Honoring the Legacy of Dominique and Marcelaine Augustin & The Journey of Pierre Richard Augustin
Oselo STEM
A Legacy of Resilience and Entrepreneurship
Dominique Milvoy Augustin and Marcelaine Augustin, parents of Pierre Richard Augustin, were trailblazers who inspired him with their resilience, entrepreneurial spirit, and profound commitment to helping the less fortunate.
Dominique Milvoy Augustin – A Trailblazer on the Roads of Haiti
Leading Haitian Public Transportation
My father, Dominique Milvoy Augustin, was a pioneer in public transportation in Haiti, running a dependable bus service from Les Cayes to Port-au-Prince under the well-known name “Carmel et Jeanne.” No matter the challenges—broken transmissions, faulty differentials—his buses rarely stopped on the road due to mechanical issues.
— Pierre Richard Augustin
Unmatched Reliability
His meticulous preparation, competitive spirit, and unwavering determination earned him a loyal clientele. He cemented his legacy by providing some of the most reliable bus services in Haiti’s transportation industry.
Marcelaine Augustin – A Visionary Entrepreneur
Despite only having an elementary education, my mother, Marcelaine Augustin (née Louise Marcelaine Aleandre), possessed an extraordinary knack for sales. In her early days, she sold fabrics—just as my father once did.
Turning Dreams into Reality
Years later, in 1988, I entrusted my mom with $10,000 plus a transport truck servicing merchants from Les Cayes to Miragoane. Together, we purchased land in Charpentier, and from the profits of that truck, she built what became her pride and joy—Hotel Le Meridien des Cayes in Haiti.
A Self-Taught Hotelier
With no formal training in hospitality, Marcelaine converted a failed dormitory into a thriving hotel. She rose at 4 a.m. and worked until midnight, expanding the business from just 5 rooms to a peak of 60. Though she regretted not finishing school, her early experiences in her mother’s grocery store shaped her business sense and work ethic.
From Haiti to Paris: A Child’s Dream Comes True
An Early Love for Learning
As a child in Haiti, I was fascinated by the story of our ancestors—founders of the first free Black nation in the Western Hemisphere. At age 11, my wish to study abroad became reality when my parents sent me to Paris, France. I loved school so much that my hand would shoot up to answer questions before the teacher had even finished asking!
A Rapid Academic Ascent
In just one month, all my teachers recommended that I transfer to Collège Eugène Delacroix in the 15th arrondissement of Paris, believing I needed greater academic challenges.
Role Models Who Valued Education Above All Else
Dominique and Marcelaine placed education at the heart of everything. Despite not finishing school themselves, they shattered barriers through grit, resourcefulness, and an unshakeable belief that no obstacle was too great. Their sacrifices lit the path for me, Pierre Richard Augustin, to dream bigger—eventually sparking my aspirations to help the less fortunate and to embark on groundbreaking endeavors like building a suborbital spaceship and establishing a permanent lunar mission for scientific research.
A Fateful Journey from Paris to the USA
After a year in Paris, my sister Carline and I, both still minors, applied for U.S. tourist visas at the U.S. Embassy in Paris on our way back to Haiti. Against all odds, we were granted those visas. What seemed impossible at the time now feels like destiny—opening doors I never dreamed would be available to us.
Pushing the Boundaries of Possibility
The story of my parents stands as a powerful testament to the limitless potential of human ambition. Through their example, I learned that dreams as audacious as building a suborbital spaceship or launching a lunar mission aren’t just possible but can become a breathtaking reality. Their sacrifices and belief in education paved the way for my goals to help others and to reach for the stars, quite literally.
A Journey of Gratitude and Resilience
Educational Beginnings
Pierre Richard Augustin’s academic path began in New York, attending Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn and John Bowne High School in Queens, New York.
A turning point came when his sister Carline invited him to Massachusetts, where he graduated from Lynn English High School in 1985.
While excelling previously in track and field, his sister Addeline secured him a part-time job as a cleaner at GE’s Western Avenue plant in Lynn, Massachusetts.
There, a GE engineer encouraged him to pursue mechanical engineering instead of aerospace. With this inspiration, Pierre aimed for institutions like MIT, but was not accepted.
A Teacher’s Advice
Recalling a teacher’s wisdom about community colleges as gateways of opportunity, Pierre enrolled at North Shore Community College (NSCC) in 1985.
The Reality of Migration
At 18, unaware of his undocumented status, Pierre faced his first major hurdle. On his first day at NSCC, a financial aid officer informed him he was ineligible for the Pell Grant. And it was at that moment, a divine intervention and act of providence kept his dream of attending school alive despite the insurmountable barriers.
Come here, son, I’ve got something for you.
Dr. David Eugene Wharton
Overhearing the back and forth dialogue between myself and the finance aid officer at North shore Community College, Dr. David Eugene Wharton, a large and tall black men position himself at the door entrance and signal with his hands to come forward toward him and said as follows:
“Come here son, I got something for you”.
Through what seemed like a divine appointment and guided by providence, Dr. David Eugene Wharton awarded Pierre Richard Augustin a full scholarship that covered his tuition and books. This remarkable act of generosity made Pierre the first recipient of the MacNair Scholarship at North Shore Community College in Lynn, Massachusetts, where he began his studies in Engineering.
Join Us in Shaping Tomorrow
Dominique and Marcelaine’s story, and my journey from Haiti to Paris to New York City, illustrate the power of perseverance, education, and daring to dream. Today, Oselo Stem carries forward their spirit of resilience and ambition. Whether it’s inspiring the next generation of Haitian youth, any young person regardless of race, color or ethnic origin with a desire to build innovative aerospace technology, we believe that every dream starts with a single step—and a belief that nothing is impossible.