Morehouse valedictorian headed to Harvard Law School

Two years ago this summer, Derrick Parker was hunkered down studying for the LSAT in a room at the Harvard Law School.

Having been invited to participate in the prestigious Harvard/NYU TRIALS program (Training and Recruitment Initiative for Admission to Leading Law Schools), he felt good. His dream of graduating from college and going to law school was so close he could taste it.

What We Know:

  • Derrick Parker is from a single-parent household.  He made a promise to himself to be the first in his family to graduate from college and deliver the valedictorian address.
  • Derrick Parker is a winner of the Gates Millennium Scholarship which guaranteed him a full ride to the college of his choice.
  • He maintained a 4.0 grade-point average over eight semesters and garnered 19 acceptance letters to law school, many including full rides to places like Columbia University, Georgetown and the University of Chicago
  • Parker endured multiple encounters multiple instances of racial bias – which he overcame.

Congrats to Derrick Parker!  We salute — and root for you!

 

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