This article originally appeared in the SPRING 2019 issue of The District.

Kendall Rogers, Morristown High School class of 2017, is a junior at Bowdoin College.  As a religion major and member of Bowdoin's men's lacrosse team, he no longer lives in Morristown.  However, Kendall's Morris School District (MSD) upbringing lives on in him, particularly the MSD goal that "Graduates of the Morris School District will be equipped to live a principled and productive life where they see their connections and responsibilities to local and global communities."

Kendall forged one such connection with Harlem youth last summer through his volunteerism and mentorship with Harlem Lacrosse.  He is proud to incorporate his love of the sport with his passion for teaching to positively impact minorities. As an athlete of color, Kendall also mentors peer athletes at Bowdoin through the Athletes of Color Coalition.  He credits his experience in the Morris School District with this advocacy. "Morristown High School prepared me to stand up to things that don't embody a welcoming experience for everyone. . . it allowed me to see that not all experience or see things in the same way."

The Rogers family has deep roots in the Morristown community.  His father Robert has led the Church of God in Christ For All Saints for 24 years, his grandfather, for 30 years before that.  Kendall started playing lacrosse in town as a third grader.  He credits his experience as a Morristown High School lacrosse player and two-time captain with fostering his volunteerism.  The family culture of the team, led by Coach Jeff Bigas at the time, encouraged giving back to the community. He still joins former teammates in Morristown, every Thanksgiving to distribute food to those in need. 

Kendall encourages Morristown High School students to seek personally meaningful volunteer work, not just for college applications, but to truly connect with the community. He also highly recommends that all students take advantage of the broad array of classes offered at Morristown High School, from Advanced Placement sciences and math to humanities and social studies to literature and arts.

"You never know where you will find your passion.  It could be on the field, in the classroom, or with a community organization.  I entered Bowdoin as a neuroscience major, but after I took one religion class, I realized I found another path.  I encourage all students to explore many options to find their path."