When President Clinton travels to Morgan State University tomorrow, he will address 900 predominantly black graduates who have traveled many paths to get the education once denied their race. For 130 years, Morgan has nurtured its students, providing whatever academic help and guidance they need to succeed. And the support has paid off. Morgan is one of the nation's top five universities in producing African-American graduates who go on to get doctoral degrees, according to a university spokesman. Among the Class of 1997 are many who grew up thinking of college as a dream rather than a certainty. Class statistics cannot convey the power of their stories. Sun Staff writer Linell Smith profiles three graduates.
Lonnie Morris, Jr.: B.S. in Marketing.
The son of a Morgan graduate, Morris decided to attend Morgan after checking out other East Coast schools, including Brown University, Howard University and Delaware State.
"I felt down home here," says the 22-year-old senior from Vallejo, Calif. "Morgan had the most unique community to me. There was a real ambiance on campus."
In his four years at Morgan, Morris has constructed a tower of achievements: Editor of the student newspaper, "The Spokesman"; member of student government's executive board; student ambassador for the office of admissions; executive vice president of the Morgan chapter of the American Marketing Association.
He also chaired the first newspaper conference for historically black colleges and universities.
"I maintain a busy schedule," he says modestly.
Morris received the President's Second Mile Award, an honor given to one member of the graduating class on the basis of academic achievement, university service, extracurricular activities and personal attitude.
He considers his greatest honor, however, to be receiving the Umoja Award, an honor voted by students for the person who is the unifying force for the student government association.
"It's very rare we tell our peers we appreciate them," he says.
After graduation, Morris will work as director of college relations for Between The Lines Kommunications, a business in Raleigh, N.C. founded by Morgan graduate Travis Mitchell, '92. Morris will cultivate relationships between historically black colleges and entertainment companies which could advertise with them; advise university administrations on how to improve student relations and develop a collegiate leadership success summit -- a project linking African-American students with young black executives and CEOs.
