Morehouse College will honor three top-performing students as valedictorians during its upcoming commencement ceremony on Sunday.
This is the first time the all-male institution in Atlanta has had three students in the top position. All three — Liam Davis, Ian Niemeyer and Willie Thompson — are graduating with a 4.0 grade point average. Salutatorian Rami Blair is graduating with a 3.99 GPA.
The three valedictorians serve as an example of Morehouse’s commitment to academic excellence and one of the college’s strategic focuses, acuity, said Morehouse president John Wilson. “Acuity means striving for the best — both intellectual and personal excellence.”
Davis, a native of Nassau, Bahamas, passed up an opportunity to attend college for free in Ireland after hearing a student speak about the Morehouse experience while he was in high school.
“I feel like I came here as a child thinking I was an adult,” Davis, 22, said in a statement from Morehouse. “I feel like this was the incubator state for me as a man. Looking back to four years ago, I’m a completely different person. I feel like Morehouse was pivotal in terms of helping me find my purpose.”
Davis received a full academic scholarship to Morehouse and plans to enroll in a master of science program in accountancy at Wake Forest University. His goal is to become the prime minister of the Bahamas.
Niemeyer completed his studies in December and has already begun work as an investment analyst for Prudential Capital Group in Atlanta. During his time at Morehouse, Niemeryer, 22, managed the college’s student-run investment fund with more than $115,000 in assets.
“Morehouse just had that special sauce,” he said. “There was just something about it that really tipped the scale for me. Looking back, that was the best choice I’ve ever made.”
Thompson, a Fulbright Scholar, plans to spend 11 months in Taiwan after graduation. Before coming to Morehouse, the Griffin native hadn’t traveled much beyond Georgia and Alabama.
“Morehouse wasn’t really on my radar,” he said. “I cam kicking and screaming, but I”m leaving happy and rejoicing.”
Morehouse commencement ceremony begins at 8 a.m. on May 15 at Century Campus.
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