People Who Inspire Me
DeVont’e Roach Is Reaching For His Dream
Earlier this year before a packed auditorium at the School for Creative and Performing Arts, a young man with a destiny came onto the stage. DeVont’e Roach was one of 40 teens being honored that night by the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati for living his life upon the values of caring, respect, responsibility and honesty. He is a young person totally committed to making this world a better place, to living out dreams and giving your voice purpose.
A recent graduate of Purcell Marian High School, DeVont’e is already an accomplished philanthropist, singer, song writer and composer. And at the end of this summer he will also be a student at the acclaimed Berklee College of Music in Boston with help from a scholarship.
Tonight on Fountain Square, DeVont’e will become the 15th recipient of a Michael W. Bany Scholarship, established in honor of Cincinnati’s popular musician who was murdered after a performance in 1995. After the presentation DeVot’e will sing a song with the Sonny Moorman Group as part of the PNC Summer Music Series.
How exciting for him!
Below is the bio for DeVont’e from the YMCA Character Awards (written in April, 2011)
Life isn’t always easy, but often times through perseverance you gain strength and a renewed direction. In DeVont’e’s case, he grew wings. The academic honors student has found his spark in music and giving back. At 18, DeVont’e is already an accomplished songwriter and composer with two recently released singles. His yearning to make a difference has found him in Mississippi helping with Hurricane Katrina clean-up, in Kenya teaching children and spreading the message of peace, and in school sitting on his student council. DeVont’e also co-edits a newsletter for nonprofit Elementz, serves as youth commissioner for the Cincinnati Recreation Commission, and works part-time at the Melrose YMCA. He has been honored with the Public Speaking Artistry Award by the Fine Arts Fund, and with the Freshman Leadership and Morality Awards from his high school.
