Tribute to Michael Howard Bankston III
WHEREAS, Michael Howard Bankston III was born on October 11, 1995, at Resurrection Hospital. Michael came from a blended family as the son of Marleen and Jesreel Cruz and Michael H. Bankston Jr., Brother to Mikeas Bankston, Jessica Silva, Yanitsa Cruz, Jesreel A. Cruz II, Aden Bankston, and Shiloh Cruz; and
WHEREAS, At a very young age, Michael Howard Bankston III attained the nickname "Mikey"; and
WHEREAS, Michael Howard Bankston III was a lover of family and friends and desired closeness and community when connecting with others; and
WHEREAS, Michael Howard Bankston III was awarded a full-ride undergrad scholarship through Posse 2012;and
WHEREAS, Michael Howard Bankston III graduated from Rauner College Prep in Chicago in the summer of 2013; and
WHEREAS, Michael Howard Bankston III enrolled at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut as a Posse Scholar in the fall of 2013. Michael displayed a passion for his Latinx heritage and music throughout his time at Trinity; and
WHEREAS, Michael Howard Bankston III, an organizer and radio show host, actively engaged in "Trinity's Temple of Hip Hop," a four-day annual international hip hop festival; and
WHEREAS, Michael Howard Bankston III was also a member of the Samba Ensemble, a Brazilian drumming and singing group; and
WHEREAS, Michael Howard Bankston III pursued his interests as the Community Engagement Chair of La Voz Latina at Trinity. He brought attention to Latin American culture, politics, and social issues within the Trinity community; and
WHEREAS, Michael Howard Bankston III served as one of the first ten Trinity students to mentor 5th-grade students at Hartford's Expeditionary Learning Academy at Moy Ian School, a public school serving the predominantly Latino population; and
WHEREAS, Michael Howard Bankston III graduated from Trinity College with a Bachelor's in philosophy in the summer of 2018; and
WHEREAS, With guidance from mentors, opportunities that arose, and hard w...
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