\nDennis Pickens. UM photo by Nathan Latil.\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
OXFORD, Miss. – Dennis Pickens Jr. may not have always
\nembraced politics, but after taking an honors political
\nscience class at the University of Mississippi, he became a
\nfan. And now, his enthusiasm has garnered him an internship
\nat the Institute for Responsible Citizenship.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\nPickens, a sophomore accountancy major in the Sally
\nMcDonnell Barksdale Honors College, plans to spend this
\nsummer in Washington, D.C., where he will hold an
\ninternship and take rigorous courses at Georgetown
\nUniversity. The program focuses on public service, and 24
\nof the most promising black male college sophomores in the
\ncountry are selected to participate each year.
\n<\/span>\n<\/p>\n\nThis is the first time an Ole Miss student has been chosen
\nfor the program.
\n<\/span>\n<\/p>\n\nPickens, a Newton High School graduate and the son of
\nDennis Pickens Sr. and Ethel Pickens., said he previously
\nhad a pessimistic outlook on politics until Kenneth
\nTownsend’s class sparked his interest.
\n<\/span>\n<\/p>\n\n“I wasn’t into politics until I took his class and it made
\nme view Washington in a new light,” Pickens said. “He
\nshowed me that politics can be a medium for change.”
\n<\/span>\n<\/p>\n\nThe news that he had been chosen for the internship came at
\na bittersweet time for Pickens, as he found out the day
\nafter his grandfather died. “I was thrilled to receive the
\nnews,” he said. “William Keyes, the president of the
\norganization, called me and told me I was one of the seven
\nchosen by early decision.”
\n<\/span>\n<\/p>\n\nTownsend, a Barksdale Fellow and instructor in public
\npolicy leadership in the Honors College, said Pickens has
\nbeen an absolute delight to teach and is an extremely hard
\nworker.
\n<\/span>\n<\/p>\n\n“Not only has Dennis maintained a 4.0 while taking
\ndifficult honors courses, but for the last two summers, he
\nhas also participated in prestigious programs with Merrill
\nLynch and the London School of Economics,” Townsend said.
\n“Being chosen for the Institute for Responsible Citizenship
\nrepresents another well-earned milestone for Dennis. I
\nbelieve it is important for our campus community to
\nunderstand how big of a deal this program is.”
\n<\/span>\n<\/p>\n\nWhile at Georgetown, Pickens will take courses in
\ngovernment and economics designed to provide skills
\nnecessary to critically analyze the world’s problems while
\nadhering to a deep respect for civil liberties. When not in
\nclass or at work, the students are called upon to attend
\nfunctions designed to help them network within their
\nfield.
\n<\/span>\n<\/p>\n\nThe institute creates a pathway for the top black males in
\nthe country both in and out of the classroom, Pickens said.
\nHe is most excited about being able to meet two legends:
\nGeorgia congressman and civil rights activist John Lewis
\nand U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
\n<\/span>\n<\/p>\n\n“I also hope to meet Barack Obama, but we’ll have to see
\nwhat his schedule is like,” he said. “The opportunity to
\nmeet people like that is invaluable.”
\n<\/span>\n<\/p>\n\nHe said he hopes to strengthen his personal characteristics
\nand get to know people who can help him achieve his goals.
\n“I think the program will make me well-rounded socially,
\nacademically and as a leader,” he said. “I’ll be meeting
\nleaders from the civil rights movement, from politics and
\nfrom corporate America and I think they will increase my
\nbreadth of knowledge of America as a whole.”
\n<\/span>\n<\/p>\n\nFor more information, visit
\n<\/span>\n<\/p>\n\n
\nhttp:\/\/www.honors.olemiss.edu<\/a>.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u00a0 Dennis Pickens. UM photo by Nathan Latil. OXFORD, Miss. – Dennis Pickens Jr. may not have always embraced politics, but after taking an honors political science class at the University of Mississippi, he became a fan. And now, his enthusiasm has garnered him an internship at the Institute for Responsible Citizenship. \u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[222],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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<\/p>\n