Why Transform Culture? ‘Someone Has To,’ Says Raven

As a kid in Jamaica, he never expected to be preparing for law school as he finishes school in Kansas, with plans to Transform Culture in America.

At 16, Corban-Arch Graham immigrated to the United States and was adopted by a military family.  Almost immediately, the junior politics, government and economics major began applying to different colleges and universities.

This is where the surprises continued. “At first, a small college didn’t seem very appealing,” Graham said. That soon changed.

He met Claire Hollis, a former admissions counselor at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas. Hollis’ hospitality and enthusiasm about Benedictine College won Graham over and he immediately applied to both the school and the Freedom Fellows program.

“Claire had so much spirit — she could convince anyone to come here,” Graham said.

The Freedom Fellows, a program of distinction prepares students to create a more humane and just world for the equal dignity of persons by reflecting on high standards of faith, leadership, and community service to create knowledgeable and principled student

Through the Freedom Fellows, Graham was awarded a full-tuition scholarship that made college possible. On campus, Graham is involved in many activities beyond the Freedom Fellows, including the Constitutional Fellows, Student International Business Council, and the Motorsports team.

Additionally, Graham is the founder and president of Pratica Gnosis, a student organization that hosts lectures on human development.

This involvement allows Graham to thrive in the college’s mission.

“I’m a very extroverted person, and there’s something unique about the culture here. It really reflects the mission of faith, community, and scholarship,” Graham said.

He immediately embraced the community, and was inspired by the strong faith life on campus and the emphasis on scholarship.

“When choosing a college, I knew I wanted to be in a strong Christian community. I wanted to be in an environment that would strengthen me spiritually,” Graham said. “I was also drawn to the emphasis on scholarship, as well as the size of the college mattered too. I preferred a smaller environment where things feel more personal and tailored to individual growth.”

Benedictine has inspired Graham to be ambitious as he considers future plans. Currently, he is preparing to take the LSTAT to apply to law school. Long-term though, he wants to help spur cultural change.

“I want to be involved in cultural change in the West. I think that aligns closely with Benedictine’s broader mission of Transforming Culture in America,” Graham said. “There’s a real desire here to change the world — but someone actually has to go out and do it.”

By Jack Figge