2021 Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship winner Latifat Odetunde (second from left) with MLK Scholarship finalists (l-r) Armani Mitchell, Nana Kusi Minkah (on laptop screen), Grace Assogba, and Darnell Fils. (Photo: Lee Pellegrini)
Armani Mitchell
HOMETOWN: New York City
SCHOOL: Lynch School of Education and Human Development
MAJOR: Applied Psychology and Human Development, with a minor in marketing
An Options Through Education scholar, Mitchell serves as a student representative for the Student Admission Program and a resident assistant for the Multicultural Living Experience. He is also a campus ambassador for Jopwell, a mentor for Lift as You Climb, and the president of the Caribbean Culture Club. In his various leadership roles on campus, Mitchell has been active in calling attention to mental health issues in marginalized communities
Darnell Fils
HOMETOWN: Palm Beach, Florida
SCHOOL: Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences
MAJOR: Economics, with a minor in African and African Diaspora Studies
Fils credits his dedication to service as being inspired by his mother, who founded Meals to Go Catering. Fils is a resident assistant for the Office of Residential Life, a student ambassador for the Thea Bowman AHANA and Intercultural Center, a member of the First Gen Advisory Board, and a mentor for the College Bound Program. He also is active in Dedicated Intellectuals of the People (DIOP) and Black Men Build.
Grace Assogba
HOMETOWN: New York City
SCHOOL: Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences
MAJOR: International Studies, with a minor in Africa & African Diaspora Studies
An Options Through Education scholar, Assogba is the founder and creator of Vyntage, a digital media brand focused on promoting an unfiltered and unapologetic approach to digital storytelling and social campaigns for Gen Z. Assogba is on the leadership team for Sr. Thea’s Ladies, the undergraduate representative on the steering committee for the Forum on Racial Justice in America, and treasurer and chaplain for the Boston-area Epsilon Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Nana Kusi Minkah
HOMETOWN: Worcester, Massachusetts
SCHOOL: Carroll School of Management
MAJOR: Finance, with a minor in studio art
An Options Through Education scholar, he serves as the captain of the Sexual Chocolate Dance Team and president of AHANA Management Academy; he also was a founder of Regal Supply & Co., which provided affordable suits and accessories to empower Black youth to dress for success, and was a leader of the Ghana Immersion Trip.
Material provided by the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Committee | Read about Latifat Odetunde, the 2021 MLK Scholarship winner.