ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT!
Shanita Cox
Class of 2000
Shanita graduated from “From the Heart Christian School” in 2000. An Alum of Morgan State University, she received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Education. She utilizes her gifts and talents in the Ministry of Health and Healing at From the Heart Church Ministries. Most recently, she was a presenter in the “2023 Preventive Healthcare Expo.”
She is currently a Supervisory Records and Information Management Specialist for the US Department of State. In this capacity, she serves as the central point of contact for both Civil and Foreign Service employees’ profile history which is maintained in their Official Personnel Folders.
During her tenure with the Department of State, she has had the privilege to work for several presidential appointees who had a positive impact on her present professional career status. They included Secretaries of State Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, Hillary Clinton and John Kerry. Maintaining the administrative and record keeping portfolio of their trip briefing bookings and appointments throughout their careers, provided her with an opportunity to use the spiritual principle of Organization.
While organizational skills were essential in the performance of her duties, one of the other characteristics attributed to her career was her upbringing. The statement embedded by her parents throughout her childhood was, “Your name will go further than you will.” To date, her conduct and character have not changed. She still possesses that same demeanor; quiet and reserve.
She is the wife of Christopher Cox and mother of one five-year-old daughter, Elizabeth Genesis Cox, who attends From the Heart Christian School.
Reverend Justin Young
Class of 2007
Reverend Justin K. Young started attending the Christian school in his junior year of high school, and he graduated from a class of twelve on June 8, 2007. In his senior year of high school, the Lord laid it on his heart to return to the Christian school once he finished college. Throughout his time in undergrad, Reverend Young was often reminded of God’s instructions to come back to the school.
From 2007 to 2008, Reverend Young attended the College of Southern Maryland and earned his A.A. in Arts and Sciences. From there, he transferred to the University of Maryland: College Park, where he graduated in 2010 with a B.A. in Sociology (Summa Cum Laude). While earning his bachelor’s degree, Reverend Young remained active in the church and focused on God’s instructions. He volunteered much of his time in the Christian school and shadowed various teachers such as the late Minister Jacqueline Walker, Sister Portia Clare, and Dr. Amenta Crouch.
After graduating from college, Reverend Young returned to the Christian school to fulfill what God laid on his heart some three years prior. During his time in the school, Reverend Young taught Bible 7, Bible 9, Bible 10, Bible 11, Bible 12, World History, 6th and 7th grade Health and PE, Senior Capstone, and Advanced Placement World History. During his time as an AP teacher, 35 of his students earned scores deserving of college credit to include 3s (21 students), 4s (11 students), and 5s (3 students). Reverend Young also served as an AP Reader for College Board in the summer of 2020. In less than a week, Reverend Young read and scored over 100 AP World History exams.
Two years into teaching, Reverend Young enrolled in graduate school at Strayer University and earned his MBA with a concentration in management. After earning his MBA, Reverend Young brought what he learned back to the Christian school through teaching Intro to Business to high school students.
In his local church, Reverend Young has served in various volunteer ministries to include Community Outreach Ministry, Membership Care, and School of Knowledge (Teacher). From 2016-2022, Reverend Young served as the Ministry Head of Youth Against Peer Pressure, and he currently serves as the lead teacher and oversight for the annual Youth Institute.
In 2011, Reverend Young joined the Call-on-Lives process at From the Heart Church Ministries®. In December of 2013, Reverend Young graduated at the top of his class from the Reverend Steven Kenneth Wright School of Ministry with a certificate in clerical studies. In October 2017, Reverend Young preached his initial sermon and in November of 2017, he was licensed as a local minister in From the Heart Church Ministries®.
With ministerial duties growing, Reverend Young began to work parttime as a teacher while working on staff as a minister. After 11 years of teaching, he fully transitioned out of the school to work full time as a staff minister.
In December of 2022, Reverend Young was ordained as an Elder in the Church of God, and he continues to love and serve God’s people with excitement and excellence. Since March of 2023, Reverend Young has served as the Membership Care Coordinator, and in this post, he strives to represent the heart of the pastor in every interaction with church membership.
Reverend Young is the happy husband of one wife, Sister Tameka Young and together, they have two wonderful children: Chasity K. Young and Justin K. Young, II. This year, both of Reverend Young’s children will be enrolled in the Christian school, where they will continue the legacy that was started 39 years ago. Reverend Young’s prayer is that his children will receive the same spiritual and academic education that helped to lay the foundation for his life.
Major Highlights
Senior of the Year Finalist: Each year, the University of Pittsburgh chapter of Omicron Delta Kappa, the national leadership honor society, recognizes one recently graduated or graduating senior from the university for meritorious leadership and extracurricular activities, that exemplifies the type of student who the University aspires to produce, and who inspires others to strive for similar conspicuous attainments. The award recipient’s name is engraved on a stone in the ODK Leadership Walk between the Cathedral of Learning and the Heinz Memorial Chapel. In my last undergraduate year, I was named as a finalist for the award. The link below leads to a biography put together about my time at Pitt and highlights some of my involvement in the Pitt community through my final year.
https://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/news/senior-of-the-year-finalist-jahari-mercer/
The Pitt News 2017 Silhouettes Feature: Each year, The Pitt News, which is the University’s student newspaper, selects members of the Pitt community to highlight in their yearly edition of the Pitt News Silhouettes. Individuals highlighted can include members of the University and/or members of the community surrounding campus. In 2017, I had the opportunity to be highlighted in the Pitt News Silhouettes and was able to talk about my experience and involvement at Pitt from my first and second years of my undergraduate program.
https://pittnews.com/article/126932/silhouettes-2017/jahari-mercer/
SGB Executive Vice President Election Article: During elections for the University Student Government Board (SGB), the person who receives the most votes among those students who run for board becomes the Executive Vice President of SGB, serving as the president in the event of the president’s absence. Because I received the most votes among students who ran for the board at the time, I served as the Executive Vice President of SGB for the 2018-2019 school year. If you scroll down slightly past the video in the article below, you will see my name mentioned along with the other elected members of the board. I am also quoted in this article, expressing my excitement over the results.
https://peachwort66.rssing.com/chan-60749106/all_p55.html
Engineering Ambassador: From the summer of 2019 through the summer of 2020, I worked as an engineering ambassador for the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering. Engineering ambassadors help in the recruitment of prospective students to attend the Swanson School of Engineering by giving tours of Benedum Hall, which houses the school of engineering, and sharing their experiences with prospective students and their families. The link below is my archived profile from the school of engineering’s website.
https://www.engineering.pitt.edu/first-year/ambassadors/archived-profiles/jahari-mercer/
Why Pitt? By Jahari Mercer: The following video was one of the last things I did as an engineering ambassador. A few engineering ambassadors and I were asked to record a presentation explaining why we decided to come to Pitt, why we chose our respective engineering major, and to talk about our experiences at Pitt as well. This presentation also gives a recap of my time at Pitt and my plans after graduation as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsnSlOt5Uv4
Activities & Highlights since FTHCS
2015-2016 School Year (First-Year Undergraduate)
- Began studying at the University of Pittsburgh on a full-tuition scholarship along with a scholarship from the Swanson School of Engineering and the University of Pittsburgh Chesapeake and Potomac Pitt Alumni Chapter.
- Was actively involved in the Pitt Excel program which is a program dedicated to the recruitment, retention, development, and graduation of underrepresented minority students within the Swanson School of Engineering along with being involved in the University of Pittsburgh chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers.
2016-2017 School Year (Sophomore Year Undergraduate)
- Served as a student representative on the University of Pittsburgh Year of Diversity Steering Committee. The goal of the Year of Diversity was for the Pitt community to respect, value, and appreciate diversity in all areas. The committee was comprised of students, faculty, and staff from across the University.
- Served as the Vice President of Community Outreach for the University of Pittsburgh Resident Student Association (RSA). RSA serves as a representative body within the university to identify and make known the needs of students living in university residence halls.
2017-2018 School Year (Junior Year Undergraduate)
- Worked as a manufacturing co-op engineer for Harley-Davidson Motorcycle company in York, PA as a part of the Swanson School of Engineering’s Cooperative Education program.
- Served as the Corporate Liaison Chair for the University of Pittsburgh chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). The mission of NSBE is to increase the number of culturally responsible Black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally, and positively impact the community.
2018-2019 School Year (Senior Year Undergraduate)
- Served as the Executive Vice President for the University of Pittsburgh Student Government Board (SGB). The purpose of SGB is to promote the concerns, interests, needs, and welfare of the student body through creative programming, supporting student organizations, and facilitating conversations between the student body and the university community.
- Served as a member of the leadership team for Pitt Excel’s B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D. which stands for Brothers Respecting Open Thought Helping Every-man Realize His Own Original Dream. B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D. is dedicated to supporting individuals who identify as men within the Pitt Excel program on a personal, professional, and academic level.
2019-2020 School Year (Super Senior Undergraduate)
- Studied abroad during the summer of 2019 as a part of the Engineering Sustainability – Island Nations: Jamaica program. This program was a 2-week cultural immersion, based in Kingston, Jamaica, to understand the complex and unique approach to sustainability in island nations.
- Made the Swanson School of Engineering Dean’s List for the Fall 2019 semester. The distinction of Dean’s List within the School of Engineering is awarded to students who receive a 3.25 or higher semester GPA during their time in undergraduate school.
- Graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering in the spring of 2020 and was named a finalist for the 2020 ODK Senior of the Year award.
2020-2021 School Year (First Year Graduate School)
- Began my first year at the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh pursuing a Master of Business Administration on a full-tuition scholarship funded by the University of Pittsburgh and the National Black MBA Association.
- Served as one of the Vice Presidents for the Katz Operations Club. The Katz Operations club plans and facilitates programs geared towards students concentrating in the field of operations.
2021-2022 School Year (Second Year Graduate School)
- Completed an 8-month internship with PPG Industries as a Supply Chain MBA intern within the Architectural Coatings Logistics & Distribution capabilities team.
- Currently serving as the Vice President of the Katz Student Executive Board (SEB). The Katz SEB acts as the primary representative of Full-Time Master’s students to the Katz faculty and administration and plans creative programs to enhance the experience of everyone in the Katz community.
