Middle school students visit the nation's capital and Atlanta/Alabama area in their three years in middle school. The trips are designed to provide young students with an early exposure to college, visit historical landmarks, have fun, learn to plan and organzie, and further build friendships.
A Trip to the South African Embassy
Our first trip to an embassy - we had a wonderful visit at the South African Embassy, along with tours to several colleges. For the first time we visited Coppin State University, and had just our second trip to Morgan State University.Now That Was a Semiformal
Probably the best semiformal ever! We were able to book a restaurant/club, and we had the entire venue to ourselves. And a DJ! We visited Morris Brown for the first time, and met with the president, where we provided a $500 donation to assist the school in its efforts to regain certification. This was also our first time visiting Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.First Trip to Virginia
In two previous DC trips the school never ventured south of Washington, DC. This time however, we toured both Hampton University and Norfolk State University for the first times. We also had 3 Ile Omode alums attending Howard University, and received our own personal tour.Most students
At the time, the 2014 was the most students who had ever attended a Ile Omode college tour - 20 students in all! We also visited the most colleges ever - touring the grounds of 7 colleges in Georgia and Alabama.We visited the most schools during this trip. Our itinerary:
- MONDAY: Glady's Knight Chicken and Waffles
- TUESDAY: Morehouse, Spelman, and Clark-Atlanta
- WEDNESDAY: Georgia State, CNN
- THURSDAY: Tuskegee, Alabama State, Tuskegee Airmen Museum
Our Second DC Trip
The trip coincided with DC's "Emancipation Day", a local celebration to observe Abraham Lincoln's signing of the Compensated Emancipation Act, and also a time to push for DC statehood. The local holiday was promoted by DC Councilman Vincent Orange, an Oakland native. After meeting our group we received a personal tour of the DC Council chambers and a personal invitation to visit the Capitol.First Atlanta Trip
The school's first trip to the south, and it was great. Our students saw the three historic schools which comprise the Atlanta University Center - Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Clark-Atlanta University. They skated at the Cascade, featured in the movie, "ATL", and they ate at Gladys Knight's Chicken and Waffles restaurant where they met Tommy Ford, who played "Tommy" on the 90s sitcom, Martin.
First College Tour
Our school's first ever college tour. The first trip included only 9 students, and was originally planned for just several 8th graders, but we decided to include 7th graders as well, and by the following trip all middle school students were eligible to attend.
The colleges may vary slightly across each tour, but there are always some mainstays to our trip.
Washington, DC: We always visit Howard University in Washington, DC. We have also visited Georgetown University, and the University of the District of Columbia. In previous years we visited Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland, and in 2016 we took our first trip to Virginia, where we toured Hampton University and Norfolk State Univeristy.
Atlanta/Alabama: The Atlanta college tour includes Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Clark-Atlanta University. We have also visited Georgia State University and Georgia Tech University in Atlanta; as well as Alabama State University and Tuskegee University in Alabama.
Because it's fun. Because college should be the definitive goal of every child, and the best way to accomplish this goal is to allow students to experience college.
Since the first trip the vast majority of students have attended college, and even more have attended HBCUs including Howard University, Grambling University, Prairie-View University, and Clark-Atlanta University.
With one exception, each trip has cost less than $800 per student, and this cost includes airfare, vehicle rentals, hotel accomondation, food, and entry into any venues - everything except spending money for souvenirs. Comparable trips run at least $3,000. Although it more recent years, the cost has climbed towards $1,200.
While many parents are able to pay for the trip over several installments throughout the year, the school also offers a chocolate candy fundraiser for families who would like their children to help with paying for the cost or who simply can not afford the trip.
Over the years, a number of children have raised over a $1,000 for their trip. The chocolate fundraiser is optional, and students have taken different approaches to raising funds. Students have begun "GoFundMe" campaigns, and one student sold baked goods weekly at school.
We want to do everything possible to ensure every student has an opportunity to participate.