MGCCC student has eventful summer

A visit with the nation’s commander in chief, earning a prestigious scholarship, winning a national volunteer award and spending a month in Germany; it’s not exactly a typical summer for most students. However, Deeneaus Polk isn’t your average student. At 20 years old, the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College student has already done more than most people do in a whole lifetime.

“It’s been a whirlwind,” Polk said.

Hail from the chief

Before President George W. Bush made history on May 11 by becoming the first sitting U.S. president to deliver the commencement address at a community college, he had some business to take care of on the tarmac at Gulfport/Biloxi International Airport. He had to meet Polk, winner of the President’s Freedom Corps Volunteer Award. It’s an honor given to people who make volunteering and helping others a priority. According to USAfreedomcorps.com, “President Bush created USA Freedom Corps (USAFC) to build on the countless acts of service, sacrifice, and generosity that followed September 11^th.”

Polk definitely fits the mold. As a high school student, he volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club of Jackson County and served as a mentor in the Big Brother/Big Sister program in the Pascagoula School District. As a student at the college’s Jackson County Campus, Polk is involved in several campus organizations. After Hurricane Katrina ravaged South Mississippi, he gutted houses destroyed by the storm and helped build storage sheds for families living in FEMA trailers. All that hard work earned him some quality time with the leader of the free world.

 “They called me and told me I was going to meet the president,” Polk said. “At first, I dismissed it. Then I realized it was actually going to happen.”

Polk said President Bush shook his hand, and thanked him for all of his hard work. But the moment that really left an impression on him happened after they left the airport and headed to the Mississippi Coast Coliseum.

“When we got to the Coliseum, the Secret Service wanted to keep him away from the crowd,” Polk said. “But President Bush saw me and my mom, and he came over and took a picture with us. It was very cool, because he didn’t really have to do that. It was truly an honor to meet him.”

Deutschland!

Deeneaus, or “D” as he’s called, was able to spend some time in Germany as an exchange student during high school. This summer he got a chance to go back to Europe, and the timing couldn’t have been better. D is a soccer fan, and this year Germany hosted the 2006 World Cup. Needless to say, D felt right at home in the midst of thousands of soccer crazed fans from all over the globe.

 “I always wanted to go back to Germany,” D said. “Being there during the World Cup was awesome. It’s like the Super Bowl, except it goes on for two months. I went to a few games. The people are all rooting against each other, but at the same time there’s a comradeship in the crowd about the whole event. It’s amazing how much they get into the matches.”

D said the highlight for him was a game he attended that featured the German team in action.

“I’m fluent in German,” D said. “So during the match, the crowd started chanting in German ‘Deutchland! Detuchland!’ I chimed right in with them. It was a lot of fun.”

As for the poor showing by Team U.S.A., D said it’s time for American soccer officials to adapt to the European way of doing things.

“We need a better youth development system,” D said. “I think we also need to get a foreign coach who knows how European teams train and play. Until then, we’re going to keep losing to them”

Off the field, D said he noticed the sociological differences between the U.S. and Europe.

“Being there this summer, I noticed more responsibility is placed on their youth,” D said. He also found out on his way back to the U.S. that he’d won the $1,000 Coca-Cola Scholarship designed to empower today’s youth.

“That was a nice homecoming present,” D said.

International man of mystery?

D, as you can imagine, has several long-term goals. First, he wants to broaden his international horizons by applying for the Ole Miss Mandarin Program, an intensive new major offered at The University of Mississippi, where students can learn the complex Chinese language.

“I love experiencing and learning about different cultures,” D said. “With today’s international business and global markets expanding, knowing as many different languages will be important. I want to go to graduate school and major in international business.”

But first, D plans to enjoy his sophomore year at Gulf Coast. He said the best part is going to school, working with his mom at Ocean Springs Hospital and watching the Gulf Coast press on in the aftermath of Katrina.

“Everyone’s going at a steady pace,” D said. “The people here are moving on and not looking back on what happened. It’s marvelous to see that happen. We are a strong and resilient people. Nothing can keep us down.”