First Scholarship Recipient Prepares to go to Ghana

Lawrence's situation is all too typical; a tough neighborhood where only 1 in 40 African-American men finish college, a single parent home and very little income. His chances for success however are brighter. Lawrence is a Junior at Urban Prep Charter Academy for Young Men, the city's first public high school solely for boys. Urban Prep was founded to support eager and committed young men like Lawrence make the most of their talents and opportunities.

Lawrence maintains a 3.5 grade point average, is a leader among his peers, and in the words of his sponsor at Urban Prep, "has gained the respect of all the staff, administration and students. He is a deep critical thinker, with an analytical mind."

Lawrence developed some specific goals for his time in Ghana, "The media portrays Africa as a poor country, in which the violence, diseases, and death rates are a large epidemic. I want to gain more knowledge about the truth about these stereotypes and contrast what I saw in Africa to how Africa is being depicted by America. I hope to gain a friendship with one of the Ghanaians who are my age and learn how they are coping with the situations that they are facing in their society. This experience will influence me to go back and tell my fellow classmate about what I have witnessed."

The Urban Scholar Program of The Kokrobitey Institute in Ghana, West Africa is a two-week leadership development and study abroad experience. It includes daily journal writing, field trips focussing on Environmental Sciences, home-stay/internships and cultural immersion into Ghanaian history and society.