On June 9, five Omaha Public School (OPS) students from North Omaha flew to New Orleans, La., to attend one of the most unique pre-college programs in the United States — Dillard University’s Gilbert Academy for Young Emerging Scholars. The program ended July 20.
Escorted by a faculty delegation, Dillard University President Michael L. Lomax, Ph.D., visited Omaha in April to sign a formal agreement of affiliation with UNMC. In a series of interviews during his visit, Dr. Lomax repeatedly expressed his vision that this new affiliation would not only be good for Dillard students and for UNMC, but also for Omaha’s black community.
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John McClain, Ph.D. |
“The Dillard University Gilbert Academy for Young Emerging Scholars is an outstanding six-week summer program that provides select African American high school students from across the nation with supplementary academic support,” Dr. Lomax said. “Since its inception, the program has been a pivotal factor in the decisions of these young people to attend college and to realize what most have only known as a dream.
“North Omaha has some outstanding young people who may not be ready or able to attend UNMC or the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as undergraduates,” Dr. Lomax said. “But these same students do very well at a small historically black university like Dillard. We have an environment that may be more suited to their primary needs. Above all, we really do not like to lose a single student once they begin their education with us. We say, if you start with us, we will do everything in our power to give you the resources and support you need to finish and get your degree.
“I envision being able to take African-American students from Omaha, get them that first degree from Dillard and then send them back to Omaha for advanced education, hopefully at UNMC, if not then UNO (the University of Nebraska at Omaha) or UNL, after which they can put their education to use serving their own communities in Nebraska.”
Selecting summer scholars
During several visits to Omaha, Dillard executives met with Tom Harvey, an assistant superintendent of Omaha Public Schools to discuss their summer program. Eventually, Dillard offered to pay all the expenses — $4,500 per student — including round trip air fare, room and board on campus and the tuition for six-week academic curriculum. UNMC provided similar arrangements for five Dillard students and other minorities to participate in the university’s 10-week summer research intern program.
In early May, Harvey, his assistant, Jocelyn Perkins, and Lisa Jewell, director of UNMC’s Community Academy, visited Dillard for several days. They toured the campus, the Gilbert Academy facilities and reviewed the curriculum. Upon returning to Omaha, Harvey reviewed a number of students based on recommendations by their high school principals. Jewell reviewed more than 60 Community Academy members and selected one with the most outstanding leadership skills.
After the five students were chosen, Harvey, Perkins and Jewell met with each students’ parents. In addition, Jewell coordinated the travel arrangements and created personal kit bags for each student that included snacks, sundries and a disposable camera for a photo memory album. Each student also was asked to keep a written journal of their experiences to share with other students in Omaha.
The five students selected from Omaha were:
- Erika Duckworth, 10th grade, Bryan High School
- Kimbria Dowden, 10th grade, Northwest High School
- Cameron Lambert, 11th grade, Northwest High School
- Shabazz Ramsey, 10th grade, Central High School (UNMC Community Academy)
- Isaiah Sayles, 10th grade, North High School
“Gilbert Academy functioned as the feeder school to New Orleans University, the predecessor to Dillard University,” said John McClain, Ph.D., UNMC associate vice chancellor for academic affairs. “Gilbert Academy was a strong force in developing the talents of African American students in the city of New Orleans. It was among the first four-year high schools for African American youth to be accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary School. More than 90 percent of its graduates went on to study at the collegiate level with many attending Dillard University.”
Curriculum, careers and cultural diversity
Gilbert Academy curriculum promotes the development of solid fundamental skills in mathematics, science, and technology, English, writing, social studies, study habits and test taking. The mentors and faculty take great personal interest in the students, fostering personal moral and spiritual development. Workshops are given on career development and exploration of a variety of employment possibilities.
Emphasis is placed on cultural diversity through a number of art, theater and music experiences and teaching scholarly respect for and promotion of cultural pluralism. In addition, there is physical, social and recreational enrichment through attention to physical education, organized social engagements and off-campus activities that help develop responsible patterns of independent living, as college is often the first time the majority of students have ever lived away from home.
“We are very excited about the relationship between the Omaha Public Schools and the Gilbert Academy,” Dr. McClain said. “This unique program provides Omaha African American youth with an extensive preview of college life and signifies a continued commitment to the development of youth by an historically black educational institution.
“Some of these students may select to pursue their undergraduate education at Dillard University, and, indeed, matriculate later within UNMC,” Dr. McClain said. “Most significantly, they will be enriched by their experience with the Gilbert Academy, which will sustain them for the rest of their lives.”