Morehouse College produces “Servant Leaders”
Tyrin Gamble is a junior biology pre-med major at Morehouse College from Georgetown, SC. His transition from a rural area in South Carolina to the city life in Atlanta, has been an eye-opening experience that he won’t forget. As a future orthopedic surgeon, Gamble reassured that Morehouse College was always his number one college choice since high school. “I always knew that I’d be down here in Atlanta, rocking my maroon, while walking up and down Brown Street” Gamble said.
After an emotional moment during the opening of his acceptance letter, Tyrin was extremely determined to locate scholarship opportunities to help fund his education. His goal was to finance and decrease the $50,000 tuition while removing a huge financial burden on his parents. While enduring an exhausting scholarship searching process, Tyrin was later informed of his acceptance into the Bonner Scholars program by its Assistant Director & Morehouse graduate, Kevin Chapman Jr. ’06.
The Bonner Office of Community Service (BOCS) is the community service office located on Morehouse’s campus. It houses three community service scholarship programs: Corella & Bertram F. Bonner Scholars Program, Emma & Joe Adams Scholars Program and UPS Community Scholars Program. Each program was founded as a scholarship opportunity for students to complete community service hours in exchange for tuition assistance and/or stipend checks. Students at the institution have the opportunity to apply for these scholarship programs during the summer leading into the upcoming school year. The Bonner Scholars program remains one of the institution’s most renowned programs as it provides a four year need-based scholarship to 15 incoming freshman who demonstrate a passion for service. These community-oriented servant leaders are handpicked by a committee and each Bonner Scholar engages in service alongside their own class cohort for four years. Scholars are provided with a service site to complete weekly hours towards their hour requirements.
Gamble speaks on his community service experience as Senior Intern of the BOCS. Although the role comes with great responsibility, the impact of the BOCS has been transcending and influential. “The Bonner program has pushed me in order to develop a deeper passion for service” Gamble said. The community service scholarship programs allow servant leaders to phenomenally represent the college while engaging in service in the local areas. Many scholars find opportunities in the West End Atlanta neighborhood and engage in service through community organizations, churches, clubs & schools. Nevertheless, scholars also find ways to serve & advocate for their Morehouse brothers by completing service initiatives on campus.
As scholars creatively think of new service ideas, this allows a greater impact on the neighboring communities around campus. Gamble reflects on one of his favorite annual on-campus service events through the BOCS. “My favorite event, um, that the Bonner office hosts every year is the ‘It’s On The House’ event where we assist the impoverished, homeless community throughout the West End, with free haircuts, free food, a free clothing drive, and just an area to where they can come together and feel loved. This event always helps bridge the gap between our institution and West End residents” Gamble said.
