In May 2016, the Davidson College community lost a beloved student, Ben Callinder. Ben was an incredible leader on campus, serving as the Student Body President, a health advisor, and as co-founder of the Black Men’s Union. His kindness, energy, and courage were infectious, touching the lives of everyone he interacted with.

Ben was poised for great things, having secured a position in data analytics with the Brooklyn Nets post graduation, and having interned for both Bloomberg L.P. and the Clinton Foundation. His track record of leadership, success, and kindness highlight his exemplary character and work ethic. Ben earned everything he had, but he attributed a lot of his opportunities to an organization called Prep for Prep.

Prep for Prep is an organization that recruited Ben from Queens, New York and allowed him to attend Deerfield Academy. The program enabled him to attend all four years of high school at no cost, helped him secure internships and jobs, and also provided him with post graduate advising. Prep for Prep allowed for Ben to attend one of the best schools in the country, and he never looked back after obtaining that opportunity.

To honor Ben, a group of his friends have embarked on a fundraising campaign in Ben’s name, and to date over $60,000 has been raised. This campaign is close to our hearts and it has the opportunity to have a huge impact on the life of a talented, young leader.