Sundiata's Biography

Sundiata, also known as Diarra Dunlap, was born to Frances Jean Jones Dunlap and Nathaniel Howard Dunlap on November 26, 1972. No baby pictures are known to survive. At the age of three, he and his family moved to Springfield, MA from Greensboro, NC. For many years, Sundiata went from school to school as the family moved around the city. Finally, they settled at 28 Dearborn Street, in May of 1984. Now, all the school switching may seem like a hassle, but it did give a good opportunity to meet many of those who would end up his classmates at Springfield (MA) Central High School.

After graduation on June 5, 1990, Sundiata spent about three years at home trying to find work to make money. During this time, he moved twice, settling in at 143 Euclid Avenue. After the deaths of several of his friends, Sundiata finally went away to college at Peru State College, Peru, Nebraska. His first time a great distance from home, Sundiata soon discovered ISCA, and took up the moniker "Sundiata" after the Mali king Sundiata Keita of medieval west Africa, whose story will be told here. It was during this time that Sundiata would meet several people who would affect his life in ways unknown.

The woman in the photograph is Katherine Michelle Lacy, also know as Kat. She was his girlfriend for about a year and a half, and was a really cool, bright, and wonderful young lady. Sundiata first met her over ISCA back in 1993 when he was a freshman at Peru State College in Nebraska, and she a junior at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts. Before you ask why he'd go all the way out to Massachusetts from Nebraska to meet some girl, remember that Sundiata lives in Springfield, MA.

Sundiata is an alumnus brother of the Xi-Zeta Chapter of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity at Northwest Missouri State University. He was the Assistant Grand Scribe of the chapter during the Fall 1996, Homecoming co-chair for Fall 1997, and Risk Management Chair for Spring 1998, and is one of the "founding fathers" of the chapter. He was also a Senior Class Representative to the Northwest Missouri State University Student Senate for 1996-97 academic year and an On-Campus Representative for Fall 1997.

So, once again, Sundiata stands alone... but not utterly lonely. He does, after all, have his Kappa Sigma brothers, his family *located primarily in Massachusetts*, and most importantly, himself. Speaking of brothers, here are a few pics from Graduation weekend.

I look like an old time gangster.

Another Kappa Sig Grad, Albert Daniel Bingham II, also called Danny.

Me and another Kappa Sig Grad, Steve Hodges.

Me after Commencement, and before the partying.

On May 16, 1998, Sundiata went through Commencement at Northwest Missouri State University. He received his degree in Social Science Education, but currently works for AAA Nebraska as a Customer Advocate doing Emergency Roadside call answering and membership sales. He is looking into earning a license in insurance sales.

At the present time, Sundiata is single with no known offspring, and few prospects for marriage in the foreseeable future... which, as he sees it, is just fine. :D Here is a 1904 Indian Head Penny I came across... the Obverse *front* and the Reverse *back*

More to come later...

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