Prentice Richmond & Dr. Brian English: A Story of Mentorship That Keeps Growing

At the 11th Annual An Evening with the Stars, one of the most powerful moments of the evening came from EIF alumnus Prentice Richmond — who took the stage not just as a former scholar, but as a living testament to what EIF’s mission makes possible.

Prentice spoke with honesty, conviction, and grace about what education truly means:

“Education is Freedom. Freedom to think for yourself. Freedom to make better decisions. Freedom to break cycles that were never meant to define you.”

He shared that education did not just change his life — it saved it. And he was clear: he did not get there alone.

One of the biggest turning points in Prentice’s journey was finding a mentor in Dr. Brian English — his EIF advisor during high school, and someone who has remained by his side ever since.

Prentice emphasized that as his advisor and mentor, Brian held him accountable, challenged him when it mattered most, and pushed him to see more in himself than he could always see on his own.

Today, Prentice is back in college, finishing his degree. As he told the audience that evening: “That decision alone is proof that it is never too late to invest in yourself and keep pushing forward.”

The EIF story does not end at graduation — and neither does our commitment to our alumni.