Maya McFadden photo
Livingstone President Anthony J. Davis with Hillhouse senior Chamar Lee.
Hillhouse High School senior Chamar Lee came to school never having heard of North Carolina’s Livingstone College — until he was surprised with a visit and “opportunity of a lifetime” by the college’s president.
Fifteen of Hillhouse’s Class of 2024 were given on-the-spot acceptances to the private Black Christian college during a 10-city tour stop on Friday by the college’s president, Anthony J. Davis, who himself is a New Haven native.
The Friday event was arranged by Connecticut NAACP President Scot X. Esdaile, New Haven Public Schools (NHPS) Youth, Family, and Community Supervisor Kermit Carolina, and Taneha Edwards, a college access advisor at Hillhouse for Higher Heights.
Out of 25 applications received on Friday, 15 local student Academics left the Sherman Parkway school’s auditorium as potential future Blue Bears. Seven seniors received full rides. A total of $215,000 for students’ first years at Livingstone was given out Friday, reported Shari Hill, a senior recruiter at the college.
Also in attendance Friday was Chaka Felder-McEntire, who is the founder and executive director of Higher Heights Youth Empowerment Programs, Inc.
In addition to Hillhouse, Higher Heights is in partnership with New Haven Public Schools at High School in the Community and Hill Regional Career High School.
President Davis talks with Academics Friday morning.
Davis told the Hillhouse class of 2024 that he grew up in foster care in New Haven. That obstacle didn’t stop him from having hope, he said.
He said during his senior year of high school he had 90 days to make a decision for his future before he aged out of the system and would become homeless. He decided to go into the military. After serving in the military, his mother, the late beloved city educator Wanda Gibbs, encouraged him to further his education. “Twenty two years later, I got my dream job,” he said, thanks to going back to school.
“Somebody from your neighborhood is now one of 100 HBCU presidents,” Davis added. “I want to come back to my hometown and help young people unlock their potential. Unleash their power.”
He told the students that Friday was a day of “no games, no gimmicks, and not a gamble, just a gift.”
He encouraged students to apply on the spot Friday if they play sports, are in band, play video games, are club leaders. “I need to grow my band for battle of the bands. We have any trumpet players in here? I need a trumpet player bad.”
Senior Jose Santos was the only senior to raise his hand when asked who plays trumpet.
Before Friday, Santos was considering Norfolk State University as a top school but after learning about Livingstone and being accepted on the spot, he said he has something to discuss with his family now. “I’m going to go to the school that offers me the most money,” he said. He added that he wants to join a school marching band.
“I didn’t see a lot of opportunities so this is really big for me,” Santos said. “It means that there’s hope out there.”
“All of you who have a 3.5 GPA or higher, as the president of Livingstone College, I’m extending you an opportunity to be a presidential scholar on the campus of Livingstone College starting this Fall,” Davis said.
The Livingstone team offered students with 2.0 GPA’s an acceptance. He added that students who were offered full rides would be awarded the difference in their tuition after their FAFSA funds are applied.
According to the college’s website, the average annual tuition and cost of attending Livingstone is around $28,000 a year before student aid, and $15,000 after aid.
He also promised students that if they increase their GPA to a 3.5 or higher by the end of the year, the school would increase their scholarship.
“As the president we give away $4.5 million every year, so why wouldn’t I start in my own community?” Davis said.
Senior Alanis Morales, who left Friday with an acceptance and a $3,100 scholarship, calls her mom with President Davis. "You just never know what you're going to get until you put yourself out there," she said.
Senior Niyah Walker left her school’s auditorium Friday with a full ride offer from the Livingstone admission team. “It makes things easier because you get to talk and see actually people. Doing things online or on paper is just not the same,” she said.
“Financially this does seem like a good choice,” she said. “It will probably be my top choice.”
Not only does Livingstone check off Walker’s list of being a HBCU, but also offers a major in early childhood education, which is her career goal thanks to inspiration from her Hillhouse teachers. “I want to become a teacher in general because of the teachers that I’ve had. They left a really good impression on me.”
Senior Adam Massey was inspired to apply to Livingstone Friday after hearing Davis’ story and commitment to give back to New Haven students. “It was easy, quick, and fast,” he said.
On a scale measuring his interest in attending the school, Massey placed himself Friday at 90 percent, with 100 being ready to leave tomorrow.
Senior Chamar Lee couldn’t believe the opportunity put in front of him Friday as he’s been searching for the right college that is financially feasible for his mother who is raising five children.
Lee is also considering starting at Southern Connecticut State University because he been able to rack up 18 college credits while in high school.
When listing his top priories for a school, he said, “I really don’t want my mom to pay for school at all” and he doesn’t want to be too far from home so he can visit for holidays, and he wants to major in business and sports management.
Lee exchanged numbers with Davis Friday to talk more about football and shot-put opportunities at the college. “It shows that he’s real interested. I got his phone number to contact him, that shows that I can have that trust and bond which is really needed,” Lee said.
Senior Mohamed Faro got a full ride Friday and called his mom alongside Felder-McEntire. He said it sounds like a better offer than he got from UCONN for theatre, which is the only school he applied for this year.
“I feel really grateful and blessed,” he said. “It even inspired me to one day come back to my community and give back to my community.”
Adam Massey gets on-the-spot acceptance from Hill.
Niyah Walker gets a full ride to Livingstone.
Mohamed Faro calls mom after getting full ride.
I hope that HHS will look beyond the HBCU and get into the wider world. Perhaps, they could even consider whether the traditional college path has become passe and that hard skills are the way to forge a path. One can always pick up that degree later. There are many options for youth and I hope they make good choices. Hillhouse should not be a feeder for HBCU's alone.