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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Eleven seniors in the Men of Tomorrow mentorship program are getting ready to receive thousands of dollars in scholarships at the annual Black and Gold Scholarship Ball.
The Gamma Zeta Lamba Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated has been giving back to the Tampa community since 1945. Alpha Phi Alpha is the first Black Greek-lettered organization created in the U.S. In 2004, the chapter established its GZL Educational Foundation, which oversees its Men of Tomorrow Mentorship Program. Since then, the organization has mentored hundreds of local students and they have given out over $200,000 in scholarships.
At their 78th annual Black and Gold Scholarship Ball, 11 local seniors will receive a $500 book stipend, a new laptop, and a monetary scholarship. In total, the organization will give out roughly $75,000.
Isaiah Akiwumi is a senior at Armwood High School and has been in MOT since he was in sixth grade. However, he was a bit reluctant to start six years ago.
“When I was in sixth grade I wanted nothing to do with the program,” said Akiwumi. “It was definitely mom-driven.”
It was a similar situation for Damian Hampton. He is also a senior at Armwood High School and started MOT in the ninth grade.
“I was just going to stay for the scholarships,” Hampton said.
However, those feelings quickly changed. Now, as seniors in high school, they couldn’t imagine being here without having gone through the program.
“I am definitely glad I made the decision to stay because it’s been a very beneficial program for me,” Akiwumi said.
“When I got into MOT, it was like I felt safe, I felt like I could talk to people without being judged,” Hampton said.
Men of Tomorrow is more than a mentorship program. It’s a brotherhood where local boys from sixth through twelfth grades grow academically, professionally, and personally.
Ben Walker, the President of the GZL Educational Foundation said his goal as president is to ensure that young men push themselves after graduating high school.
“We teach them public speaking, SAT prep, how to tie a tie, how to get on the grill and grill a little bit,” Walker said.
“What we tell the young men is, we don’t care what route you take because there’s so many ways to success here, but we just want you to continue your education- trade school, two-year or four-year option,” Walker said.
That’s why Walker said the program focuses on exposing young men to endless opportunities.
“A lot of young men they don’t know the opportunities are out there because they aren’t exposed to them,” said Walker. “Through this program, they get that exposure so they can see, maybe I do want to be engineer, a doctor, or even a plumber.”
The students get that exposure from men who look like them, and to them, that exposure means everything.
“They had the choice to not do this at all, but they made the choice to do it because they care about us Black men, and we’re the future, so we have to do something and they did something,” Hampton said.
That something even goes beyond academics.
“Even when my stepdad wasn’t there, I had to make sure I was the man of the house,” Hampton said. “MOT really taught me to be a better man even with my stepdad there or not”
“I applied for a job at Busch Gardens and one of the challenges I was having was I couldn’t get to the interview,” said Akiwumi. “I called one of the brothers, they took me there and I did get that job.”
Both Akiwumi and Hampton are grateful for their experiences in MOT and encourage all young men to go through the program.
“Probably the best thing I’ve ever been in,” Hampton said.
The 78th Annual Black and Gold Ball is Saturday, December 6 p.m. at the Hilton Downtown. WFLA’s Deanne King will be hosting the Ball. Tickets are still available.
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