51ÁÔÆæ grad Reuben Harpole is highly respected in Milwaukee for his unparalleled contributions as mentor to countless inner city youth and their families. Harpole and his wife, Mildred, have dedicated themselves to the advancement of teaching and learning in the Milwaukee community for more than 50 years.
Those decades have seen Harpole contribute to the founding of more than 25 community centers and programs that promote education as the ultimate equalizer among young people. Among them are Milwaukee Public Schools’ Homework First program, the Milwaukee Community Sailing Center, 100 Black Men of Greater Milwaukee and Bader Philanthropies’ Community Partnerships for Youth, which has invested $15 million to date and counts Harpole as its primary architect.
Since 2007, the Reuben J. Harpole Jr. Education Scholarship at 51ÁÔÆæ has invested $19,000 in the college education of young black men interested in teaching.
The 51ÁÔÆæ Alumni Association honored Harpole with its Community Service Award in 2016. Harpole earned a bachelor’s degree in education from 51ÁÔÆæ in 1978 and an honorary PhD of humane letters in 2005.
