from: Chris Roegge
A Thank You Letter From Stivenson Jean-Baptiste’s Host Family
I am writing in response to the Feb. 6 article, “Stivenson Jean-Baptiste Receives Outstanding Black Student Award.” I am Stivenson’s “American Dad” and I want to publicly thank the administration, faculty, staff, and students of Parkland College for your huge role in this amazing journey. It is impossible to adequately describe either the circumstances of Stivenson’s life in Haiti when we first met or the figurative distance he has traveled since. Let’s just say this: the same guy who was too shy and nervous to go unaccompanied into his first student orientation session now presents at those same events.
I appreciate but do not wholly deserve Stivenson’s kind words about me in the article. The blessings of this journey have far outweighed the burdens, and both have been shared equally with Stivenson’s “American Mom,” my wife Judy. Our own children are long ago grown and gone, along with most of our skills at mentoring young adults. So, it has been a great relief to be able to turn Stivenson over to Parkland College and watch him grow in so many ways.
So again, THANK YOU Parkland! Among your countless success stories, I hope this one will always remain near the top of the list.
Chris Roegge
Urbana, Illinois
