Scholar is a role model for others

The first time I saw Keith Coleman, he was a little fellow with a big smile coming into the sanctuary of Rising Star Baptist Church.
Over the years, I had the privilege of watching him grow into a student-athlete at Ursuline High School, and mature spiritually in his faith. He then had the wisdom to apply to my alma mater -- Ohio State University.
A few weeks ago, his mother, Kim Harris, gave me a phone call and told me Keith had achieved a major milestone.
The OSU Department of Recreational Sports announced that Keith, a student facility manager at the university's Recreation and Physical Activity Center, had received the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, which includes a $30,000-per-year stipend and full tuition for three years, through the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Keith, a fourth-year civil engineering student, is only the third person and first black American to receive the award in the history of the OSU civil engineering department.
The NSF award is given to about 900 out of 11,000 applicants across the country. The recipient can use this award at any school in the country.
Well-formulated goals
To be considered for the award, Keith, whose father is Perry Coleman of Youngstown, had to complete a rigorous application process. Part of the process, he said, was submitting an essay discussing the proposed research he plans to conduct while at MIT.
"After completing a nine-month master's of engineering program in high performance structures, I plan to use the remainder of my funding to pursue a doctorate in civil engineering structures," Keith said.
He plans to work alongside his MIT professors as well as his Ohio State undergraduate faculty adviser, Dr. Oliver G. McGee, in order to complete his doctorate.
"I owe my receiving this award to many people, one being my faculty adviser, Dr. McGee," Keith said. "He played an essential role in helping me form my ideas for the essay."
But the good news didn't stop there for my young friend.
Second fellowship
Keith also received the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship, another prestigious three-year scholarship given to graduate students.
This award also includes full-paid tuition; however, the recipient receives $30,500 the first year, $31,000 the second, and $31,500 the final year. The recipient also can use this award at any school in the country.
"These two awards will provide me with at least five years of funding," Keith added.
Keith said he is thrilled to have received this award and hopes it will inspire other young black students to pursue similar goals.
"My greatest goal in life is to be a role model for kids like myself," he said. "I want them to see that academic success is indeed possible if you work hard, keep your trust in God, and stay focused. Never give up on your goals, and use your failures as learning experiences."
High achievers
His siblings are also doing well in their academic pursuits.
Keith's twin, Kevin, is majoring in art at OSU and will be transferring to Georgia State University, where he will finish his final year and receive a bachelor of fine arts degree.
His sister, Tamarah, a sophomore at The Rayen School, is a member of the Youngstown Connection, the polished song-and-dance troupe whose members are from the city schools. The Youngstown Connection recently returned from a trip to China where they performed. Tamarah also has been active in the children's choir and youth mime group at church.
The Coleman kids are prime examples of the positive things that can happen to young people who receive support from their parents, relatives and the church.
Too often, many children in the black community lack that kind of support. But it is possible to overcome the odds, and I know Keith will stick to his goal to be a role model to other black kids who have a dream and a desire to become successful.
ebrown@vindy.com