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Brittany Stephens ’09 extols her experience at the first degree-granting HBCU any chance she gets. And in her role as a high school counselor during the 2015-16 school year, she often had the opportunity to make a positive impression on students at just the right time in the college admissions process.
“I owe huge part of my success to the values instilled in me at Lincoln University,” Stephens said. “Lincoln University taught me how to be spiritually disciplined, intellectually sound, morally wise, and to always ‘Advance the Legacy.’”
Kai Stewart, the 2016 University of Chicago Charter Woodlawn Campus valedictorian, is now finishing her freshman year at Lincoln University where she attends with a full scholarship.
With this sense of gratitude and indebtedness toward Lincoln, Stephens advocated strongly for students to follow her footsteps and attend her alma mater while serving as the senior class guidance counselor at University of Chicago Charter School Woodlawn Campus.
“You can get education anywhere but to get a sense of self-worth, culture, support, and a push for you to become better; you get that an HBCU. So why not get it from the first degree granting institution for African Americans, Lincoln University?”
Throughout the year, Stephens worked with Nikoia Fredericksen ’11 from Lincoln’s admissions office to recruit seven students who entered Lincoln University in fall 2016: Jataria Harris, Terriyah Clark, DeJiah Jefferson, Kai Stewart, Leshelle Williams, Embrasia Parker, and Gabrielle Powell.
Kai Stewart, the Woodlawn class valedictorian with a 4.10 grade point average, had many options when deciding where to attend college. She said that she was drawn to Lincoln because of its status as an historically black university, but the deciding factor in committing to Lincoln was the enthusiasm of Stephens and Fredericksen. Stewart said that while she had seen many college admissions presentations, Lincoln University’s “really caught [her] attention.”
Kai Stewart, DeiJah Jefferson, Jataria Harris, Brittany Stephens, Terriyah Clark, Gabrielle Powell, and Embrasia Parker at the spring 2016 University of Chicago Charter School Woodlawn Campus annual College Commitment Day.
“There was a positive vibe from Ms. Fredericksen and Ms. Stephens,” Stewart said. “They talked about their personal experiences and told us about the campus spirit and pride. After hearing it, I knew I wanted to invest my talents within my own community at an HBCU, and so I applied on the spot.”
Stewart said enthusiasm combined with financial aid—she was awarded a full, fouryear scholarship—and a support network made the decision to move 700 miles from home an easy one. “I wanted to get out my
comfort zone,” she said.
She has seized the opportunity and found her place at Lincoln; Stewart is active in Lion Media, student government efforts and is a member of the 2017 softball team.
Fredericksen said the partnership with Stephens was part of the admissions office strategic goals set annually to attract and recruit the best students.
“Last year I decided to make Illinois my exploratory territory due to the volume of alumni that I personally knew that were relocated to the area,” Fredericksen said. “[Stephens] had generated significant
interest in the University, and I had discussed a goal of eight students with her.”
Sierra Byers, Woodlawn’s college readiness counselor, called Stephens a “beam of light.”
“Students were drawn to her warm and demanding, yet loving, personality,” Byers said. “Serving as the senior counselor is a very demanding role. Brittany stayed after school every day to write letters of recommendation, to assist students with applications, assisted students with writing papers and helping them apply for scholarships. She never once complained but did her job with grace and excellence.”
Stephens has since moved to Baltimore and continue to champion Lincoln as an early college liaison at Baltimore City Community College.