Around 30 Poughkeepsie High School students spent a portion of their Spring Recess experiencing what post-graduation life may be like and thinking about what it will take to reach those goals.
The students from March 30 to April 1 toured three HBCUs, or Historically Black Colleges and Universities, in the Washington D.C. area, as well as the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and other historic sites.
The idea of the trip each year is not only to expose students to HBCUs but different levels of college life and experiences in general.
The adventure is a collaboration between the school district’s College Readiness and Workforce Education department and Marist Liberty Partnerships Program, with funding coming from both Marist LPP and the district.
Marist LPP is a long-running dropout prevention and college access program, which aims to equip participating Poughkeepsie students with an array of services to improve their academic, social, emotional, and career skills.
Only sophomores and juniors in the Marist LPP program were eligible for the trip. However, Marist LPP Director Crystal Parkhurst said, of the 27 total students participating, 11 were motivated to join Marist LPP in order to take the trip. Other requirements were that students had at least a 90% attendance record and had a grade-point average of at least 80 – though Parkhurst said exceptions were made for a couple students on track to improve their GPA. 
“We were hoping that this experience would motivate them to improve their academics and help them envision themselves on a college campus in the future,” she said.
The group, which included Parkhurst and Marist LPP Assistant Director Dwayne Douglas and program High School Site Coordinator Rachel Cullen as chaperones, visited Morgan State University on the first day and met with Jourdan Defontes Harville, Class of 2025 Poughkeepsie High School graduate wrapping up her freshman year.
The second day began with a trip to the museum before exploring Howard University’s campus, where they took a tour and spoke with current students to learn about its history and culture. The group also visited the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial.
The last day began with a trip to Cheyney University, the nation’s oldest HBCU. A smaller campus, the students were able to get a feel for the different experiences big and small schools may offer. After lunch, the group boarded the bus to return to Poughkeepsie.
Parkhurst said much of the student feedback on a post-trip survey indicated they were inspired by the trip and felt a deeper sense of connection to potential college pathways. She noted at least one student already plans to apply to Morgan State.
“We asked the students ‘Are you more or less likely to consider attending an HBCU after graduation?’” Parkhurst said. “One said, ‘I’m more likely to consider attending an HBCU after graduation because there is a strong sense of community and cultural connection.’”
The district and Marist LPP launched the trip last year in the hopes of it becoming an annual event. Parkhurst said “it continues to be a really valuable collaboration.
“Looking ahead to next year, we’re planning to take students on a tour of New York State colleges in the Niagara Falls and Buffalo area to give them a different perspective on college options,” she said.