Percy L. Julian High School

Principal, DR. DARREYL YOUNG-GIBSON

To My Julian Family,

I am honored and excited to be your new principal and educational leader.

I look forward to working with students, parents, faculty, staff and community

stake holders to provide Julian with an outstanding academically enriched

educational program in a student centered learning environment.

Dr. Julian, world renowned chemical scientist, inventor, and business leader, left us with a legacyto which all our students can aspire. He was born in Montgomery, Alabama on April 11, 1899, the grandson of slaves. His father was a mail clerk. Upon graduating from high school, Percy attended De Pauw University in Greencastle, Indiana where he was the only African American in his class. He graduated in 1920 as valedictorian. He earned a Masters Degree in 1926 from Harvard University making straight A's in all of his classes.

Because of the existing racism against African American at that time, Percy was not accepted into Harvard's doctoral program. He enrolled in the University of Vienna, in Austria and earned his Doctorate Degree in 1931. He learned to read and speak flawless Vienese and German while working on his doctorate.

I expect all of our students to emulate Dr. Julian - graduate from high school and pursue higher educational attainment enabling them to be significant,

contributing members of society.

Educationally committed,

Dr. Darreyl M. Young-Gibson


	10330 South Elizabeth Street, Chicago, IL 60643 Tel: (773) 535-5170 • Fax: (773) 535-5230