My name is Joe Omojola. I obtained my Bachelor’s degree in Engineering Physics in Nigeria, an MS in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a PhD in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ. I am a Professor of Mathematics and Physics at Southern University at New Orleans. I first heard about the Kumon program after I earned my PhD in 1990. I was so impressed by the curriculum, method, discipline, and structure of the program that I was determined to let my children experience it. This determination eventually led me to start the Westbank Kumon center in 2001. The rewards for both my children and others’ children have been tremendous. I am motivated by the fact that children’s confidence increases as they acquire the necessary skills in Math and Reading through the Kumon method.
As a result of my pre-Katrina work in mentoring, I received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM) at the White House on Friday, November 16, 2007. This award is more meaningful to me because my nominator is one of my former students who is currently a college professor in Physics. The $10,000 grant that accompanied the Presidential award was used to establish the Gateway to Excellence in Math and Science (GEMS) Summer Camp for elementary school students.