Our History

Origin Story

In 2005, a group of fourteen community leaders convened at the home of Tony and Teddie Brown. School Board members, representatives from University of North Carolina, North Carolina Central University, and Duke University, and Durham Academy administrators sat at a table and dreamt of a new way to empower Durham Public Schools students to own their education.


Mary Williams, Amanda Dorsey, and Dan Kimberg, three college students, shared their commitment to working with the community to build a sustainable and impactful organization. Guided by what they learned from Tony Brown’s Social Entrepreneurship class and their work in education both locally and abroad, the three students facilitated a conversation about dreams, brilliance, and the spread of joy. Under the leadership of this fourteen-person Start-Up Advisory Committee, a program began to form. With core values as its foundation and a crazy dream as its objective, Student U was created by Durham and for Durham.

Timeline

2005
Student U the idea is formed. The mission was twofold: to inspire public middle school students from Durham, North Carolina to believe they can succeed in an academic environment and to motivate college students to pursue careers in public education.
3 college students and 14 community leaders
2005
2007
Student U is founded and welcomes its founding students and parents into the community
50 students
1 full-time employee
Budget: $93,000
2007
2010
Student U launches high school program
200 students
3 full-time employees
Budget: $335,000
2010
2013
Student U begins daily school-year program for middle school students
350 students
7 full-time employees
Budget: $790,000
2013
2014
Student U graduates first high school class and implements college promise program
400 students
11 full-time employees

39 High School Grad Alumni
Budget: $1,300,000
2014
2016
Adoption of our Problem Statement: As a result of structural racism, poverty, and other systemic injustices, first-generation college-bound students face significant personal and institutional obstacles to educational success. This situation prevents our community from reaching its full potential.
500 students
18 full-time employees

109 High School Grad Alumni
2016
2017
Student U acquires The W.G. Pearson Center, it’s new permanent home
550 students
21 full-time employees

147 High School Grad Alumni
Budget: $3,000,000
2017
2018
Student U graduates first college cohort
550 students
21 full-time employees

188 High School Grad Alumni

19 College Grad Alumni
Budget: $3,000,000
2018
2020
Student U reveals our new mission and approach
550 students
19 full-time employees

273 High School Grad Alumni

34 College Grad Alumni
Budget: $3,000,000
2020
2021
Student U opens The W.G. Pearson Learning Center during COVID school closures
550 students
110 students at WG Learning Center
19 full-time employees

314 High School Grad Alumni

43 College Grad Alumni
2021
2022
Student U increases our impact by sharing our best practices
2022

Sam Kimberg Award Winners

Sam was Dan Kimberg’s grandfather and the man that inspired the values and joy that are at the center of Student U. He is remembered and honored each year in our Sam Kimberg Award. This award is given to one Student U community member who has brought the most Joy to our community. The winner is then asked to write a chapter in the book “Sam’s School” about how he or she has learned to spread Joy to the World. Check out a small excerpt of their thoughts below.

OUR FOUNDING PARTNERS

our community stories

The brilliance and successes of Student U’s community

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The Kendall Family

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Elijah & Ethan

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Elliot & Taryn

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