More than 100 students from Eagle Academy for Young Men of Harlem visited The City College of New York (CCNY) on April 7 for the school’s first CCNY Takeover Day. The event allowed high schoolers to attend classes, participate in discussions, and tour various academic departments including Black Studies, WHCR, and the CUNY School of Medicine.
The initiative aimed to give local students exposure to college life and encourage them to consider higher education opportunities. Hosted by CCNY’s School of Education as part of its Liberty Partnerships Program (LPP), the day sought to offer what Director Yussuf Khan called “tangible college experiences,” which he described as “invaluable for students.”
Khan said that despite being located nearby, many Eagle Academy students were not familiar with CCNY. “For many of our high schoolers, CCNY could be their next step,” Khan said. “We’re just up the hill, yet some students don’t even know about the college. That’s one of the reasons why an event such as this is so critical.”
Charles Curtis, post-secondary success manager at Eagle Academy Harlem, helped organize the event after volunteering in programs that prepare young men for college and careers. Reflecting on his motivation, Curtis said: “It would be awesome if we plopped our students into the CCNY campus.”
Students who attended shared positive impressions from their experience. Junior Aneudy Tavarez noted his previous participation in Urban Scholar classes at CCNY during summer 2023 and expressed interest in studying forensic science or chemistry at a local college. Senior Modiu Thiabou appreciated the independence offered by a college environment: “There are no bells in the classroom,” he said. “You’re your own person in college. I like that.”
Assistant Principal Carmel Macklin highlighted her commitment to supporting young men through education: “I love the vision [of] pouring into the young men, making them responsible leaders who go back and make their community better [by] developing the whole person,” she said.
The event reflects ongoing efforts by both institutions to bridge connections between local schools and higher education resources.
