Alumni on Track to Make a Difference

by Donna Birch Trahan

Matt and Ebony Omelagah beam with pride when they talk about their experiences at Stanislaus State. After all, the University has played a major role in both their personal and professional lives.

It’s where they met as undergraduates and student-athletes, as they both competed on the track and field team. It’s where Ebony broke the campus’s record in the 400-meter event, a feat that still stands nearly two decades later. And it’s where the couple fell in love.

Moreover, Stan State is where they found their calling to help others.

“He likes to take credit for me ending up at Stan State,” Ebony joked. “But let me tell you, that was a non-factor. I really came because I enjoyed the campus. I liked the track team, I liked (men’s and women’s track and field) Coach Troy Johnson, and I was lucky enough to get a full-ride scholarship. So, coming here was a no-brainer for me.”

Gaining a life partner was another positive part of the overall package. While studying and working their way through school, it planted a seed that years later became their successful familyowned business, Omelagah, Inc., a disability services company dedicated to helping adults with developmental disabilities and complex needs.

In the 12 years since the couple launched their business, it has grown exponentially. They have seven specialized residential homes in Northern California, including one in Turlock. Over the years, they have employed more than 800 workers and have been involved in more than a dozen communitybased programs.

Where it All Started

Matt was born in San Jose, but he was a toddler when his family packed their bags and headed to Lagos in Nigeria, his father’s country of origin. The family spent 10 years there.

Matt returned to California, where he eventually enrolled at Stan State and majored in communication studies. Around the same time, Ebony was beginning her higher education journey.

“I was actually running track at Moorpark College, a junior college, and we had a new coach come aboard,” Ebony recalled. “He made all the student-athletes sit down and write five letters to different colleges, asking the track coaches to look at their times and review their academic records to see if they were good candidates.

“I wrote my letter and I totally forgot about it. A couple of months later, I got a call from Troy, Stan State’s head track coach who said they wanted me to come to the campus because they thought I would be a good match for the team.

“Thankfully, that coach had the foresight to have us all look one step ahead, and then, luckily, Coach Troy was there to really welcome me to the school. Matt was one of the hosts for my recruiting trip.”

Matt had a similar recruitment experience with Johnson in the late 1990s, early 2000.

“He talked me into coming to Stanislaus State,” Matt recalled. “He was trying to build the track program. At the time, a lot of my buddies were going to the PAC-12 and other big schools, while I was coming off an injury. He said, ‘Hey, come to this small town and help us rebuild the program.’

“It was a great decision,” said Matt, who joined the men’s track team as a sprinter and was the team captain for three years. “Ebony was really the elite runner. I was more of a regional guy. Because I was the team captain and leader, I helped build our program and recruited folks.”

Johnson, who has been in the head coach position for 23 years, saw their leadership skills early on.

“I was fortunate and blessed enough to work with them. I saw the leadership they both had,” said Johnson. “Ebony always had an ‘I can do it’ attitude.

“Matt was the politician and team leader. His best asset was how he could get everybody to listen. He could pull everybody together for a common goal, no matter the situation.”

While Matt pursued communication studies, Ebony majored in criminal justice. Both graduated with their bachelor’s degrees in 2004.

Our aim spans a dual horizon. One, to offer renewed opportunities to those overlooked by society, and two, to uphold a robust African American owned enterprise.

- Matt Omelagah

Expanding Horizons

Fast forward to today: The couple’s passion to help others manifested as their company, Omelagah, Inc., which provides services for adults with developmental disabilities and complex needs. Since its launch more than a decade ago, their initiative has grown. They currently operate specialized residential homes across Northern California, including one in Turlock, and are involved in numerous community projects.

With Ebony’s background in criminal justice, and Matt’s master’s degree from Columbia University in social work, the duo saw an opportunity to be a part of California’s movement to deinstitutionalization and close state institutions.

Their venture is an embodiment of their shared philosophy: Everyone deserves a second chance.

Matt talks about their mission with passion.

“Our aim spans a dual horizon,” he said. “One, to offer renewed opportunities to those overlooked by society, and two, to uphold a robust African American owned enterprise.”

He emphasizes their drive to uplift others and serve as mentors, especially to young African American professionals. As former student-athletes, they were grateful for opportunities offered by mentors who hired them for jobs while they were students, allowing them to juggle school, work and sports.

Drawing from their experiences as undergraduates, they sought to extend similar opportunities to student-athletes.

“Our initiative in Turlock is strategically located,” he said. “Merely two blocks from the University, similar to our time working at a care home during college.” The proximity allows student-athletes to access a job that not only supports their academic journey but offers them a broader perspective on caregiving and community service.

Matt and Ebony are thankful for their experiences at Stan State and how it helped them reach their goals.

“We feel a lot of pride watching the campus grow,” Ebony said.

Matt has this message for current and prospective students: “Stan State planted the seeds. It’s like a small family. It will give you a platform to success. It’s within your reach.”