Honorable Mention Winner
Elvis Brazil
Miami-Dade Comm. College-North
Sophomore in Pre-Law
3.62 GPA

As the son of a minister, Elvis Brazil, 34, found leadership to be an inherent quality. “At this juncture in my life, I‘m proud of the legacy that I have worked hard to create for future students who choose to follow my lead,” Brazil says.

As a natural-born leader, Brazil involves himself in as many leadership roles as possible. Brazil currently is a Sunday school instructor at his local church, president of the MDCC-North’s Student Government Association, lead speaker and lobbyist for Students Against Inequitable Budget Cuts, and an editorial columnist for the school newspaper, The Falcon Times. In his column, Brazil says he attempts “to write intellectually stimulating articles informing students of how various issues affect them and challenging them to a response."

Brazil says his responsibilities have given him an outlet in which to positively affect others in what he believes to be vital areas of their lives: spiritual, intellectual, and political.

Brazil remembers one occasion when he and his family spent the night at a church building in Indiantown, Fla. His family was waiting for the construction of their new home to be complete. The family improvised, transforming the rough wood benches at the church building and making them into beds. Though coarse, the benches were sufficient. Brazil wasn’t pleased and complained the entire night. After hearing constant complaining, Brazil’s father turned to him and said, “Son, someone had to live in the tough in order for you to live in the comfort you enjoy and, in order for you to appreciate that comfort, you must understand another’s pain. So, instead of complaining about this one night’s stay, save that energy and speak out for those who don’t have a bed or a voice.” Since then, that’s exactly what Brazil has done.

Brazil isn’t a braggart but, considering his many accomplishments, he could very well be one. Brazil’s awards and honors include M-DCC Service Grant recipient for outstanding SGA officer, Who’s Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges, Southern Regional Conference of Black American Affairs Scholarship recipient, and Honors College Scholarship Grant recipient.

“Elvis is a student leader who is involved in various student organizations on the campus and has an active voice in the community where he is involved in mentoring youths individually and in the youth council at his church,” says Castell Vaughn Bryant, M-DCC-North’s campus president.

Brazil plans to complete his undergraduate studies and transfer into Florida International University’s Law Program. “After receiving my Juris Doctorate, it’s my hope to work for a firm, for a brief period of time, to learn the ropes and then open my own practice,” Brazil says.

To help pay for his education, Brazil works as a safety and environmental manager at Fine Air Services, Inc. He says that scholarships, when available, help him to reduce his out-of-pocket school expenses.  SS