Hudson County Community College Students Awarded Scholarships from Nu Lambda Lambda Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
November 23, 2022
November 23, 2022, Jersey City, NJ – Hudson County Community College (HCCC) freshmen and Jersey City residents Michael Herron and Jaydean Wilkerson are recipients of scholarships from the Nu Lambda Lambda Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
The scholarships were established in honor of the late Dr. Derrick E. Nelson, who served as an educator and was a member of the United States Army Reserve. Known for his generosity, support, and heroism, Dr. Nelson embodied the principles of the Nu Lambda Lambda Chapter of Omega Psi Phi. As the Principal of Westfield High School, he was an academic leader and educational innovator who instituted an engineering program, modernized the school’s technology, and touched the lives of students, teachers, and the community. A lifetime member of Omega Psi Phi, Dr. Nelson was named Educator of the Year by the Nu Lambda Lambda Chapter.
The $1,000 scholarships are provided to African American males who graduated from or attended Hudson County high schools and have a 3.0, 4.0, or 5.0 grade point average (GPA). Scholarship recipients are selected based on their character, integrity, leadership, academic success, and community service.
Pictured here, Hudson County Community College (HCCC) Vice President for Advancement and Communications, Nicole B. Johnson; HCCC President, Dr. Christopher Reber; HCCC students and recipients of Nu Lambda Lambda Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Scholarships, Michael Herron and Jaydean Wilkerson; and Nu Lambda Lambda Chapter Scholarship Committee Chair, Bro. Keith Cummings.
Michael Herron is a graduate of Henry Snyder High School. He is studying Art at HCCC. “I chose to major in Art because of my creative passion to draw. My hope is to also learn how to animate cartoons,” said Mr. Herron. “I am usually quiet and reserved, but I can talk for hours about interesting topics.”
Jaydean Wilkerson is a Dickinson High School graduate. Active in football and basketball, he stayed involved in youth sports despite being sidelined due to a shoulder injury. “I’m giving back to the youth of Jersey City by volunteering my time coaching for Dickinson and the Jersey City Jets football teams,” Mr. Wilkerson said. “It’s been tough with my dad recently passing, so I’ve been helping my mom take care of my four brothers and sisters. I chose an Education major at HCCC because I enjoy helping younger people expand their knowledge, and I want to make a big impact on their lives.”
Since 2003, Nu Lambda Lambda Chapter has continuously focused its collective gifts and talents on improving the quality of life for African Americans and the underserved in the greater Jersey City community. The fraternity’s Cardinal Principles – manhood, scholarship, perseverance, and uplift – are its core values and the bedrock that guided men committed to the organization’s expectations.
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. was the first international fraternal organization to be founded on the campus of an historically Black college, Howard University, in 1911. Famous Omega men include composer/musician William “Count” Basie, novelist Langston Hughes, basketball superstar Michael Jordan, astronaut Ronald McNair, and civil rights advocate Jesse Jackson, to name a few.