News

St. Olaf College has been selected to participate in the Eddie Phillips Scholarship for African-American Men, a program that provides students with scholarship funds, leadership development opportunities, and mentoring. 

Created and coordinated by the Minnesota Private College Fund, the Eddie Phillips Scholarship for African-American Men is funded by The Jay & Rose Phillips Family Foundation of Minnesota. Students are named in the spring of their sophomore year and participate over their junior and senior years in a program that includes advising, mentoring, funded internships, networking with local African-American leaders, and the opportunity to attend a national conference.

The Minnesota Private College Fund selected St. Olaf to participate in the program with two students. The program is coordinated by Dr. Abdul Omari, a local consultant in leadership and mentoring who serves as a regent at the University of Minnesota; he will be in regular contact with participants. St. Olaf Phillips Scholars will also connect frequently with campus coordinators Justin Fleming in the Dean of Students Office and María Pabón in the Taylor Center for Equity and Inclusion, as well as the other student program participants.

Abdul OmariYoung college students are faced with numerous barriers on a given day. Success requires a level of personal commitment and hard work coupled with external support. This program requires the first from scholars and assists with the second.

Leaders note that the program is intentionally designed with a flexible framework that can focus on each student’s educational journey and complement the services and support already provided to students by campus professionals.

“Young college students are faced with numerous barriers on a given day,” Omari says. “Success requires a level of personal commitment and hard work coupled with external support. This program requires the first from scholars and assists with the second.”