News at Ricks

Dr. Menjay Leads Liberia Baptist

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 07:25:28 -0400

VIRGINIA, Liberia (ABP) – A former war refugee who returned to his native Liberia in 2005 to run a K-12 boarding school has been elected president of the Liberia Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention.
Olu Menjay, principal of Ricks Institute, a school with 620 students located about 15 miles from Liberia’s capital Monrovia, was elected to a three-year term of office at a convention meeting March 17.
Forced from Liberia by one of Africa’s bloodiest wars -- which killed more than 200,000 Liberians and displaced a million others into refugee camps in neighboring countries between 1989 and 1996 -- Menjay studied at Baptist-affiliated Truett-McConnell College in Cleveland, Ga., earning an associate’s degree. He went on to receive a bachelor’s degree at Mercer University, a master-of-divinity from Duke and a Ph.D. through International Baptist Theological Seminary in the Czech Republic.
In addition to rebuilding Ricks Institute, founded in 1887 but severely looted and vandalized as a battleground in the civil war, Menjay is assistant professor in the Roberts Department of Christianity in Mercer University’s College of Liberal Arts.
He is also vice president and chair of the Human Rights Advocacy Commission of the Baptist World Alliance, the youngest person ever to be elected to the position.
Menjay said his goals as president include improving education both by strengthening Baptist schools in Liberia and securing scholarships for Liberian Baptists to study abroad. He also seeks to empower Liberian Baptist churches to “fulfill self-sufficiency with a focus to eliminate a future of dependency.”
A third aim of his administration is to expose the convention’s work to fellow Baptists around the world.
“In our post-war context the Liberia Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention has an urgent responsibility to share our challenges and possibilities with our sisters and brothers beyond Liberia,” Menjay said. “As survivors of brutality through God’s amazing grace, we must share our story.”
Menjay succeeds Shelton Seidi, pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Zwedru, who served two terms as president of the Baptist convention. The most famous person to hold the office was William Tolbert Jr., who at the time was vice president of Liberia. Tolbert, who in 1965 was the first African to be elected a vice president of the Baptist World Alliance, went on to become Liberia’s 20th president, holding office from 1971 until his assassination in a coup d'état in 1980.
By Bob Allen-- managing editor of Associated Baptist Press.
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Four from Ricks Study in the United States

Fri, 3 Jun 2011 07:13:48 -0400

Ricks Institute, Virginia, Liberia—June 3, 2011, in the regular school morning assembly four students from the 8th and 10th grades at Ricks were awarded their acceptance letter’s and I-20 forms to study beginning August 2011 for a year at the Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Virginia) and Baylor School (Chattanooga Tennessee), and for a semester at Brookstone School (Columbus, Georgia).

Winetta Belleh (8th grader) will attend Oak Hill Academy, Siryee Bah (10th grader) will attend Baylor School while Zwannah Porte and Joyful Howard (8th graders) will attend Brookstone School. These four students will attend some of America’s outstanding college preparatory schools on full scholarships worth more than US$115,000.00. They were selected based on strong recommendations from the faculty and staff of Ricks as well as a comprehensive peer assessment from the dorms and classes. The four students have consistently distinguished themselves academically, athletically and morally at Ricks.

Present at the award ceremony were 18 students and staff of the Brookstone School family as well as their Headmaster Dr. Brian Kennerly. Families of the scholarships recipients and the Ricks community were also present. Dr. Kennerly expressed his support to Ricks and especially the students attending Brookstone School who will be staying with selected host parents.

Dr. Olu Q. Menjay, expressed is deepest gratitude to the schools in the United States who have provided these life-changing opportunities for Ricks students. “Liberia will be a better country because of these learning opportunities. We thank all of our partner schools for changing Liberia through Ricks’ students,” Dr. Menjay Remarked.

About Ricks: Ricks Institute, established in 1887, is a dynamic and comprehensive learning center (K-12) that attracts students from all over Liberia and beyond. As a community and nationally recognized school in Liberia, Ricks has 620 students with 41% residential students. Since 2006, the institution remains the only private school in Liberia offering free primary education to its students. Additionally, it operates a free Accelerated Learning Program in the afternoon with 125 (over aged) students. The school is located in Virginia, Liberia on some 1150 acres of land. For more information, visit www.ricksonline.org

Ricks Alumni Host Its Inaugural Banquet

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 06:47:29 -0400

Ricks Institute, Virginia, Liberia--In Saturday, March 23, 2011, The Ricks Alumni Association in Liberia in collaboration with the Rick Administration hosted its first benefit banquet earmarked to support the on-going infrastructural development as well as the school’s “Free Primary Education” initiative at the Golden Gate Hotel at the S.K.D. Sports Complex in Paynesville near Monrovia.

In support of the educational needs of Liberian children, since 2006, Ricks has provided free education to students in the primary school (K-6). This has been Ricks’ way of participating meaningfully in the rebuilding process of post-war Liberia. This venture has caused the institution an excess of more than US$210,000 over the past four year. In following the great tradition and core commitment of Ricks, the alumni decided to host this banquet in support of the Ricks administration’s effort.

The alumni of Ricks have invited key public and private organizations in Liberia who have social and corporal responsibilities to assist in the support of their alma mater’s commitment to serve, teach and educate Liberian’s girls and boys.

The keynote speaker was Mr. Binyah Kesselly, a 1984 graduate of Ricks, who now serves as the commissioner of Liberia Maritime Authority served as the keynote speaker. He encouraged graduates of Rick as well as public and private corporations to support the needs of education in Liberia.

Commenting on the banquet, Dr. Olu Q. Menjay, Chief Administrative Officer/ Principal of Ricks said, “for more than a century and two decades, Ricks Institute has sought ways to be a school of relevance in every given time. This desire continues to be even critical in the midst of our current context in post-civil war Liberia when the need for literacy, numeracy and creativity are on the demand list for improving the lives of girls and boys. This inaugural annual banquet is our limited attempt to seek means in supporting a comprehensive educational commitment for students at Ricks.”

Dr. Menjay thanked the alumni for the dependable support. For time and again, the alumni of Ricks have remained active in the lives of the school’s growth and commitments.

About Ricks: Ricks Institute, established in 1887, is a dynamic and comprehensive learning center (K-12) that attracts students from all over Liberia and beyond. As a community and nationally recognized school in Liberia, Ricks has 620 students with 41% residential students. Since 2006, the institution remains the only private school in Liberia offering free primary education to its students. Additionally, it operates a free Accelerated Learning Program in the afternoon with 125 (over aged) students. The school is located in Virginia, Liberia on some 1150 acres of land. For more information, visit www.ricksonline.org

BWA General Secretary Visited Ricks

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 04:47:57 -0400

Ricks Institute, Virginia, Liberia--On Thursday, April 14, the General Secretary of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA), Dr. Neville G. Callam paid a courtesy visit to Ricks Institute, where Dr. Olu Q. Menjay, a BWA Vice President, serves as the Chief Administrative Officer/Principal. During his time at Ricks, he visited classrooms, the school library, the school farm area and had informal conversation with students, staff, and the Principal. The Baptist World chief executive encouraged students to be excellent learners as they prepare to be the leaders of Liberia. He expressed sincere gratitude to the Administration for the courage to serve in post-war Liberia.

Dr. Callam made his first visit to Liberia via Accra, Ghana to serve as a special guest and keynote preacher at the Annual meeting of the Liberia Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention (LBMEC) held in Buchanan City, Grand Bassa County. He was accompanied by Rev. Emmett L. Dunn, Director of Congress of the BWA. The LBMEC, parent body of Ricks Institute, is a member of the BWA, the largest Protestant group in the world with more than 41 million baptized believers.

About Ricks: Ricks Institute, established in 1887, is a dynamic and comprehensive learning center (K-12) that attracts students from all over Liberia and beyond. As a community and nationally recognized school in Liberia, Ricks has 620 students with 41% residential students. Since 2006, the institution remains the only private school in Liberia offering free primary education to its students. Additionally, it operates a free Accelerated Learning Program in the afternoon with 125 (over aged) students. The school is located in Virginia, Liberia on some 1150 acres of land. For more information, visit www.ricksonline.org

Ricks Alumni funds Elementary Teachers’ Salaries

Sat, 5 Mar 2011 08:54:47 -0500

Ricks Institute—Virginia, Liberia. The Ricks Institute Alumni Association, USA (RIAA) has donated US$15,000 to support elementary teachers salaries for academic year 2010-2011. The gift is part of the association’s consistent contribution to Ricks. Presenting the gift, Rev. Rudolph Bropleh said, “this gift is a partial fulfillment of our pledge to fund the salaries of the elementary school teachers at Ricks Institute.” Rev. Bropleh further affirmed, “as alumni and former students of Ricks Institute, we are committed to a long-term partnership with Ricks, to ensure that she continues to offer quality education to the children of Liberia.”

Commenting on the gift by the RIAA, the Chief Administrative Officer/Principal of Ricks Institute, Dr. Olu Menjay said “the gift is part of the RIAA’s steadfastness in supporting Ricks in realistic ways. I want to thank the RIAA and its current leadership headed by Rev. Rudolph Bropleh for the unusual ways they persistently support their alma mater. Dr. Menjay further explained, “this support for elementary teacher salary by the RIAA is a transparent manifestation of how the Ricks family is contributing to a fundamental need of our country—a solid educational foundation for the Liberian Children. When the teachers are paid well and their salary is on time, you expect them to teach with passion and commitment.” Mr. David Thomas, immediate past National Chair of the RIAA was very instrumental in some honest conversation, which led to this innovative support by the RIAA.

In addition to the US$15,000 grant from the RIAA, US$1,000 was remitted for 2 scholarships through the RIAA. Dr. Qualls Stevens, a neurosurgeon and spine surgeon from Oklahoma, USA, donated the US$1,000 for the scholarships. Dr. Stevens visited Liberia last September. Reflecting on his visit to Liberia, which prompted the gift, Dr. Stevens expressed, “from what I gathered from my visit, there is a lot of needs and other confounding factors with which the students are faced. . . hopefully the funds would be used to help those who may not necessarily be the best in their class. I hope to make yearly contributions to the school and to one day have funds available for teachers.”

Rev. Bropleh encouraged Ricks Alumni in Liberia and other parts of the world to join efforts to support the work at Ricks. “Our goal is to help Ricks become a model academic institution for Liberia and all of Africa,” he stated. He applauded the administration, staff and students for their outstanding commitment to quality education.

About Ricks: Ricks Institute, established in 1887, is a dynamic and comprehensive learning center (K-12) that attracts students from all over Liberia and beyond. As a community and nationally recognized school in Liberia, Ricks has 620 students with 41% residential students. Since 2006, the institution remains the only private school in Liberia offering free primary education to its students. Additionally, it operates a free Accelerated Learning Program in the afternoon with 125 (over aged) students. The school is located in Virginia, Liberia on some 1150 acres of land. For more information, visit www.ricksonline.org