Dr. Samuel Betances spoke at the McNair Scholars Summer Research Institute Closing Banquet on June 27, 2008.
The event was held at the Crimson Event Center in Folger Hall from 6:00–8:30 p.m.
Dr. Betances has merged eloquence and teaching skills to deliver his powerful message with conviction: "It matters less where we are from; what really matters is where we are going. Accept our diversity. Embrace it. Make it work for you. Harness the rainbow." This great motivator was not supposed to make it. Out of the bowels of inner city poverty, stigma of minority group status, violence, welfare and illiteracy in two languages, Samuel Betances arose. With strong spiritual convictions and a passion for reading, he has taken the hard lessons from the mean streets of life and reshaped them into his personal vision. Samuel Betances embarked on a journey from dropping out of school to a Doctorate from Harvard University. Today, America's foremost communicator on the challenge of casting away barriers to success is an honored Professor Emeritus, a consultant to U.S. Presidents, CEOs, managers,
community groups, clergy members, educators, and a role model for youth.
