Page 5 - JRF Class of 2020 Yearbook

Dear Class of 2020,

Congratulations!
Graduation, especially from college, is an exciting milestone. It is the culmination of years of hard work
and marks your transition to the next phase of your life – to the real world. Graduation in 2020 is occurring
West during heart-wrenching times and without the pomp and circumstance that you deserve. This spring, you
Daron Campbell ’89, Chair called upon your resilience and work ethic to transition – quite quickly, I might add – to remote learning and
Laurie Dickey ’90, Vice-Chair quarantine to complete your coursework.
Mary Horne Hamilton,
UCLA Sub-Committee Chair I hope you will take the time to celebrate your achievements with your loved ones, even remotely, and be
Lena Brown gratified by all that you have accomplished. Your JRF Family could not be more proud of you.
Robert Cambridge You are transitioning into a post-college world different from the one you were expecting – a world reeling
Jo Ann Dawson from the impact of a global pandemic and confronting en masse, with an unprecedented coalition of citizens,
Matt Edelman an abhorrent example of the systemic racism and injustice that have plagued it for far too long.
Brien Kelley ’96 As Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholars, you are equipped to successfully negotiate these rough waters
Charles Meigs and lend your voices and talents to help solve these and other difficult societal problems. In short, you are
Simone Rahotep our future and we are in good, strong, righteous hands.
Kathy Robinson Young Appreciate also that this unique, if challenging, time of quarantine affords you an opportunity to reflect, gain perspective, and sharpen your
Keith Sinclair sense of purpose. I hope you will take some time to articulate and embrace the values and principles that will govern your life as you pursue your
personal and professional goals.

You have heard this guiding tenet of our namesake countless times over the past four years: A life is not important except in the impact
*Alumnus
it has on other lives. These words take on added significance today. We hope they continue to resonate with you and that you will always
look to how you can positively impact the lives of others, that you will step in when you are able to help those in need, and that you will elevate
investments in meaningful relationships over acts of self-aggrandizement.
These past several months have made us acutely aware of many things. One is that as members of the human race, we are interconnected. We
will get through adversity and crises such as those we face today only one way – if we work together – and if we remember that our lives indeed
are defined by our interactions with others.

On behalf of the entire JRF staff and board of directors, congratulations! It has been our honor and privilege to watch you take on
challenges, overcome barriers, and thrive over these past four years.
We wish you good health, happiness, and continued success in all that you do. Remember that you will always be part of the JRF family and an
ambassador of a powerful, American legacy.
With love and admiration,

Jackie Robinson Foundation Class of 2020 Yearbook I Page 3