Greetings Fellow Alumni and Friends,

I am extremely excited as we gather once more in the Greater Washington DC area to participate in our annual convention. Convention 2010 is yet another opportunity for us to meet and greet, but more importantly to collaborate and deliberate about our support and involvement with Ricks Institute in Liberia. The Ricks Institute Alumni Association (RIAA), USA Inc has made a commitment over the last 22 years to support our beloved Alma Mater. Our school has laid a solid foundation for many through education yielding people in many different fields of study…Law, Medicine, Accounting, Education, Engineering, Religion, Technology and many others. This is our opportunity to give back. Thank you for your continuous support…thank you on behalf of the Principal, Faculty and Staff of Ricks Institute and thank you on behalf of our little brothers and sisters in Liberia that through your support get to attend school at Ricks Institute.

I was in Liberia in January of this year. I had an opportunity to visit Ricks Institute and left with very mixed emotions. I want to commend Rev Olu Menjay, Principal of Ricks, the Faculty and Staff for the great work they are doing . Prior to this trip, I was last in Liberia in 2005. My visit to Ricks presented a stark contrast to what I saw in 2005. The Administration building is a good house for learning, the dining hall is very functional, some of the dormitories are operational and there is an enthusiastic staff going about the business of educating Liberia’s youth. To the contrary, there is still much to be done. Faculty homes are in need of renovation, several buildings on campus require repair, and supplies in all areas are short. More than ever, the Administration needs our continued support.
Programs such as our Annual Convention help to support the needs at Ricks Institute. This in turn feeds the hungry minds of the students attending Ricks Institute and ensures a brighter future for Liberia. Thanks to the Metro Washington DC Chapter for being host of the 2010 Convention.