Wesleyan Welcomes Two ‘Better Chance’ First-Year Students

Next fall, Wesleyan will welcome two students of color who graduated high school “capable of assuming positions of responsibility and leadership.”

Malik Ben-Salahuddin ’13 and Dorisol Inoa ’13 are both recent alumni of A Better Chance (ABC), the oldest national organization of its kind. ABC aims to change the life trajectory in a positive way for academically-talented youth of color through access to rigorous and prestigious educational opportunities for students in grades 6-12.

“This is wonderful recognition for these two top students, two in a long line of ABC students at Wesleyan,” says Nancy Meislahn, dean of admission and financial aid.

ABC’s mission is to increase substantially the number of well-educated young people of color who are capable of assuming positions of responsibility and leadership in American society. They carry out this mission through a College Preparatory Schools Program, which annually recruits, refers and supports about 500 Scholars at more than 300 Member Schools in 27 states.

Since ABC’s inception, more than 12,000 of its alumni have gone on to distinguished careers as physicians, artists, educators, lawyers, politicians and corporate executives.

Ben-Salahuddin graduated from Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, Conn. in 2009. He won ABC’s valedictorian honor as the Judith Berry Griffin Award for his exceptional and steadfast determination to achieve despite obstacles. Ben-Salahuddin applied to A Better Chance and was accepted into Choate his junior year.

“Can’t shouldn’t be in your vocabulary,” Ben-Salahuddin says. “Keeping that word out of your vocabulary will help you attain the mindset you need to achieve your dreams.”

Inoa graduated from Fayetteville-Manlius High School in Manlius, N.Y. in 2009. She won the Nancy J. Lucas Award, which is presented to a senior who shows an outstanding commitment to equity and justice. Inoa served on the World Health Organization Committee and the Status of Women Committee at the 2008 and 2009 Central New York Model United Nations Conferences. She also worked as a camp counselor.

“Get involved in anything you like and stay consistent with it,” Inoa suggests. “Also try new things that you normally wouldn’t try.”