Robert Brutus is described by his peers and teachers at Caddo Parish Magnet School as a “”bright, intellectually curious, and giving young man.”” A member of Mu Alpha Theta, he tutors students in math on a regular basis.

Although Robert is passionate about mathematics, his other academic interests include English, music, and German, in which he is fluent. Because of his high achievement on the National German Examination (he scored in the 99th percentile as a sophomore and in the 98th as a junior), he received the Langenscheidt Award from the American Association for Teachers of German. This award allowed him to study in Germany for four weeks. In his native language, English, Robert is a talented writer whose poetry has been published in two student literary magazines, Seedlings and The Sampler. He says that he has always loved literature. It is not surprising, therefore, that he made a perfect score of 36 on the English ACT. In addition, he is an accomplished pianist whose favorite composer is Chopin.

Robert actively promotes multiculturalism and unity among various racial groups in his hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana. He first became interested in issues of diversity while attending Camp Anytown the summer after tenth grade. Students from different backgrounds came together for a week of discussions and seminars on promoting unity among persons of diverse racial, ethnic, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds. Later Robert became a member of the Greater Shreveport Human Relations Committee’s Youth Council and served as chairman of the Martin Luther King Young Musician’s Award Committee. The committee selects a young musician who promotes the ideas expressed in the civil rights leader’s “”I Have a Dream”” speech.

Regardless of where his study of mathematics takes him, Robert plans to continue to strive for understanding and unity among people from disparate backgrounds.