Affectionately known as “Mr. Make it Happen,” Temple University Police Officer Leroy Wimberly goes above and beyond the duties of his badge on a regular basis. He has developed the secret sauce to inspire George Washington Carver High School of Engineering and Science students to attend college and Temple, in particular. With 45 students from Carver enrolled, Temple’s Class of 2029 reflects a growing local presence among its newest Owls, surpassing last year’s numbers.
“We have a lot of great kids in our neighborhoods who want to go to college, but don’t always know the pathways available,” said Wimberly. “So, I take pride in building a trust with the students and using my resources to help in any way possible.”
Wimberly has been a positive and warm presence at Carver High School for 18 years, serving as a mentor, advocate and role model for students. At Carver, he founded a college pathway program for students to learn about the university’s financial aid, scholarships, grants, loans and work-study opportunities.
He also runs weekly lectures during the academic school year, inviting Temple representatives to share insights into the university’s schools and colleges while highlighting career paths that they offer. Students in the program often get hands-on experience participating in field-related activities. For example, last year they had the opportunity to learn directly from Temple engineering professors, exploring the mechanics of robotics while gaining hands-on experience designing and operating robots in real-world scenarios.
“Some Carver students have applied to other colleges and later tell me, ‘Officer Wimberly, I’m going to be a pain in your butt because I changed my mind and I am actually coming to Temple,’” he laughed.
Temple Police Officer Leroy Wimberly is also a certified instructor in Gang Resistance Education And Training (GREAT), which aims to keep children on the right path. He has taught the program weekly to children in North Philadelphia since 2017. (Photography by Ryan S. Brandenberg)
One of the former Carver students who benefited from Wimberly’s guidance is Maryam Chapman, Class of 2029.
“Officer Wimberly made every visit feel personal and meaningful. He told me about the different scholarships and programs Temple offers, like Temple Promise and the Cecil B. Moore Scholarship, which opened my eyes to the opportunities available there,” Chapman said. “His encouragement and honesty greatly impacted my decision to choose Temple.”
She recalled her most memorable program moment was when Temple representatives visited Carver during an on-site acceptance event, providing one-on-one meetings with students, reviewing their applications and accepting them on the spot.
“The energy that day was amazing; it made college feel real and within reach for pretty much all of us,” said Chapman. “Philadelphia students don’t always have access to the resources or guidance they need to navigate college preparation. Temple’s outreach helps students see that higher education is possible and that people are willing to invest in their future. That kind of encouragement can change someone’s whole path in life.”
Tyrone Neal, a school counselor at Carver, is also grateful for Officer Wimberly’s impact and Temple’s commitment. He credits Officer Wimberly for building a stronger relationship between Carver and Temple.
“Officer Wimberly comes from the community with a wealth of knowledge and is always willing to help in any way possible,” said Neal. “Students at our school just gravitate towards him and you see that many of them are now in Temple’s engineering school.
“The overall investment that Temple has made in our community, from the Cecil B. Moore Scholars Program to Temple Promise, offers the next generation of students a real opportunity to graduate with a four-year degree from Temple without debt. That’s truly heartwarming,” he added.
Another Carver staff member, Patricia Logan, described Wimberly as the gap between Temple and Carver in providing the students with the knowledge, guidance and access to resources.
“The commitment that Temple and Officer Wimberly have towards the future success of students at Carver means a lot to our school,” said Logan. “He goes above and beyond to guide, support and inspire students to believe that higher education is a real and valuable path that can be a life-changing opportunity for them.
“It builds confidence, shows them what’s possible, and reduces fear or uncertainty about higher education,” she added. “It sends a powerful message to the students that perfectly fits Temple’s theme of ‘you belong here, you can do this.’”