The campus community is invited to attend the WellsLink Transitions Ceremony on Friday, Feb. 17, at 4 p.m. in Hendricks Chapel. The WellsLink Leadership Program continues the 19-year tradition of honoring WellsLink Scholars in their second year at Syracuse University during the ceremony, and a reception will follow.
WellsLink is a nationally recognized leadership program for first-year students of color. The WellsLink Transitions Ceremony celebrates students who have successfully transitioned to their second year at Syracuse University after participating in WellsLink during their first year. Through this program, students develop multifaceted skills and connect with mentors to help them flourish at Syracuse University and beyond.
“The WellsLink Leadership Program provides students with a strong foundation to excel as leaders not only on campus in their first year, but in the years to follow. Our scholars have and continue to make a positive impact in their communities and we look forward to celebrating their accomplishments at the Transitions Ceremony,” says Huey Hsiao, associate director of Multicultural Affairs and the Kessler Scholars Program. “It is an honor to be part of their journey and support their growth, sense of belonging and success while in the program and as a ‘home away from home’ in Multicultural Affairs throughout their years at Syracuse.”
Marcus Bullock
Focusing on the themes of perseverance and innovation, this year’s keynote speaker is CEO and Founder of Flikshop, Inc. and justice reform advocate Marcus Bullock. At age 15, Bullock was sentenced to eight years in an adult maximum security prison for stealing a car. Now released and determined to make a difference, Bullock created a simple app called Flikshop that allows family members to connect with prisoners who are otherwise isolated. Now more than 140,000 prisoners use this app to connect with loved ones and get in touch with nonprofits.
Bullock also founded the Flikshop School of Business to mentor and introduce every student to a curriculum to help build confidence, learn strategy and communication skills and how to plan for a life of entrepreneurship. Among his accolades, Bullock won the inaugural social justice innovation award from Morgan Stanley + Centri Tech Foundation, was named one of John Legend’s Unlocked Futures business accelerators, and is a member of the Justice Policy Board of Directors.
In addition to the keynote from Bullock, the ceremony will include remarks from additional speakers, musical performances and presentation of stoles and awards. This year’s ceremony will honor the following students who are part of the WellsLink Leadership Program Class of 2025:
The WellsLink Leadership Program is a nationally recognized academic and leadership excellence program for first-year students of color. Through structured academic, social and cultural enrichment activities, WellsLink Scholars develop the leadership capital necessary for exceptional success at Syracuse University and beyond. The program name was chosen to honor Barry L. Wells, founding director of Syracuse University’s first Office of Minority Affairs in 1976 and retired senior vice president and dean of student affairs.
The WellsLink Leadership Program is sponsored by Multicultural Affairs in the Division of the Student Experience, and was designed by Director James K. Duah-Agyeman and former Associate Director Paul M. Buckley. Since the program’s inception in 2003, WellsLink Scholars have demonstrated outstanding leadership at the University with representation at the executive levels of many student organizations, task forces, committees and networks of service. They are high academic performers and balanced community citizens.
