Gamma Pi Welcomes The Start of Fall and A Revamped Project ENRICH in 2024-25 Opening Program

Director Bro. Dr. George Montgomery and students

For nearly four decades, Gamma Pi Chapter's Project ENRICH college preparatory program has shined a well-lit pathway to college for so many students in Prince George's County and the surrounding communities. A total of 912 students have successfully navigated the four-year program and more than $1.5 million has been awarded in scholarships. This powerful legacy weighed heavily yesterday as Project ENRICH opened for the 2024-25 academic year on Saturday. It was the first time Project ENRICH has started the year in person since the pandemic struck in 2020.

A crowd of about 80 parents and students joined nearly 30 members of Gamma Pi Chapter for the opening ceremony held at the program's new meeting venue on the sprawling campus of the National Wildlife Visitor Center hidden away in Laurel, MD. As of October 12, a total of 74 students - a 512% increase from last year-- had registered. Registration remains open throughout the year.

"I want you guys to know  that here at Project ENRICH, it is all about excellence. We don't want just good enough," said Bro. Dr. George Montgomery, who assumes the reins as director this year. "I don't want lukewarm. I want enthusiasm. This is what I want from you and this is what you should demand from me. Are you ready to run?"

Students ask about careers  

Bro. James Riley, Jr. has run the program the past three years, all during the time that the pandemic persisted and when Project ENRICH was only able to meet virtually. Bro Riley kept the program going during this challenging time. Bro Dr. Montgomery served alongside him for the past two years preparing for the upcoming transition.

Gamma Pi Basileus Eric Fields also welcomed the students and parents. "It's a pleasure to see this many faces here this morning. The step that you are all taking today is a very important step. It's going to outline what you are going to do in your life and where."

Among those in attendance was the esteemed founder of Project ENRICH, Bro. Roland Byrd, a retired college educator who started the program back in the 1980s. Bro. Byrd has been a mentor to all four directors who followed him: Bros. Riley, Pete Ford and Willie Hines, who served as chairman for 10 years when the program was thriving at Bowie State University.

The highlight of the opening session was a spirited and uplifting presentation by Paula Dofat, founder of the HBCU Money Guide and a college funding strategist. She cut her teeth in this arena by arranging HBCU college educations as the mother of four sons. She amazed and dazzled the audience yesterday with breathtaking explanations for how students can get at least some of their college for free or at greatly reduced costs. She also educated students and parents about why so many college applicants are trying to get to Maryland HBCUs for college. Not only are the schools must less expensive, but their fast-rising STEM academic programs and facilities, along with formal partnerships with outside major universities are making them more and more attractive to college applicants.

Getting pinned

At the conclusion of Dofat's keynote presentation, students held an informal advisory session about STEM careers with Gamma Pi members who work in those fields. Brothers in the chapter cover so many STEM fields ranging from engineering to medicine. In the conversations, students were able to inquire about educational requirements, how to get internships, salary levels for various professions and suggested paths of study. She also got surprised looks when she explained the practice of scholarship displacement, where schools deduct the amount of any outside scholarship funds a student earns from what the school is offering. In other words, the value of outside scholarship funds is wiped out. The practice is illegal in Maryland, Washington, California, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Another highlight and first for Project ENRICH was the pinning ceremony. During the program, students were awarded lapel pins signifying that they are officially in Project ENRICH.

The four former directors and current director of Project ENRICH will tape an episode of "Community UPLIFT," a local public affairs TV show of the Gamma Pi Chapter, later this month. The program will look back at the illustrious history of Project ENRICH and promote this year's edition.  More details to follow in this space.

PHOTOS by Bro. George DuBose

Leader of New Gamma Pi STEM Initiative Honored by Prince George's County Schools

Receiving Award from Prince George's County School Board Vice Chair Dr. Kenneth Harris II

Bro. Aaron Ajani has been working nonstop for more than the past year to establish a formal STEM program for Gamma Pi Chapter. His hard work resulted in success, as the Super Chapter initiated its STEM program on November 1, 2023. Nearly a year later his hard work is being recognized by the local community as he was one of a number of men honored with a prestigious "Men Make A Difference" award from the Prince George's County Schools at a ceremony in Upper Marlboro on Saturday, October 12.

With son Niko

The awards were presented during the daylong Men Make  A Difference: The Power of Presence conference held at the Henry A. Wise, Jr. High School. School Board Vice Chairman Dr. Kenneth Harris II presented the winners with a plaque onstage in front of an auditorium crowded with family, friends and representatives of Divine 9 organizations. 

Bro. Ajani was selected for his award by Mattaponi Elementary School, where he has worked with administrators on a STEM initiative focused on elementary education and sparking early interest in STEM subjects among young students. He has put in place at Mattaponi an interactive and educational program to expose the students to STEM subjects in hopes that they will pursue STEM academically and in their careers.

During the same conference, Gamma Pi sponsored an exhibit table that received heavy traffic. Also, Bro. Damien Goins, principal of Gaywood Elementary in Lanham, participated in the conference as a presenter. Gamma Pi was well-represented at a very important conference that was all about developing and engaging manhood in our local school system.  Once again, the Super Chapter responds to the call of the community.

Click Here to Watch NBC News 4 clip

Sometimes, Sharing Important Health Information Starts from Within

It is often said that what you don't know can't hurt you. But not when it comes to your health. It's what you don't know that can bring you down before you can bat an eye. That was the upshot of the Prostate Cancer Awareness Seminar that Gamma Pi's Health Initiatives Committee sponsored for chapter members on Saturday, September 28.

Gamma Pi's Bro. William Battle, an expert in health education, partnered with Health Initiatives, led by Bro. Dr. Quentin Wilson, to organize the seminar through his company Emmanual Health Education. Bro. Battle founded and remains CEO of the company. In a special gesture, the company funded PSA testing vouchers for all 1213Brothers attending  the Saturday session.

In two hours, Brothers received a lifetime's worth of valuable information about prostate health, including cancer, which is one of the biggest killers of Black men.  And the information wasn't plucked from some website off the Internet. The information was professionally presented by a board-certified practicing urologist, Dr. Michael Bivins, from Birmingham, Alabama, along with a recent local prostate cancer survivor, Bro. Euvon Jones, who amplified the medical information with his own personal story of climbing back to health from a Stage IV prostate cancer diagnosis in 2011.

Bro. Battle 

Dr. Bivins did an excellent job of talking in plain language that Brothers could understand. He focused on treatment options with an emphasis on clinical trials and newer methods like immunotherapy, which uses the body's immune system to attack cancer cells. In addition he mentioned robotic surgery, radiation and chemotherapy among a range of options. "It's not that Black men have worse cancers that are driving disparities. It's just that by time we get it, it's at a worse stage," he said. "I can't prevent you from getting cancer. But what we try to prevent is cancer spreading," known scientifically as metastasis.

Bro. Jones used his emotional story to encourage Brothers to play an active role in managing their prostate situations, especially as they age and to keep check on their PSA scores  for signs of trouble. His lesson to the Brothers was that he did not follow the advice he now gives out -- which was almost too late for him. He is blessed to be alive today after a PSA score of 398! "My story is one you don't want to follow even before I was diagnosed." Bro. Jones' point is that he was too busy to regularly visit doctors before his diagnosis because he worked out and felt in good shape and always thought he was well.

Bro. Basileus Fields(r) with
 Bro. Dr. Wilson and Dr. Bivins

Bro. Basileus Eric Fields reminded the Brothers to share the information outside the building after the seminar.  A handful of Brothers who successfully battled prostate cancer took the opportunity to share their experiences.

Brothers asked several interesting questions: Does diet play a role in cancer risk? What is the benefit of being in a clinical trail if you end up getting the placebo? What about the PHI and other newer tests? When does a PSA score become concerning?

About 50 chapter members and guest Omega men attended. Brothers followed the seminar with a catered fellowship luncheon.

Photos by Bro. George DuBose

Bros offered comments, asked questions

Dr. Bivins explains and informs 

Bro. Jones tells his story 

All eyes and ears soaking up the information

The food line was long...

Gamma Pi's Project ENRICH College Prep Program Begins Its First Full Year In-Person Since the Pandemic

As students across the area gear up for the new academic year, Gamma Pi Chapter Project ENRICH is set to resume its college preparatory program with all in-person sessions for the first time since the pandemic. The program will kick off its new year on Saturday, October 12, at 9 a.m. with an opening ceremony at the National Wildlife Visitors Center off Powder Mill Road in Laurel, MD.

Registration is currently open, with parents and students able to sign up online at https://www.projectenrich.org/registration.html. Aside from a $25 registration fee, the program is offered at no cost.

“We’ve put together a robust program that not only addresses academic achievement but also emphasizes personal and professional development,” said Bro. Dr. George R. Montgomery, the newly appointed chairman of Project ENRICH.

Bro. Chairman George Montgomery

The program, which serves high school students from grades 9 through 12, requires participants to remain engaged through their senior year and graduation. To date, 914 students have completed Project ENRICH over its more than 40-year history, with every graduate earning college admission and collectively securing $1.5 million in scholarships. Last year's senior class of four were awarded $377,000 in total scholarships.

Monthly sessions are held on the first or second Saturday at the Wildlife Center, where students participate in workshops, receive guidance on scholarships and financial aid, and hear from program alumni and visiting college representatives. The program also provides expert advice on entrance exams and college applications.

For more information, visit www.projectenrich.org.

In case you missed it, highlights from our Scholarship Banquet held in May can be revisited  online: Scholarship Banquet.