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On April 6, 1989, Ricardo P. Deveaux ’90 was named president of the Student Government Association at Bethune-Cookman College, now University.
“I became the spokesman, activist, role model, and leader for the 2,300-member student body,” he says, looking back.
His presidency marked not just a personal achievement but a beacon of hope for countless others. Deveaux led with fervor, overseeing a 23-member cabinet and representing student interests at trustee and academic committee meetings.
"Learning to lead and govern were lessons that have assisted in my growth and development," he recalls, emphasizing the profound impact of his student leadership experience. It wasn’t easy navigating the balance between student expectations and institutional responsibilities, he remembers. But amidst the trials and triumphs, Deveaux found purpose. His tenure laid the foundation for a lifelong commitment to academic excellence and community empowerment.
“I will forever be grateful to the students at Bethune-Cookman College who in 1989 gave a young man from The Bahamas the opportunity of a lifetime and an experience that shaped who I became,” he says.
Beyond his alma mater, Deveaux's impact reverberates across borders. From serving in leadership roles within the Ministry of Education in his native Bahamas, to spearheading initiatives that recognize and uplift young scholars, his dedication to education knows no bounds. "If you get knocked down, once you are alive, you are not knocked out," he proclaims, inspiring a generation to persevere in the face of adversity.
Deveaux has continued his commitment to service and continues to forge a pathway for other Bahamian students to attend college in his current role as President and CEO of the Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Awards Foundation. He initially joined the foundation in 1996 as chair of the scholarship committee, and he has helped facilitate awards for more than 3,000 of the best and brightest Bahamian students.
Deveaux was recently honored during the 50th anniversary of The Bahamas’ independence for his many contributions to the field of education.
Deveaux has also served as Chairman or a Committee Member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. - Honors Day Convocation committee. He is a living embodiment of B-CU’s charge, “enter to learn. Depart to serve.”
