Hamilton: From Ram Page to Marquis Who’s Who in America

Photo courtesy of Marquis Who's Who:
Maso Toussaint Hamilton, Esq.
ASU Alumnus, former Ram Page writer and ASU basketball player

As of Sept 30, an ASU alumnus and former Ram Page writer, Maso Toussaint Hamilton, has been inducted into the Marquis Who's Who in America.

According to Marquis Who's Who website, Marquis Who’s Who is an American Publisher of a number of directories containing short biographies founded by Albert Nelson Marquis. It endeavors to profile the leaders of American society; individuals are selected based on factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field. Since 1898, Marquis Who’s Who has proudly supported library and research communities with the most trusted biographical information. 

As for Maso Hamilton, he is amongst the youngest to receive the opportunity to be featured in Marquis Who’s Who.

“I was floored when I got the email that I was interviewed,” Hamilton said. “Humbled is not even the word to describe the feeling.”

Hamilton began studying bachelor of arts in journalism at ASU and pursued a career in law as a member of Lambda Pi Eta Honor Society. He began at ASU as a freshman basketball player from 2005-2009, and by his sophomore year, he became a writer for the Ram Page.

“I spent a lot of time on the third floor of the library and I popped my head into the Ram Page office my sophomore year,” Hamilton said. “I asked if I could write stories during my offseason.” 

During Hamilton’s time at ASU, basketball taught him the importance of mental toughness and discipline. 

“We used to wake up at five in the morning for weights and training and I knew I needed to show up every time ready to show out,” Hamilton said. “Punctuality was a must, being on time and working towards the success of both the university and our team.”

While Hamilton was not playing basketball, he was reading and writing stories for the Ram Page.“With the Ram Page, there were deadlines,” Hamilton said. “The Ram Page is a microcosm of the university experience. Working there taught me to work hard and to make work that I would be proud of.”

Throughout his years of education, he received a doctor of jurisprudence from Howard University's School of Law and became a licensed attorney in Maryland.

“I credit my father for pushing me to pursue my thirst for knowledge, which led to me continuing my education at Howard University to pursue my law degree,” Hamilton said. “My mom also went to Howard, so I was a legacy student.”

With the encouragement from his father and Howard representation from his mother, Hamilton aligned himself with a number of organizations, including the Waring-Mitchell Law Society, Howard County and Maryland State Bar Association as well as the local chapter of Toastmasters International. 

While working to provide opportunities for inner-city youth, Hamilton served as a board member with the Drew League Foundation from 2017-2020 and bestowed the Tamara Smiley Hamilton Scholarship, named after his mother, upon a young woman from California. 

By 2020, Hamilton received the Distinguished Young Alumnus Award from ASU for his outstanding accomplishments, as well as a feature in Marquis Who's Who in America. 

Looking forward, Hamilton intends to further his legal knowledge and maximize his full potential by respectively helping others.

“My mom passed away about three months ago,” Hamilton said. "One thing she told me is, 'When you live a life of service, life will serve you well.' Helping other people become better versions of themselves is the best act we as individuals can do."