WATCH: Mahershala Ali ’96 in Conversation with Saint Mary’s Students
Insights and inspiration from the January visit by the Academy Award–winning actor. More important for these students, he was the first in his family to go to college. Hear why he says that’s a gift.
Saint Mary’s College welcomed back Academy Award–winning actor and alumnus Mahershala Ali ’96 on January 15 for a visit focused less on spectacle and more on connection. During a full day of gatherings with members of the High Potential (HP) Program and Moonlight Scholars, Ali spent the day in active conversation: asking students their stories and interests, and asking thoughtful questions about their families and futures.
“He talked about his story and the experiences he had on this campus,” said Chameeta Denton, MA ’10, Director of the High Potential Program. “When students saw him as person, not some famous celebrity, they felt like they could see themselves in him.”
The Moonlight Scholarship, which Ali helped establish in 2015, continues that mission by providing crucial financial support to first-generation and low-income scholars in the HP Program. Your support helps ensure more students have the opportunity to thrive in an environment that values belonging as well as achievement.
LISTEN to the student-produced podcast with Mahershala Ali ’96.
MAKE A GIFT to support of the Moonlight Scholarship help open doors for generation students.
