A Syracuse University student was awarded an Unsung Heroes Award by the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee Jan. 22 for his time spent mentoring children in the Syracuse Community.

The celebration was held at the Carrier Dome as the first event of Dream Week 2006, where Ryedell Davis, a junior child and family studies and African-American studies major, was honored along with four other people from the SU community who have exhibited admirable characteristics.

‘The ceremony was very, very nice,’ said Annetta Peterson, Davis’ mother.

Lena Conner, Davis’ grandmother, said she agrees with Peterson and is so proud her grandson has made something of himself.

Davis mentors children at community centers such as at Wilson Park and Pioneer Homes Youth Center, among others.

‘When it comes to other people, Ryedell always puts others before himself,’ said Allen Rufus, a friend of Davis’ since childhood.

Davis started mentoring at the age of 12, when his older brother inspired him through his own mentoring.

‘As I grew older, I saw kids not interested in school, but instead sports,’ Davis said. ‘Sports are important, but a good education is important to athletes, musicians and artists, just as much as everyone else.’

Davis said the reason he is no longer an education major is because he did not want to be in the classroom. Instead he is aspiring to open his own youth center.

‘Some children get angry with Ryedell when he tries to help them, but he never gives up,’ Conner said. ‘He loves to talk to the young people, and help the older people.’

Davis said his community is the reason mentoring is important to him. He wanted to start inspiring children at a young age to want to make something of themselves. Also, he wants to teach children that education is important.

‘Everyone in the community loves Ryedell,’ Conner said, and as far as his future, ‘there are so many things he can do … he will be successful.’

Peterson said she hopes to see her son ‘graduate, get a good job and take care of himself.’

Peterson said she is sure her son will have no problems being successful.

‘You can’t find a lot of young people who want to give back to other young people, and Ryedell does,’ Rufus said. ‘I’d like to see him open his own youth center, so he would be able to also share his passion of music with children.’

Published on January 25, 2006 at 12:00 pm