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Meet Henry Keculah Jr. of 4.0 Growth Productivity Accountability (4.0 GPA)

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Henry Keculah Jr.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Henry. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin, I decided to serve as a high school teacher with Teach for America in Houston, Texas. Many of my junior and senior class students were interested in going to college, but didn’t know how to go about getting started. So I took it upon myself to take them on trips to college campuses – sort of “college tours” to schools like UT-Austin, Georgetown and Howard Universities, to name a few – and also created an in-class curriculum that helped students prepare for their ACT/SAT, personal statements and learn how to assemble a strong resume. Little did I know, that this being a resource was something I was talented at. But year after year, friends of family would ask for my assistance in helping their own kids with getting accepted to universities and earning scholarship money. I also started taking students from all across Houston, not just from my own campus, when I made the college tours to UT-Austin.

The reason I became so passionate about helping kids get into the college they desire, was because I myself came from humble beginnings. I was brought up in a single-parent home by a mother who never attended college and who was as unaware as I was about the college application process. I didn’t really understand the importance of a GPA until my Senior Year which hindered me tremendously.

I remember in my Junior Year of high school, I met with my counselor and shared with her the colleges I was interested in attending. She told me that, because my GPA was a 2.3 at the time and I had only gotten an 18 on ACT, I wouldn’t be able to get into the top two schools on my list (The University of Texas at Austin and Ohio University). So I pushed and applied myself. In my Senior Year, I won a scholarship through the Horatio Alger Association and that helped me get admitted to The University of Texas in spite of the fact that I wasn’t in the top 10% of my class. I soon discovered that I had a gift for putting together strong scholarship applications. In my first year of college alone, in addition to getting excellent grades all of my classes, I won many scholarships and academic awards.

One day I decided to read The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle. Since people had often told me that I was good at public speaking and at helping others get admitted to college, I figured I could merge the two together and start my company. I came with the idea, just before starting graduate school, to establish an education consultant firm. It would give me the opportunity to do something I am passionate about and also help me make a difference in many families’ lives. But I knew I wouldn’t be able to do it alone. So I made a list of people I knew that were exceptional in their own lines of work and connected them. Shortly thereafter, I had a team together and was ready to embark on building 4.0 GPA.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I started my company with a $500 budget, so I had to be extremely creative and work on a cost-effective budget. Not to mention, I had to find talented individuals who were willing, in the short term at least, to work for free. So I took out a sheet of paper and wrote “Graphic Designer” on it. Then I started listing the names of people I knew who were good at graphic design. I did the same for “English Teachers” and “Math Teachers.” Sometimes, all the obstacles that stand in your way before you start a business can look mountainous, and that could scare you off from chasing your destiny. But I told myself I couldn’t afford to procrastinate, and that I’d deal with every hurdle as they presented themselves.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about 4.0 Growth Productivity Accountability (4.0 GPA) – what should we know?
I decided to name my company “4.0 GPA” because many high-school students, much like I hadn’t, don’t know how important their GPA is for the next step of their lives. The “GPA” in our name stands for “Growth, Productivity and Accountability.” I chose this because the resources we provide to students are intended to help them grow academically, stay productive with effective time management, and to hold themselves accountable without making excuses.

4.0 GPA is an Education Consultant Firm that was created with an ambitious goal in mind: to give every student the opportunity to graduate from a four-year university, regardless of her or his race, financial status or zip code. We believe that education saves lives – and that college presents the best way for kids to escape poverty. In my company’s workshops for students, all of our workshops show students how to grow academically, stay productive by managing their time effectively and hold themselves accountable without making excuses.

We offer a number of workshops designed to help students perform, excel and properly prepare themselves for college. For example, one of our workshops is called “4.0 GPA College Application.” In this workshop, we not only assist participants in completing their college admissions application; but we also help them build a resume and personal statement, register for the SAT/ACT, and complete a financial aid/scholarship application, all in one sitting. Another of our workshops, the “4.0 GPA Successful College Workshop,” provides student participants with proper study skills so they can perform at the highest level possible in college. We teach them to manage their time effectively, how to get the highest possible grade in each class they take, how to secure recommendation letters early, and much more.

For my own part, I also serve as my company’s Educational Motivational Speaker. I’ve provided motivational speeches to schools and private organizations. And one of my most requested speeches is “Shoot Your Shot,” in which I teach listeners to take advantage of every opportunity that comes their way. I’ve had an opportunity to speak before sports organizations and at sports camps, trainings, and conferences.

What makes me most proud about 4.0 GPA is that we work diligently to create an opportunity for the student that comes from the humblest household, one that makes maybe $15,000 a year, to attend college AND graduate within four years’ time. Though we have only been in existence for about a year now, 4.0 GPA has already hosted events for school districts, acquired contracts to work with Houston-area school districts, and has even engaged attendees at football camps helmed by current and former NFL football players.

What sets apart 4.0 GPA from other companies in the industry, is that we provide free events throughout the year for parents and students to attend. We also speak at certain events free of charge, because we want every student to know they have a real shot at attending college. As a product of a single-parent home, my mother couldn’t afford college preparatory services for me, and I know that experience is true for many present-day students, as well. Several education consultant companies charge their clients thousands of dollars just to give students basic information. But 4.0 GPA isn’t run by profit – we’re run by changing lives and creating legacies. For example, when we receive contracts from school districts and private organizations, we put 30% of that money back into the community in the form of a scholarship. This year in particular, 4.0 GPA partnered with Valenti, a Houston-area menswear company, for a scholarship essay. The winners were awarded a free tuxedo for their respective Senior Proms.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I must thank God, foremost, for opening this door for me and providing me with the vision to make 4.0 GPA a reality. Special thanks to my cousin Fred DeShield, for designing our website; my nephew Kyle Kennedy for managing 4.0 GPA’s social media accounts; and my cousin Kwame Peabody for serving as a videographer. Huge thanks, as well, to 4.0 GPA’s graphic designer, Robert Chavis, and editor, Bradford Howard, for the fantastic work they do for the company.

I’m extremely thankful for the friends and family, who have supported 4.0 GPA perennially. Most importantly, thanks to the schools, parents and organizations that have worked with 4.0 GPA. We wouldn’t be able to do what we do, without you. Thank you Valenti in West Oaks mall for making the tuxedo scholarship possible.

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