Printed on a magnet in Jason Hamilton’s office, this quote has become one of his life mantras. As executive director of Arkansas Commitment — a nonprofit program that works to identify talented African-American high school students and enhance their education, careers, and social leadership skills — Hamilton is shepherding change, both in our community and in the world.
A native of Nashville, Tenn., Hamilton is the only child of what he describes as “an average middle-class working family.” “My father has worked in the education field for most of his career, and my mom has been an administrative assistant and office manager,” he said. “A month before my high school graduation my brother was born (yes, he’s now a freshman in high school). I have a four-year-old princess daughter, Nailah.”
Hamilton graduated from Overton High School and then obtained his undergraduate degree in Spanish from Sewanee: The University of the South. “I started in the pre-med program, but quickly dropped in the first two weeks of my sophomore year, as organic chemistry showed me the error of my ways,” he said. Hamilton later graduated from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he earned his Executive M.B.A.
After college, he spent several years living in South Africa, learning South African law and studying African culture, history, and society. Back in the States in 2001, he began his career in college admissions at Sewanee, most recently serving as the school’s director of admission.
He learned of the Arkansas Commitment program in 2001, and throughout his career recruited the program’s graduates to the institutions where he worked. In July 2008, Hamilton took the helm as executive director of Arkansas Commitment.
Founded in 1999, Arkansas Commitment helps academically talented African-American high school students excel beyond the realm of high school. “This is achieved by standardized test preparation, an extensive college search process, a selective internship program, and numerous workshops and events related to continuing one’s education, leadership, and life skills, conducted by community and business leaders,” Hamilton said.
Q&A With Jason Hamilton
What do you love most about your position as director of Arkansas Commitment?
I love being able to make a difference in a student and their family’s lives. Working with ninth graders through seniors, I help point them in the right direction and give them insight and support from an academic and personal perspective. To witness the growth and transformation of students as they realize their potential in the class, in the community, and as leaders is what drives me daily.
What is your hope for students who complete the program?
The goal of the program is for students to reach their full potential. We want alumni of the program to obtain a great education, gain wonderful and productive experiences, and return to be leaders in their professions and communities. We know that not all members will return to Arkansas after college to pursue their careers; however, we endeavor to develop a sense of responsibility to their home state and community.
How might local businesses and leaders become more involved with this program?
The program is always looking for sponsors and partners for community service projects, mentors, as well as potential funding. Businesses and leaders could take a moment of their time to come and talk to our students during one of their meetings, serve as mentors and inspiration to students through informal meetings and conversations, and invite members of the program to events, performances, etc.
In order to provide networking and professional development opportunities, the program has a small, select internship program sponsored by various businesses. Due to a limited number of sponsors, however, only some of the graduating seniors are able to participate.
The program hopes to connect each graduating senior with an internship option in the future, but this would entail more businesses being willing and able to participate. All interested parties can contact me or Virgil Miller, senior vice president at Metropolitan National Bank, and partner liaison and coordinator of our internship program.
Arkansas Commitment provides a number of services to our students, such as PSAT and ACT test prep and college tours for example, free of charge. Just like any other business or organization, resources bind us. Additional funds would allow the program to provide more services for our students, reach a larger group of constituents, and further engage the business community in the area’s youth and education. These same students are potential employees and leaders for businesses and the state.
What was your most memorable Halloween costume?
When I was seven years old, I decided that I was going to be Count Dracula. It was all planned out, as I had the black cape, face paint, fake blood, and even the fang teeth. Being an inquisitive child, I wondered how the dog would react to the Dracula teeth.
So I put on the fake teeth, growled a little at the dog, and flashed my fake teeth just like Dracula did on TV. The dog was terrified to say the least, and in a defense mechanism she growled back, jumped up and bit my lip. My mother freaked out as I stood there covering my mouth and screaming. We rushed to the hospital, and 30-plus stitches later I had the best Dracula mustache to match the outfit.