Bofta Yimam - FOX 13 News -

Memphis, Tn - Some Booker T. Washington High School seniors spent their summer diving into learning. More than 20 students took part in the Chris Dean Education Camp.

Dean is the Booker T. Washington senior who helped his school win the White House Race to the Top competition, then introduced President Obama at their commencement.

Now, he's wrapping up a six-week camp.

Dean recently returned from a brief White House tour, then launched the college-prep camp in mid-July.

"He seemed to be willing to do something to help himself and his classmates," said Clifford Black, the camp's teacher.

Word of the Chris Dean Education Camp prompted Black to return from retirement to teach the program.

"When I first met Mr. Black he wanted to make sure that I was prepared to go to college and the first two sessions I learned so much, and I know my friends were not prepared just like I wasn't," said Dean.

That prompted Dean to start the Chris Dean Education "Superlearning" camp, a six-week program dedicated towards college prep. The series includes learning proper phonetics, life skills, and higher level comparative analysis.

Within weeks, he recruited nearly 20 of his fellow classmates, along with a few smaller students, who shared his passion for learning.

"Helped me a lot, wasn't very vivid reader, makes me want to go out and read books that I know I wouldn't have read if I didn't take this program," said Vashti Taylor, an upcoming University of Tennessee Chattanooga freshman.

"Telling us not to depend on the ideals, thoughts of others, we should find the meaning, concept," said Alexis Wilson, an upcoming University of Tennessee Chattanooga freshman.

University of Tennessee donated the space, meals and learning supplies. The full camp wraps up this week but they hope to raise $20,000 to fund college stipends and laptops for 18 of the students, who attended at least 80 percent of the camp. The stipends would range between $800 and $1,000.

"We going to make sure once we go off to college, we're not going to come back a year later and say, ‘mom it's too hard. I couldn't do it'," said Dean.

The future psychologist says Obama's visit moved him to lead his peers, on Tuesday, he discovered the Commander in Chief is studying him too.

"Got a letter, he was saying just do well, (I) know you're going to do well. You inspire me."

Chris also hopes to continue the education foundation with a possible afterschool program in the future. If you would like to donate contact JJ management at 901-682-3450.