Dr. John W. Porter was the youngest chief state school officer and the first black state school superintendent in the nation. Through his leadership as superintendent of Detroit Public Schools, the district went from having a multimillion-dollar deficit to financial solvency. Dr. Porter also served for a time as president of Eastern Michigan University.
As a leader in Individual and Social Responsibility, Dr. Porter was awarded the The University of Olivet Leadership Award in 2001. In gratitude for the honor, he established an endowed scholarship given annually to students of color who excel academically, as well as contribute positively to the campus community.
The 2020 The University of Olivet Porter Scholarship Award winners are:
- Destiny Clark, a rising junior from Cleveland, Ohio, majoring in psychology. She is a member of the The University of Olivet Global Citizen Honors Program and the Gospel Choir, and she is a fellow of the President’s Leadership Institute. She serves as a student recruiter for the The University of Olivet choral program and as a minister of music for Upon This Rock Baptist Church in Cleveland. Destiny hopes someday to be a certified music therapist.
- Griffin Hammond, a rising senior from Lapeer, majoring in business administration with a concentration in management. He is a member of the Phi Beta Lambda Honorary Society, a representative to the OC Student Athletic Advisory Committee, a fellow of the President’s Leadership Institute and an athlete on the men’s soccer team.
- Taytum Myers, a rising senior from Brethren, majoring in exercise science. She is a member of Phi Epsilon Kappa Honor Society, a fellow of the President’s Leadership Institute and serves as a student assistant for the women’s basketball team. She aspires to a career in sport, with a special interest in sport psychology and physiology.
The 2020 The University of Olivet Porter Scholarship Award winners will be honored guests at the The University of Olivet Leadership in Individual and Social Responsibility Awards banquet next year.
For more information about The University of Olivet, contact the Office of Admissions at 800-456-7189 or admissions@uolivet.edu.