Derrick Frazier

Temp__profile_photo

"I would take great pleasure in knowing that I am helping to create the type of world in which I want to live."

  • Alumni of: 2003 Graduate Scholarship Program
  • Resides: Little Rock, AR
  • Hometown: Buzzards Bay, MA
  • Age: 31

Biography

Derrick Frazier points to an epiphany he had as a 12-year-old chorister with the American Boychoir as the main motivation that drives him toward social entrepreneurship. At that young age, while performing in Boston Symphony Hall, he concluded that though "all performers may harbor 'good intentions' . . . what truly matters is their ability to deliver excellent results."

Derrick's travels with the boychoir through 30 states and seven foreign countries opened his eyes to numerous social ills, and as he grew up, he became fascinated by the many organizations working to solve them. His dream: to become one of the "social entrepreneurs who can dream new solutions, find ways to utilize resources more effectively, and inspire people from every background and profession to assume responsibility for addressing the social problems plaguing their world."

Derrick's long list of activities and honors includes internships with Ashoka: Innovators for the Public; the Progressive Policy Institute; the Massachusetts State House; and the U.S. Congress. He volunteered at the National Gathering for Social Entrepreneurs; performed community service under a variety of settings, including his tenure as an Eagle Scout; and served as a lifeguard and swimming instructor, both professionally and on a volunteer basis. Also, he was one of 24 fellows selected from over 300 applicants by the United Leaders' Institute for Political

Service, and currently is one of 40 fellows selected from over 750 applicants by the Institute for Humane Studies' Charles G. Koch Summer Fellow Program.

Derrick tested his ability to make positive social change when he founded the 19 Credit Campaign, designed to raise American University's course load ceiling for financially limited Honors students from 17 to 19 credits. (Students earning more than 17 credits face large tuition premiums, which Derrick states is "contrary . . . to the concept of providing equal scholastic opportunity regardless of one's socioeconomic background.") Moving this proposal to its final stage of review by the university's finance committee required consulting stakeholders, conducting a student survey, researching tuition schemes, writing a formal proposal, building coalitions, and lobbying a variety of departments within the university administration. Derrick's proposal has been endorsed by the Student Confederation, the Dean of Academic Affairs, the Student Honors Board, and many others.

Other Scholars Like Derrick

Us_ccc_thumb

Daniel Martin
Undergraduate Transfer Scholar
Indiana University

0y0f1167_thumb

Miles Goldman
College Scholar
Brown University

Formichelli_thumb

Michael Formichelli
Graduate Scholar
Boston College

P7080529_edited_thumb

Zoe Worrell
Graduate Scholar
University of Maryland