Gabriel Summers Scholar Institute

The VCU Gabriel Summer Scholars Institute in African American Studies is a six-day college immersion experience designed to provide students with a rigorous, dynamic, and fun introduction to the world of Black Studies.

The roles of geography, property, and resources in sustaining livelihoods in family history and genealogical research cannot be denied. Water has played the key role in establishing and growing communities as well as in the migration patterns leading to new lives and opportunities throughout history - the use of it and the search for it have driven history. Researching family history can quickly lead to questions about where your ancestors lived, where they moved, and why.

Up to (30) rising 10th through 12th graders from the greater Richmond region will be introduced to college-level research skills and mapping through genealogy–the study and documentation of their own family history journeys. They will meet scholars and college students, visit African American sites significant to Richmond, including art and history museums, an urban farm/art park, the James River, the Library of Virginia, and the university’s collections.

**Thanks to a generous grant from the Omega Psi Fraternity, we do have funds for tuition assistance. Please indicate your interest where indicated on the application.

Participant Eligibility

• High school students, entering grades 10-12 in 2025-26
• Live in Richmond or the surrounding counties
• Interest in African American studies/Black history
• Minimum GPA: 2.5

Dates: June 22-27, 2026
Schedule:
9 a.m. - 5 p.m. on June 22nd - 26th
10 a.m. - 12 p.m. on June 27th
Camp Base: Gabriel’s House, 816 W. Franklin St.
Cost: $200 [Scholarships are available]**
Apply HERE

Questions? Please contact Gabriel Summer Institute Director Ana Edwards, assistant professor in the Department of African American Studies, at edwardsa@vcu.edu.