Former Maryland Trash Hauler Graduates from Harvard Law School, Rehan Staton

- The Guardian, May 26, 2023. Ed. - Rehan Staton became a viral media sensation on his admission, and film-maker Tyler Perry covered his tuition fees. -

- May 25, 2023.

The man who worked as a trash hauler in Maryland before earning international news headlines by gaining admission into the prestigious Harvard Law School has graduated. Rehan Staton received his juris doctorate from Harvard after walking across the stage in his cap and gown during a commencement ceremony on Thursday afternoon at the school’s campus in Cambridge, Mass. To cap off what is likely to be among the most uplifting stories of this spring’s US university graduation season, spectators treated Staton to some of the loudest cheers heard during the 90-min. ceremony, including one person who could clearly be heard shouting: “My boy – go, Rehan!”

As a profile published recently on Harvard’s website recounted, Staton and his brother were raised by their father, who worked as many as 3 jobs at a time as he tried to make ends meet. Even then, the family did not always have a reliable supply of food or electricity. Staton at one point dreamed of a professional career in taekwondo or boxing, hoping that he could earn a fortune in either sport which would let him lift his family out of poverty. But a serious injury to his shoulder cut those aspirations short, and after high school he got a job alongside his older brother, Reggie, working for a trash & recycling company in Bladensburg, Md.

He has openly discussed how some of his colleagues at that job had previously spent time in prison, & they pleaded with him to do his absolute best to get a college education. Staton eventually enrolled at Bowie State Univ., just south of Baltimore, & later transferred to the Univ. of Maryland. Staton made remarkable sacrifices to set himself up for success, & so did his family. His brother dropped out of college after their father had a stroke to better support their family financially. Staton also worked, cleaning garbage bins & collecting trash for 3 hours in the mornings beginning at 4am before going to classes. But, with his brother’s help, he could also dedicate a substantial amount of his time to studying. It all paid off.

Staton won the distinction of serving as his undergraduate class’s commencement speaker at Maryland, and 5 of the 9 law schools to which he applied accepted him. He chose to attend Harvard in 2020, & he became a viral media sensation when the news reported on his family’s story. Staton told Harvard’s website that the news coverage on him was uncomfortable at times. “The media presented it as a happy story – something like, ‘Garbage Man Applies to Harvard, Gets In,’” he said. “But I did it to save my family.” However, he acknowledges that there were benefits to the attention. Notably, when Tyler Perry heard Staton’s story, the renowned film-maker stepped up to cover his tuition. Many law professors & attorneys also came forward to mentor Staton.

In addition to pursuing his law degree at Harvard, Staton raised more than $70,000 in donations for the school’s support staff, including food servers, custodians & electricians... https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/may/26/harvard-law-school-rehan-staton-graduates