The Spring 2021 Freshman Convocation will be observed on Thursday, February 11. Like last fall’s virtual gathering of new Bronx Community College students, this official launch of the semester will be in the form of a pre-recorded video released online. But it will include familiar features from pre-COVID convocations — including an inspiring keynote speech, this time from BCC alumnus Darnell Reed, Class of ‘16.

Mr. Reed went from homelessness to the BCC paralegal program to City College to his current position as a litigation support specialist, here in the Bronx. Don’t miss his inspiring story and words of welcome from other members of the BCC family.

Darnell Reed
(BCC Class of ’16)

Today Bronx Community College alumnus Darnell Reed (Class of ’16) is a litigation specialist with a prestigious law firm. But not too long ago, he was facing joblessness and homelessness. On February 11, 2021, Mr. Reed will share that remarkable journey as keynote speaker of the Spring Freshman Convocation.

After much struggle, Reed landed a job at the law office of Stroock, Stroock, & Lavan. “At the Stroock law firm, I was exposed to the legal environment, work with legal staff, paralegals, and attorneys. As time went by, I learned the profession’s ins and outs?”

Mr., Reed credits his career at BCC to the 44^th president of the United States.

“One evening, while watching the state of the union address, Barack Obama praised community colleges for preparing people for good jobs. With my exposure to the legal profession, my newfound love of learning, and the encouragement to aim higher by those I worked with at the firm, I enrolled at Bronx Community College to major in legal studies.”

During his time on campus, Mr. Reed was the paralegal society president and joined the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, He won the national Coca-Cola Community-Academic Team Silver scholarship, the Phi Theta Kappa All-New York Academic Team honors and the Guttman scholarship, He graduated from BCC with honors in 2016 and was accepted into the Skadden Arps Honors Program in Legal Studies at the City College of New York. There he earned a B.A. in political science, graduating Suma Cum Laude.

Mr. Reed is now attending The City University School of Law working on his master’s degree. He is also a board member for two Bronx nonprofits that feed the hungry and work with young people.

“I would not have been able to attain what I have now or what I will have in the future without Bronx Community College’s help,” says Darnell Reed. Hear the rest of his story at the Freshman Convocation.

Thursday, February 11, 2021. Online beginning at 8:00 a.m.