Haitian Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe received the distinguished alumni award from Barry University late Saturday.

The Haitian leader said his experience at the school was one filled with discipline and perseverance when he studied political science and French there.

I never thought that I would become prime minister after I graduated, he said. I wondered what was next and whether I would find a job.

Lamothe, who came to the private university to compete on the tennis team, graduated from the school in 1996.

Born in Port-au-Prince, Lamothe lost when he first tried out for team.

Very badly, he said at a news conference before receiving the award. But the coach gave me an opportunity and I seized it.

Lamothe became the first mens tennis player to be named an All-American at the school and he represented Haiti in the Davis Cup in 1994 and 1995.

He later went on to St. Thomas University to earn an MBA.

Before joining President Michel Martellys government in Haiti, he worked mostly as an entrepreneur in the telecommunications industry.

Lamothe has previously said he wanted to reignite reconstruction and promote Haiti as an investment destination.

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Haitian Prime Minister receives alumni award