NEWS

PRESS RELEASE
The Institute for Responsible Citizenship
Andrew Mulinge
[email protected]
484-478-4610

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Scholars Selected for Prestigious Program
for African American Male College Students

Washington, D.C. February 1, 2024 – The Institute for Responsible Citizenship proudly announces the
Class of 2025, comprising twelve exceptional African American male college students from across the
nation. This year’s cohort, chosen from one of our most competitive applicant pools to date, is set to
embark on a transformative journey from June 1 to July 27 in Washington, D.C.

The Washington Program is a highly selective, two-summer program that offers a unique opportunity
for some of America’s most talented and ambitious African American male college students. During the
program, scholars live together in a university residence hall and work at high-level internships in their
fields of interest. They participate in a challenging seminar on economic and constitutional principles,
engage in private meetings with prominent leaders from both the public and private sectors, attend
personal and professional development workshops, and enjoy a variety of social activities. This
unparalleled experience is designed to prepare these young men for impactful lives and careers.
The Institute’s 270+ alumni have demonstrated remarkable success and influence across various
sectors. These distinguished men have garnered prestigious accolades, including 5 Rhodes
Scholarships, 9 Truman Scholarships, 1 Schwarzman Scholarship, and 14 PhDs, among numerous other
honors. Excelling in an array of fields such as academia, medicine, law, business, and beyond, our alumni
include professionals such as doctors, lawyers, pastors, professors, and investment bankers. Their
achievements stand as a testament to the impact of exposure, training and support the Institute
provides combined with the scholars’ hard work and dedication.

This year’s class includes students from four new universities: Arizona State University, the University of
Miami, University of Delaware, and Washington University in St. Louis. This expansion reflects our
ongoing commitment to searching far and wide for the best cohort of future leaders.
“I created the Institute to provide some of the most talented African American male students the kind
of support that many others in our society take for granted. We provide exposure to opportunities,
valuable internship experiences, and introductions to people who can support them in a variety of ways.
We help them achieve extraordinary success for reasons that are bigger than themselves,” said Dr.
William A. Keyes IV, the Institute’s founder and president.

The Institute extends its deepest appreciation to the mentors, professors, and community members
who played a pivotal role in preparing these exceptional young men for this opportunity.
As we look forward to the program’s commencement, we are excited about the potential of the Class of
2025 to not only benefit from this unique experience but also to significantly contribute to their
communities.

For more information about the Washington Program and the Institute for Responsible Citizenship,
please visit theinstitute.net.

Introducing the Washington Program Class of 2025

Ebenezer Antwi is a University of Delaware Provost Scholarship recipient majoring in Operations
Management with a focus on supply chain management. Born in Ghana and raised in Smyrna,
Delaware, he is most motivated by the values instilled through his parents’ journey to the United States.
At Delaware, he interned at the Biden Institute and mentors peers and high school students as a
Student Advisor for Delaware College Scholars. A leader of multiple organizations on campus, Ebenezer
contributes to the Lerner Student Advisory Board, organizes events with the Cultural Programming
Advisory Board, and directs Community Service and Outreach for Men of Distinction.

Jene Baquet is a Posse Scholar at Villanova University, where he is studying Business Administration.
Last year, he managed his team in the Global Firms Accounting Case Competition, representing KPMG.
Born and raised in New Orleans, Jene’s dedication is deeply rooted in his family values, notably
influenced by his great-grandfather’s legacy at the family-owned Lil Dizzy’s Cafe. Active in his New
Orleans hometown, he helped prepare 5,000 bags of goods every Sunday, including holidays, to feed
more than 1,000 families. Jene’s passion extends to basketball, where he plays for Villanova’s club team,
manages the women’s team, and aspires to become an NBA General Manager.

Evan Cole is an Economics and Government double major at Georgetown University. He earned the
distinction of a Georgia Scholar while serving as his high school’s senior class president in Marietta,
Georgia and also earned the University of Georgia Certificate of Merit. However, he decided to pursue
his dreams in Washington, DC. He is a Georgetown Scholar. Last summer, Evan interned at Lafayette
Square Capital Investments, where he developed a passion for impact investing. He is a Fellow in the
Management Leadership for Tomorrow’s financial services program and a participant in the Sponsors
for Education EDGE program.

Branden Damus, a sophomore at the University of Miami, is carving a unique path at the intersection
of science and policy. Majoring in Microbiology & Immunology and Political Science, with minors in
Chemistry and Meteorology, he is a recipient of the Isaac Bashevis Singer Scholarship, a full-tuition
award, and a scholar in the Foote Fellow Honors Program, which recognizes top incoming students.
Raised in Miami by a Haitian family, Branden is deeply involved in his local community, often
volunteering at the Lennar Foundation Medical Center. His scientific research at the Howard Hughes
Medical Institute focuses on pioneering techniques for plant growth and the potential of natural oils in
combating fungal growth. He is pursuing a career as a physician.

Myles Davis, a Business Administration major at the University of Southern California is channeling
his passion for sports and community unity into his professional pursuits. Hailing from Wayne, PA, his
roots have deeply influenced his commitment to bringing people together through sports. Myles has
actively engaged in the field already, as an operations intern with a Major League Soccer team, the
Philadelphia Union, last summer. Currently, he is a Student Manager for the USC football team. Eager
to bridge his academic foundation with his operational expertise, Myles is poised to make a significant
impact in the sports business sector.

Donovan Drummer is a Sports Business major at Arizona State University. He was recognized as one
of the top students in ASU’s incoming class and was chosen for the Sports Business Scholars program
from a competitive pool of over 1,500 students. In his capacity as Vice President of Events for the
program, Donovan organizes impactful experiences that foster professional growth among students,
alumni, and industry leaders. He is also active on campus as a tour guide and President of African
American Men. Mentorship is important to Donovan and he dedicates his time to supporting first-year
students through the Sankofa Leadership Institute on campus and middle school students back home
in Atlanta at his alma mater, the Ron Clark Academy. He aspires to pursue a career in brand
management for a professional sports franchise.

Adonis Garcia, a Bronx native, is pursuing a major in Computer Science with a minor in Mathematics at
the New York University and maintains a 4.0 GPA in the Tandon School of Engineering. He is a
member of the Global Leaders and Scholars in STEM Honors Program and actively mentors fellow
students through the NYU Academic Achievement Program. Recognized for his valuable impact on his
community, he was unanimously honored as the Sophomore of the Year at the AAP’s ceremony last fall.
He is a Career Prep Fellow with Management Leadership for Tomorrow and serves as a teaching
assistant and a peer tutor. Adonis is honing his skills in machine learning and artificial intelligence and
hopes to help merge technology and positive societal impact. He is studying this semester at NYU Abu
Dhabi.

James McCurtis III, is a Journalism and Mass Communications sophomore at the University of Iowa.
He writes for the Nuru African American Newspaper and is a DJ/Host for KRUI Radio Station. He serves
as the state of Iowa’s Assistant District Director for Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, organizing activities for
college and alumni chapters throughout the state. A native of Okemos, Michigan, James served as
President of the Lansing NAACP Youth chapter. He was especially engaged with serving elderly people
in his community. As a Hawkeye, he mentors high school students in Iowa City. He also serves as Vice
Chairman of the Student Advisory Board for the School of Journalism and Communications. In
recognition of his leadership and dedication, he was honored with an Emerging Leader Award in 2023.

Eric Veal Jr. is a sophomore at the University of Michigan studying Political Science and Secondary
Education. He has a deep desire to foster equitable and culturally reflective classrooms. Before enrolling
at Michigan, he was selected as one of only 150 recipients of the 2022 Coca-Cola Scholarship from a pool
of over 68,000 applicants. In high school, Eric was elected president of the Student State Board for the
Illinois State Board of Education and was appointed by the Governor of Illinois as the first student
Co-chair of the Illinois Educational Equity Committee. Additionally, he serves as a member of the Illinois
Department of Human Rights and the Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes Youth. Last
summer he interned with XQ Institute, an organization dedicated to rethinking the high school
experience. He hails from Chicago, IL.

Seth Vieira is a sophomore leader at Cornell University majoring in History, Philosophy, and Africana
Studies. Seth’s Christian faith guides his desire to leave an impact on his community. The aspiring
minister founded Black Men 4 Christ to foster a nurturing space for black students to explore and
deepen their faith. His commitment to social change and community engagement shines through his
role last summer as a High Road Fellow for the “Say Yes to Education: Boys and Young Men of Color
Initiative” in Buffalo, NY. In this capacity, Seth reshaped narratives about young men of color by
organizing service events and mentoring a cohort of about 20 boys. On campus, he also serves as the
Director of External Relations for the Caribbean Student Association. He hails from New Windsor, New
York.

Stanley St. Vilus II is a Business Finance major at Johnson C. Smith University. With aspirations of a
career in wealth management, Stanley is dedicated to empowering individuals to build wealth,
leveraging the values and virtues of investing that he grew up learning about. He spent the last two
summers interning at Brighthouse Financial, a leading annuities and life insurance provider in the
United States. He is a member of JCSU’s football team and is his university’s student treasurer. Stanley
tutors high school students on business courses and organizes clothing drives in his hometown of
Charlotte, North Carolina, and in Belize.

Da’Juantay Wynter is an outstanding student at Washington University in St. Louis. He is majoring in
Education & American Culture Studies with a minor in the Business of Social Impact. Da’Juantay is the
recipient of the John B. Ervin Scholarship and an array of academic honors, including the Alexander
Hamilton Scholarship, Annexstad Scholarship and Chancellor Career Fellowship. As a 2023 Stanford Law
Scholars Institute participant, he delved into the intricacies of the American legal system and
policy-making. His articles on societal challenges have been published in the Washington University
Political Review. In his role on the Undergraduate Student Affairs Advisory Committee, Da’Juantay
contributes to enhancing student life, and through a fellowship with SKIP DesignEd, he championed
community-based solutions to improve educational access and quality for children in poverty.