Mary Gates Scholar, Jaebediah Gardner credits his parents and grandparents for instilling within him a “huge self-confidence” and an appreciation for building community. But as a freshman, when he shared his feelings about not seeing anything on the campus that reflected his African American heritage, his family’s response was not what he expected. At the end of his freshman year, his dad came to his room, settled into a chair and said, “You know, Jaebadiah,the world owes you nothing.”

Those words awoke him to the realization that what he wanted to see in his community was up to him rather than some faceless “they” to make happen.

When he returned to school in the fall, it was with a new sense of purpose. He was determined to do things his way and as he puts it, “to stand on my own twos”.

As a sophomore he declared English as his major. Although some questioned his choice, he couldn’t see sitting through classes he hated just because they might lead to a lucrative career. As an English major, he enjoyed tapping into his imagination to create a story, and believed that the choice was right for him. Gardner also gravitated toward campus offices that he felt really “had his back.” He names the Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity and the UW Career Center as two departments that encourage and support students to aspire to more, to reach higher, and not to underestimate what they are capable of.

His desire to see something of permanence on the UW campus which would reflect a more diverse student population grew into a project involving several students and faculty. “Blocked Out” was originally a concept shared and discussed between Gardner and his friend Sumona Das Gupta, which eventually became the simple and provocative structure just outside the entrance to Mary Gates Hall. What appears at ground level to be a rock seating area is clearly an ear when viewed from above. And the stark granite block imprinted with footprints is representative of those who have been “sold” on the block throughout history, whether literally or figuratively.

Challenging himself all through his university experience paid off when the time came to begin applying for initial career positions. Gardner focused on networking, and applied for a position with Turner Construction Co., and, using the foundation of his English major, drew an analogy between crafting stories and visualizing structure. The combination won Gardner his present position as an engineer with TCC.

Although his success has been fueled by his own hard work and desire to foster collaboration, Gardner credits his father’s words for turning him around and showing him the way. We are all sure to benefit as Gardner continues his efforts to inspire and care for his community.

— Written by Alyce Mallett