Spring Break
Student makes impact on campus
Aaron Montoya
Issue date: 8/6/08 Section: News
To be involved in the Orientation program, students must maintain a GPA higher than 2.6 so that they can be considered positive role models to other students, incoming and current. At one point Blake was close to the cut-off, but he was able to improve.
"[The] work that he put in and [the] focus on his academics was really impressive," Wenzler said.
Wenzler also praised Blake's efforts in coordinating Black History Month events in February.
"He looks for those opportunities to improve his leadership development," Wenzler said. "So many people are aware of Marlon and the work he does."
This awareness showed itself in the media coverage of Black History Month at CSU, and since Blake played such an important role, he was often the star.
"I'm not about this glitz and glamour," Blake said of the coverage. "[But] it's nice to be recognized for what you do," he said.
Blake knows what it's like to not have many opportunities.
"We never had money at all," he said of his family while he was growing up. "Dirt poor, dirt poor … that's what we were."
Now, he's "addicted to money" he said, although he tries to do positive things with it. "If I have the opportunity to spend money in a good way I'll do it," Blake said. He said that isn't really a choice for him.
Before coming to CSU, Blake spent 18 years in Hattiesburg, Miss., where he was born three minutes after his twin brother Marcus to their mother Margaret Tart.
Tart, 63, was a big role model for Blake.
On June 3, 1995, when she was 50 and Blake was seven, she broke her ankle on the sidewalk outside their home. She hasn't been able to stand for more than 30 minutes at a time since.
Because of her injury, Tart was unable to secure any kind of job that required her to be on her feet. She didn't go to college and was left with very limited options.
She was a single mother and was repeatedly denied disability compensation for six years after her accident until 2001. Blake said he won't eat string beans or corn to this day because it reminds him of those hard times when all the family could afford were cheap non-perishables.
"[The] work that he put in and [the] focus on his academics was really impressive," Wenzler said.
Wenzler also praised Blake's efforts in coordinating Black History Month events in February.
"He looks for those opportunities to improve his leadership development," Wenzler said. "So many people are aware of Marlon and the work he does."
This awareness showed itself in the media coverage of Black History Month at CSU, and since Blake played such an important role, he was often the star.
"I'm not about this glitz and glamour," Blake said of the coverage. "[But] it's nice to be recognized for what you do," he said.
Blake knows what it's like to not have many opportunities.
"We never had money at all," he said of his family while he was growing up. "Dirt poor, dirt poor … that's what we were."
Now, he's "addicted to money" he said, although he tries to do positive things with it. "If I have the opportunity to spend money in a good way I'll do it," Blake said. He said that isn't really a choice for him.
Before coming to CSU, Blake spent 18 years in Hattiesburg, Miss., where he was born three minutes after his twin brother Marcus to their mother Margaret Tart.
Tart, 63, was a big role model for Blake.
On June 3, 1995, when she was 50 and Blake was seven, she broke her ankle on the sidewalk outside their home. She hasn't been able to stand for more than 30 minutes at a time since.
Because of her injury, Tart was unable to secure any kind of job that required her to be on her feet. She didn't go to college and was left with very limited options.
She was a single mother and was repeatedly denied disability compensation for six years after her accident until 2001. Blake said he won't eat string beans or corn to this day because it reminds him of those hard times when all the family could afford were cheap non-perishables.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 3
Peace Love
posted 8/09/08 @ 12:20 AM MST
Sorry I could not finish this journalistic masterpiece about a God among us with a C average.
I had to go and watch some paint dry.
Bdygard
Craig Hawley
posted 8/19/08 @ 5:40 PM MST
Come on Peace Love , you know I love your biting satire and comedic posts , but Dave has a good point.
C average or not it is nice to see the kid do well. (Continued…)
Post a Comment