LA Waters African-American Initiative Program

Apply Online: LA Waters Scholarship

Purpose

To expose young black males to positive and influential black men that hold them accountable academically, with the intentions of helping them matriculate into a college setting.

 Goals

1. To have 100% promotion( success) rate of all mentees.
2. To establish healthy and productive mentor/mentee relationships that hold mentees accountable for their academic success.
3. To assist mentees with goal setting and future planning.
 

Who is Mr. Leander Allen Waters?

Throughout his lifetime, Lee valued education and was a supporter of youth. He went out of his way to encourage and oftentimes gave money, without telling anyone, to help support the education of a number of college students. He was a respected employee and community volunteer. He contributed in innumerable ways to support education. He never missed an opportunity to mentor students. He served as a mentor to middle school males, oftentimes bringing them home and teaching them life skills such as painting, and how to change the oil in a car.

Lee better know as “Unky” to his family and friends, started an annual back to school cookout celebration that was held the first weekend in August. Relatives and friends would bring children and youth from as far away as Jacksonville, Florida and Maryland. The theme for the annual celebration remained the same “stay focused”. He encouraged school kids to remain focused in school and life. Each year, he would give his annual motivational speech, and each child would receive a certificate of Excellence for staying in school. All of the kids looked forward to this event each year, which was held at different locations throughout Georgia.

Lee was no stranger to Gainesville College. His wife, Professor Theresa Dove-Water, introduced Lee to the Gainesville College family when she started working at the college approximately seventeen years ago, and he was on first names basis with most of the employees.  He attended most of the Jazz Band concerts and plays. He loved to jog or ride his bike on campus, often taking full advantage of the gym and nature trail.  At the time of his death he was enrolled in a golf course at the college.