A high school student who has dedicated himself to advocating against gun violence is being rewarded with a future filled with endless potential. RuQuan Brown is a 17-year-old from Washington, DC. His hard work in his advocacy, his studies, and his position as high school football captain have landed him offers from more than 25 colleges and universities, including Ivy League schools. Some of those offers are even full rides.
All the joy and honor of his achievements came at a cost to his young life, however. While RuQuan was excelling in the classroom and on the field, he suffered two tragic losses. One was of his closest football teammate, 18-year-old Robert Lee Arthur Jr., in 2017. The other was of his stepfather, Arnelius Howell, who died just a year later. Both men were victims of gun violence, which was a painful experience for the young man. It also inspired RuQuan's desire to make a difference in this area through his advocacy.
RuQuan Brown is not your average 17-year-old. After dealing with unthinkable difficulties, the young man has gone on to be a leader in every sense of the word. Now he's being recognized for his hard work by more than 25 different colleges and universities.
RuQuan has received offers from Harvard, Yale, and Princeton, among other schools interested in the high school football captain. He has received scholarships and possible full-ride offers. Many of the offers came as coach recommendations and "likely" letters.
All of the offers and exciting things happening in RuQuan's life happened following some terrible tragedies. In the span of a year, RuQuan lost his closest teammate and his stepfather to gun violence. The two tragic incidents inspired his work as a gun violence advocate.
In September 2017, RuQuan's teammate, 18-year-old Robert Lee Arthur Jr., died from a fatal gunshot wound. The loss took a big toll on RuQuan. He had no idea that he would suffer another incredible loss so soon after.
RuQuan was also struck by the death of his stepfather, Arnelius Howell, in 2018. "[Arnelius] taught me football, about being a man, and respect, family and so many other things," RuQuan told CNN. "My dad was my role model, my hero, my big brother, every role that you could imagine a dad should play, he was that."
The two deaths rocked RuQuan. They awoke in him a need to do more. "When this happened, I knew that I had to start something to end gun violence," he explained. That's when the idea for Love1 first began, the 1 inspired by Robert's football number.
Love1 is described by RuQuan on its website as "an anti-gun violence clothing line that uses a portion of its proceeds to benefit communities that are negatively impacted by gun violence."
"Love1 is greater than JUST a clothing brand. Love1 is a lifestyle that supports this truth: 'You never know how your 1 act of Love might literally save someone’s life.'"
Love1 donates 20% of proceeds to One Gun Gone, an anti-gun violence art project in Rhode Island. One Gun Gone offers a gun buyback program and makes art out of them.
"We are breaking the dark, destructive economic cycle of one gun which can be sold and resold again and again," Scott Lapham, the project's director, said. "We are replacing it with a positive creative economy of art-making and community building using that one gun."
Love1 is far from the only thing that made RuQuan an attractive candidate to schools. RuQuan has a 3.9 GPA at Benjamin Banneker Academic High School. He's also president of the student government at the school.
"At Benjamin Banneker Academic High School, we pride ourselves on empowering our students to be change-makers in their communities and preparing them for college, career, and life," said Principal Anita Berger. They couldn't be more proud of what he's achieved.
"RuQuan exemplifies what it means to be a Banneker Achiever inside and outside of the classroom — from excelling in his courses to advocating for our school community at city hall to giving back to the DC community."
Benjamin Banneker doesn't have a football team, however. RuQuan is captain of the Theodore Roosevelt High School team. A lifelong football player, RuQuan plays multiple positions. He's made 15 interceptions and 23 touchdowns in 29 games and led his team to the state championship in 2017.
"He led Roosevelt to one Gravy Bowl championship and one state championship," Reginald Stevens, Theodore Roosevelt's director of athletics, explained. "Those championships moved us up to the highest DCIAA division in football." His impact on the field is just as phenomenal as his impact off it.
"I'm beyond proud of my son," said Rudolph Brown, RuQuan's biological father. "RuQuan is the living answer to a father's prayers. He proudly exemplifies what's possible when you align faith, hard work, purpose, and passion."
For RuQuan, his busy and full life keeps him positive. "These programs, organizations, and activities keep me encouraged and purposeful," he explained. "My [biological] dad allows me to explore those things and grow optimally."
