The Double Discovery Center celebrates its 50th anniversary

July 15, 2015

For 50 years, the Double Discovery Center has worked to increase high school graduation, college enrollment and completion of high school education by low-income and first-generation college-bound youth from low performing schools in northern Manhattan. Founded in 1965 by Columbia University and Barnard College undergraduates who wanted to address the disparities between the Ivy League institution they attended and the underserved and underperforming schools in the community around them, the program set forth to improve local schools by exposing students to the rigor of Columbia while simultaneously engaging Columbia and Barnard students with their surrounding neighborhood.

Now in its 50th year, DDC has made college a reality for more than 15,000 of its alumni, providing services that include one-to-one advising, workshops, homework help, tutoring, academic classes, internships, college trips and special events that range from career days to science labs. Annually, 90 percent of DDC high school seniors graduate from high school on time and enter college the following fall, a record that far surpasses City, State and national outcomes for low-income, first-generation college-bound and minority students. DDC continues to foster a culture of achievement, instilling the skills, confidence and hope needed for these students to pursue their highest aspirations, complete their educations and become productive members of our communities.

DDC will host a 50th anniversary fundraising gala on Thursday, September 10, 2015, at 6:30 p.m., in Columbia University’s historic Low Library Rotunda. This celebration will honor Joel Klein CC’67, CEO of Amplify and executive vice president of News Corp, and Roger Lehecka CC’67, GSAS’74, a founding member of DDC.  All proceeds will support DDC in its work to expand access to higher education for low-income high school students from underperforming schools, almost all of whom will be the first in their families to attend college, by providing mentorship, academic support, college advising and cultural enrichment.

In honor of DDC’s 50 years of service to the community, the Center profiled alumni from the past five decades. Please click on this link to see their stories