Image via Sunshine and Sunrise, picture from Nov. 8. at the program graduation alongside Ronald Sampson, Dr. Felicia Stewart, The Smiths, and the four new McNificent Men who just graduated, and more.

By: Justin Darden, News Editor

There have now been three successful graduating classes of Morehouse College students who have participated in the Sunshine and Sunrise McNificent Program and will not be the last.

On Nov. 8 four men of Morehouse were inaugurated into the newly orchestrated internship developed by Dr. Felicia Stewart, Dr. Shelva Clemons, and Dr. Kyle Fox of the Morehouse Communication Department. They were able to connect with Colnith Brown, who is a People and Brand Officer working alongside a power couple and local HBCU Alumni business owners, Danesha and Andre Smith. Danesha Smith is a graduate of the famous Clark Atlanta University and Andre Smith is a proud graduate of Southern University. 

The Smiths are franchisees for McDonald’s Fast Food Corporation. The couple owns 10 locations around Atlanta, Georgia, such as Moreland Avenue, Sandy Springs, and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

The Maroon Tiger connected with the Smiths about the reasons for creating this opportunity for students and why Morehouse was the first school they chose to begin the program at. 

“One of the key reasons someone can maximize their potential or they don’t realize their potential is the power of relationship building and networks. Morehouse is a legacy. It is one of the most profound, powerful, and impactful HBCUs that are out there,” they said. “So we said it just kind of made sense to go ahead and make this be the springboard of what we plan on doing across many HBCUs.”

They expressed their goals for the program and what they wanted to achieve. Objectives included wanting to complement the academics of Morehouse with exposure to a hands-on eight-week experience with inside knowledge into the fast food corporation that is widely known across the world. 

“A lot of our magnificent men, all of them have signed nondisclosure agreements because they see real information. They get a chance to see how we make decisions that impact driving sales and making money or profit in our business,” the Smiths said. 

Stewart, professor and director of the Morehouse Communication Department, spoke to MT about the benefits students who are communications majors will get from this internship.

Stewart said students use concepts they learn in their communication courses while gaining valuable insight into the business and organizational structure. Opportunities that ignite students’ interest in entrepreneurship, provide lessons on effective communication, and give Morehouse students a chance to further establish leadership skills and represent the best Morehouse has to offer.

“Initially, Dr. Shelva Clemons and I were able to identify students who were energetic, dependable, and who demonstrated an interest in both business and communication,” Stewart said. “Now that the program is growing, we are still making recommendations, but students will now have to endure a rigorous interview and vetting process.”

(List of Morehouse Students who have completed the eight-week program)

Morehouse Class of 23’ Alum and one of four Morehouse students to pioneer the McNificent program, Joshua Haigler,  talked about his experience with the Mcdonald’s McNificent team. 

“The most important lesson I learned during my two months with the McNificent team was the importance of effective communication and collaboration,” Haighler said.

Haighler continued about how working closely with the McDonald’s staff at the Moreland Avenue location, showed how important teamwork collaboration is. Learning on the fly from the restaurant managers how to understand your team member’s strengths and tackling different skills and perspectives, enabled him to understand how critical communication is the key to the success of any project or initiative. 

After graduating from the program, Haighler talks about how much the program improved his personal and professional development post-grad. Haighler says the program provided him with valuable skills, knowledge, and connections helping aid him greatly in his career.

“On a personal level, the experience helped me gain a better understanding of my strengths and areas for development,” Haighler said. “Furthermore, the program provided an invaluable networking platform. Connecting with colleagues, mentors, and industry professionals provided access to new perspectives and opportunities.”

The internship has exposed these students, not exclusively, to relationships such as ESPN Jay Harris, Dr. Rashad Ritchie of Rolling Out, Ronald Sampson, a known serial entrepreneur, and many more.

It’s also to mention that current MT News Editor Justin Darden and MT Alum, Miles Johnson, were part of the first inaugural class of McNificent Men alongside Haighler, piloting the program for future McNificent Men of Morehouse. 

Copy Edited by: Auzzy Byrdsell, Editor-in-Chief