Project ENRICH Puts an Exclamation Mark on the Year with Inspirational Scholarship Banquet

Charles Drew Scholarship fund chair Bro. Brett Blake
delivers a scholarship check to a young student

On a steamy Saturday afternoon, friends and family of students who participated in the 2023-24 Project ENRICH banquet sponsored by Gamma Pi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. gathered on May 25 at the Patuxent Wildlife Preserve tucked away in a rural oasis in Prince George’s County to celebrate academic success. It may have seemed strange to have a year-end academic awards program at a wildlife preserve. But actually. it was quite fitting. Just as the preserve is an environment where wildlife are protected and roam freely, Project ENRICH is where the ability to learn is protected and the pursuit of academic achievement runs freely for our local youth.

Essay Winners Show off Awards

During a fast-moving three-hour program, Project ENRICH leadership and parents paid homage to students for progressing through the four-year program, for graduating on to college and it closed out the day by awarding more than $60,000 in college scholarships for the upcoming year.

The program was led by co-directors Bro. James Riley and Bro. George Montgomery, PhD. In attendance was Project ENRICH founder and inaugural director, Bro. Roland Byrd. Bro. Willie Hines, who served as director for 10 years, was also present.

This year marked the return of Project ENRICH to in-person sessions. The pandemic chased Project ENRICH from its longtime home at Bowie State in early 2020 just as they were closing out the 2019-20 academic year. In the time since, it has been meeting virtually the first Saturday of each month.

The keynote speaker, Bro. Jahliel Thurman, host of the hit Aspire TV series “ HBCU 101” and owner of the Yardtalk 101 agency,  brought home some important messages about courage and having the inner strength to succeed after college. As a Chicago native, he matriculated “down south” to Virginian State University because he wanted to attend an HBCU. In his talk, he shared how his own failures grew into the success he is experiencing today. His message to Project ENRICH students: “At some point you will fail and that is OK. Don’t ever give up. Chase your dreams or watch someone else live them.”

Bro. Thurman made this pitch for HBCU’s based on his Virginia State experience: “HBCU teachers want to engage you and meet you where you are to make sure you are successful.”

Keynoter Jahliel Thurman speaks

The keynote set the stage for the always-anticipated awards. A total of 20 students received a total of $60,000 in college scholarships for the coming year from the Charles Drew Memorial Scholarship Fund. Overall, the seniors of 2024 received 24 college offers and were awarded a total of $363,000 in scholarships as a group. Project ENRICH has had 100% college placement since 1985. Maryland State Delegate Ashanti Martinez (Dist. 22) was there to recognize one of the award winners from his district. Gamma Pi has awarded $1.5 million in scholarships since its founding.

Omega men of Project ENRICH, Charles Drew

Others honored were Tara Omotosho, Parent of the Year; Cameron Perkins, of Frederick Douglass High School, Student of the Year; program alumnus Becky Bitar, now with the U.S. State Department, Director’s Award; and Frederick Douglass High was named School of the Year for Project ENRICH.

William “364” Reese Essay winners were also recognized, each receiving stipends ranging from $300-500 that they can carry over each year as long as they participate in the program through the 12^th grade. The winners were Claudia Queen, Brianna Long, Malachi White, Nicholas Steed, Carmen Perkins, Sean Terry and Gillian Boone.

Gamma Pi Basileus Eric Fields closed out the program with words of inspiration. “It’s one thing to have brains in your head. But it’s another thing to use them. Learning is not just filling a bucket it’s lighting a fire. Your parents are counting on you. Do what you’re supposed to do. Make something of yourself.”

PHOTOS BY BRO. DAVID SIERRA