The Institute is proud to congratulate Rakim Brooks ’08 on his designation as a 2009 Rhodes Scholar. Though Institute scholars have been finalists, Rakim is the first to receive the prestigious scholarship.
Rakim, from New York City, is a senior at Brown University, where he is an Africana Studies major. While participating in the Institute’s two-summer program, he took rigorous courses in Government and Economics and interned at the Brookings Institution in 2007 and the Center for Law and Social Policy in 2008.
At Oxford, he will earn a M.Phil. in Comparative Social Policy. After earning a doctorate, Rakim hopes to become a college professor.
The culmination of each summer is graduation, the ceremony that celebrates the successful 2-year participation of our scholars in the Institute. This summer’s class included 20 young men from colleges and universities all over the United States. The scholars performed well in their classes, worked hard at their internships, participated in community services, learned from prominent leaders, and became contributing members of a network of high achievers that will endure throughout their adult lives.
The ceremony was held at the law firm Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP. The Institute’s president, William Keyes, opened the ceremony by offering a prayer, leading the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, and delivering welcoming remarks. Institute scholars led the singing of the National Anthem. Then, for the benefit of the assembled parents and supporters, Mr. Keyes discussed the mission of the Institute and stressed that the Institute’s most valuable asset is the outstanding young men who make up the ranks of current scholars and alumni.
After Mr. Keyes’ remarks, alumnus Steven Ward (’06, Virginia State University) took over as master of ceremonies. His first duty was to read the roll of the senior class. After he read each scholar’s bio, the scholar received his diploma from Mr. Keyes and Professor William Allen. Summer fellows Calvin Hadley, John Harper, and Chuck Redmond also embraced the scholars and welcomed them into the ranks of alumni. The graduating alumni are listed below
An Institute graduation tradition is the presentation of gifts. For one, the senior class selects one individual who had a great impact on them. The "Award for the American Ideal" was first presented to Mr. Keyes in 2004, sportscaster James Brown in 2005, presidential advisor Vernon Jordan in 2006, and Congressman John Lewis in 2007. The 2008 award was presented to Professor Allen. Senior Sean Mickens highlighted Professor Allen’s many contributions to the Institute and the influence that he has had and will continue to have in their lives. In addition to the bronze eagle that is given to award recipients, a pocket watch was presented to this year’s awardee.
The senior class also surprised Mr. Keyes with a football jersey bearing his name and the number he wore as a high school quarterback. The white jersey had blue lettering and numbers shadowed in red. All of the scholars signed the jersey with blue or red pens. Mr. Keyes told the senior class that he will frame the jersey and display it prominently in his office.
After the seniors presented gifts to the Summer Fellows, Mr. Keyes asked senior Barron Ryan (’08 University of Oklahoma) to perform his beat box routine for the audience. Then, Barron was joined by John Harper, Brandon Piper, Demetrius Lancaster and Jarvis McInnis in singing "Lift Every Voice and Sing." Then, the formal ceremony was adjourned and the assembled scholars and guests retired to an outer room for lunch.
Today's graduation was held in the 120-seat auditorium at the law firm, Dewey and Leboeuf LLP.
Maxine Baker, president of the African American Nonprofit Network and former president of the Freddie Mac Foundation, was joined by Edward Jones of the Council on Foundations for a discussion of topics to foundations and nonprofit organizations. They began the conversation with an overview of the purposes of foundations and nonprofits. Later in the session, Ms. Baker and Mr. Jones entertained questions, which ranged in topic from career opportunities at foundations to funding for projects to advice on how to develop and run effective nonprofit organizations.
Some of the Institute's scholars have established nonprofit organizations. For example, Anthony Phillips ('09, Bates College) co-founded the Youth Action Team, an organization that promotes civic awareness and responsibility among inner city youth. Mr. Phillips established the organization in his hometown, Philadelphia. Several other scholars have expressed interest in creating nonprofit organizations, working for community organizations, or working for large philanthropic foundations.
Accepting an invitation that Sheila Johnson extended during the junior class’ visit to the Washington Mystics game on July 8, twenty-four scholars drove to Middleburg, Virginia on Sunday morning to spend the day with Mrs. Johnson and see the construction site for her new resort and spa, Salamander Farm. When the group arrived in Middleburg, they were met by Mrs. Johnson and her husband, Bill Newman.
The day began with a view of the construction project from downtown Middleburg and a short drive onto the site. Prem Devadas, president of Salamander Hospitality, led the tour of the site and explained the effort they have undertaken to ensure that the project exceeds all of the specifications necessary to achieve 5-star status. During the visit to the site, Mr. Devadas told the scholars that of all the groups he had spoken to, these young men asked the most insightful questions.
After spending about an hour at the construction site, Mrs. Johnson provided lunch at Market Salamander on the main drag in Middleburg. She owns this establishment, which refers to itself as a “working chef’s market,” and treats its customers to the wonderful aromas of food being prepared in an open kitchen.
Next on the agenda was a visit to Salamander Farm, the home of Mrs. Johnson and Judge Newman. The couple graciously showed the scholars around their beautiful house and grounds. With such a large percentage of the scholars headed to law school, Mr. Keyes prevailed upon Judge Newman, the chief judge of the Arlington County Circuit Court, to speak with the scholars about law school, the legal profession and related topics. The judge also graced the group with a recitation from Othello.
After visiting the stables and Mrs. Johnson’s office, the scholars trekked back to Washington with the satisfaction of having spent a most enjoyable day in the country.
Kendrick Ashton, a director of the highly regarded New York firm Perella Weinberg Partners, traveled to Washington this weekend to teach the scholars about investment banking and alternative asset management.
Mr. Ashton’s comprehensive lecture was accompanied by an illuminating Power Point presentation. He discussed Wall Street in general, the culture of many financial firms, and the work life of a young investment banker. He also explained, step by step, the work that is required to complete corporate mergers and acquisitions. Throughout his presentation, he was interrupted for questions from the scholars, who demonstrated considerable interest in high finance.
The scholars gained valuable information that will help them in their careers and their personal lives.
About 20 of the scholars visited the law firm Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP to learn about the firm from the managing partner of the Washington office, Jonathan H. Talcott, and counsel Ron Thomas. Talcott talked with the students about the firm, its locations and its practice specialties. He also talked with them about the process of applying and interviewing with law firms and the requirements placed on first year lawyers.
Thomas, who recently joined the firm after leaving a position as Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U. S. Department of Agriculture, talked with the students about his work at the firm. He also talked about the necessity of lawyers being good a business development.
Last night, the scholars joined Institute supporter John Schell for a tour of the Jacob Lawrence exhibit at the Phillips Collection, the first museum of modern art. Jacob Lawrence, a renowned African American painter who spent his career chronicling the history and struggles of African Americans, gained notoriety from his sixty-painting narrative entitled "Migration of the Negro." These paintings portray the journey of hundreds of thousands of African Americans migrating from the south to northern cities to find work and escape Jim Crow.
Due to the size of the collection, very few people have viewed the entire collection all at once. With the help of Mr. Schell, the Institute scholars were given the privilege of seeing this important and relevant work.
Besides the high-level internships, intimate discussions with influential leaders, and the rigorous coursework, the Institute aims to introduce the scholars to a variety of enriching cultural experiences that will help them to network with future employers and peers.