From Homeless To Harvard (And Beyond): Khadijah Williams Starts New Life In NYC (VIDEO)

In 2009, Oprah met Khadijah Williams, a driven young woman who grew up in homeless shelters but never stopped believing in herself and the power of education. Though she went to 12 different schools in 12 years, she managed to graduate high school with honors and was accepted into Harvard University. Four years later, she graduated with a degree in sociology and even got a shout-out from Oprah during her 2013 commencement speech.

Williams -- who says she was in the bathroom when a friend came running in to tell her Oprah was talking about her on stage -- now has quite an impressive reference. "Just to have someone like Miss Winfrey acknowledge you and say, 'You did a great thing,' … it's not only a great confidence booster, but it's also something I can send to employers like, "Look! Oprah talked about me, here's my recommendation!'" Williams says.

"Oprah: Where Are They Now?" recently caught up with Williams in New York City, where she landed a job and moved into her own apartment after graduation. "Right now I am a project manager at an education technology firm," she says. It's a very adult job, I have actual responsibilities – which is a little bit scary, but it's exciting."

"Just being able to have my own apartment and make adult decisions -- or try to, anyway -- is very empowering," Williams says. "And I absolutely want to give back. I will give back. And right now I'm just setting that foundation so I can do that."

"Oprah: Where Are They Now?" airs Sunday at 10 p.m. ET on OWN. Programming note: In 2014, "Oprah: Where Are They Now?" airs on a new day and time. Catch up with past "Oprah Show" guests, newsmakers and celebrities on Fridays at 9 p.m. ET, beginning Jan. 3.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/24/khadijah-williams-homeless-harvard_n_4493490.html

Magic Johnson Foundation/ Taylor Michaels Scholarship Program

The Magic Johnson Foundation/ Taylor Michaels Scholarship Program (TMSP) offers scholarships to minority high school students who plan to attend a four-year college. Eligible students must be American Indian Alaska Native, Asian/Pacific Islander, Black or Hispanic. They must also be residents of Atlanta, Lansing, Detroit, Cleveland, Chicago, Houston, New York and Los Angeles County.

Students must have a grade point average of 2.5 or above and must also be active in community service. They must plan to enroll full-time at an accredited college or university. Eligible students need to demonstrate financial need and social-economic challenges that might otherwise prevent them from pursuing a college education. Both U.S.and non-U.S. citizens may apply.

The scholarship is funded by the Magic Johnson Foundation, a non-profit organization established in 1991 by Magic Johnson to support educational, health and social needs of minorities in urban communities. The Taylor Michaels Scholarship Program was founded in 1998 and named after the former Chief Operating Officer for Magic Johnson Enterprises.

Since 1998, the Magic Johnson Foundation has enabled 386 students to attend college. The foundation also serves the needs of disadvantaged youth through a network of Community Empowerment Centers (CEC's) that finance programs for youth such as online learning scholarships, technology boot camps, and grants for hardware and software.

The deadline for this scholarship is usually in FEBRUARY of each year, and the award amount is usually $2,000 - $5,000.

For more details, visit www.magicjohnson.com/foundation/tmsp-about.php

Source: http://www.scholarshipsonline.org/2012/11/taylor-michaels-scholarship-program.html#.UuO_H2Qo62w

Top 10 Scholarships For African American Students With Deadlines In January 2014

 

Nationwide - The new year is here, and it's time for students to get back to work. This year, more than $50 billion dollars will be given away in scholarships, and many of these programs have deadlines that are fast-approaching.
Scholarships are free monetary gifts that can be used to pay for college tuition, books, and boarding. Most scholarship programs require students to excel in academics, sports, or in an essay competition.

Here they are top 10 scholarships with upcoming deadlines in January 2014:

#1 - The Tom Joyner Foundation "Full Ride" Scholarship awards a full scholarship to one student to attend a Historically Black College and University (HBCU).  Learn more at www.scholarshipsonline.org/2013/12/tom-joyner-foundation-full-ride.html

#2 - The Burger King Scholars program is designed to help high-school seniors who are looking to start college next year. Annually, the program awards more than $1.4 million in scholarships to more than 1,000 students.  Learn more at www.scholarshipsonline.org/2012/03/burger-king-scholars-program.html

#3 - The Gates Millennium Scholars Program (also known as the Bill Gates Scholarship) awards scholarships each year to African American students who plan to enroll full-time in a two-year or four-year college or university program.  Learn more at www.scholarshipsonline.org/2012/08/the-gates-millennium-scholars-program.html

#4 - The Ron Brown Scholar Program provides scholarship awards to African-American high school seniors who are excelling in their academics, exhibiting exceptional leadership potential, and actively serving in community service activities.  Learn more at www.scholarshipsonline.org/2012/04/ron-brown-scholar-program.html

#5 - The Discover Card Tribute Award Scholarship Program is sponsored by Discover Financial Services. The program recognizes students in their junior year of high school who have demonstrated outstanding achievements in their communities.  Learn more at www.scholarshipsonline.org/2012/07/discover-card-tribute-award-scholarship.html

#6 - The National Black Law Student Association (NBLSA) provides four scholarships each year to African-American students currently in law school. Each applicant will be required to complete an essay on a topic that is related to the specific scholarship for which they are applying.  Learn more at www.scholarshipsonline.org/2013/02/nblsa-national-black-law-student-association-scholarships.html

#7 - Ronald McDonald House Charities Scholarships (RMHC) for African American Future Achievers are awarded to eligible high school students with high academic performance and community service as well as financial need.  Learn more at www.scholarshipsonline.org/2012/07/ronald-mcdonald-house-charities.html

#8 - The Talbots Scholarship Program awards one-time scholarships to women who want to go back to school to earn their undergraduate degree after graduating from high school or receiving their GED at least ten years ago. Applicants must demonstrate financial need.  Learn more at www.scholarshipsonline.org/2012/11/the-talbots-scholarship-program.html

#9 - The Ronald Reagan College Leaders Scholarship Program awards scholarships to college juniors and seniors who demonstrate leadership qualities in support of freedom, American values and constitutional principles.  Learn more at www.scholarshipsonline.org/2012/08/ronald-reagan-college-leaders.html

#10 - The NASA Aeronautics Scholarship Program is open to both undergraduate and graduate students pursuing a career in the field of aeronautics. It is a renewable scholarship for U.S. citizens and nationals. Learn more at www.scholarshipsonline.org/2012/09/nasa-aeronautics-scholarship-program.html

To search hundreds of other 2014 scholarships, visit www.ScholarshipsOnline.org.

Alumnus Donates $30,000 to the University of Washington to Support Their Diversity Efforts

Los Angeles, October 3, 2013- Alumnus Mr. Kim L. Hunter announces a $30,000 contribution to The University of Washington’s (UW) Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity (OMA&D) to develop the Kim L. Hunter Internship Support Fund. This support fund will enhance OMA&D’s ability to maintain the economic development of underrepresented students who major in Business with an emphasis in marketing, advertising or communications.

“UW has been an important part of my life from the moment I came on to the campus more than three decades ago,” says Hunter. “This thirty thousand dollar contribution represents the thirty years since I left my alma mater and I am honored to make this contribution to the Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity to make education available to students who might not be able to afford it.”

OMA&D works to increase diversity on campus and enrich the collegiate experience through programs such as academic counseling services, the Educational Opportunity Program and the Instructional Center. Their programs currently serve more than 13,000 middle and high school students with college preparation and more than 4,900 undergraduate students with academic advising, instructional support or financial aid.  As a result of their efforts, the number of applications received from underrepresented students has increased by 57 percent and UW freshman underrepresented enrollment has increased by 23 percent over the last five years.

“The University of Washington has a long legacy of transforming lives,” said Vice President for Minority Affairs and Vice Provost for Diversity at University of Washington Sheila Edwards Lange. “We have had the opportunity to develop powerful stories of discovery, learning and growth through the support of our loyal alumni leaders. I truly appreciate Kim’s interest and support for the next generation. He walks the walk and we all benefit from that.“

Understanding the invaluable experience gained from internships, Hunter’s support fund will provide students with industry experience and career development. During his time as an undergraduate, Hunter participated in multiple internships with major companies such as IBM, Xerox and Dow Chemical.

This is not the first time Hunter has donated to his alma mater. In 2007, the philanthropist donated $25,000 to the Michael G. Foster School of Business at UW for an Endowed Scholarship fund to benefit students from an underrepresented background pursuing a degree in marketing. Hunter is also a member of the Vice President’s Club, which includes generous alumni and friends who contribute $1,000 or more annually to funds within OMA&D.

Hunter brings more than 30 years of corporate and agency experience in advertising, marketing and public relations. A serial entrepreneur and diversity advocate, he currently manages three separate companies LAGRANT COMMUNICATIONS, an integrated marketing communications firm specializing in multicultural markets; The LAGRANT Foundation, a non profit organization whose mission is to increase the ethnic representation in advertising, marketing and public relations; and KLH & Associates, a multicultural executive search firm. Hunter received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing and a minor in Anthropology from the University of Washington in 1982.

The Best Man Holiday Scholarship

TMCF in partnership with NBCUniversal and JET magazine in conjunction with the upcoming film “THE BEST MAN HOLIDAY” will offer financial assistance to five (5) outstanding college students. Selected recipients of THE BEST MAN HOLIDAY Scholarship will receive a scholarship of $1,760 in the Spring 2014 school semester for financial assistance towards their education. Students must meet the following minimum criteria to apply for the award:

Requirements:

Student currently enrolled full time at an accredited United States college or university

Current grade point average of 3.0 or higher

Be a citizen of the United States

Applicants must also submit the following documents for consideration:

Resume (include community service, leadership and employment/internship experience)

College Transcript (unofficial or official accepted)

Essay: in a minimum of 350 words, please address the following:

Describe a reunion moment with your friends or family that could be a scene from a movie.

Document formats accepted: PDF OR MS Word

INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED

Submission Deadline: Tuesday, October 15, 2013

APPLY NOW

Note: Winners will be notified by November 1, 2013 and officially announced in the November Edition of Jet Magazine that will be on the stands November 4, 2013.

Source:  http://www.thurgoodmarshallfund.net/scholarships/the-best-man-holiday-scholarship

Amazing: Student Creates App That Helps College Students Get Money For College

Many families across this country are still trying to rebound from the economic slowdown meltdown increasing the reliance upon scholarships to pay for college.

Christopher Gray, 21, a Drexel University junior and CEO/Founder of Scholly, has found a way to make finding those scholarships easier.

Gray himself has been very successful in finding scholarship funds.  He is known as the “Million-Dollar Scholar” after being awarded $1.3 million in scholarships.

Over the past three years, Gray has also helped other families manually scour through databases, and figured, “Hey, I need something that can help.  There has to be a faster way.”

Gray developed the answer in the form of Scholly, an app that uses eight specific parameters, like state, GPA, or race, to instantly filter through a deep directory of scholarships available for the prospective student.

“It’s extremely simple,” says Gray and that ultimately was the goal.

“The fact that it’s on the mobile (phone) really hits the audience,” says Soham Bhonsle, 21, a Scholly user and Drexel University senior. “It serves the need of its time. We want it on the go.”

Nicholas Pirollo, chief technological officer for Scholly, also offers that apps optimize searches compared to standard websites because they are more tailored to specific needs.

A recent study, conducted by Sallie Mae, shows that 39% of families used scholarship funds to pay for college during the 2012-2013 academic year and Scholly connects users with relevant scholarships in about five minutes.  Scholly’s database is updated monthly to remove scholarships that are no longer available, add scholarships, and refresh deadlines.

There is money out there to go to school.  Scholly has more than 10,000 downloads of the $0.99 app found in the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Scholly’s costs are intentionally positioned at an affordable price to serve more people that need it and boast a potential big payoff.

“Pay 99 cents and you may get $5,000 or $6,000 in scholarships.”

Scholly helps put the power of funding your education in your hands.

Source: http://www.blackbluedog.com/2013/08/news/amazing-student-creates-app-that-helps-college-students-get-money-for-college/

Blacks at Microsoft Scholarships

Blacks at Microsoft (BAM) is a company-sponsored employee network dedicated to supporting the continued growth and development of black employees at Microsoft Corporation. This year, BAM will award two US$5,000 scholarships to outstanding high-school seniors who are interested in pursuing careers in technology. The scholarships are renewable, so winners who continue to meet the criteria can receive an annual $5,000 award for up to four years.
Requirements

To be considered for a BAM Scholarship, you must:

Be a high-school senior of African descent (for example, African American, African, or Ethiopian).
Plan to attend a four-year college or university in the fall of the year following high-school graduation.
Plan to pursue a bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, computer information systems, or select business programs (such as finance, business administration, or marketing).
Demonstrate a passion for technology.
Demonstrate leadership at school or in the community.
Have a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher.
Require financial assistance to attend college.

How to Apply

To apply for a BAM Scholarship, print and fill out the application. Enclose it in an envelope with the following items:

Two letters of recommendation. At least one letter must be from a faculty or staff member at your school. Letters of recommendation should be original and should not be duplicates of college recommendation letters. (Letters must be on letterhead.)

Résumé.

Your résumé should include the following information:
—Extracurricular activities (school and community related)
—Honors and awards that you have received (if possible, include awards that are technology related)
—Work experience
Picture of yourself.
Transcript. Include an official "sealed" copy of your current academic transcript. (Unofficial copies will not be accepted.)

Two essays.
1. In no more than 500 words, describe how you plan to engage in the technology industry in your future career. (If you have done exemplary work using technology during high school, please describe that also.)

2. In no more than 250 words, demonstrate your financial need for this scholarship.

Mail your completed application to the following address by March 1. You will receive a response by April 15.

Download Application

The Seattle Foundation 
c/o BAM Scholarship 
1200 5th Avenue, Ste. 1300
Seattle, WA 98101 

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/diversity/programs/blacks-scholarships.aspx

EDUCATE BLACK AMERICA: $100 Million Scholarship Challenge

$100 Million Scholarship Challenge
Educate Black America and America's top retailers
challenge you to put your money where your mouth is

Cause marketing makes it possible for you to convert a portion of virtually every dollar you spent on the things you buy and the services you need into a scholarship fund that supports Black Higher Education

BEGIN NOW to convert the more than $1 Trillion spent annually by Black American consumers, minority owned businesses, and other supporters of Black Higher Education.

From our shopping site you can buy from top American retailers such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Macy's, Walmart, Jos. A. Bank, and Office Depot. We have merchants for your car, your house, your pet, and yourself. From our shopping site you can buy from top American retailers such as We have merchants for your car, your house, your pet, and yourself.

We have expanded our program with two new features, EBA Travel and Appleseed Scholarships.

EBA Travel converts a portion of your travel expenses to scholarships when you make your travel arrangements through our web site. All EBA Travel arrangements are made through the top and leading providers such as Expedia, Hotwire, Hotels.com, and Enterprise

Appleseed is our most exciting new development. We now make it possible for people, businesses, organizations and nonprofits to earn scholarships. We are hiring marketing interns in local markets across the country to support and promote Educate Black America.

To keep current on Educate Black America, join us on Facebook, and Twitter.

JOIN US AND BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION
Click here to learn more

Source: http://www.am-blk-coll.com