Embodying the power of motivation and passion, junior Elijah Staggers from Newark, N.J. works toward three bachelor’s degrees at the University of Georgia.
“I want to represent people who are socio-economically underprivileged and couldn’t necessarily afford representation,” Staggers said. “I also wanted to help fight to erase the gap that we have in socio-economic. “
Staggers is a history, philosophy, and political science major. After graduation, he hopes to attend law school in his home region. Elijah would like to practice criminal law.
“I first began as a political science major and I didn’t feel like I was learning the things that I wanted to learn because I was only getting theoretical principals,” Staggers said. “I was only learning about the technical science of politics. So I added philosophy to learn about the underpinnings of our government and why our government functions the way it does and what it means to have a good government as well as what is an undesirable government. And I still wanted to learn more of where we come from and how we got here, so I picked up the history major as well.”
Aside from his academics, Staggers is heavily involved on campus. He participates in the UGA mock trial team and serves as the president of the university’s National Pan Hellenic Council (NPHC).
“ I am first and foremost a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Inc. I was initiated in fall 2011. As president of NPHC, I have such big plans for the organization. I really like to see the big picture and want us to gain recognition on the average student’s mind.”
Staggers is also a former senator of Franklin College of Arts and Sciences and serves on the dean’s student advisory board. He is also the reigning winner of Eta Xi chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated’s Mr. Esquire Pageant, a local scholarship program