KAPPA LEAGUERS ACHIEVEMENT SPOTLIGHT
Former Kappa Leaguer Continues to Achieve at Columbia University
By Kevin Burnett
Kappa League. It developed me as a speaker and made me aware of issues, particularly those that affect the black community.” The son of Charles L. Lockett (Beta Upsilon 1983), the current collegiate sophomore joined Kappa League in the 7 th Grade. The Winter Park Kappa League “did a really good job of tell- ing me what was in store” in the years ahead. “When you are in that dynamic with older high school boys, even as a middle schooler, you get the first-hand account of what they're doing in prepar- ing to go to college. The goals you need to be reaching for whether athletic, academic, or extracurricular. I used that information in pursuing academics.” When asked about college, Bradley said, “college was definitely an adjust- ment period coming from Florida to New York. I have never lived in a city before, so that was fun. I also was for the first time in my life really alone. I tried to focus on my studies to help keep me grounded.” Bradley is interested and active in the social justice movement. “I learned there's a difference between being an armchair intellectual and writing papers and actually getting down in the street and doing something. As soon as things hit the wall, I was out there on the street protesting. After the pandemic got bad in Florida, I figured it would be danger- ous and I would be perpetuating harm by being in the streets. I went to doing things online. I began learning more about social justice issues both old and new. I read to get more educated and to make myself a better ally to the cause. I read The New Jim Crow: Mass Incar- ceration in the Age of Color Blindness (Michelle Alexander, publisher The New Press, 10 th ed). That was an excellent book about the systems we are trying to break down. You also cannot underesti-
mate the role of everyday conversations you have in your communities. I see a lot of achievable things happening within our generation that will push us forward ” The Winter Park Kappa League advisors stay in touch with their former Kappa Leaguers. Bradley and others have been back to meet with the current Kappa Leaguers. The advisors followed up the Kappa Leaguers in college to make sure they were protesting in a safe and responsible manner. Bradley concludes with “I can ever overstate the impact Kappa League had on me, in de- velopment in middle school, high school or as a man. It gave me a connection and covered topics school misses on. Especially about socializing us as Black men and understanding the Black experience. I am lucky because Kappa League really picked up on those things. I remember having discussions on the mental health of young Black men and how big an issue that is. I never heard anything about that in school and would not until sociology classes in college. Kappa League was there in school mak- ing sure I was okay. I felt protected and understood by Kappa League so I can never say thank you enough.”
T he 2019 Grand Chapter Leon W. Steward Award winner Mr. Bradley Lockett is a role model and former Kappa League achiever. The former Winter Park (FL) Alumni Chapter Kappa Leaguer gradu- ated Lake Minneola High School in 2019 with an overall GPA of 5.2. His activities in high school were diverse, community canvasser for a 2018 state senate campaign, Future Farmers of America District Secretary, four years of involvement in Student Government As- sociation, three years competing in var- sity rowing, Commended Merit Scholar, National Honor Society member and National AP Scholar. Bradley is currently attending Columbia University studying politi- cal science and considering a career in the Marine Corps. His ultimate goal is graduating law school. He finished his first year participating in Navy ROTC, a member of the University Scholars Program and made the Dean's List with an overall GPA of 3.75. Bradley believes Kappa League helped shape his interest in politics and the military. “A lot is based off the leadership experience that I got in
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