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Volume No. 1 Issue No. 33 - Wednesday, December 11, 2002 |
Son of Dominica Receives Honorary Degree
by: Elizabeth Adrien
NBC's award-winning anchor and reporter, Maurice DuBois was one of two recipients for this year's Honorary Degree, Doctor of Humane Letters from Medgar Evers College, of The City University of New York held on December 4, 2002.
His career started in 1987, as a desk assistant at KING-TV in Seattle, Washington. Known for his charismatic style in the New York Metropolitan area, Mr. DuBois came from WFLD-TV in Chicago, where he was an anchor and reporter from 1994.
For four years, DuBois worked for KCRA-TV in Sacramento, California as an anchor and reporter. Since 1997, Mr. DuBois has co-anchored Today In New York on NBC, the station's number-one early morning newscast which airs weekdays from 5-7 am.
Mr. DuBois is the recipient of numerous journalism awards, including the Associated Press, and New York and Chicago Associations of Black Journalists. He is also an Emmy Awardee for Outstanding Morning News Program for News Channel 4/Today In New York.
Some of DuBois' commitment to community development include membership with the board of directors for the North side Center for Childhood Development; motivational speaker at schools, colleges and businesses; and membership with the Jazz Association at Lincoln Center. For two consecutive years, Mr. Maurice DuBois served as Master of Ceremony to Medgar Evers College Gala Award Dinner.
During his gratitude address after receiving the honorary doctoral degree, Mr. DuBois took time to reflect on the influence of his father's undergraduate ceremony. "I doubt that he was aware on that day, of the profound impact he was having not only on myself, but my brother." Maurice DuBois was only three years at that time. He went on to tell the audience of the two lessons learnt that from that day:
At least in our family (inset), college is not optional. It is what you do. It is part of life. It is a manifestation, recognition of your education that began at least in my case at the age of three when my mom taught me how to read. There was a clear path that led to the cap and gown. That was the impression that was made. It is just what you do.
The value of hard work and perseverance. Prior to my dad getting that degree, it wasn't something that happened over night. This is something that happened because he put in the time. This guy who I watched get up in the morning, everyday, go to work, a business office in &Long Island. At the end of his day, he would get into his car and drive to Nassau County and go to College. He would not just go to Hofstra. He would go to C. W. Post to get not just his Associates, but also his Masters.
Though the sound system functioned well, the audience sat halfway off the chairs as Mr. Maurice Dubois continued his four minutes speech. For he was following the five Bs of speech making, Be Brief Brother, Be Brief! DuBois continues:
"All this in a foreign country! Did I mention that he and my mom came here from Dominica (Applause) in the Caribbean?( Applause). Dominica in the house! (Applause) It is a very small island. We are very proud. 67,000-70,00 people"
Lessons which go beyond the halls of Medgar Evers College, and identifiable to the audience.
The student population at Medgar Evers is predominately of Caribbean descendants. The College also serves a large population of working students with families. When you least expect, great things happen. DuBois echoes that hard work and values bring lots of blessings, and breaks will happen: something that he learnt from his parents.
In the end, Maurice DuBois wants the College to know that when you honor me, you honor my family, and what we stand for and our values, and he promised to keep sharing his blessings every chance he gets.
Maurice Dubois is the son of Maurice Dubois Sr.of Portsmouth and Ramona (formerly George) of Roseau. Medgar Evers College is one of twenty colleges under the auspices of The City University of New York. The College was founded in 1969, and named after slain civil rights activist Medgar Wiley Evers. For information on Medgar Evers College, log unto www.mec.cuny.edu.
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