Honorable Mention Winner
John Allen, Jr.
University of North Florida
Senior in Business/Marketing
3.40 GPA

While people often say there are 50 ways to change the world, John R. Allen, Jr. believes there are 51. In 2001, with the help of four other students, Allen founded The 51^st Way, a unique empowerment program at The University of North Florida. “With determination, passion, and energy, the youth can step outside the 50 most commonly used strategies to change the world and develop The 51^st Way, a way that uses creativity, imagination, and collaboration to educate and to empower youth and families from disadvantaged or low-income families.” Through The 51^st Way, Allen hosts workshops and mentoring campaigns, working to alleviate negative self-image and stereotypes.

Though the program was a success at UNF, Allen, 21, had no idea that his vision would ignite the entire Jacksonville community. He says the organization surpassed his expectations in 2002 when it joined with the Riverside YMCA to mentor its after-school program and received 501-c3 nonprofit status from the federal government. “Now, The 51^st Way is not only changing lives on my campus but also in my community,” Allen says. The organization that began with four determined students now boasts more than 35 volunteers.

Allen says young adults who have participated in The 51^st Way workshops have developed skyrocketing self-confidence. “A young lady who had received a below average grade on her paper and had been called functionally illiterate by her teacher explained to me that attending The 51^st Way’s seminars led her to evaluate her strengths and weaknesses,” he says. “Today, she helps other freshman college students with developing their writing skills.”

Mentoring students in the community is not a new endeavor for the UNF senior. He’s been volunteering for the Nike Jaguars Community Scholars Program since 1999, helping high school students prepare for the SAT. “In 2003, he became a program facilitator, where he worked with me to train mentors and develop programming,” says Heather Burk, service-learning coordinator for the UNF Honors Program.  “He has engaged in a wide variety of community service activities from building houses with Habitat for Humanity to befriending a chronically ill child for a weekend at the Boggy Creek Gang Camp.”

Allen also holds the position of director of community sponsorships for Students in Free Enterprise, volunteering at local high schools to educate students on entrepreneurship, trade, and ethics.

Dual-majoring in marketing and international business, Allen is an avid political activist. As president of UNF’s College Democrats, he organizes monthly campus debates, coordinates voter education seminars, and regularly corresponds with government officials. He has campaign experience under his belt as well, having volunteered for three politicians, including mayoral and presidential candidates. While working as a delegate on the Florida Democratic Executive Committee, he represented Jacksonville and attended caucus meetings to speak on issues affecting his community.

Allen’s political involvement doesn’t stop there. He’s been a member of the Citizen Planning Advisory Committee for more than four years. He attends monthly board meetings and serves as a liaison between community groups and the city of Jacksonville. In addition, Allen serves as the political awareness co-chairman for the African American Student Union.

This University Scholars Honor Society president funds approximately half of his education through his job at UNF’s newspaper, The Spinnaker. He pays for the rest of his schooling and living expenses with the more than $20,000 in awards he has received, including two Pathways Scholarships and the BellSouth Minority Scholarship. –LD

Contact Allen at jallen51way@hotmail.com.