Obidimma Okobi Foundation Endowment Scholarship

Obidimma Olga Ibimina Okobi, January 19, 1977 – April 3, 2017

The Obidimma Okobi Memorial Foundation was created in memory of Obidimma Okobi, who passed suddenly on April 3, 2017. “Obi,” as she was affectionately called, was the school principal of City Neighbors Hamilton School at the time of her death. Many students, teachers, families, and colleagues throughout the Baltimore district and Connecticut saw her as a source of inspiration and joy. She personified the love of learning, commitment to students, and dedication to the principles of equity and justice that are the hallmark of a great educator.

About Obi: Obidimma Okobi was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She came to Connecticut with her mother and her three younger siblings. While living in Clinton, Obi attended elementary school at the Jared Elliot School and was in the Gifted and Talented Program. She then went to Miss Porter’s School, in Farmington, Connecticut, for high school, graduating in 1994, and to Wesleyan University in Middleton, Connecticut, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Art History in 1998. She interned at the Museum of Modern Arts, (MOMA) in New York City. In 2001, Obi graduated with a master’s degree in Urban Studies from Southern Connecticut State University.

An avid runner, Obi participated in several half-marathons. She was active in sports, captaining lacrosse in college, and serving as co-captain for the lacrosse and field hockey teams in high school. While teaching, she coached girl’s lacrosse.

Obi served as a mentor, motivational speaker, and outreach coordinator. She was also an active member of many organizations and communities, focusing on arts and culture, children, civil rights and social action, education, health, human rights, poverty alleviation, and social services.

Obi was very interested in Education and took a job with the Hamden Public

School system as an ombudsman and an advocate for students and their parents. Based on this experience, she decided to work with disadvantaged populations and moved to Baltimore, Maryland as a Teacher in the House program participant and obtained her State of Maryland Teacher Certification in 2004 through the Johns Hopkins University, School of Education program. She taught at in the Waverly Elementary School in Baltimore City and in Park School, a private school in Baltimore City. Obi went on to Harvard University Graduate School of Education and graduated with a Master of Education in 2012. She became the principal of City Neighbor’s Hamilton Charter School in Baltimore at age 35. She was there for five years when she died suddenly in April 2017. ”

About The Obidimma Okobi Memorial Foundation: To honor Obi’s passion for and dedication to improving the lives and educational experiences of children and peer the Obidimma Okobi Memorial Foundation has established Obidimma Okobi Endowment Scholarship at the College of Education, Southern Connecticut State University.

The Obidimma Okobi Memorial Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions are tax deductible. FEIN: 82-3746778

Want to join me in making a difference? I'm raising money to benefit Obidimma Okobi Memorial Foundation Inc, scholarship endowment at Southern Connecticut State University at the College of Education to benefit elementary education majors. The award will go to needy students that commit to teach in underserved communities. and any donation will help make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to her family that wants to keep her memory and vision alive.

Please help us to make Obi’s passion a reality and keep her memory alive by donating to the scholarship fund.

Thank you