Oliver Scholars

Oliver Scholars prepares high-achieving Black and Latino students from underserved New York City communities for success at top independent schools and prestigious colleges. We provide crucial support for our Scholars so they can realize their full potential and ultimately give back to the city, the nation, and the world. Founded in 1984, Oliver Scholars prepares high-achieving Black and Latino students in New York City for success at top independent schools and prestigious colleges. Founder John Hoffman was contacted by his alma mater, The George School, for help recruiting academically talented Black and Latino students who would benefit from a rigorous independent school environment. Hoffman partnered with NYC Superintendent Albert G. Oliver to identify the very first Oliver Scholars and to form partnerships with the first group of consortium schools – The George School, Westtown School, and The Brooklyn Friends School. Tragically, Albert G. Oliver passed away in a car accident in 1984, the same year the program was officially founded. John Hoffman named the program in his honor. The first Oliver Scholars, Richard Ray and Tanya Wright, both graduated from The George School in 1985. Tanya then matriculated at Vassar College, and Richard went on to become the program’s first Ivy League graduate, receiving a degree from Columbia University in 1989. To date, the organization has graduated over 1,000 Alumni, with approximately 30 percent attending Ivy League institutions. Oliver Alumni are exceptional Scholars and leaders, who make a difference in the world and give back to their community, their city, and to society as a whole. The numbers speak for themselves. In the class of 2018, 100 percent of our Scholars graduated from a high school and matriculated into college. On average, 96 percent of Oliver Scholars graduate from college within five years. And Oliver’s Alumni are young leaders in fields ranging from law, finance, medicine, academia, and public service.