One Florida A&M alumnus is getting exactly what he wants.
Former Student Government Association Vice President Calvin Lee Hayes was awarded a 2011 Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Fellowship following a highly competitive nationwide contest.
The Rangel Fellowship, funded by the U.S. Department of State and managed by the Ralph J. Bunche International Affairs Center at Howard University, supports extraordinary individuals who want to pursue a career in the U.S. Foreign Service.
“We are thrilled to have Calvin as part of the program,” said Director of the Rangel Program Patricia Scroggs. “Calvin has already shown impressive leadership, academic accomplishments and integrity in his life. I have no doubt that he will excel in graduate school and make important contributions to promoting global peace and prosperity as a U.S. diplomat.”
Hayes seems to be well equipped for the job with an impressive resume and reputation of being a hard worker.
“I can say this with conviction, that Calvin has the greatest work ethic of anyone I know,” said Miss FAMU Kindall Johnson, who is also Hayes’ girlfriend. “He works so hard on everything that he does and he gives it his all.”
Hayes graduated from FAMU in December 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations. While a student at FAMU, Hayes was very active in student life and took advantage of numerous opportunities to learn and serve both on campus and overseas.
On the path to become a U.S. Diplomat, Hayes will travel plenty, but he is familiar with the lifestyle.
During the summer of 2009, Hayes interned at the United States Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa where he, among other duties, served as a site officer for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to South Africa.
Hayes has won numerous awards and fellowships, some of which include being named the most influential FAMU Student in 2009, being selected as a 2010 Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Scholar, and receiving the FAMU School of Journalism’s Leadership Award in 2010.
“Calvin definitely deserves it,” said Johnson. “This was not something he just happened upon. He’s worked toward it and I think he deserves it more than anyone I know and I’m extremely proud of him.”
The Rangel Fellowship will provide Calvin with approximately $90,000 in benefits over a two-year period to pursue a master’s degree in International Communication at the American University School of International Studies.
As part of the Rangel Program, he will work this summer for the Bureau of Legislative Affairs in the U.S. Department of State. In the summer of 2012, he will serve in a U.S. Embassy to get hands-on experience with U.S. foreign policy and the work of the Foreign Service. Upon graduation, he will become a U.S. diplomat, embarking on a uniquely rewarding and challenging career of service to the U.S. and global communities.