Recognized as Legacy Miami Magazine's 40 under 40, The Miami Times' New Generation of Dreamers, and Harvard Business School's Young American Leaders, Matthew A. Pigatt became the youngest elected official in South Florida in 2016 as Commissioner for the City of Opa-locka. Commissioner Pigatt graduated magna cum laude from Morehouse College with a Bachelor of Arts in African American Studies and Psychology. As the first in his family to go away to college, Commissioner Pigatt earned over $100,000 while in school and participated in international research training programs in Paris, France and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He conducted national award-winning research at UC-Berkeley, Emory, and Morehouse on high-achieving individuals. After returning home he organized the Juvenile Justice Committee of People Acting for Community Together which assisted in the elimination of out-of-school suspension in Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Currently, Commissioner Pigatt chairs the premier mentoring program for boys in South Florida, the 100 Black Men of South Florida Leadership Academy. He is the founder of the annual South Florida HBCU Picnic, founder of the Sankofa Cypher: A Black History, Culture, and Thought Group, and author of The Academic Hustle: The Ultimate Game Plan for Scholarships, Fellowships, and Job Offers. Through The Academic Hustle, Commissioner Pigatt has helped thousands of students secure millions in funding to attend school and develop their career.
As a college president, this is the book I have been waiting for! Matthew's personal transformation, combined with a clear game plan for how students can finance their college education, strikes the perfect balance between inspiration and action. ~Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, President of Benedict College If parents and students follow this game plan they will not have to worry about money for school or what to do after graduation. The Academic Hustle truly is the ultimate game plan for academic achievement. ~Mr. David Watkins, Director of Equity and Academic Attainment for Broward Public Schools Matthew Pigatt in The Academic Hustle provides a clear pathway for urban youth toward higher education and a positive, productive life of prosperity. It should be used as a blueprint for urban youth who seek to overcome the financial hurdles of higher education. ~Dr. Steve Gallon III, School Board Member for Miami-Dade County Public Schools An insightful guide for students and parents! The author is a product of Morehouse College that instills in graduates a strong ethic of 'lifting others as we climb'. The Academic Hustle is filled with nuggets of insight and wit from one who succeeded against the odds and aims to inspire others to academic achievement and personal fulfillment. ~Dr. Robert M. Franklin, President Emeritus of Morehouse College A must have for any student. If there is one book I can hand a student to show them how to make the most of college, The Academic Hustle is it. ~Dr. Kevin Rome, President of Fisk University How to pay for college is the number one obstacle that prohibits too many students with great potential from earning a degree. This guide offers insightful and innovative ideas about how to achieve that goal without amassing massive debt, which will enable young people to focus on what's most important--building bright futures. ~ Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (D-24 Florida) The 100 Black Men of America, Inc. has mentored thousands of youth to career achievement. Matthew is one of our best. Through The Academic Hustle, he distills the wisdom gained from his national award-winning research on our members and his personal transformation into a manual for excellence in education and beyond. ~Al Dotson, Chairman Emeritus, 100 Black Men of American, Inc.