This is the second in a five-part series profiling the contestants of the Mr. Black MSU pageant.

DeJuan Lever originally had no plans of running for the title of Mr. Black MSU on Saturday.

But when he was nominated anonymously to enter the pageant, his plans soon changed.

“I feel compelled to run,” the human resource management freshman said. “To even be nominated for Mr. Black MSU is an honor itself.”

The Mr. Black MSU pageant, sponsored by Black Student Alliance, profiles black male undergraduates who stand out academically through their student leadership on and off campus.

Marketing senior DeAndre Carter, founder and president of DCI Motivational Services, a motivational speaking business, was crowned the first Mr. Black MSU last year.

John Johnson, programming director for BSA, said each of the participants in this year’s pageant has already established himself as a leader at MSU.

“Each candidate that applied has stood out academically and socially, as well as in the community,” the advertising senior said.

Lever is the vice president of Bailey Hall Black Caucus, a volunteer with My Brother’s Keeper, a mentor program for at-risk elementary school students, and is a member of Multicultural Business Students and the Eli Broad College of Business Student Senate.

In the week prior to spring break, Lever found out he was selected to be a minority aide in Akers Hall for the 2001-02 school year.

Ernest Betts, assistant dean of Multicultural Business Programs at the business college, has worked with Lever and said based on qualities he has seen, Lever will be a strong candidate to become Mr. Black MSU.

“DeJuan has shown an uncanny ability for communication skills and leadership,” Betts said. “He’s a team player with a great personality and the understanding and ability to communicate with people of various cultures. I find that very rare in a student that’s a freshman.”

Lever said he sees the role of Mr. Black MSU as a spokesman for black students on campus.

“He’s a person that represents the black community and ensures the needs and interests of the black community are being met,” he said.

Should Lever win the title Saturday, he plans to lead by example, he said.

“I would be an advocate and political activist for the black community,” he said.

And as his main goal, Lever said he aspires to set the standard in increasing black male activism.

“It is my hope I can be a role model for other African American males on campus to aspire to,” he said.

The Mr. Black MSU pageant is at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Kellogg Center Auditorium. Admission is free.