehouse also instilled in me the idea of making sure
that I help someone and not just work to make the big money and be famous.
(After being named Man of the Year by students) I was truly humbled by it. 1 wasn’t
expecting it all. I felt like my mom would be proud of me because of it. I hope it’s not just
about me. I hope it’s a testimony to somebody else to realize that although you face adversi
ty, you can get through it all and still do things and go on to be great.”
They have taken to heart the words that Franklin spoke when
they were freshmen, just starting to realize that the vision for their
future was even greater than they had imagined:
"Let us make men-men who in the face of fear and temptation
embrace the words of C.S. Lewis: 'that courage is not one of the
virtues, it is the form of all the virtues at the moment of testing.
".. .Men, confident, in the words of the poet Goethe, that 'at the
moment of commitment, the entire universe conspires for your success.'
"...Men who heed the words of Rabbi Hillel that 'the world is
equally balanced between good and evil and your next act will tip
the scale."
"Up, you mighty men, become co-creators of a better world!"
Here is a small sample of the men of the President Franklin's
Renaissance Class. ■
Gerren Gaynor
HOMETOWN: Brooklyn, N.Y.
MAJOR: English
AFTER GRADUATION. Attending graduate school at the
Columbia University School of Journalism w-gg
CAREER GOAL: Becoming a writer and owning his magazine
catering to the black intellectual
“Becoming a Morehouse Man means being the creme of
the crop, being the best that you possibly, can but not in a
sense of being arrogant. It is being a man who goes back
into his community and shows he really cares; wants to
uplift and change the trajectory of African American men,
especially in education; giving black youth hope and letting them know that their goals are
very obtainable and they don’t have to be an athlete or a rapper. They can become a doctor
or a lawyer or a writer. If you have people to support you and you have the determination
to get through college, it is definitely obtainable.”
Jacques A. Pape
HOMETOWN: Port-au-Prince, Haiti
MAJOR: International Studies
AFTER GRADUATION: Entering the University of Michigan to
pursue a masters of science in engineering and nuclear engineering
CAREER GOAL: To become an international energy consultant
for governments
academic and faculty support
with the earthquake.
“If I could sum it up, I would say being at Morehouse was
impactful and outstanding, just because I have been able
to do a lot. The support has been unparalled. That was
one of my main reasons for coming to Morehouse in the
first place—basically because of the brotherhood and the
that I would get, especially after what happened in Haiti
Efrain Gallegos
HOMETOWN: Los Angeles, Calif.
MAJOR: Spanish
AFTER GRADUATION: Opening his own restaurant
CAREER GOAL: To teach underprivileged or high-risk
students
Morehouse taught me the true meaning of presevering.
Thats what HBCUs do. I was locked up four times and
even faced a fife sentence. Now I’m going to have a
Morehouse degree and I’m doing something positive. I
want people to learn from my story that anyone can make
it, regardless of their skin color, their ethnicity, their race.
Anyone can man up, or woman up, and take responsibility for their actions and eventually
be successful in life. If I can do it, anyone can do it.”
The Top of the
Class of 2011
Valedictorian
Camron Jarel Yarber
Business Administration
4.0 GPA
Hometown: Pittsburg, California
Salutatorians
Lemario Jamal Bland
Psychology
3.92 GPA
Hometown: Macon, Georgia
Emmanuel Dominique Marish
Biology
3.92 GPA
Hometown: Dallas, Texas