Anthony M. Pilaro created the Ron Brown Scholar Program with the vision of developing a community of gifted intellectuals with leadership strength.
Each award member of this program receives one on one attention throughout the academic college year, and is required to attend every three years summer leadership conferences that are held at various locations. This method of personal attention and meeting of the minds increases the likelihood of graduation amongst the receipients.
For up to four years the Ron Brown Scholarship places $10,000 directly into the student's college account each year, totalling $40,000. Interested applicants are encouraged to demonstrate financial need, social commitment, and leadership potential. The deadline for application submission is November 1st and January 9th.
In 1972 the Jackie Robinson Foundation was established to help African Americans and minority high school seniors advance towards higher education.
Students who are awarded a JRF scholarship receive, "Peer and professional mentoring, internship placement, extensive leadership training, international travel and community service options, and practical life skills." The support and assistance that the JRF program provides has a proven rate of nearly 100% in college graduation.
Among the eight qualifications that each applicant must posses are: demonstration of dedication to community service, evidence of financial need, and a minimum score of 1,000 on the SAT, and 21 on the ACT. The deadline to apply for assistance is March 15th. When chosen, a scholarship of up to $7,500 per college year will be provided for up to four years.
With a beginning that dates back to 1909, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has strived to provide scholarship opportunities to African American students. NAACP awards five types of scholarships two of which are available for high school seniors.
Roy Wilkins scholarship through the NAACP has a maximum award letter of $1000 per academic year. To qualify the graduating senior should have a GPA of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 grading system. The application deadline is March 7th.
Lillian Samuel Sutton Education scholarship through the NAACP has an award letter of $1000 per academic year. Qualifications for this scholarship suggests a NAACP membership and a grade point average of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 grading system. This is not an automatic renewing scholarship; to continue the scholarship funding each recipient must reapply yearly.
The United Negro College Fund was established in 1944 after Dr. Frederick D. Patterson appealed to his colleagues to raise money for African American students seeking a college education.
UNCF offers twelve scholarship opportunities to graduating high school seniors. Three of those scholarship programs are available to high school seniors across the U.S. The other nine scholarship programs are location or major specific, with varying application deadlines.