Class Of 2010

D’LEON BARNETT

George Mason University
D’Leon Barnett is a student at George Mason University, where he majors in Integrative Studies with a concentration in Education. D’Leon is president and founder of the Rotaract Club of George Mason University. He is also the founder of The Black Male Colloquium, a program that provides young Black males with the opportunity to participate in culturally empowering seminars. D’Leon has a passion for youth advocacy and community development. A native of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, he is a 2010 Truman finalist. Earlier this year, D’Leon was elected student body president. He is the first African American to earn that distinction in George Mason’s history.

EFREN W. BONNER

Yale University
Efren Bonner majors in Mathematics at Yale University. At Yale, Efren serves as a staff reporter with the Yale Daily News and is a member of the Black Men’s Union. In high school, Efren was a state champion in original oratory and helped his speech and debate team to a 3rd place finish in national competition. Last year, he interned in the compliance at FBR Investment Management. IN 2010, he interned for the Children’s Law Center. In the future, Efren hopes to obtain his JD and become a federal prosecutor.

DONALD DEPASS

Duke University
Donald DePass is a Psychology and Public Policy double major, with a focus on Markets and Management at Duke University. He is the founder and secretary for MANNA Project International, Academic Affairs Chair for Delta Tau Delta, and a mainstay on the Dean’s List. Donald also serves as a first year advisory counselor. A native of Schenectady, NY, he is an honoree of the American Legion Boys State, National Society for High School Scholars, and the National Honor Roll. Donald hopes to pursue a career in law. During his first summer, Donald interned for Murder Victims Families’ for Reconciliation. In 2010, he interned for AT&T.

CALEB J. GAYLE

University of Oklahoma
Caleb J. Gayle attends the University of Oklahoma, where he majors in International Security Studies and Political Science. Caleb is the co-founder and communications/outreach director for the Greenwood Political Action Committee, a grassroots organization dedicated to the political revitalization of the Historic Northern District of Tulsa, his hometown. He is also president and founder of the Gayle Foundation, which was recognized by the Hitatchi Foundation for exemplifying true social entrepreneurship. Caleb aspires to be a development economist. In 2010, he was awarded the Truman Scholarship. As an Institute scholar, Caleb interned at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies.

MARCUS GOODWIN

University of Pennsylvania
Marcus Goodwin is an Urban Studies and French double major at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a Washington, DC native and aspires to become a politician. This career goal was formally nurtured on the staff of Washington, DC Council Member Jim Graham during the summer of 2008. At Penn, Marcus is a member of the Student Government Association, and is the founder and co-president of the Conscientious Student Committee, which advocates for human rights in Darfur, Sudan. He is also an Eagle Scout and a Big Brothers Big Sisters tutor. As an Institute scholar, Marcus returned to the office of DC Council Member Jim Graham as a summer intern.

ROBERT A. HICKMAN

College of New Jersey
Robert A. Hickman is a graduate of The College of New Jersey, where he was a History major. Within his community, Robert has served as a volunteer tutor and camp counselor for his local church. He continued his volunteerism in college as a tutor at the Gregory School in Trenton, New Jersey. He spent the summer of 2008 interning at BET Networks, MSNBC, and the NBC Nightly News, where he assisted producers at the Democratic National Convention. Robert was on his college’s debate team and aspires to become a lawyer or congressional staffer. As an Institute scholar, Robert interned for EBG Advisors, Inc. During the summer of 2010, he participated in the Training and Recruitment Initiative for Admission to Leading Law Schools (TRIALS) program in New York. Robert is currently pursuing his J.D. at Harvard Law School.

ALAN-MICHAEL HILL

University of Pennsylvania
Alan-Michael Hill majors in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at the University of Pennsylvania. A native of Dover, Delaware, Alan-Michael distinguished himself through his community involvement as evidenced by his four-time designation as a Ben Carson Scholar. He is a NCAA Division I athlete in Track and Field and an active mentor with the Big Brothers & Big Sisters organization. In 2007, Alan-Michael was the first student invited to be the keynote speaker at the Governor’s Prayer Breakfast. He hopes to be a catalyst for social reform through corporate law. During his first summer as an Institute scholar, Alan-Michael interned at the office of US Senator Thomas R. Carper of Deleware, his home state. He interned at the US Securities and Exchange Commission during his final summer.

JONATHAN F. HILL, JR.

Emory University
Jonathan F. Hill, Jr. majors in Biology at Emory University, where he aspires to become an orthopedic surgeon. A graduate of the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics, Jonathan conducted research at the Medical University of South Carolina during the summer of 2006. At Emory, Jonathan serves as Vice President of the Residence Hall Association, mentor for multicultural outreach, and is president of the campus NAACP chapter. He is an avid stepper and spends his spare time volunteering as a tutor, with Habitat for Humanity and the Boys and Girls Club. Jonathan spent the summer of 2009 interning at Commonwealth Orthopedics. The following summer, he was accepted into a summer program at the University of North Carolina designed to prepare him for medical school.

TIMOTHY G. HUGHES

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Timothy G. Hughes majors in history at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. At Chapel Hill, Timothy is a Dean’s List Student, National Society of Collegiate Scholar, Leadership Institute graduate, and a Jackson Ambassador for the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. He serves as President of the Black Student Movement’s Education Committee and Co-Chair of the Public Service Committee for the Carolina Experience. Timothy’s passion for history stems from his high school involvement in National History Day (NHD) competition, where he placed first in state level competition. He currently serves as a NC Judge for NHD. In 2008, Timothy interned at the National College Access Network (NCAN) where he conducted educational based research under the supervision of Assistant Director Dr. Tia Brown McNair. In his last summer at the Institute, Tim interned for the Children’s Defense Fund. He aspires to become a civil rights attorney.

CHARLES R. LEE, III

Duke University
Charles R. Lee is a Political Science major at Duke University, where he serves as a resident assistant and a member of the Brown House Council, which represents 60 students living in his residence hall. Charles received the Wesley Fellowship, where he is responsible for evaluating the current state of racial affairs and poverty in Durham, North Carolina. He is also active in the Financial Education Partnership, where he participates in biweekly discussions of financial issues. Charles served as student body president and valedictorian of his high school class. After completing his undergraduate studies, he plans to attend law school and become a district attorney and judge. During the summer of 2009, Charles interned at the Children’s Law Center. The following summer, he interned at the David C. Driskell Center at the University of Maryland.

STEVEN A. MARTIN

Belmont University
Steven A. Martin is an Accounting major at Belmont University in Nashville, where he serves as the liaison for the National Association of Black Accountants. A resident assistant, Steven works closely with students who face challenges adjusting to college life. He also acts as the treasurer for the Black Student Association and the co-advisor for the Community Council, a student-led initiative that aims to develop community among students of different backgrounds on-campus. Steven was selected to stand in for then-candidate Barack Obama during preparation for the first presidential debate of 2008. After completing his studies, Steven hopes to become a Certified Public Accountant. Steven participated in the KPMG Summer Scholars program, where he interned at KPMG headquarters in New York.

ERIC A. MCCARTHY

McColl School of Business at Queens University of Charlotte
Eric A. McCarthy is enrolled in the McColl School of Business at Queens University of Charlotte, where he majors in Business Administration. In addition to serving as executive treasurer for the Student Government Association, Eric serves as peer mentor for first year students and tutors in Economics, Mathematics, and Accounting. He interned for Northwestern Mutual Financial during the summer of 2008 in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he earned a regional award for his performance. He is preparing for a career in investment management. As an Institute scholar, Eric interned for Merrill Lynch.

KEVIN T. JAMES

St. John’s University
Kevin Tyrone James is a Government and Politics major at St. John’s University. He serves as the chair of the Student Information and Technology Advisory Committee, parliamentarian of the Student Government Senate, and treasurer of the Society of Saint Vincent De Paul. He is also very active in an organization that delivers food and blankets to homeless people in New York City. A native of Brooklyn, New York, Kevin hopes to become a government official or politician. In 2009, Kevin interned with JC Watts Companies. During his final summer at the Institute, he interned for Friedman Billings Ramsey.

SERRANO LEGRAND

Northeastern University
Serrano Legrand is a student at Northeastern University, where he majors in Finance with minors in Sociology and Urban Studies. Serrano is a Gates Millennium Scholar and a mentor with the Paul Robeson Institute. He also serves on the Legacy Student Advisory Board. He has interned with JPMorgan Chase & Co. as well as Wellington Management. Serrano aspires to own a not-for-profit micro-equity firm. During the summer of 2009, Serrano interned for the Washington Area Community Investment Fund. In 2010, he interned at ORR Associates, Inc.

MARCUS V. PHELPS

University of Akron
Marcus Vincent Phelps majors in Economics and Spanish at the University of Akron. A native of Mansfield, Ohio, Marcus was appointed by Governor Ted Strickland to the University of Akron Board of Trustees. He is also a national qualifier in three events in forensic speech and debate, and was recognized by his University as an “Outstanding Sophomore Student.” A student in Akron University’s Honors College, Marcus is also a resident assistant. His career goal is to be a diplomat. During the summer of 2009, Marcus interned at the Committee on Homeland Security. The following summer, he interned at the Center for American Progress.

DEREK PORTER

University of Saint Thomas
Derek Porter graduated from the University of Saint Thomas, where he majored in Social Studies and Secondary Education . His commitment to youth advocacy and education was exemplified by his involvement in the Linkages Mentor Program and such initiatives as “Feed my Starving Children” and “Displace Me,” programs benefiting children in Chicago, Illinois. Derek is the founder of PULSE, a performing Arts Group, and also served as an undergraduate representative to the Teacher Education Advisory Council. After interning at the Washington Jesuit Academy for two years, Derek accepted a position as a social studies teacher.

COLIN B. VENEY

University at Albany
Colin B. Veney majors in Accounting at the University at Albany. A former student-athlete, he played Division I soccer and served as the team analyst for the University at Albany Investment Group. Colin is the president of the National Association of Black Accountants on his campus. In 2008, he worked on several disaster recovery initiatives while interning for MetLife as a project manager. Upon graduation, Colin wants to work as a financial accountant. Colin spent both summers as a participant of the KPMG Summer Scholars Program. He interned at KPMG’s headquarters in New York.

JORDAN C. WALL

Davidson College
Jordan C. Wall was the recipient of the John Montgomery Belk Scholarship at Davidson College, where he majored in Religion and French. He was the business and advertising manager for The Davidsonian and was a member of the college’s Honor Council. Jordan’s enjoyment for other cultures is evident in his studies, extracurricular activities, and travel. He served as treasurer of the Asian Cultural Awareness Association and has studied in France and Japan. Jordan aspires to become a diplomat. He is currently enrolled in his first year at Harvard Law School. During his first summer at the Institute, Jordan interned for Polaris Project. He interned for the Center for American Progress during his final summer.

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​Class Of 2010

​D’LEON BARNETT