By Jasmine Williams
The highlight of the Fund is being able to award scholarships to deserving youths in the Washington DC metropolitan area. To do so, behind the scenes, The Fund has a Scholarship Committee that is comprised of eight dedicated individuals who work collectively to determine who receives the annual scholarships. This committee was formed in 2009 as a direct result of a reorganization of The Fund’s board. The primary responsibilities of the committee include, but are not limited to reviewing the scholarship application and making revisions as needed; proposing scholarship criteria to the board; tracking the progress and achievement of past recipients and acting as the point of contact for all scholarship recipients.
Once applications are received, an intricate selection process begins to decide which applicants will receive the scholarships. The committee seeks out students who are engaged, both inside and outside of the classroom, involved in their communities, have excellent grades and receive outstanding recommendations. The decision is a collaborative effort, as each member of this committee provides unique insight as to how the scholarship’s recipient embodies the spirit in which The Fund was founded: scholarship, leadership and fellowship. Applicants are ranked based on this criterion and the committee then decides who shall receive the scholarships.
In the immediate future, the Scholarship committee will continue to be dedicated to The Fund’s board and continue to make revisions to the application process as needed. There are several new initiatives in the works as well, as the committee looks to increase the availability of the scholarships to as many deserving youths in the Washington DC metropolitan area as possible.
In addition to the Chairman, Steve Mobley, the 2009-2010 committee members were:
Dr. Shannon Gary, Ms. Jettie Norfleet, Ms. Shayla Hart, Ms. Jennifer Maddox, Ms. Rachel Cooper, Mr. Michael Pigford, and Ms. Selena Gonzales Jones
