Spring Break
Student interns in NYC for media mogul
Activist adjusts to big city life, meets celebrities
Heather Wilson
Issue date: 2/7/08 Section: LIFE
The flashing lights in midtown Manhattan's fashion district outshine even the brightest lights in downtown Denton and work opportunities are few and far between, but for Dallas junior Marquinn Darthard, the New York fantasy has become a reality.
Darthard's days spent on the NT campus were filled with activism in organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Coalition of Black Organizations and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated. This semester, he is interning under Russell Simmons with the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network.
"It was important for me to be involved on campus because of the networking opportunities and the hands-on training I gained from being a leader in various organizations," Darthard said.
He said he gained important contacts at the October 2006 summit held at NT that led him to Simmons.
"I have always looked up to Russell Simmons because of his activism in the community, and to have the opportunity to work for the summit is my dream, " Darthard said.
Simmons is the chief executive officer and chairman of Rush Communications, one of the top media firms in the world. He is a multi-billionaire who has various business endeavors, including artist management, fashion design, movie production and diamond manufacturing.
The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network is among his nonprofit undertakings. The summit focuses on educating young minds through hip-hop influences and an influx of topics including financial literacy, voter empowerment and strengthening the overall mindset of younger generations. NT alumnus Eric Baker tirelessly worked his network to ensure the summit was able to take place on NT's campus in October 2006.
"Working for the summit has been a dream come true for Marquinn. I can still remember the enthusiasm he had for the event and the amount of respect he showed to everyone," Baker said.
The switch from unhurried southern life to the swift hustle and bustle of New York City, catching trains at Grand Central Station and fighting through crowds to grab a meal at a local McDonald's, has been challenging for Darthard.
"When Marquinn first moved to New York, we were all a little worried, but with the determined mindset and passion he has for the hip-hop culture, we knew he would eventually get the hang of it," Ore City senior Jada Morrow said.
When it comes to office work, Darthard said he is catching on quickly. Each day brings new challenges including participating in conference calls with media moguls, helping coordinate events for the staff, watching video cameras invade his office to film Kimora Lee Simmons' show Life in the Fab Lane and having direct communication with celebrities such as Lisa Ray, Miss Jade and Valeisha Butterfield.
"Although it is still all new, I have fallen in love with this place. The adjustment was tough but now I know… that I am cut out for New York," Darthard said. "You know what they say: 'If you can make it here you can make it anywhere.'"
Darthard's days spent on the NT campus were filled with activism in organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Coalition of Black Organizations and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated. This semester, he is interning under Russell Simmons with the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network.
"It was important for me to be involved on campus because of the networking opportunities and the hands-on training I gained from being a leader in various organizations," Darthard said.
He said he gained important contacts at the October 2006 summit held at NT that led him to Simmons.
"I have always looked up to Russell Simmons because of his activism in the community, and to have the opportunity to work for the summit is my dream, " Darthard said.
Simmons is the chief executive officer and chairman of Rush Communications, one of the top media firms in the world. He is a multi-billionaire who has various business endeavors, including artist management, fashion design, movie production and diamond manufacturing.
The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network is among his nonprofit undertakings. The summit focuses on educating young minds through hip-hop influences and an influx of topics including financial literacy, voter empowerment and strengthening the overall mindset of younger generations. NT alumnus Eric Baker tirelessly worked his network to ensure the summit was able to take place on NT's campus in October 2006.
"Working for the summit has been a dream come true for Marquinn. I can still remember the enthusiasm he had for the event and the amount of respect he showed to everyone," Baker said.
The switch from unhurried southern life to the swift hustle and bustle of New York City, catching trains at Grand Central Station and fighting through crowds to grab a meal at a local McDonald's, has been challenging for Darthard.
"When Marquinn first moved to New York, we were all a little worried, but with the determined mindset and passion he has for the hip-hop culture, we knew he would eventually get the hang of it," Ore City senior Jada Morrow said.
When it comes to office work, Darthard said he is catching on quickly. Each day brings new challenges including participating in conference calls with media moguls, helping coordinate events for the staff, watching video cameras invade his office to film Kimora Lee Simmons' show Life in the Fab Lane and having direct communication with celebrities such as Lisa Ray, Miss Jade and Valeisha Butterfield.
"Although it is still all new, I have fallen in love with this place. The adjustment was tough but now I know… that I am cut out for New York," Darthard said. "You know what they say: 'If you can make it here you can make it anywhere.'"
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