Krannert alumni help launch Indianapolis school for underprivileged students
Thursday, August 26, 2021
August 2021 brought the opening the Harriet Tubman School of Excellence (HTSE), an independent, faith-based private middle school serving underprivileged scholars in Indianapolis that was launched by Krannert alumni.
HTSE is the brainchild of Jeremiah Lockett, Jr., and fellow Krannert MBA 2018 classmates Anna MacDonald and Orin Reininga. “The concept began as a brand management project in our MGMT 690 class in the Weekend MBA Program,” MacDonald says. “Without the tools and connections provided by Krannert, we may not have been able to open our doors.”
Although Reininga is no longer directly involved in HTSE, MacDonald serves as vice president of its Board of Trustees. Lockett is the founder and director of HTSE, whose mission is to impact the lives of every scholar that comes into its care by creating an enriching educational experience through an intense academic curriculum, emphasis on holistic character development, and meaningful civic engagement.
"My life is a product of what a quality education can do for an individual,” Lockett says. “I was raised in a very modest household, and my parents emphasized the importance of obtaining an education to better one’s situation in life. Remarkably, the education I received positioned me to have such once-in-a-lifetime experiences as meeting the distinguished U.S. Senator Richard Lugar in the White House and speaking in front of an audience of over 10,000 people in the Georgia Dome.
"As a firm believer in the value of education, I want to make sure that young people who are under-served have access to unique opportunities that can position them to maximize their potential and become contributors to the progress of our great nation."
To learn more about HTSE, visit https://htseindy.org/.