Zemini Astatkie
Morgan State University
A native of Prince George's County in Maryland and graduate of Northwestern High School in Hyattsville. Zemini Astatkie is currently a sophomore at Morgan State University majoring in Political Science. She has a 3.4 cumulative grade point average. In addition to her academic success, Zemini is a member of Morgan's Magnificent Marching Machine, Symphonic Band, Caribbean Student Association, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. She worked in Annapolis, Maryland as a legislative aide for Senator Ulysses Currie and an intern for Senator Jill P. Carter. Through these positions she has conducted bill research, served on the senatorial scholarship committee, and corresponded with constituents. During a month long study abroad program to Germany, Zemini studied "Politics in the European Union". Currently Zemini participates in voter registration drives, charity fundraising events and volunteering at homeless shelters and food pantries. She is the coordinator of Morgan's KUUMBA tutoring and mentoring program, and works with children identified as underachievers. Zemini is innovative, dedicated, intelligent, professional and passionate about improving the lives of others in her community.
Personal Statement
I first realized my passion for child welfare and civil injustices at a young age where I directly witnessed the disadvantages of the students in my neighborhood. Upon arriving in Baltimore to attend Morgan State University my freshman year, I realized the dire need for the basic necessities in the surrounding public elementary, middle, and high schools. I also became familiar with the legislation fighting for heat, air conditioning and clean water after working for a State Senator. I made it my mission to be a voice and an aide to the youth of Baltimore City. I became active on Morgan's campus and in Baltimore City by partnering with campus organizations to lobby legislation, donate supplies and volunteer with tutoring at the schools. I also decided that in order to fully commit to the cause of this form of civil injustice I would have to directly make a change in the culture of Baltimore City. I followed through with this by becoming the Coordinator of the KUUMBA program which is designed to mentor and tutor Baltimore youth about the importance of education, the value of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and how as students they could make a difference.
