Joe Hill was only 16 years old when he applied to Georgetown as a transfer student, on the verge of completing his Associates Degree with a perfect 4.0 average.

Suffice it to say that Joe’s path was the one less traveled.  For his freshman and sophomore year of high school, he attended a Philadelphia public school.  To enter the school, students walked through metal detectors, were subject to random locker searches, and they often witnessed riots.  When more than one school fight warranted circling helicopters, his parents sought out other options.

Private high school was not an option his family could afford, but they did find a solution in early admission to a community college that would grant him – upon graduation – both an Associates and a high school degree.

When I ask him how he ended up on the Hilltop, he admits, “I wasn’t thinking about Georgetown originally.  The only school I knew about in D.C. was Howard.”  As he got involved in the Presidential campaign, though, he learned more about Georgetown and realized it was the ideal fit.  Seeing the infamous Exorcist steps sealed the deal.  But, once again, there were finances to consider.

“My parents were very concerned about money… They looked at the tuition, and” – he laughs – “they’re like, ‘OK, that’s funny!’”  Ultimately, though, Joe says, “My parents would’ve done anything [to make Georgetown possible].  My mom would’ve taken a second job, so it would have been doable.  But GSP made my parents’ lives easier.  We are extremely grateful.”

At Georgetown, he is a Political Economy major and has been involved in student government and the NAACP.  He volunteers at an Anacostia church where he's helped with their housing program.  He is also on the board of Georgetown’s Student Commission for Unity where he has looked at the educational background of students and how it impacts college preparation.

In the spring, Joe took up an offer to become the Chairman of the Philadelphia Youth Commission, an appointment from the city's mayor.  In this position, he works with the National Youth Commission to “advise Congress and the President on youth opinion on violence, crime, healthcare and civic engagement.”  He represents the opinion of 300,000 young people in Philadelphia, the largest city with a youth commission.

He asked that I pass along this message to GSP Program Members: “I’d like to thank you for your support and show you what a difference your generosity makes.  Your support is being put to good use.  All of the students I know in GSP are doing great things; they’re going to be leaders.”

Joe is no exception.  After college, he hopes to pursue work in education, an issue near and dear to his own heart.  As he says: “I believe that everyone should be able to have access to a good education where you don’t have to share books with classmates and have bars on windows – especially in a country like ours.”

Melissa Foy C’03
GSP Program Director

The GSP Class of 2009 celebrated their graduation with a reception in the historic Riggs Library that honored their parents. 

Attendees included the Provost James O'Donnell, Assoc. Provost Marcia Mintz, the Dean of Student Financial Services Patricia McWade, and Dean of Georgetown College Chet Gillis, as well as GSP Class Chairs who also had seniors graduating.

About 150 people attended and Kristina Arthurs (COL'09, GSP'64) brought down the house with a rendition of Alicia Key's song, "If I Ain't Got You" that she dedicated to her parents.

Thank you to all of you, our GSP Program Members, for making Georgetown possible for these outstanding students.