As the Tucker Foundation celebrates its 50th Anniversary this week, Jeff Garrett '02 stands out from the crowd. A former Dartmouth football player, Garrett is the Tucker intern for the Urban Summer Program, a service project dedicated to engaging students from multi-racial, multi-ethnic and multi-income urban communities.
A native of St. Paul, Minn., Garrett said his desire to be a positive influence in his community drives him to be active within the Tucker Foundation. As an intern, Garrett dedicates 10 hours per week to the Foundation in addition to his full course load.
"I recruit new interns, advertise, organize info sessions, answer questions and interview candidates," Garrett said.
The Urban Summer Program works with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Newark, N.J., to get children involved in personal and educational development, cultural enrichment and social recreation.
Garrett's current internship comes after spending last summer teaching and coordinating programs at the Newark Boys and Girls Club.
"I learned so much in such a short time. It was an intense experience, and not always fun," Garrett said, "but I met many incredible people, and I left Newark a better person than I was when I arrived."
Garrett's relaxed manner and the confidence with which he spoke of his work exemplifies his love of community service, according to his peers among the student body and the administration. At the Tucker Foundation, Garrett is known for his dedication to issues of urban development, civil equity and education.
"Jeff is enthusiastic, committed and an outstanding model for focusing on education. He is able to work with young people, and understands the challenges of the system," said Stuart Lord, dean of the Tucker Foundation.
Micah Dortch '05 described Garrett as a "gentle giant" who "goes out of his way to help people." He agreed with Lord that Garrett is "a role model to younger kids."
After graduation, Garrett plans to attend Harvard's Graduate School of Education, pursuing a master's degree with a concentration in social studies. While he hopes to teach civics and American history at the high school level, Garrett has also considered the possibility of becoming administrator or superintendent in a public school system.
Although he attended a magnet public elementary school in St. Paul, Garrett's high-school years were spent in a regular public school where he first became involved in community service through student council.
"I didn't really like my high school at first," Garrett said. As the only freshman player on the varsity football team, one of the reasons he first became involved in student council was to relieve a feeling of estrangement.
"My older sister, who was at the high school, suggested that I run for student council," Garrett said. "That was really the thing that got me involved in the school and got me to build a lot of relationships with administrators and teachers. Once I got involved in school, it started to feel more like my school."
Since high school, Garrett's dedication to community service has translated into his college activities, with an expanded commitment.
As a member of the football team at Dartmouth, Garrett volunteered his free time to community outreach with school children in the Upper Valley.
He also serves on the executive board of MOSAIC, a student-run multicultural organization.
"I am dedicated to serving the communities to which I belong," Garrett said. "Tucker is an organization with the money, resources and the influence to give students both opportunities to be active contributors to communities throughout the world, as well as incredible chances to experience new and wonderful things."
"The way I see it," he said, "what possible reason would I have for not wanting to be involved with an organization like that?"
