Inaugural Ted Rogers MBA Black Graduate Leadership Award recipients announced

Morgan Blackett 

Current President of the Black Business Graduate Student Association

What does it mean to you to win this award?

This is a tremendous honour to win this award. I pursued my Bachelor of Commerce at the Ted Rogers School where I majored in Marketing Management. In my first year as an undergraduate, I set a goal to always give my best effort and try to add value to anything I am a part of. I had no idea where this journey would take me, but I knew I wanted to make the most of the opportunity. I got involved in student group activities and gave my all in my academics. This award means so much to me because it has allowed me to further my education and give back to the Ted Rogers School as I pursue my MBA. 

What advice do you have for fellow/prospective Black students?

The best advice I can give to my fellow Black students is that the greatest knowledge you will ever have is knowledge of self. Know that you are great. Know that you are a success. Know that you add value wherever you go. Always walk in alignment with that knowledge and understanding and build with like minded individuals. We face many obstacles, and we will face more in the future. But as you go through your student experience, and life, you will overcome them and you will add value because that is who you are.

Jacob Kamps

What does it mean to you to win this award?

I am a graduate of the Business Management program at the Ted Rogers School and my experience in the field of business has entailed working in marketing and sales over the past five years.

I am honoured to have received such a prestigious award because it provides me with more opportunities to accomplish some of my goals in school and my community, such as volunteering. I am proud to be acknowledged in this way and happy that this scholarship will give me a greater opportunity to pay for my education and make me marketable in business. As a young black man, I believe I have worked hard to be a good citizen and represent Toronto Metropolitan University positively.

I have been a member of the men’s hockey community at TMU for the past five years. I have also had a chance to mentor and instill change in some of Toronto's at-risk communities through my volunteer work with young people, and have done additional volunteer work through my involvement with the Cure Cancer Classic Charity fundraiser. 

Receiving this award shows other marginalized individuals that they can be successful and accomplish goals that may have seemed impossible without the additional financial support and acknowledgement.

By influencing the community through my positivity, hopefulness, mentoring and strong leadership, I can continue to enhance the positive relationships TMU needs with its community, especially our BIPOC community. I feel it is my duty as a Black man to strongly influence working towards eliminating systemic, race-based disparities.

What advice do you have for fellow/prospective Black students?

My advice to other prospective Black students is to have faith in their determination and resilience, actively immerse themselves in community initiatives and continue to lead and inspire others.