Dr. Kpakpundu Ezeze

DR. KPAKPUNDU EZEZE

The power of education is not lost on me, nor should it be lost on you. Having attended some of the most prestigious institutions in higher education has afforded me opportunities I could have never imagined but here I am adding philanthropist to my list of accomplishments. I do believe in the adage, “to whom much is given, much is expected.” In that spirit, I chose to dedicate my life to engaging with students from all walks of life so that they could receive a quality education and its benefits.

As founder and president of Future Quest, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in educational planning and college placement, I work primarily with first-generation college-bound teens. Additionally, I am a part-time counselor/adjunct professor on the Montgomery College Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus.

While meeting with students to discuss their academic and life goals, I am often privy to the struggles they face—especially many of the African American male students. Throughout my career in higher education, I have been acutely aware of the additional hurdles many first-generation students encounter, most notably, students of color. Often, they experience financial challenges and find themselves in communities and environments that feel unwelcoming and that can be difficult to navigate.

When I learned about the Presidential Scholars Program at Montgomery College, I was immediately drawn to its mission to address career areas in which African American males are underrepresented. In addition to providing financial assistance and a community of support, the Presidential Scholars Program offers its scholars access to mentors and coaches who share my belief in empowering these students to thrive both scholastically and socially.

I wholeheartedly believe in and support the students in the Presidential Scholars Program, which is why I established the Dr. Kpakpundu Ezeze’s Endowed Transfer Scholarship.