College lauds youth mentor's education inspiration efforts
St. Clair College bestowed an honorary degree on local coach and youth mentor Mehari Hagos during the 56th annual Winter Convocation ceremony.
Students from the health sciences, community studies, skilled trades, business and information technology, and media arts and design programs also received their diplomas and degrees during Thursday's ceremony.
Hagos, executive director the MH100 Boot Camp, received an honorary honours bachelor of applied arts in social justice and legal studies degree.
“Mehari Hagos epitomizes the type of person who merits the sort of recognition associated with an honorary degree,” said St. Clair president Patti France.
“For over a decade, he has dedicated his life — personally and professionally — to mentorship, advocacy, the delivery of life-lessons, and inspiring the youth of our community. His personality is the definition of the word `educator,' so the college is elated to present him with a degree which symbolizes that.”
When Hagos was a child, his family moved to Windsor to escape violence in Eritrea.
The college said his family settled in the Glengarry neighbourhood, where Mehari “eventually witnessed family members and friends descend into the dark atmospheres of drugs and crime.”
The college said he was on the cusp of falling into that lifestyle himself, before finding “salvation” through YMCA mentorship.
In his early 20s, Hagos founded MH100 Boot Camp, initially serving his home base in Glengarry.
“MH100” represents the 100 days that preteen and teen members spend in the after-school organization under the guidance of Hagos.
They participate in sports and fitness activities, financial literary courses, assorted “life lessons” and female empowerment exercises.
Mehari also conducts tours of the college and University of Windsor, encouraging his program participants to pursue education.