Category Archives: College Scholarships

NBA All Star Derrick Rose Launches Scholarship Program

Derrick Rose is the latest baller to cheer for, and it has nothing to do with his jump shot.

The former Bulls point guard announced the Rose Scholars via Twitter on Wednesday.

The scholars program seeks three “civically-minded” high school students–must be a sophomore, junior or senior–to apply for funds for college.

One lucky student can win $200,000 to go towards their higher learning fund. Two other students can earn $20,000 each.

Rose reveals he got the idea to launch the scholarship when reflecting on his charitable works, in a letter posted to the Rose Scholars site.

As I started to reflect on my service to others, the idea of The Rose Scholars program started to form. An award that would reflect on my desire to find greatness, my dedication to perseverance and determination, my passion for self-empowerment, and my wish to elevate it in promising individuals applies.

The Chi-Town native continued by writing the scholarship could be a turning point in teens lives.

I know we can all identify a moment where our lives changed. A new path opened up to us that was not previously available. This new path allowed us to make different decisions and start to imagine new possibilities. This is exactly what the Rose Scholars program is meant to achieve in each and every one of you that applies.

It’s a path friend and fellow advocate for education LeBron James can get behind by tweeting his support.
You may have heard he opened a school in his hometown of Akron, Ohio last week.

The deadline to apply for Rose Scholars is Sept. 30 and winners will be announced around Oct. 15.

Drake Goes on Giving Spree in Miami

Drizzy was “sharing the wealth” all across M.I.A on Monday, when he was in town to shoot his “God’s Plan” video.

Btw, the song is already No. 1 on Billboards Top 100 singles chart.

But y’all knew that because it’s all over your iTunes playlist.

Drake’s first stop was at Miami Senior High School, where not only did he drop off a $25,000 check, but had students set up with OVO-designed uniforms.

Let’s just say that was a big fat thank you from Drake for allowing him to shoot his music video at the school.

Umm, Drizzy you can always use my apartment for your music videos…I’m just sayin’…if you’re ever in Charlotte…holla at your girl.

The “Diplomatic Immunity” rapper also surprised a University of Miami student with $50,000 check to go towards her tuition.

Destiny James, who received a few college scholarships, thought she’d be participating in a video shoot chatting up the value of free money for school. Nope!

Billboard reports, Drake came out the bushes with a big ‘ol check to reveal the real reason of the shoot.

Destiny replayed the moment in her Insta story.

View this post on Instagram

This happened today. I applied to scholarships last year for which I had to write an essay. I received those scholarships and thought that was the end of it. Apparently, my essay and my story made it to other departments. I was contacted this weekend about doing a video speaking about where I come from, things I've been through, and why it is so important for scholarship donors to continue to donate. This was the surprise the whole time. Drake told me that he has read great things about me and appreciates how hard I've worked through so many trials and decided to give me $50K for my tuition. @champagnepapi THANK YOU SO MUCH!!' You don't understand what this means to me! I would've never imagined this happening to me. I'm just a girl from Denmark, SC that wants to MAKE IT and be somebody and for you to see my hard work means the world. Thank you so much. God I thank you. You are so great and amazing! Thank you for blessing me when I thought my hard work was going unnoticed. I'm living out my dreams. God's Plan 🙏🏾

A post shared by Destiny Paris James (@_destinyparis) on

Hat’s off to Drake for helping students live their best lives.

FGF | 8-Year-Old Surprised With College Admission

 

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How fly is 8-year-old Jordin Phipps?

The Texas native isn’t even in middle school yet, and already, like, today, she got accepted into the University of North Texas.

Not an easy thing to pull off.

Jordin managed to by reciting the university’s daily mantra, while wearing one of their T-shirts, and having mom record the spiel.

Which is actually quite empowering. It put a pep in my step, anyway.

“I am smart. I am a leader. Failure is not an option for me,” Jordin declares in the video. “Success is only moments away.”

Jordin’s mom, Nichole Smith, a University of Texas alumna, posted the video on Facebook earlier this month.

ABC News reports, University of North Texas school officials got wind of Jordin’s enthusiastic school pledge and wanted to help her.

They contacted me on Wednesday and said they wanted to present her with a scholarship,” Smith, a special education teacher, told ABC News.

Did they ever. Joined by some UNT cheerleaders, an early, early, early admission letter to join the class of 2030, aaanndd a $10,000 scholarship check–usually reserved for high school kids–school’s director of admissions surprised Jordin  during her elementary school assembly.

This makes the pre-teen the youngest student ever admitted in the university’s history.

And she already knows her major–school teacher, like her mom.

You better come through young scholar.

MCM | Sean “Diddy” Combs Donates $1 Million to Alma Mater

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Diddy dug into his deep pockets over the weekend, and pulled out lots and lots of Benjamins (I’m talking 10,000 bundles) to donate to Howard University.

The $1 million donation went toward the HBCU’s business school where a scholarship will be set up in the mogul’s name.

The Sean Combs Scholarship Fund ” will help provide life-altering opportunities for our students, particularly at a time when many come to Howard struggling to meet ever-increasing financial needs,” says Howard University President, Dr. Wayne A.I. Frederick.

Diddy presented the check to Dr. Frederick during the Bad Boy Family Reunion Tour at Verizon Center in D.C. Friday.

“I was blessed to receive a great education from Howard University – one of the best schools in the world – and it helped to fuel my success in business and life. This scholarship will make it possible for the next generation of leaders to pursue their dreams and achieve greatness,” said Sean “Diddy” Combs. “When I delivered the commencement address at Howard, I asked the students ‘Do you know how powerful you are?’ I know that Howard students are intelligent, talented, passionate, and their hard work will shape the future.”

According to Look to the Stars, Howard will start awarding scholarships Fall 2017 to undergrad business students with a 3.0 GPA with a financial need. The lucky recipients will also get a summer internship at Bad Boy Entertainment or Revolt Media.

 

IYB Women Crush Wednesday | MC Lyte Donates 50K to Aspiring College Student

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OG rapper MC Lyte surprised a super fan (if he wasn’t before, certainly is now) with a $50K college scholarship on “The Steve Harvey Show” today.

Why was it during the mustachioed  showman’s hour long chat fest?

Because the lucky recipent of MC Lyte’s philanthropy hails from Harvey’s mentoring camp. Twice blessed!!.

The first female emcee presented 19-year-old Cortney Rhodes with a $50,000 college scholarship, upon hearing his academic sights were set on Dillard University in New Orleans–one of the oldest HBCUs.

Watch here to see Cortney and his mom learn the happy news.

The “Lyte as a Rock” rapper’s donation is through her non profit–Hip Hop Sisters Foundation. The org’s aim is to give scholarship money to worthy students through their #EducateOurMen Intiative.

As the daughter of a school teacher, MC Lyte learned the value of education and its benefits in the long run. Even for a rapper. She shares what her mom made her do.

I was her number one student so at all costs, I was her pupil and I had to write essays for everything I wanted to do including: go to the hip hop club, going to the studio…I became a great essay writer.

I guess so with all those essays. But, it was worth it because not only is she hip hop royalty (bow down, bitches) MC Lyte is our girl crush of the week.

Kevin Hart Offers College Scholarships | NE-YO is Principal for the Day

Photo Credit: Forbes Magazine

Photo Credit: Forbes Magazine

Funnyman Kevin Hart is serious about the higher learning experience. So much so the “Get Hard” actor has teamed up with “your mind is a terrible thing to waste” crew, better known as United Negro College Fund, to reward four students with college scholarships.

The $50,000 scholarship will go to four deserving high school students of Kevin’s choosing. According to Campus Lately, the lucky seniors all happen to be from Philly. It is the city of brotherly love, after all…oh, and it’s also where Kevin hails from. (color that coincidental!)

Kevin said it’s just desserts for the kids hard work, and it’s a much better investment than making it rain over a stripper’s pole.

This is me stepping up to the plate and saying what you’re doing is dope. You’re dope. You’ve got the opportunity to be the dopest of all dopetivity. My money went to a much much more useful cause I guess you would say than what I would have been doing with it at a strip club.

No, in all seriousness, congrats to all the worthy scholars. You can watch them get rewarded on “An Evening of Starts” on BET April 26th.

Who sang it better? NE-Yo or Ang? Photo Credit: Neyo Instagram

Who sang it better? NE-Yo or Ang?
Photo Credit: Neyo Instagram

NE-YO deserves a pat on the back too. The “Non-Fiction” crooner was brave enough to step into the shoes of a high school principal. (Better him than me.) For one day, NE-YO led the pack at High School of Fashion Industries in New York City.

Lending a hand was The Breakfast Club’s Angela Yee, who interviewed the singer in front of an auditorium of teens.

The day kicked off with NE-YO chatting with students in an exclusive meetup. The upstarts–student ambassadors–got access to the platinum singer when they led their school to victory in the Capital One Bank NYC College Challenge. The competition is to get as many teen leaders or ambassadors to motivate their classmates on the path to college. Mission accomplished for High School of Fashion Industries; they got over 1,000 students active on this topic.

Which definitely deserves a NE-YO sing-a-long:

Along with a Q&A session headlined by Angela Yee. NE-YO dropped some knowledge on what it takes to be a success. (Hint: Persistence, Persistence, Persistence)

It took me 12 years to get to the beginning. A lot of people are going to tell you ‘no.’ As opposed to talking to people, you have to show them.

He’s not lying.

Topping off the teens best day ever was a lip sync battle where the kids unleashed their performing talents.

Keep up the good work, kiddos.

Jay Z’s Mom, Gloria Carter, Talks Candidly About Origin of Shawn Carter Foundation

Image Courtesy: USA TODAY, Todd Plitt

Image Courtesy: USA TODAY, Todd Plitt

Mama Carter was relatively silent when it came to the brouhaha that went down last year with her son’s holiday line contribution for Barney’s New York, and she’s still mum. Guess, the numbers speak for themselves: over $1 million was raised for the Shawn Carter Foundation in the deal. But, she was pretty chatty (despite her self-described shyness) with USA Today about the foundation’s  start and how her hopes for Blue Ivy match her org’s vision.

Gloria Carter birthed the idea of the foundation while attending her mentee’s graduation and showered her with praise.

He started speaking about this woman who had made an impact on his life. I didn’t even realize that I had been a mentor — I was just trying to help this young man. After that, I realized there are so many people who need to be touched.

Soon after she called Jay Z and pitched a foundation that would help under-served youth get a higher learning education. A decade later, the public charity has helped 176 students go to colleges around the country.

We have kids who act as the moms and dads of their families, kids who are products of the foster care system, kids who were in prison. They still want to pursue a further education, whether it’s at a four-year institution or a community college or vocational school.

The foundation also promotes initiatives like a scholarship fund, college tours and study-abroad programs to enlighten kids.

This became Mama Carter’s passion project when Jay and his siblings pushed her to retire working for the NYC Comptroller’s office. Not comfortable being a woman of leisure, the Shawn Carter Foundation filled the void.

And what does she stress to Blue Ivy and her other eight grandchildren?

the importance of having an education, and of being a good person. In order to get respect, you have to give it.

Amen!!! Spoken like an old school Brooklyn mom. To hear more of Gloria Carter’s USA Today interview click here. 

Barneys Releases the Shawn (Jay Z) Carter Holiday Collection

So, if you haven’t already heard Jay Z has decided to stick with Barneys, despite the uproar over racial allegations in the upscale boutique. Wanna see my surprise face?

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But, the rap mogul added one condition to the deal: He will serve on a “council” that will put him in a leadership role to discuss racial profiling. Hmph. Okay, the details are pretty vague, but we’ll see what will come of it. Jay also managed to wrangle an increase (originally 25%) of 75% of sales for his Sean Carter Foundation, along with 100% of sales from the collabo to the Foundation that grants underprivileged kids a college education.

As nasty as this debacle got, and it’s  still getting heated, we should give props to Jigga for making his charity a priority, which was the main impetus for the deal.

And for those who have $800 baseball caps and $33,000 watches on their Christmas list, take a peek below. Santa may be good to you. Well, you would have to be nearly a saint to get everything on that wishlist.  Santa, baby…

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BTW, the Barneys release party may have been canceled, but it didn’t stop Jay and Bey from visiting the luxe store to take a peek at the collection . Baddie Bey even held an impromptu photo shoot to support her hubby’s collection, well I guess we know what are her favorite things from hubby’s line.

Photo credit: Beyonce IG

Photo credit: Beyonce IG

Photo credit: Beyonce IG

Photo credit: Beyonce IG

 

 

 

 

 

 

Should Jay Z Drop his Collaboration with Barney’s Amid Racial Allegations?

****************** UPDATE***************UPDATE*******************UPDATE

Jay Z broke his silence late last night. And released a pretty lengthy statement on the Barney’s controvbelow on his website. Check the statement below.

I move and speak based on facts and emotion. I haven’t made any comments because I am waiting on facts and the outcome of a meeting between community leaders and Barneys. Why am I being demonized, denounced and thrown on the cover of a newspaper for not speaking immediately?

Jay goes on to write that the only victims in this situation are those that will benefit from his Shawn Carter Foundation.

Making a decision prematurely to pull out of this project, wouldn’t hurt Barneys over Shawn Carter, but all the people that stand a chance at higher education….The Shawn Carter Foundation is the beneficiary and the foundation is receiving 25% of all sales from the collaboration, 10% of all sales generated in the store on November 20th and an additional donation from Barney’s

Hmmmm still stand by my comments below…

It seems to be the question of the day on Twitter and Facebook. And the only person who can answer it has been surprisingly mum. Actually, it’s not to shocking given an avalanche of angry tweets directed his way and a we-hate-Barneys-petition circulating over 3,000 signatures urging Jay to sign in black/blue or they’ll hate him too. If not already.

Remember, the flames have just recently been extinguished on his Cuba vacation…

….and now we have this situation. While, no doubt Olivia Pope aka Judy Smith is as-I-type-this “getting it handled.” Let’s backtrack.

In February, a teenager visited Barneys department store in Midtown Manhattan to snag a $300 Ferragamo belt he’s had his eye on. Whips out his debit card. Purchase complete. End of story. Nope, just the beginning. He leaves the store, walks a few blocks and is accosted by police officers that take him “downtown,” and according to Trayon Christian have him wait two hours before his story of legitimately buying the belt checks out.

Rewind to two months ago when 21-year old Kayla Phillips visited the same Barneys Trayon will eventually go to. She purchased a $2,000 Cèline bag. Once again, she makes the purchase and leaves. When she gets to the train station four police officers pepper her with questions, look at her store receipts and ask how could she afford this bag?

Both Trayon and Kayla have pressed charges against Barneys and NYC police department.

Barneys CEO released a statement on Facebook yesterday.

Barneys New York believes that no customer should have the unacceptable experience described in recent media reports, and we offer our sincere regret and deepest apologies.

Further to our statement of yesterday, we want to reinforce that Barneys New York has zero tolerance for any form of discrimination. We are a strong proponent of equal rights and equal treatment for all human beings. Our mission is to ensure that all customers receive the highest-quality service—without exception.

How does Jay add to the mix?

Jay Z has plans to release clothing and jewelry lines called “A New York Holiday” with Barneys in November and help decorate their holiday windows in December.

The items Jay has produced range from $70 to $33,000, according to the New York Daily News. And 25 percent of the money from the line will go towards his Shawn Carter Foundation charity that provides minorities college scholarships.

As enriching as it all sounds–especially the relationship to his charity– I’m still on the fence about Jay dropping the deal.

Why, you may ask?

Because and I quote “I’m not a businessman, I’m a business, man.” And as such, Jay looks at the bottom line. Always. Not that integrity isn’t part of his makeup. This showcases it. Yet, this issue pales in comparison to spilled champagne. It’s one that even Oprah struggles with.

Even still,  I seriously doubt two cases of racial discrimination will discourage this millionaire’s club deal. Although I wish it would. It would set a sterling example for his young fans about standing up and walking away instead of chasing the money. As well as his daughter, who some write could easily be Kayla Phillips in 10 or 20 years.

Whatever Jay decides I share Questlove’s sentiments

What do you guys think will Jay pull a Dave Chappelle and run away from the money or stand up and walk away? Do you think he should continue the deal to benefit his Shawn Carter Foundation?

Hit me up below…

Rapper Wale Gives HBCU Student College Scholarship Money

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Lauren Pryor will be attending fall semester at Hampton University, all thanks to Washington D.C. rapper Wale and her tenacity.

According to Jasminebrand.com, the sophomore psychology major won the scholarship through a radio contest on Norfolk’s 103 JAMZ station, which was giving college scholarships away. (Side Note: Where was I when these radio giveaways were going on? Hey, Hofstra’s a private school, I’m just sayin…) And as luck would have it, Lauren managed to get through on her 14th attempt.

Lauren told the Gluocester-Matthews Gazette Journal that the scholarship was a answer to her prayers.

Winning this scholarship was truly a blessing. Almost not returning to Hampton University in the fall because of expenses, I was exceedingly fortunate to receive this scholarship. It was truly a test of faith.

 

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Pryor received $25,000 in scholarship money at Wale’s album release party for his newest album, “The Gifted” in June. Congrats, Lauren. Kudos Wale for paying it forward!!

 

Sources:

TheJasmineBrand.com

The Gluocester Matthews Gazette Journal