On November 6, 2019, Garrison Forest partnered with Gilman School and Friends School of Baltimore to host our third annual HBCU program. This year the event was housed on the Friends School campus in the Forbush Auditorium.

Director of College Counseling Ann Marie Strauss and Emerson Daniel '19

The event featured a keynote address by The Reverend Freda Marie Brown Stewart Brown, Associate Rector at Church of the Redeemer, on Charles Street. Her address focused on how her experience at Xavier University of Louisiana shaped her personal life and her professional career. Mike Molina, Gilman School English faculty and Director of Finney-Greene Program performed an original spoken word performance about his HBCU experience. His performance highlighted that HBCUs are family. His heartfelt performance received a standing ovation. Click here to watch. 

Breakout session on the HBCU student experience

Breakout sessions followed on financial aid, the college admissions process, SAT & ACT information and a session on the student experience which was facilitated by 2019 Garrison Forest School graduates, Kenya Chase-Mercer and Emerson Daniel. The evening was a joyful celebration of the opportunities and benefits of attending HBCUs. 

Lower School Counselor Shondra Cowling, Director of College Counseling Ann Marie Strauss, Emerson Daniel '19, Director of the James Center and Dean of Special Programs Andrea Perry, Kenya Chase-Mercer '19, Head of Upper School Reema Khanchandani and James Center Program Assistant Leye Owolabi '14