Randall Ainsworth’s ability to transform challenges into springboards to success puts him in the footsteps of Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, a civil rights icon who prevailed in the face of adversity.
University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law student Randall Ainsworth, Class of 2023, stands out in a room. The cherry red streak running through his hair sets him apart, and that’s by design.
He looks like a rock star, and while playing the electric guitar is an important part of his life, the red streak is not an homage to his idol Jimi Hendrix or the blues legends he reveres.
He dyed his hair in high school at his mother’s suggestion and quickly realized it was a trademark, a way to differentiate himself in his rough Northwest Baltimore neighborhood.
“There’s a possibility you could be misidentified, not only by police, but by other people in the community, and my hair was a way to protect myself and potentially keep myself alive,” he says.
Ainsworth’s ability to transform challenges into springboards to success puts him firmly in the footsteps of U.S. Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, a civil rights icon who prevailed in the face of adversity.
Ainsworth, who graduated magna cum laude from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in 2019, is the first recipient of The Honorable Elijah E. Cummings ’76 Scholarship Endowment.
Established in 2019, the scholarship pays tribute to the late congressman, his many contributions to society, and his standing as one of Maryland Carey Law’s most distinguished alumni. Spearheaded by the Board of Visitors and former chair Robert J. Kim, JD ’83, the scholarship supports Maryland Carey Law students who have an interest in public service and a record of academic excellence.
You can read more about Randall Ainsworth in the Spring 2021 issue of UMB’s CATALYST magazine.
The issue also highlights how students have received invaluable hands-on experience preparing COVID-19 vaccines and vaccinating patients at the SMC Campus Center as well as the important COVID-19 research being done across all of our schools. We also share the stories of our graduates, the Healing Youth Alliance, the National Center for School Mental Health, and much more.