From Keith Miles FAMU Office of Communications
Emmanuel Blake Dawson, Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) “Million Dollar Scholar,” continues to break new ground. At the recent Alpha Phi Alpha Southern Regional Convention in Jackson, Miss., as a write-in candidate, the third-year student was elected as the Assistant Southern Regional Vice President. It’s the highest student position in the region. Dawson, a member of the Beta Nu Chapter at FAMU, won in a run-off election.
In 2016, as a high school senior, Dawson garnered national headlines when his academic prowess earned him more than $1 million in scholarship offers. His 4.2 high school GPA and 28 ACT score earned him full rides to three universities, as well as five-digit financial aid offers from eight other universities. His total scholarship offering of $1,002,836 earned him the title, “The Million-Dollar Scholar.”
The Supply Chain Management student is delighted he chose FAMU. “When I came and toured FAMU, I felt the love,” said Dawson. “Everything about it felt like home. It didn’t matter who I approached on campus, they were always ready, warm and welcoming.”
Dawson is also active in the FAMU Kinship of Big Brother Little Brother Mentoring Program, the Honor Student Association and the Student Financial Organization.
Of his latest achievement, Dawson said, “I am humbled to be named the 64th Southern Region Assistant Vice President. My theme is “Alpha Strong” as it’s crucial that we are intentional in our service within Alpha. My platform is centered on brotherhood, and I want to have a monthly mental health check in calls across the Region with a term I coined “Alpha Chats.” Through these “Alpha Chats,” brothers will be able to get the peace of mind they need and deserve to be successful in whatever arena they choose.”
There have been two other FAMU Beta Nu Chapter members who have served as Alpha Assistant Southern Regional Vice President: Justin Gray (1995-96), president and CEO of Gray Global Advisors, and Col. Brodes Hartley, Jr. (1955-56), president and CEO of Community Health of South Florida, Inc.
Hartley is confident Dawson will demonstrate the kind of leadership the fraternity demands. “I am excited and extremely proud of the leaders that the Beta Nu Chapter has produced historically,” said Hartley. “As the first Assistant Southern Region Vice President from Beta Nu, I found it especially heartwarming to be in attendance at the regional convention and to witness the election of Brother Emmanuel Dawson.”
