Darius Graham a FAMU graduating senior has been named one of USA Today newspaper's top 20 collegiate academic all-star team. Mr. Graham's fascination with Florida began with a visit to the Magic Kingdom as a youngster returned to the state after being recruited by former FAMU President Fred Humphries.Currently the attorney general for FAMU’s Student Government Association, arrived at FAMU from intent on focusing solely on his studies. “I never expected to be so involved in campus activities,” he says. “ However, when I saw the need and the opportunity to bring positive change to my university and the surrounding community, I just couldn’t resist the chance to help.”
One of the first leadership roles he took on was with the University Honors Program. Disappointed with the lack of student activities and involvement, Graham tried to help the Honor Student Advisory Council develop new programs—but with no results. He decided to take matters into his own hands. In January 2004, after completing mounds of paperwork and garnering campus support, the Honor Student Association was officially founded with Graham serving as president.
With the new organization came two new programs: Food for Thought and Power Hour. Food for Thought was initiated as a casual lunch held once a month to discuss current events and community issues. The now biweekly lunch features different speakers such as local county commissioners, students, and campus faculty. Power Hour, a daily tutorial service for students, offers help with English, math, science, history, and foreign languages. Students take full advantage of the programs, and the University Honors Program has seen a rise in involvement. “Now we have a large array of students coming in,” says May Ruth Sanders, program coordinator for the University Honors Program. “It’s helped to develop more of a sense of community among honor students, which is great and exactly what we needed.”
Mr. Graham's bio reads as follows:
Home: Charlotte. Age: 21. Major: Political science. GPA: 3.9. Graduating: April. Career goal: Public interest law; elected office. Accomplishments: Darius founded Books All Around (www.booksallaround.org) to give low-income children books and put libraries in community centers, winning an mtvU grant; founding president of the Honor Student Association launched Food for Thought luncheon forums; wrote ethics code for student leaders as student government attorney general; interviewed guests including Sen. Barack Obama, D.-Ill., as host of In the Know radio show; mock trial team captain; Community Improvement Advisory Council of Tallahassee; student coordinator, "Day of Dialogue" race relations summit; gubernatorial fellowship; internships with the U.S. departments of State and Labor and the Florida governor's general counsel's office; Institute for Responsible Citizenship; research article on privatization of prisons published in college undergraduate honors journal.