Student to appear on 'Oprah' for work in Haiti

Danny Yates The William & Mary sophomore will be featured on Oprah Nov. 19 for his work in Haiti. Courtesy photo

ESL instruction In mid-October, two B-SC professors traveled to Hinche, Haiti, for a month of ESL instruction. They are currently providing a 12-credit opportunity for the scholarship students. Courtesy photo

by Staff | November 15, 2010

William & Mary sophomore Danny Yates will appear on "Oprah" Friday for his efforts to assist Haitian students.

Yates was invited to attend the show because of his work with the Hinche Scholars Project, which has worked on behalf of several displaced Haitian university students who were affected by the Jan. 12 earthquake. The show is being taped in Chicago on Tuesday.

Yates was in Haiti during the earthquake, which claimed the lives of approximately 300,000. According to a January 2010 W&M News article, Yates promised a friend that he “would do everything he could” to bring relief to the people he left behind.

“And I’m going to make good on my promise,” he said.

Since then, he has worked with the project to help rebuild Haiti through higher education, providing funding for Haitian scholars to continue their studies in the United States.

According to a press release from the project, “Yates and the I Have a Dream Foundation firmly believe that higher education is the only sustainable and successful path to recovery.”

The Hinche Scholars Project is a partnership among Barber-Scotia College, Richmond’s I Have a Dream Foundation and the town of Hinche, a town located near Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

In the Hampton Roads area, the Oprah show airs at 4 p.m. on WVEC, channel 13.