There are scholarships to help African Americans go to school.
Research has shown that African Americans remain an underrepresented group at many institutions of higher learning. In order to stem that tide, many organizations have created scholarship programs to provide financial assistance and encourage more African Americans to get degrees. These scholarship programs have a variety of requirements but for those who qualify and are selected, the money offered can make a big difference.
Gold Standard Scholarship
Administered by the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, the Gold Standard Scholarship offers $10,000 to several students each year. The scholarship is funded by the National Basketball Association and focuses on African American students in the following six cities: Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, New Orleans and New York City. To qualify, applicants must be at least 21 years old, have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident. Applicants must also display leadership qualities and have community service experience. All selected recipients will then compete in an online competition to access an additional $30,000 in scholarship money.
Earl E. Graves Scholarship
A historic civil rights organization, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) offers various scholarships to African Americans and other minorities. One such scholarship is the Earl E. Graves Scholarship which gives $5,000 to a college junior or senior that is majoring in business. The scholarship is also available to graduate students attending a business school. The applicants must be full-time students in the top 20th percentile of their class. The application is available at the NAACP website and requires three letters of recommendation, a sealed transcript, a one-page essay and evidence of current enrollment.
CBC Spouses Heineken USA Performing Arts Scholarship
Through the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), Heineken provides financial assistance to African American students and others. The scholarship focuses on students in the performing arts including comedy, dance, drama, marching bands, motion pictures, music, opera and theater. Applicants must be new or current college and university students with a minimum GPA of 2.5. They must display leadership and submit certain required items. These include a sealed transcript, two letters of recommendation, a one-page resume and a two-minute visual recording of a performance.
Starwood Hotels Scholarship
The Starwood Hotel and Resort makes money available to African American students with an interest in a hospitality services career. The scholarship is administered by the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) and gives $4,400 to students attending one of 47 TMCF member schools. These schools include, but are not limited to, Bowie State University, Kentucky State University, Florida A & M University and certain law schools across the country. A full list of member schools is available at the TMCF website. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents and must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. They must also have applied for financial aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and have a major in Hotel Management, Hospitality or Marketing.
Tags: African American, African Americans, African American students, American students, Applicants must