Twelve Ocean Lakes students attended the 200+ Scholars Breakfast which honored their academic excellence.
The event took place on May 17, 2025, at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. The event recognized African-American high school males who are graduating with a 3.0 or higher GPA.
The first 200+ Scholars took place on May 16, 1998, and since then, more than 9,500 scholars have been honored.
“Sometimes the perception people have is oftentimes negative about young black males, so we wanted to put the spotlight on young men in our community that are achieving excellence in school,” president of 200+ Men Inc. Jimmy Gray said in an interview on their YouTube channel. “We want to make sure that we counter any negative perception that is out there.”
Each person received a gold medallion which symbolizes their hard work.
Representatives from colleges and universities announced scholarships as well. Churches, volunteer organizations, corporate partners and members of the 200+ men provided sponsorships for the event.
“The 27th annual 200+ Scholars Breakfast continues the tradition of celebrating and empowering young African-American men in the Hampton Roads area,” Principal Dr. Claire LeBlanc said.
