Emerging Alumni Award
Rafael Turner
Rafael Turner has been working for Congressman Dale E. Kildee for six years. His career has led him to Washington D.C., where he worked as a legislative assistant for four years, but it is his love for Flint that brought him back home to work in the congressman's district office. Upon his return to Michigan, Turner enrolled in the graduate program at the University of Michigan-Flint. "I was glad to be back home in Flint to make a difference in this community and I felt that by going to UM-Flint and getting that higher, advanced degree and continuing my education I felt that I could better serve my local community." he stated.
His drive to better serve his community can be seen in a number of volunteer organizations and events in which he is involved. He voluntarily serves on the Flint branch of the NAACP, has been a member of the Job Corps Community Relations Council, has been involved in the Black Leadership Development Initiative. His passion, though, lies in motivating high school students to further their education.
Turner has served on the UNCF dinner committee to help raise scholarship funds for minorities, and, for the last three years, Turner has volunteered in the Kudo's program working as a mentor to help high school students reach their academic goals. He encourages the students to seek higher education beyond high school and shows them the benefit of going to the University of Michigan-Flint.
"I find it most rewarding if I can inspire one high school student to go on and continue their education so they can have more opportunities available to them after graduation," he states. "If I can help another young person reach their goals and inspire them to continue their education, then I feel really good about that."
As a current graduate student who is dedicated to seeing the success of students and the growth of the University of Michigan-Flint, Turner has gone above and beyond to motive others to reach their highest potential. Thus, it is Turner's involvement in both the campus and community that has earned him the title "Distinguished Emerging Alumni."