Harper College

Dexter Gardner, Harper Alum and Licensed and Ordained Youth Minister at the Second Baptist Church in Palatine

Dexter Gardner inspires young people to achieve their best and pursue an education at Harper. While attending Harper, he was president of the Black Student Union and also was instrumental in forming the Harper Gospel Choir club.

"There are many in our lives who tell us the things that we are not capable of and are not meant to do. Like many of you who sit here today, I was one who was told that a college education was out of my reach.  I was told that my test scores showed that I was incapable of going any further.  I was told 'stop' before I started," Dexter told the commencement audience.

"It was my parents that told me to stand when things got tough.  It was my brothers who told me to stand when things got rough.  It was my church family who stood with me in prayer.  It is my wife and son who stand with me in this occasion.  First and foremost it was and is God who I serve who stands above it all.

Last Updated: 3/14/24