Baton Rouge junior receives Hank Aaron Scholarship at Xavier

Cyrell Roberson, a junior psychology major from Baton Rouge, La., was recently named the recipient of the Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream 4 for 4 Endowed Scholar­ship at Xavier University of Louisiana.

Roberson, a graduate of Baton Rouge Magnet High School, was selected for the award because of his solid academic performance and his commitment to service. He is the son of William and Carol Roberson of Baton Rouge.

“Cyrell Roberson has been in­volved in both campus based and community organizations, said Gia Soublet, assistant vice president for Institutional Advan­ce­ment, of his nomination.

“He has demonstrated a sense of giving back to both the campus and local community. He is well-respected by his peers and serves as a role model and mentor to the younger members of his church family. Mr. Roberson does not seek recognition or accolades for his involvement; rather he exemplifies many of the attributes of the servant leader. This young man demonstrates both merit and need and he is indeed chasing the dream,” she said.

While at Xavier, Roberson has served as Freshman Class and Sophomore Class treasurer, Junior Class Congressman, as a member of the Peer Dean Association, XU Love Mentor Program, and Chaplain for the 100 Black Men’s Collegiate 100. Roberson has been a Horatio Alger Scholar, Papa Johns’ Scholar, Bryant F. Joseph Scholar and on the Dean’s List. He competed in the 2011 Bayou Sales Challenge and was a delegate for the Teach for America New Orleans Student Leaders of Color Summit.

He is a member of the Psycho­logy Club and PreLaw Club at Xavier. He has done volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity, the Martin Luther King Jr. Week Community Plunge, the Hunger Coalition, and served as a tutor. He is active in the City of Love Church in New Orleans and in Baton Rouge at the New Beach Grove Baptist Church.

The scholarship is named for retired baseball legend Hank Aaron, whose Major League Baseball career spanned the years 1954 through 1976.

Aaron is widely considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time. His most notable achievement was breaking the career home run record set by Babe Ruth.

Aaron is one of only four players to have at least 17 seasons with 150 or more hits. He also is in second place in home runs (755) and at-bats (12,364), and in third place in games played (3,298). His Chasing the Dream Foundation has established several scholarships for deserving youngsters who have chosen to pursue their dreams by attending college.

This article was originally published in the November 21, 2011 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper