Project ENRICH Closes Out the Year With a Flurry of Scholarships, Dollars and Momentum for Next Year

For Gamma Pi's flagship education program, Project ENRICH, the year began with a monumental challenge right out of the starting gate. With just days to go before the academic year kicked off in early October, the sudden and unexpected federal government shutdown, shut Project ENRICH and its more than 150 registered students out of its then-home, the National Wildlife Visitors Center in Laurel.

Saturday's scholarship banquet was a symbolic reminder of the payoff from Perseverance. Students, parents, friends and members of Omega Psi Phi joined to honor another successful year with scholarships, awards, student and parent recognition and overall, thanks to the students for a job well done during a trying year. The abrupt move to a temporary home did not slow the program's progress at all. Project ENRICH continued its climb.

Ironically, the last official activity of the 2025-26 academic year occurred at the very National Wildlife Visitors Center that the students have been shut out from all year. Until Saturday, the saving grace had been provided by Bro. Rev. Dr, Gerald Folsom who, as pastor of Greater Mount Nebo AME Church in Bowie, Prince George's County, arranged for the students to use his church's worship center for the entire academic year. Without that extended hand from a well-respected member of the Fraternity and Gamma Pi Chapter, the students would not have had anywhere to meet for their monthly Saturday activities.

Greater Mount Nebo was honored with the Project ENRICH Director's Award for giving Project ENRICH a place to meet this year. Bro. Basileus Terance Hare, a member of the church's Trustee Board, accepted the award for Bro. Rev. Dr. Folsom.

The point of the day was to honor academic stars and recognize the individual classes, especially the 17 graduating seniors.  Director Bro. Dr. George Montgomery was joined by former Directors Bro. Willie Hines and James Riley Jr., along with Bro. Dr. John Howard as well as Charles DrewMemorial Scholarship Fund chairman Brett Blake in leading the program. Bro. Dr. Montgomery presented the following data:

• The 2026 Seniors class attained a record cumulative number of $9.3 million in scholarships
• The senior class combined for a total of 260 college acceptances, 3118 community service hours, and a 3.62 GPA
• Project ENRICH has graduated 939 seniors with a 100 percent college placement rate since its inception more than 40 years ago

Bro. State Sen. Nick Charles highlighted the event with an exciting and uplifting keynote speech.

"There will be people smarter than you. There will be the ones who have more connections than you. There will be people who seem to have every advantage imaginable.  Never, ever, ever give up when there is somebody who refuses to quit," Bro. Sen Charles said to the students. "Success is often less about being the most talented person in the room and more about being the person who keeps showing up."

Bro. Sen. Charles had two more recommendations for the students: do not be afraid to show up and use their success to lift those who come behind them.

Bro. Sen. Charles put his money where his mouth is by awarding scholarships on the spot to every Project ENRICH student who lives in his District 24. He challenged those who live outside his District to identify their elected representatives and reach out to them for scholarship money.

Project ENRICH is already receiving registrations for the 2026-27 academic year. Visit www.projectenrich.org for more information 

Key award winners were:

Student of the Year -- Anissa Carter (Eleanor Roosevelt High School, rising senior)

Parent of the Year -- Troy Woods

School of the Year - Bowie High School

Roland and Carol Byrd Scholarship Award: Zachary Johnson and Joshua Ritter

Director’s Award - James Booker (new Project ENRICH committee member)

Bill "364" Reese Essay Award winners (across grades) 

1st place  ($500): Mischa Smith, Julye Howard, Logan Pryor, Sanai Jackson

2nd place ($400): Donovan McNeal, Madison Sumpter, Malachi White, Na'Imah Sesay, Joshua Ritter

3rd place ($300): London Nickols, Savanna McCombs, Caitlyann Abang, Zachary Johnson

Video Clip: Keynote Address from Bro. Sen. Charles